Our first month ttc our first

Yes to the perks! Literally pay, holiday allowance, hours, mat leave, pension.. all so much better than my current job (which is actually going to be made redundant anyway)

So excited to start! Xx

@beckyBP for sure!!

@meganlea I’m new to it all too - mine isn’t council/local authority, but gov all the same. The perks are insane (especially the 6 month full pay mat leave!) compared to any job I’ve had before!

@Amy259 I think that's the best thing to do for sure and if you have a lovely little surprise in the meantime you'll make it work!!

How funny @meganlea I'm new to the industry.. bit of a job change for me xx

Are we all government workers I work for the council too haha!

@beckyBP that sounds really similar to our situation. My DH is really money conscious so he’s much better at detaching himself from the emotional side of it and thinking more logically... but would also be delighted if we did fall preg sooner, he’d just rather have both, with the financial security too haha.

Thank you for that ♥️ I think my plan is to continue with not tracking for a couple of months, not timing dtd like I did before, but also not preventing. It’ll be lovely to take time away from scheduled dtd to be fair! And what’s meant to be will be!! Xx

@meganlea thanks so much hun. I think my opinion is the same. I'd rather start my mum journey with a little less money and we'll definitely be ok with my fiancé's pay.

Oh gosh I'm about the same dpo as you. Really hope this TWW is a quick one!

@rosiej95 thank you doll. It's with the council so mat pay is good with them but.. I just think I'll look back like 'what it that was my month' if I don't try.

Lush to see you pop up @Amy259 huge congratulations on the job. As I say, we're in very similar positions as mine is council. I know this isn't the answer you are probably looking for and there is no right or wrong answer but you have to follow your heart as a couple. We just decided we don't want to put it off and if I'm on a less money for mat leave, so be it. Its not an easy decision at all but you just have to follow your heart. Xx

Hi girls - hope you’re all keeping well ♥️ I’ve still been here, lurking with not much to report!

I’m just jumping in because I’m in a really similar boat @beckyBP - I got offered a new job about 4 weeks ago but it’s civil service so with all the checks etc it could look like Jan before I start. We’ve talked and talked because our situation is:

Preg now/before jan: Maternity allowance at best (£151 a week for 39 weeks)
Preg after starting but within 4 months: 90% pay for 3 months, £151 a week for 6 months
Stop ttc and preg after 4 months of start date: 100% pay for 6 months, £151 a week for 3 months

I’d take the year and spread the pay over 12 months so the above would pay out £453 a month, £690 a month or £1000 a month respectively.

Initially we said we’d wait for the big mat pay but then we I discovered how long it would take we decided just to make sure I wasn’t preg before I started so we could get the middle one.. which means missing out at least this month, Dec and Jan. So I’m not tracking or anything but I know I’m approaching my fw and now my head is making me question everything 🙈

Plus I had a chemical in Sept and they say the cycle after your first proper period (so right now) you have a higher chance of conceiving and I’m not sure I’m okay with missing that chance. This all probably didn’t help you at all, but I just thought I’d say I’m in a similar boat and it’s nice to know I’m not alone haha xx

@rosiej95 hope you’re okay!! What a shit month 😔. Plenty of self care girl. Have an alcoholic beverage and enjoy it while you can.

@beckyBP first of all, congrats on the new job!! That’s amazing news!! And good news come in 3s so who knows 😛. If you’d be okay financially without the better pay, then just go for it! Hopefully it won’t, but you don’t know how this could go on for so you might as well so give you’re all to TTC every month still. After all, what’s a bit of extra money over a precious life?

I’m feeling okay today, couldn’t sleep last night though, awake for hours and I didn’t even feel tired! I'm shattered today though, think it’s anxiety tbh about the 2ww. I’m 3DPO now and just want to fast forward the next 11 days to see if AF comes or not.

Hey loves! Happy Fri-yay!

@meganlea I totally know what you mean but in a way it's good to picture a baby there as that's how manifesting works! So keep on girl. We fore sure all will ❤️

@rosiej95 sorry AF arrived. It's tough when it first comes isn't it. How are you feeling?

@rosieb060 crazy! It's so annoying. I for sure thing apps can't be fully relied on!

How is everyone??

I've just got a new job so will be starting that in a months time(ish). My mum asked (no insinuation or judgment) if we're going to put ttc on hold for maternity leave reasons but I just can't. This journey has proved to me it's not easy to conceive and I wouldn't want to miss a month that was potentially my month purely because my mat pay would be better. What do you guys think? Xx

Sorry to hear @rosiej95

Natural cycles miscalauted my ovulation by three days this month.

If I had been relying on it as a cue to DTD, I'd have missed my window completely!

@rosiej95 Did you end up re testing or does it feel certainly like AF is on her way? You sound shattered babe hope you have lots of hot bubble baths and plenty of rest ready to go again in a few weeks.

@beckyBP It is so mental. I keep doing something in the house and then imagining having a little baby in the room and imaging what they'd be doing and what I'd be doing and how messy the house would be and it makes me want it so much more I'm trying not to think about it but I'll just be laid in bed on a morning like omg I want my little person laid with me watching tv in bed together on a weekend lol. Hopefully we'll all get that dream one day!!!

@rosieb060 right now I'm just throwing myself into work and uni, watching tv, reading, trying out new recipes at tea time, sorting Christmas gifts, just basically doing anything possible that's time consuming and that requires all my attention. I'm dying to just be like omg I really hope it happens all the time, symptom spotting etc but I feel like I'd jinx it if I said it out loud or googled what things mean I can be quite superstitious like that. So I'm not even going to speak my feelings about it out loud lol because it just makes me feel really sad thinking there's an 80% chance it won't happen this time!!!

@rosiej95 thank you. It's feeling good to be honest!

Re lockdown ending- I am very very jealous! Xx

@meganlea sounds that way!! Keeping everything super firmly crossed for you. What are your strategies for keeping calm and carrying on/ forgetting it all?

Hey @rosiej95 bless you! Sounds like you could do with a bit of downtime. Have a self care/pamper session! That always helps.

@rosieb060 you've definitely smashed it this month! 👏🏽👏🏽 I love autumn outfits too! All about the neutrals atm. Although, I'm a spring summer girl and the dark nights are not for me! Sun is shining here today so going to get out on a lunchtime walk!

I'm Wales so our lockdown is coming to an end soon 🙌🏽

@meganlea thanks doll, I hope I have if I've got the dates right. You've for sure covered it! Well done doll. I know what you mean.. it's SO hard to not think of it isn't it.

This is our 5th cycle. I honestly thought I'd be fully pregnant by now.. crazy isn't it xxx

@rosieb060 That's brilliant!! Fingers crossed it pays off. Keep it up! (Literally....lol) Sounds like you'll be in your TWW with me?

@beckyBP ahh that sounds brill!! You've definitely covered yourself. You seem to be the same as me I got my static Sunday AM DTD that same morning, Monday AM and late Tuesday PM. I'm classing today as my 1DPO......I can already see this is going to draaaaag. Going to try not think about it though, whatever happens, happens. What cycle is this for you?

Hey @rosiej95! Am well. Chuffed to pieces with a the amount hubby & I are managing to DTD this month.

Enjoying the autumn. I love jumpers! Maybe that's why you're tired?!

Besides exhausted, how are you? Xx

@rosieb060 haha I said to my fiancé last night (with my legs in the air and hips raised 😂) 'can you imagine when it actually happens, how we'll feel' and he said 'well it'll probably be sex out the window' 😂🙈

I think most men genuinely LOVE TTC.

🤞🏽🤞🏽 it is doll. Got a good feeling about this month xxx

@beckyBP well done! That sounds great :)

Just like you, I'm going to try to get another couple in for good measure.

Needless to say, My husband is thoroughly enjoying life!

I'd so much love this to be our month!!

@rosieb060 Well done!! You've definitely covered it

I either ovulated yesterday, today or tomorrow I think so we DTD Saturday, Monday (yesterday) and hoping to tonight and tomorrow. (Also did prior but I think these are the ones that could count 🤞🏽)

@beckyBP I'm on day 14! I usually ovulate between 14-17. So just trying to DTD wirh my husband as much as we can. We've done it three days in a row so far, up to yesterday! X

Well done @rosieb060 👏🏽👏🏽 where are you in your cycle?

You're spot on, it's best to enjoy it and have a good amount of sex than get bogged down with it just being about TTC.

I think you've got the right idea @upschittscreek just enjoy it and have fun!! Xx