Preconception planning - anyone want to join?

Awhh that’s really sweet of them and I hope so! Good luck ttc and I’m glad you had a nice holiday and was worth it xx

@DisneyPrincess37 100% it is super annoying though. My in-laws booked our trip to Thailand in 2019 and when they realised due to zika this meant no ttc until 2020 my mother in law was like shall we go to italy instead bless. It has taken the family pressure away for a year though :) it’s back now that it’s been 6 months though. Will be worth it as you will have such an amazing time :) x

[quote mackjm20]@sunflowersaremyfav93 literally your post about finding the weight loss harder near period and being more broody could have been me! Our cycle times must be pretty similar as I have been the exact same this week! Exciticing about bringing forward ttc when are you planning to start ttc now?

Re travel for me Personally I can’t fly whilst pregnant as have a blood clotting condition but I think for most you can travel until quite late. Saying that not sure if the guidance would be different during covid? May be worth keeping assessing on that basis throughout as if there were quarantine restrictions imposed whilst out there could effect dh being at birth? Maybe me just overthinking everything covid related

@Lagirl20 welcome :) we may have end up delaying too if covid hits harder in the winter months as I’m high risk aswell and defo would like partner to be at scans etc if possible- so hard though as super impatient

@CookieMonster3001 Happy birthday for Friday! It’s so hard to stay motivated on the diet front well done on the running though!

@Lollipop87 having the same thoughts re September rather than October but DH is now wanting to wait longer if anything to see if the second wave hits. I would love to be pg by Christmas and have a little one by June. It’s mad isn’t it how you can’t just plan it that exactly as the chance is so low. Feel so lucky to have all you guys to chat to though :)

@stepmumSW5 I honestly hadn’t thought of my skin to be honest. That will be my google
Topic of this week :) how far in advance of ttc have you started the bio oil? My skin is very prone to stretch marks so such a good idea

@DisneyPrincess37 we went to Thailand in January and delayed due to zika risks on that basis. Although it is less prevalent now if it’s an at risk location however minimal drs still warn about the serious implications for baby. My dr said if we had both been to wait min 6 months as double the risk sadly.

My friends dr said to her that her and dh shouldn’t even have sex without a condom for 6 months after visiting a zika location as if one of you have it you can keep passing it to one another. She was so gutted as had booked for her honeymoon and didn’t realise until she went to get her vaccinations. Happy ending though as they tried 6 months after and now has a beautiful baby boy![/quote]
Yeah I totally agree, it's not worth it for the sake of a year or so. Just gives me another year of research on babies etc! I'll be extra prepared

@stepmumSW5 think I’ll pop and get some bio oil this week :) that’s so exciting that you have already started ttc! Good luck :)

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I have too just wanted to eat the world. I’ve literally come on today thank god haha! The good thing with Spain is its close and to be fair the wedding would probably be covid dependent anyway which probably removes that from the equation:) Atleast it’s a short flight :) sounds so special and like you will have the most amazing time!

I am tracking using flo- I’m not 100% it gets the ovulation date right however atleast it gives me a guide of cycle length etc. I’m hoping to ‘just try’ at first rather than using the opks so have been tracking CM each month to try and get a guide of approx when the ovulation is. So much more to it than I ever could have predicted! I know the minute I use the opks I will be even more obsessed so current plan would be 6 months just not preventing and if that doesn’t catch start like really trying with opks etc. So good that your opk got it about right! The good thing with flo is that you can use the opk to test the theory that day rather than spending tonnes of money doing them all the time :)

Our initial plan was September start ttc- however with covid dh is more nervous as I have had a blood clot in the past so would need to be consultant lead as this is our 1st neither of us really know what to expect so covid adds to the concern of being in the hospital more- all being well if there is no second wave will be sept- nov start ttc. If there is a second wave I will be more likely to wait until just after my 30th in March- although god help this group if my obsession keeps growing haha!

Was there a particular reason for Feb for you guys? in my head the benefit to if it was next year is not having to hide it over Christmas!

@mackjm20 hello! I started this month at the and time I started TTc and taking vitamins. But I would have started it really had I known I would have my copper coil removed in June. It was something we had been planning but then decided to just do it as our plans as a family got really messy this year. Anyway I suggest Starting as soon as you start TTc or if you can 3-6 months before. There's nothing to lose from preparing your skin.

Ah all caught up now

For anyone who has/ is coming off the mirina coil I had mine taken out in Jan. Although my periods luckily returned straight away for anyone coming off it I have found the Flo app really really useful.

I have tracked straight away and cycle is finally starting to average out days wise which will make ovulation a lot easier to track. I don’t think I would have a clue if I hadn’t used it tbh.

Although we are planning to not put too much pressure on at the start With sticks etc and just use the ‘lots of sex’ method I think tracking approx dates will help to Atleast know roughly when to have even more ‘lots of sex’.

Sorry rambling- but would recommend the flo app

Hope you are all having lovely weekends x

@sunflowersaremyfav93 literally your post about finding the weight loss harder near period and being more broody could have been me! Our cycle times must be pretty similar as I have been the exact same this week! Exciticing about bringing forward ttc when are you planning to start ttc now?

Re travel for me Personally I can’t fly whilst pregnant as have a blood clotting condition but I think for most you can travel until quite late. Saying that not sure if the guidance would be different during covid? May be worth keeping assessing on that basis throughout as if there were quarantine restrictions imposed whilst out there could effect dh being at birth? Maybe me just overthinking everything covid related

@Lagirl20 welcome :) we may have end up delaying too if covid hits harder in the winter months as I’m high risk aswell and defo would like partner to be at scans etc if possible- so hard though as super impatient

@CookieMonster3001 Happy birthday for Friday! It’s so hard to stay motivated on the diet front well done on the running though!

@Lollipop87 having the same thoughts re September rather than October but DH is now wanting to wait longer if anything to see if the second wave hits. I would love to be pg by Christmas and have a little one by June. It’s mad isn’t it how you can’t just plan it that exactly as the chance is so low. Feel so lucky to have all you guys to chat to though :)

@stepmumSW5 I honestly hadn’t thought of my skin to be honest. That will be my google
Topic of this week :) how far in advance of ttc have you started the bio oil? My skin is very prone to stretch marks so such a good idea

@DisneyPrincess37 we went to Thailand in January and delayed due to zika risks on that basis. Although it is less prevalent now if it’s an at risk location however minimal drs still warn about the serious implications for baby. My dr said if we had both been to wait min 6 months as double the risk sadly.

My friends dr said to her that her and dh shouldn’t even have sex without a condom for 6 months after visiting a zika location as if one of you have it you can keep passing it to one another. She was so gutted as had booked for her honeymoon and didn’t realise until she went to get her vaccinations. Happy ending though as they tried 6 months after and now has a beautiful baby boy!

It’s in Jamaica, of what we have read most places don’t recommend getting pregnant within 3-6months of getting back. It probably wouldn’t be an issue but I’m an anxious person anyway, so too scared to risk it! I am so gutted though

@DisneyPrincess37 where is the wedding? I don't think Zika virus is prevalent in many places anymore. I looked a few weeks ago as want to go to Carribbean/Mexico for honeymoon and will hopefully be pregnant

We were going to start trying next year but now another wedding abroad means we have to postpone due to Zika Virus dangers, but it's such a relief to see everyone else planning so early! I was doing so much research as I wanted to be ready as soon as we started for next year

@stepmumSW5 haven’t even thought about skin / stretch marks until you’ve just mentioned it! I don’t think my skin is that prone to stretch marks and my mum and sister both didn’t get any so fingers crossed we just have stretchy skin! I’ll do bio oil once I’m actually pregnant but probably not before

Hi guys

What are you all doing to prepare your skin? When I had my silicone implants put I had to do at least 6 months of massaging my breasts gently every day during shower and then using either Bio Oil or any mum's anti stretch marks lotion.

I've now started doing the same with my belly as my skin is prone to strecth marks. I might do it for the breasts as well. Skincare is never a waste and if I get pregnant soon I won't even have much time to prepare. So starting asap... Bio oil on the breasts and belly.

What have you guys been doing? Do you have any other suggestions?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 @Lollipop87 I guess the other thing to consider when planning travel is where you are actually going and whether you'd be comfortable if you ended up giving birth there and having to travel back with a very young baby. A close friend of mine missed my wedding for that reason - whilst she theoretically could have travelled down, if she had gone into labour whilst there she'd have been away from the hospital she'd been planning to give birth in, trying to find emergency care for DD1, and then faced with a minimum 2 week wait before she could fly back (earliest her airline would allow a baby), and the cost of accommodation and changed flights for that time. And that's assuming a straightforward birth and baby!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 thank you, it’s nice to talk to someone who understands and yes it was lovely when he opened up to me but I just don’t think the same absolute need is there in most men like it is in women so they don’t understand why we’re so impatient or why we worry about it! With regards to flying, I personally don’t think I’d be comfortable flying past 7 or so months pregnant just in case I went into early labour, the 37 weeks sounds very late! It depends where you’re going but some countries you might not be covered, I guess you could claim back through insurance but probably wouldn’t be straightforward! When are you due to fly?

@CookieMonster3001 - yes, true. At the moment I'm not hugely concerned with exactly when ovulation has happened - I just want to know that it is actually happening!

@Lollipop87 Glad it was a productive conversation, even if it did involve a bit of an argument. Hopefully everything goes smoothly with your DH's referral.

@Lagirl20 Welcome
I would start looking into getting your coil removed, some places are still not seeing people unless emergency and others wi have long wait list. I needed a specialist gynaecologist appointment to get mine out.
Then you can start tracking for a few months before you try in Jan.
You pay for natural cycles I think....you could just get a bbt and track using one of many apps.
I'm using femometer and tracking using their OPKs with plan to use my sister's CB fertility monitor next month. I'm actively TTC now though. The CB stuff is way more expensive so better to get a good idea of your cycle first.

Hello all. Been good on my diet this week bar Wednesday when it was hubby's birthday. Now doing VLCD as I actually find them easier to stick too. Hope it all comes off quickly.

Agreed with DH last night that next week I am gonna book a doctor's appointment the start of Sept to get my Coil out to give it a couple of months to rest before we can start trying. Still have no idea if we are gonna bother trying to prevent for the first month as still have no idea what husband's SA in Sept will be like! Prob won't bother and if something happens it happens. we deff wouldn't know if I was pregnant til after his work probation ends so it's probably fine.

Still looking for houses though and I just can't find anything I like. I am very very fickle.

Thanks for all the birthday messages 😊 I’ve been pretty good this week (mainly because I know I’m going to have a cake and booze-filled weekend!) I’ve forced myself to get up early to do a HIIT workout every morning (and I am NOT a morning person!) and have stuck to my WW plan except for the one glass of wine and packet of crisps. Not going to think about it from 5 o’clock today though as we’re having some drinks with our neighbours and getting an Indian takeaway, so will also be back on it on Monday!

@letsmakethishappen hi and welcome! There are lots of us starting TTC from Sept/Oct and everyone’s really lovely with lots of good advice so definitely a good thread to be on 😊

@butterfly5291 glad you’ve got a neurology appointment and fingers crossed you get some answers! 🤞🏼

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I’ve been feeling sooo inpatient recently and am wanting more and more to start TTC in September instead of October! I decided to outline my points to DH at lunchtime, which are:

1. It gives us an extra cycle before Christmas and I would loooove to be pg by Christmas!
2. If we’re lucky enough to catch first cycle then hopefully our 12 week scan would be just before Christmas festivities kick off (COVID dependent!) so will be able to tell people rather than have people suspicious of why I’m not drinking
3. Hopefully any 1st trimester morning sickness would be out of the way by Christmas!
4. We have a LOT of July birthdays among friends and family (both our birthdays also being in July) so I would love to at least try to TTC for a June due date! 😂 Unfortunately we then had a bit of an argument, mainly because I feel like he always gets his way and I feel like I have no control over our fertility journey as he seems to be making all the decisions. We then talked some more and it came out that he’s still worried about a few months ago when he had some blood in his semen, but had antibiotics and it went, but because it was the second time it happened he’s been referred to a urologist (which I’d completely forgotten about as there’s been so much else going on!) So he’s going to chase up the referral next week and agreed that as long as he can get checked out before September and everything’s fine then we can discuss it again. I know it’s maybe silly to push so much for 1 month’s difference and we might not even fall that cycle, but the way I see it is that if we don’t try then we definitely won’t get pregnant but if we do then there’s a 30% chance we will! And what if that would be our lucky cycle and then we have to wait months just because we didn’t try. He was then really sweet because I keep saying “if we can have children” and he was like “no, when” and even talked about being in the delivery room which he’s never really said out loud before. Sorry that was long! With regards to flying, I read you can fly up to 28 weeks without needing a doctor’s note and then I think it’s up to 32 with a doctor’s note.

Hi @Lagirl20 and welcome! Oh you’re in the right place, we’re all crazy planners too! 😂 It’s so nice to have people to talk to who are also in this impatiently waiting phase. I was thinking wow how nice that we’re all such planners and then I thought, well that’s because all the non-planning type of people wouldn’t be joining message boards until they’re actually pregnant 😂

@sunflowersaremyfav93

I'm with you with being a bit off track! I have had a break from the diet this week and also gained a couple of pounds but have no excuses now so just need to get back on it

Well I have a couple of Lindt balls that I need to eat to save myself from later 🤣

@queenatom after reading loads of threads, I don't think the strips are hugely accurate. As predicted, my temp has stayed high today and both my apps have now moved my ovulation to Tuesday instead of Saturday, which I kinda figured! And I have heard some people have a strong positive on the strip for a couple of days, while some less. But so confusing as using OPKs they say don't drink too much water, but then they say drink plenty of water for CM. I think we are lucky as we have a few months before TTC so best to keep tracking monthly till we see a pattern.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 men are a little oblivious to how TTC works don't you think? my OH is exactly the same. I think from what I know that you can travel until your 3rd trimester? I certainly wouldn't want to travel past this as I can imagine it being quite uncomfortable.

I have had the last 2 weeks off plan and so my weight has gone back up a couple of lbs. Finding it really hard to stay motivated at the moment, but have managed 3 runs this week and planning on going for a walk after work. Need to get my head back into the game next week. I cant stop eating and I think me and OH have eaten half a jar of roasted peanuts as well as a full bag of broken twix bars!

My birthdays next Friday so I'm going to allow myself next weekend off plan, but otherwise, back on it....from Monday! lol.

Thanks @wrensandrobins and @butterfly5291maybe that's it, I did try not to drink too much though! Took another one this afternoon and it is still a strong positive. Hopefully the temps will confirm ovulation - I've had no rise as yet.