First month TTC

I think the general rule of thumb is start on CD10 but on the ones I bought on Amazon they had a table and based on your cycle length it tells you when to start.

@RadDarwazeh there are no silly questions, we're all on the first go at this. I read its a good idea to start them a few days after AF and basically just do one every day until you see a peak. I started them on CD 6 (AF is 4 days long) and saw what I thought was peak on CD 9 but I ran out of strips having only bought a 5 pack in a fit of excitement in wilko.

@PineappleSun thank you for the info and to @Annabelle0852

Silly question now sorry. When are you supposed to start using the ovulation tracking strips? Like at what point in relation to AF? I'm gonna look on Amazon for some, that's not a bad price hopefully I can get a good deal

Morning everyone :) nearly froze to death last night, had to have duvet AND blanket AND cat on me.
Both apps are giving me a 7 day window. It sounds like they're often wrong so opk are a good idea. A few of us have gone with the 50 packs of strips of amazon, mine was £10 on a lightning deal but I've got a long wait before I can start using them

@RadDarwazeh I use Clue and Flo.

Clue gave me 4 x days before, day of OV then 1 day after so total 6 fertile days.

Flo gave me 7 fertile days (5 before OV).

I used IC for OPKs off Amazon and like @FieldView they went from nothing to peak.

@FieldView I try not to use my boobs as a sympton as some cycles they hurt and some they don't anyway! I have noticed they're fuller than usual (that would usually come right before AF) but I think it's too early to count it as a symptom. Had some mega bloating, too. But OH and I are on a kick to eat healthier after Christmas gorge fest so reckon it's probably related to that more than anything!

Do you take any vitamins? I started taking pregnacare TTC ones this cycle but been reading they can mess some people's cycles up so a bit worried.

@FieldView I'm using the Ovia app. Wondering if I should use an ovulation kit in conjunction to know exactly when I'm ovulating. Which opk do you use? I know they can be quite pricey eek!

@RadDarwazeh morning! It's pretty chilly isn't it!

My app gave me a fertile window of 7 days which felt about right with what my body was saying and the opk (although the opk went straight from nothing to peak so who knows).

The app says I have 5 fertile days leading up to ov, the ov day itself and one day after. Not sure of this is the same for everyone though...

Are you using anything to track? x

@Annabelle0852 morning cycle sister!

Nothing to report here, only slightly sore boobs but that's only because I'm prodding them every hour thinking "are they sore yet?" Haha. This first cycle is the worst...

We've got a skip being delivered today though so plenty of DIY over the weekend. Like you, I'm on a mission to try and keep busy!

Nothing to report yet girls. In my two week wait. It is soooo cold this morning! Eek! For those who use apps or know, how long is your fertile window? How many days is your app suggesting?

@Pixiedust018 Morning! Hope you're not slowly freezing to death like we are. I don't know what it is about this winter but I've been feeling the cold so much more... jeez, I sound like my mother!

Good luck with your OPKs!

Just waiting around on 4DPO. Looking froward to the weekend for distractions - OH and I have lots to do about the house and have planned a couple of lengthy woodland walks. Trying to keep busy!

How's everyone else?

Morning @Pixiedust018

4DPO here and nothing to report.

Good luck with the opks and bding! Sending baby dust and positive vibes x

I understand. I see prams and baby things everywhere now. It makes my heart full and also ache at the same time. Baby dust for us all please! I think ladies see it sometimes as a competition with how fast they conceived. Who knows. It's nice to chat with ladies who are as invested in TTC and also super real about it too!

@Delilah221 I’m also trying to take a super chilled approach, failing miserably

@Wondergirl1111 - Yea it's really upsetting sometimes. Don't get me wrong it's amazing for those it does happen too, but not everyone is as lucky!
Oh wow really!! That's so odd!? I know, it's hard not to feel like it's all on my shoulders some times. My OH was feeling really worried about his sperm count a couple of years back, so we decided to do a test to put his mind at rest and it came back fine. So now i feel like it's even more pressure on me! Especially with not having much available test wise for women without waiting ages for appointments etc!

Trying to go with the flow a nit more but it's so hard to be chilled!

@Delilah221I know, it's like it's somehow superior - my friend let slip last week after a few years of saying she conceived first night trying, that it actually took a couple of months. I'm not sure why she fibbed?
It just puts yet another load of pressure on women as if there isn't enough already! xx

@PineappleSun it ain’t over til the fat lady sings as they say !!

@Wondergirl1111 I feel the same, pregnancy is all around me! We all dream it happens with a snap of the fingers, but I am enjoying the journey & the online community.

@shannonl26 I'm using flo and natural cycles and they both have completely different days for ovulation for me too! 6 days apart! Learning about CM is probably a good guide to look for to help within the time periods they provide I guess! Everybody's body is different I guess! Have you used ovulation tests to help pinpoint?
I'm sitting here watching One born every minute wondering if it's going to subconsciously help or hinder! haha!

@PineappleSun - Yes, so nice to have the support on here. Especially with everyone going through the same thing!

@Wondergirl1111 - It's so disheartening sometimes hearing stories of people conceiving within like a week of trying! And i also feel like you start noticing prams/pregnant women everywhere when you're TTC waiting for it to be your turn! haha.

@Pixiedust018 I'm first time TTC this month too - so excited to be trying - but trying to stay grounded too! Feels like lots of people in my life almost brag about conceiving first time round including my mum but I know that's not a given at all, so here's to enjoying the journey and meeting some people here on the same journey at the same time! How are you feeling about it all? x

Luckily my cycles have been running like clockwork since October which I suppose is why my apps agree, CD18 4DPO for me, even my nips have let me down by being back to normal today so i'm fully expecting AF on the 15th. I have a short cycle though so should get another crack at a fertility peak later this month.
@Delilah221hopefully if you do start to get stressed about it, we can help, we're all in the same boat :)

I downloaded two different apps, flo & premom, both were COMPLETELY different regarding ovulation days so it’s anybody game I am prone to irregular cycles in the past but I blame that on the implant, then zelleta was a whole new world all together absolutely awful. So this is my first month completely contraception free, although I have had a period since coming off the pill.

How far along are we all in our cycles now? premom says 1DPO, Flo says CD16 ovulation due CD22 based on my last cycle. Who knows eh.

@PineappleSun thank you! :)

Yes, i think it must use the generic data/maths. I got all excited thinking i was ovulating this week, but then had more spotting today :( Just can't keep up!

I know what you mean, even 4 weeks off has made such a difference in my mentality! And it's making me question if the way I was before was down to the pill all along!

I'm such a worrier/stress head and feel like I'm constantly worrying about something, but since coming off the pill i really feel like i have become so much more happy and relaxed!! Now only stressing about TTC lol

Welcome @Delilah221to the crazy train. I downloaded Flo earlier and it agrees with Clue but the OPKs I did this month say they're both a day or two early, sigh. I guess all these apps use the same basic math.
I was on depo for about 8 years and took 18 months for my cycles to come back into line, nightmare. Honestly i'm enjoying being off hormonal birth control at the moment, feel like a teenager again.

@Eaststreet - I only downloaded it to add in all the odd days of spotting etc, but i got really into it with all the other features so it's now made me more aware of tracking things lol.
I think i'll have to give them ago, I've seen them mentioned on a few threads but never actually heard of them before! Will check out amazon.

Thanks, you too! x