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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Doing anything different this month? Sharing suggestions!

29 replies

cat8986 · 02/02/2021 17:25

Hi ladies

Ovulation is approaching at a snails pace and so I wanted to share with you some different things I’m going to try this month. Other than lots of BD!

I read in the below article that eating pineapple core before you ovulate and eating Brazil nuts during tww helps implantation. The comments on the article sounded positive so I thought I’d give it a go. Has anyone tried this? I wanted to share in case it helps anyone!

www.ohbabynutrition.com/blog/pineapple-for-conception-brazil-nuts-for-implantation

Also using clearblue digital opk for the first time this month too instead of IC. The guesswork and testing three times a day was just too much!

Is anyone else trying new things or upping their game this month?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
glow92 · 16/02/2021 12:55

Thanks for your reply @cat8986
CD19 and still nothing, I only had a 25 day cycle last month which is why I'm so annoyed! 😞

Original poster
cat8986 · 16/02/2021 10:55

@glow92 my cycle didn’t lengthen, I was still 28/29 days, which meant my luteal phase was shorter.
Try not to be hard on yourself! It’s easy to get caught up with taking everything you think you need to, but it’s only through research and your own experience that you will find what works for you.

OP posts:
Peony2021 · 15/02/2021 19:05

Hey @cat8986 this all sounds so promising I hope all these tricks work out for you this month!! I'm still eating my Brazil nuts (now I'm scared if I stop it will all go wrong 😂). Will keep my fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻 xx

Thanks so much @2020mission still testing every so often and have good lines, 5 weeks today! Had plenty of symptoms last week but now everything gone and of COURSE anxiety is kicking in! Hoping it's just coming and going 🤞🏻 I totally agree with you every other day worked much better for us too, seemed to give us time and the sperm time to recover!! Will keep everything crossed for you also 🤞🏻 xx

2020mission · 15/02/2021 18:57

@Peony2021 congrats! Did your lines get stronger?

@Indie29 congratulations to you too! Thanks for sharing what you've been doing this month.

Ladies I've given up on the POM pomegranate juice after having found out it's from concentrate so it doesn't have all the benefits that pomegranates have 😑 so I've purchased pure pomegranate seeds this cycle and will be snacking on them from 1 DPO (today).

We've DTD every 2 days this cycle since AF finished. The 2 cycles I got BFPs, the one pattern I can find is that we didn't DTD every day like we have a lot of other months. I'm thinking it's good to have a day break between to allow sperm to build up and also have sex ASAP when AF finishes to clear out week old sperm 😆 not saying this technique is best for everyone of course but it's more ideal when there's a chance there could be low sperm count.

I forgot to mention this month my husband has been taking wellman conception pills so I'm hoping the zinc, selenium etc in them help 🤞

glow92 · 15/02/2021 18:50

@cat8986 I was looking in luteal phases as I have been having short ones myself, however I think I may have miss-read the benefits/how to take B6 in regard to this!
When it delayed your ovulation, was your cycle then slightly longer as well? i.e. did you luteal phase stay the same?
I'm so frustrated with myself!

Indie29 · 15/02/2021 18:46

Also for all you ladies spending lots and lots of money on pregnant tests (like me!) I actually said to myself this month I’m not taking any as I can’t take the heartache and the shit feeling you have the whole day after a BFN. I did feel much better. However at about 13dpo with no shops near us I did a OPK test and it came up super positive. Turns out OPK can’t differentiate between LH or HCG, so it’s a very cheap way of testing! It’s probably not always accurate, and you may need high levels of HCG for it to work, but I have tried a few different OPKs from different brands and ALL have got peak results. Maybe a little tip for if you can’t afford early detection tests anymore! (I did to a proper test to confirm a BFP lol) Xxxx

Indie29 · 15/02/2021 18:39

Hi! So I actually just had my first ever BFP! Couldn’t believe it after 7 months and seriously stressing I had started loosing hope! Convinced I have a luteal phase defect due to spotting before period!

So this month I did change our tactics as during the 7 months we have gone from relaxed approach, to OPK kits, to also BBT to also CM checking to January doing some serious research of supplements.

So since mid Jan we have both taken the supplements I mentioned above, both drank no booze since start of a January, cut caffeine down to once cup a day for both of us, both got lots of sleep. Started doing a lot more walks outside, eaten very nutritious health meals. Like warm baths. And it seems to have worked!!

Not too sure if this helps anyone else but I gave up smoking 8 months ago and stopped taking the combined pill December 2019. It may have something to do with all of that fully being out of my system too?!

Oh and we tried every single day, probably about 12 days straight from 6 days after period. So yeah... I was well and truly fed up come the end!

Xxx

Original poster
cat8986 · 15/02/2021 18:37

@glow92
Not by too much, about 3 or 4 days which to me felt like loads! When I already spot during my luteal phase, having such a short window for a healthy implantation didn’t feel worth the risk of continuing with B6 throughout my cycle.

This is my first cycle taking it only after ovulation so time will tell!

Is there any reason you started taking B6?

OP posts:
glow92 · 15/02/2021 17:46

@cat8986 please could I ask... how long was B6 delaying your ovulation? I think I am experiencing the same thing! I already ovulated later than ideal but I've now messed it up completely 😞.

Original poster
cat8986 · 15/02/2021 17:41

Hi ladies

I’m now 3dpo and in the dreaded tww and wanted to update on what I’ve been doing so far this month.

Folic acid and vitamin D as usual from CD1.
Maca root up to ovulation day
50mg of vitamin B6 from ovulation. I spot before period and I had seen that this helps. I used to take it all month but it delayed ovulation for me. The last couple of months not taking before ovulation, I ovulated bang on CD14 on a 28 day cycle.
Pineapple core from day before ovulation, continuing until about 8dpo
4 Brazil nuts a day from ovulation
The amazing pomegranate juice as recommended on here! Already need to go out and buy some more so haven’t had any today but have been having it since ovulation day.

No caffeine or alcohol since about CD8, plenty of seeds, spinach, bananas, fish. All things healthy really!

Only managed to DTD CD13 and CD15 either side of ovulation however. I know it only takes one but felt like could’ve done more...

@Indie29 how are you getting on? What dpo are you?

Has any of the above things worked for anyone else and resulted in a bfp?? I’ve got good vibes this month 🤞🏻

OP posts:
Peony2021 · 04/02/2021 19:26

Aw thanks so much @cat8986 💕 it sounds like you have a great plan, I'll be keeping everything crossed for you this month!! Please keep us posted 🥰 xx

Original poster
cat8986 · 04/02/2021 17:49

@Peony2021 wow! Fantastic news!
Really hoping it sticks for you ❤️❤️

So there’s a few key things you’ve done through the month which is encouraging. I’m back on Maca root too, and will be doing pineapple core and Brazil nuts as the time approaches. Also looking at getting pomegranate juice as PP suggested. I might whack in some orange juice too, or take the vit c supplements as I find oj quite boring to drink..

So that’s two BFPs on this thread already! Fingers crossed for more soon! 🤞🏻

OP posts:
Peony2021 · 04/02/2021 09:15

Hi ladies 👋🏻 how are you all getting on? Just wanted to update to say that I tested yesterday (only 8DPO so expected zero but had the urge!) and got a faint line, and another faint line yesterday afternoon and this morning. Not getting my hopes up at all because of the previous chemical but keeping everything crossed this is the start of something that sticks 🥺🤞🏻 in case helpful, I realised that in November when I did get pregnant but lost it with the chemical at 5w3d I had taken maca that month. Didn't take any in December and nothing happened. Started taking it at the start of this cycle and did get the faint positives so it could be coincidence but thought it interesting! Hope you're all getting on well!! Xx

Doing anything different this month? Sharing suggestions!
Indie29 · 03/02/2021 00:05

Hi! I’ve been TTC for a while and have read up on so many blogs / research papers on what to try. I’ve nailed it down to;

Vitamin B complex (contains folate) also great for Hubbie as b12 aids men’s fertility. B6 helps us maintain pregnancy.

Coq10 , 100-600mg a day for us

Omega 3 - the DHA / EPA 540ish helps women’s fertility

Zinc for both of us - especially helps sperm

Vit D for both of us

We shall see if it’s worked this month! TTC for 7 months now and can’t keep up the research and obsession lol

X

Original poster
cat8986 · 02/02/2021 22:30

@Moominmiss sounds yummy! Thanks for the tip! It would be nice to drink something else other than water to be honest, which is pretty much all I drink other than black tea and apple juice (no connection to TTC, just my tastes!)

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy! ✨✨✨

OP posts:
Original poster
cat8986 · 02/02/2021 22:26

@Emmie2021 Shame your DH is away 😢
Good luck for SMEP for next month though! Have you tried it before?
I was inadvertently doing it last month before it got too much on the third consecutive day, and the magic kind of went for us. We’ll have a couple more ‘chilled’ months (yeah right!) and then give it a proper go if we’re not successful by then

OP posts:
Moominmiss · 02/02/2021 21:13

I buy the POM one. It’s honestly really good! Very refreshing, and NOTHING like grapefruit juice which is awful!

Moominmiss · 02/02/2021 21:12

@cat8986 no it’s actually really really nice! So much so that I’ve carried on buying it purely because I really like it!

Would never had tried it normally. Just a glass a day is all you need to drink!

Peony2021 · 02/02/2021 20:46

@cat8986 you're so right, any excuse to eat a bit healthier!!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/parenting.firstcry.com/articles/maca-your-wonder-herb-for-fertility/%3famp

Hope that link works but it's just one of a few articles that talk about the benefits of maca. I have a cycle that varies between 29- 33 days and I've heard that it can make you more regular. But because it hasn't been tested on pregnant women much they advise you to stop once you get that BFP!

Can't wait to hear lots of success stories on this thread soon - I'm currently trying to avoid the pregnancy tests staring back at me in their packets 😂 xx

Original poster
cat8986 · 02/02/2021 19:38

@Moominmiss
Congratulations on your bfp! I’ll look out for some pomegranate juice, is it nice? I always worry new juice tastes like grapefruit juice which is disgusting 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
cat8986 · 02/02/2021 19:36

@Peony2021 it’s an interesting article isn’t it! Definitely doesn’t hurt to add to your diet before and around ovulation. Great excuse to eat more fruit and nuts.

I’ve tried Maca root capsules but stopped them in case it was affecting my cycle. Do you know what the benefits for conceiving are? I originally started taking them before I started TTC but wasn’t sure if I should continue when TTC.

Good luck in your tww! Please report back if you get that bfp! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

OP posts:
Moominmiss · 02/02/2021 19:14

This cycle when I got my bfp I drank pomegranate juice every day from 6dpo. It supposedly helps with implantation!

Peony2021 · 02/02/2021 19:08

Ah I'm sorry @2020mission it's rough isn't it? And you've been trying a while, I'm sure that can be very disheartening. Keeping my fingers crossed that your time is just on the horizon 🤞🏻

So the maca I heard about by a friend and I googled it (incessantly) and found there to be very little downside to taking it. It seems to be a hormone balancer, so whatever you lack it kind of boosts. I've taken it from CD1 although they say it takes 6-12 weeks to kick in - I noticed lots more fertile CM (TMI sorry!!) this month which I never usually have much of. I've also noticed that I had less cramps around my period. If you google it it suggests that it can help fertility by helping your hormones along and you're supposed to stop taking it when you get pregnant. I bought maca root capsules on Amazon. My husband takes them too as apparently it's good for sperm count! Xx

Original poster
cat8986 · 02/02/2021 18:59

@2020mission
Thanks for sharing everything you do!

I’ve been having chia seeds, but wasn’t aware of the others. I’ll look into those 🙂 love adding seeds to things, especially smoothies.

I’ve definitely heard about keeping your feet warm, also hot water bottle on your tummy. Apparently keeps your uterus cosier for implantation without raising your BBT. And it’s soothing in the winter months too 🙃

I think everything aids a balanced healthy diet too doesn’t, it so it never feels like I’m being obsessive or doing too much.

OP posts:
2020mission · 02/02/2021 18:04

I feel your pain @Peony2021 I've had 2 chemicals over the last 13 months. So frustrating as I had 6 months between them so I'm finding it really hard to catch and then when it does that happens 😑 what's this Maca root??