Anyone looking to start TTC in New Year?

DPO = days post ovulation (all the acronyms took me ages to learn too!)
I think I might see how I feel in the morning but I doubt I have the self control not to test! Ha

Fingers are crossed for you @switcharoo

I know I'm crazy to test, it's the evening and I'm 4DPO but I had such a strong positive with DS on the day AF was due and my norks are starting to get tender so I thought why not! I've kept is secret from DH and obviously messed around with the pic but in real life there's the faintest line in the world but possibly I've gone crazy and it's hope rather than actually anything there

Hey guys, just joined as we have just started trying for the first time. Both 30 and got married in May 2019!

@Ginger87 I went to the doctor today and mentioned we were trying - she said folic acid and vit D were the important ones but did say pregnancy supplements cover those and others!

Thanks for all your responses @EffRam @belle1118 @rhirhibumblebee @Florence13 @Spark27 @JaffaCakeGal I agree that the healthy eating/exercising/general self care approach is probably best, though I do think everyone will know I'm pregnant the minute I stop drinking 🤦‍♀️. I'm going to ask my doctor about vitamins, as I'm only taking combined folic acid and vitamin d at the moment and just not sure if the others are worth it.

@lucymagoo @FootballAndBeer145 @yoomoo I'm not even thinking about how my career will fit in with a pregnancy... I've got an interview next week for a year's loan to another department on temporary promotion, could get a bit complicated if I go on mat leave before getting a permanent job at the higher level, but oh well.

@Ginger87 I'm just taking vitamins and cutting back on the alcohol after enjoying far too much over Christmas and New Year haha. But other than that I don't want to restrict myself too much incase TTC takes awhile.

Hope everyone is well. Is there any particular OPKs people would recommend? Trying to hold off using them yet but might get some ready after hearing you all talk about them 🙈 as I have no idea about my cycles might be helpful to know if I ovulate at some point

I have a question about OPKs, hopefully someone knows a bit about them.
So I ordered some from amazon and they arrived on NYE, so just over a week ago. I tested with one the day they arrived and it had a faded test line, not as strong as the control line but if it were a pregnancy test it would have been a definite positive if that makes sense.
Unfortunately didn't think to take a pic or do another one later/the next day.
The instructions said that was a negative so I continued to do them sporadically this past week but since then they've all been completely blank on the test strip, a proper negative. Does this mean I maybe missed ovulation and it was on the 30th for example? I haven't had a period or withdrawal since coming off the pill mid December so didn't think it was very likely or worth testing much.

Sorry this is long, is anyone expert enough on these things to guess at if I ovulated around then or is it wishful thinking to do a test next week

Evening all. @Ginger87 currently trying to eat healthier and not drink in the week. Until I get a BFP I'll have some wine at the weekends. I'm taking folic acid and have been for about 6 weeks. I've also cut the caffeine down to a max of 2 cups of instant a day. This is more so if/when I do get a BFP it's not a nightmare to cut down straight away. This is all the same as when I conceived my DD. If it takes ages I might look into what else I/we can do.

Just done an OPK and it's dropped to 35, so thinking I might have had my surge last night and earlier today? A bit annoying as we didn't manage to DTD yesterday, btt we did Monday so fingers crossed. @yoomoo I like to think they were already there waiting for the bus

@rhirhibumblebee I've also had light spotting/bleed today. Not too much, and only lasted a max 12hrs. Wondering if it might have been an ovulation bleed? It's too confusing

@Ginger87 I think as it could take months I'd rather not live a puristic (is that the word?!) lifestyle just on the off chance I conceive! Of course it will change once I get that BFP, but I'm not a big drinker really anyway, and I'm trying to lose weight and already do loads of exercise (just need to stop smoking - I know it's bad that I haven't done yet )

Hi everyone, how are you all? I've had spotting today which is bizarre! Mostly brown, some pink. Far too early for anything exciting like implantation so not sure what that's about. Maybe my cycle isn't back to normal yet.

@lastonetime Good luck! Fingers crossed!

@FootballAndBeer145 Ahh that's confusing!

@yoomoo Thank you!! That looks really promising! I think I'll definitely try those tests next month.

@EffRam Good luck!! Yes me too, I want to make myself wait until AF day. Doubt I'll be able to but I'll try!

@Ginger87 Just trying to eat healthy, drink plenty of water but other than that nothing right now (and vitamins.) Not sure what else I can do, but I'm always up for ideas!

@lucymagoo Mat leave would work out really good for this month wouldn't it!! But I really don't want another December baby so need to figure out when we need to stop trying to avoid that month 🙈.

@Ginger87 I'm just toning down the high intensity exercise and swapping for more moderate/low intensity (reduces stress on the body), eating 7 portions of veg & fruit a day as well as my pregnacare vitamins which cover all you need including folic acid, and I've quit caffeine and alcohol.

Also trying really hard to reduce stress and not obsess about my TWW but it's so difficult!!

So glad I've found this thread, if anyone has any tips / sanity savers please let me know! :)

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii! :)

I'm TTC now too (first try was in December, I'm kinda in the annoying TWW period now - I've missed my period but had negative tests so not sure what's going on grrrrr maybe stress or maybe low HCG levels!)

For 4 months before trying I was on pregnacare pre-conception / trying to conceive vitamins which were fab and I'm still taking them - my nutritionist recommended them as they cover everything and are great pre-TTC to build up some folic acid stores as well as during TTC. They also do a joint pack for couples with one for your partner as well, and my partner is getting on well with those.

I'm 29, will be 30 this November... crazy haha! xx

Just checking in! Glad things seem to be heading in the right direction with the OPKs for you @yoomoo and @Spark27

I'm just waiting for AF so that we get into our first cycle of TTC, does anyone keep finding themselves going backwards and forwards about whether to start or not? I keep thinking about work and how it'd be more ideal to wait a few months but it's likely to take a few months anyway but what if it doesn't take a few months etc etc. Round and round in circles!

@FootballAndBeer145 @yoomoo I would rather have some maternity leave in November as I work in retail head office and that's when things get really stressful and crappy around here with Black Friday and Christmas 😂 Would mean conceiving either this month or next month though which is probably not likely! Just my luck

@ginger87 I'm doing dry January after a boozey November and December but would be doing that trying to conceive or not. If we aren't lucky this month, I will go back to drinking in moderation, 1-2 glasses of wine a week, and if I fancy that during 2nd and 3rd trimesters I will treat myself then too (first time round I often really fancied a glass of wine but then had one sip and didn't want it!). All the research I've read shows that has little impact on it.

I also often think about all the unplanned pregnancies where people were doing nothing and making no changes and still managed to conceive, so I just try and make the usual healthy choices likes eating well, exercising etc and not think about it too hard!

Morning all!

I came across the link below and started wondering what lifestyle changes anyone is making to aid conception/prepare their body for pregnancy??

www.itv.com/thismorning/the-conception-plan-12-top-tips

I'm trying to eat better and lose some weight... but there seems to be that do much effects fertility now. And how much does it really effect our bubbas in the long run?!

Sending you all some baby dust!

@yoomoo I was thinking the same with testing again this weekend, I've been trying not to think/stress about things this week. Do you think they doctors would be 'interested' if I went? I was thinking of going next week if no AF & another negative test this weekend.

@yoomoo also I love the image of sperm hanging around as if at a bus stop!

My temp was up this morning so Def ovulated yesterday - the wait begins. I am really really going to try and wait until I'm due this time...

@dontgojasonwaterfalls I'm similar to you... It would actually be best career wise for me to be due next Feb so not to take for a few months. But I know I'll still be disappointed if it doesn't happen!

@yoomoo good luck!! I've only once seen mine darker than that, I think my surge must be short but it is a great sign!!

BFN at 13dpo (I think). Surprisingly relieved, I started planning out my presentation for a conference on what would literally be the due date yesterday and I really want to present it hopefully the next couple of months are more successful and I can have a baby bump while I'm there but no risk of going into labour in the middle of the conference (its an emergency medical conference so I'd be in the best place though 😂)

So I did an OPK at 1900 and got 51, and I've just done one now and got 71. It looks like I'm going in the right direction, and going a little bit OPK crazy

Annoyingly DH has been called into work, so chances of us getting to DTD tonight are gone. And tomorrow we have to get DD to childcare early so I can't see that happening either. But we did DTD yesterday, so hoping that could work.

And if not it's all extra data to hopefully help pinpoint next months fertile window. And here was me accepting it would take a while and telling myself I wouldn't get too stressed about it...... HAHA!