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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

First timers, TTC. Safe space for brain dumps...

884 replies

TinyDancer91 · 01/01/2022 19:55

Hi everyone!

This thread may or may not contain questions, I've mainly started it to be my brain dump safe space but in an excited way, not a bad way...

Me (30) and my SO (34) have decided to take the leap and start TTC! We have both wanted children for a while but just knew the timing wasn't right for either of us until now. For me, any time I see a baby or even baby clothes recently my heart aches for it to be my turn. I've never really had that strong feeling before.

The reason behind this 'safe space' is that we have agreed not to tell anyone we are TTC. We just want to avoid any pressure or disappointment if things don't go to plan, etc.

For context, I am the youngest of 5, the only girl the only one of my siblings without children.
SO is the oldest of 2, his brother has a child who lives with BM away from here so isn't really seen much by grandparents.

Both families are great and would only want the best for us but I personally don't want to feel any sort or pressure at all (intended or not) from either side.

So, we start our journey, we are on cycle 1 SWI, not expecting anything to happen this cycle and trying not to turn in to a crazy lady about TTC Smile

If anyone else needs a brain dump safe space, feel free to join me here Smilex

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Dogmum13 · 28/07/2022 10:47

Ahh ok, I used to ovulate on cd10-12 so know the feeling lol. I'm giving it 3 months before I start using opks. I get ovulation pains so I kinda know when to go for it more frequently lol

LauraA31 · 28/07/2022 10:43

@Dogmum13 I have 24/25 day cycles, it’s too early to get a peak or high but i use the easy@home ones to get my baseline from CD5 to make sure i get the increase, i don’t use my clearblue ones until the lines get darker on the easy@home ones.

Original poster
TinyDancer91 · 28/07/2022 10:39

Hi all! Lots for me to catch up one here...

@thecoconutcat wishing you lots of luck in your next cycle. OPKs have helped me to work out when AF will be showing up and it's been quite useful as my cycles started to get a bit longer but that was between AF and ovulation day. Had I not been using them I would have gotten my hopes up more on the longer months I think!

@Glawen it's never too early 😂 enjoy the BD!! More often = more chances, surely!

@Moonlighting we are all over the moon for you. We'd love to keep hearing about how your BFP progresses!! 🥰

@Dogmum13 welcome! I must admit it is all a bit overwhelming. I'd love to say it gets easier but for me I still feel a bit overwhelmed. But we are here for each other and having you all to chat to has helped me massively!!

@Chocolat congrats to you too!! Another BFP for our little group 🥰 having 2 of you in the past few weeks is giving me a little bit of hope. Please keep us updated on your progress too!!

@Glawen I'm still learning some of the lingo too 😂 there's a link somewhere on Mumsnet to the commonly used abbreviations but I can't remember where I found it. AF is Aunt Flow, BFP is Big Fat Positive, BFN Big Fat Negative, DTD is doing the deed, BD is baby dancing.... if there's any others that you're not sure of let me know and if I can help I will! 😊 in terms of how often, some studies suggest that every other day improves sperm quality but some say every day is equally as good, so do what feel right for you.

As for me, today is my ovulation day, so back in the TWW tomorrow! We've DTD every day except one in my fertile window this cycle and will be BD again today and tomorrow just to cover all bases. Also using the ferti-lily cup the past few days so we'll see how that goes. AF next due around 11th aug and DPs birthday is 20th so would love to have a BFP for his birthday!! 🤞🏻

Love & baby dust to all 💕✨

OP posts:
Ygritte88 · 28/07/2022 10:35

Hello,

Please May I join the thread? Myself and my husband have been trying to conceive since November last year and would be great to get some support as not telling anyone we’re TTC! Finding it a real struggle when AF comes each month, as well as possible PCOS which I’m still waiting on a diagnosis for 😐

Dogmum13 · 28/07/2022 10:34

Thanks everyone, glad to find people feeling the same as me lol

Dogmum13 · 28/07/2022 10:33

@LauraA31 do you have short cycles? Cd5 is early to be using opks.

LauraA31 · 28/07/2022 10:17

@Dogmum13 Hello and welcome!
Im also CD5, TTC #1, cycle 3 for me though. I’m starting to use my ovulation tests today as premom recommended.
I have had the hardest time mentally whilst TTC, im so hard on myself but trying to not be so hard on myself this cycle 🙂

Fingers crossed for everybody!

Glawen · 28/07/2022 09:48

@Dogmum13 good luck - it's early days for us too! We've got this 🤞🏼❤️

H1994 · 28/07/2022 09:47

@Dogmum13 You've got this... it is stressful and overwhelming. Finding the balance between hopeful and realistic is tough. Such exciting times but don't wanna get too excited just in case. I understand how ya feel! I'm cd13... 4dpo and just waiting to test really!

Glawen · 28/07/2022 09:44

Thanks @Moonlighting - congratulations on your news 🎉

I am CD7 #1 TTC #1... we are a bit clueless but doing what we can and hoping for the best. You'll all have to fill me in on the lingo - AF/BFP etc? Hehe!

I think hubs is going to pass out with the trying mind you! I see a look of fear in his eyes hahahaa! Is it ok to try every day? Every other seems more realistic but does it change your chances/quality of his part? 🤔

Chocolat · 28/07/2022 08:13

@Moonlighting my plan was to do a pregnancy test in the morning before I go to decide whether I should drink or not, and it was faintly positive 😭. I was doing tests a few days before any they were always stark white negative. They all sussed me out at the hen party lol but i just said I really didn’t know and that I might have been 😂. Anyway AF officially late and have my BFP 😄

Dogmum13 · 28/07/2022 00:47

Hi everyone, just joining in now. I'm on cd5 of cycle 2 ttc #1. Finding it all a bit overwhelming and stressful!

Moonlighting · 28/07/2022 00:23

Thanks for the wishes everyone ❤️ It’s hard to believe the result when I still feel like I have my normal PMS. I so sympathise with the symptom spotting @HeartNutella (I actually don’t think it’s possible not to do this lol) but for me last month I had every symptom of early pregnancy and was not pregnant, whereas this month it’s like I’m just waiting for AF to come. I just don’t think it’s that easy to read into it unfortunately. Although people who are more in tune with their bodies than me may disagree!

@ladydorito I’m crossing my fingers for your August BFP too (although holiday as an alternative is not a terrible deal!) This whole process has made me so much more aware of the struggles people face and how emotive TTC is. If we’d got lucky cycle 1 I probably would have told people in a completely different (read: insensitive) way. We’ve got a while before we’re at the telling people stage but I will be avoiding any big, gleeful group announcements.

@Chocolat how did you handle the drinking question in the end? Hen dos are my worst bloody nightmare lol.

@TinyDancer91 good luck with the TTC adjuncts this cycle and with the braces! I’m also dentist-phobic and never had them as a teen. Would love to now tbh but still dead scared of dentists 😂 Blowing BFP dust in your general direction.

@Glawen it’s never too early - the more s-e-x the better, right?…

Glawen · 27/07/2022 21:59

Hey everyone! Hope you're all ok! Been so busy I've not come back to read all your updates, hope everyone's doing ok.

New cycle, new attempt... just wondering if cycle day 6 is too early to start trying? I am doing OPK test strips but want to make sure we are covering all bases.

Again, any tips or advice welcome ☺️ xx

thecoconutcat · 26/07/2022 22:26

AF officially started yesterday, so month 2 of TTC has officially started. I'm planning to use ovulation sticks this time so I feel a bit more knowledgeable about my ovulation window. Sending lots of positive vibes to you all xx

BeeLieve86 · 26/07/2022 06:38

@TinyDancer91 im sorry you’re getting fed up. Trying new things this cycle will hopefully help. Baby dust to you ✨✨✨
I ovulate this weekend too. Told my OH that we need to have lots of sex and he rolled his eyes! I think he’s only just getting his head around all this, so my fertile window happening so soon after our chat isn’t great, but at the end of the day we decided to start trying straight away!

Original poster
TinyDancer91 · 25/07/2022 22:00

@HeartNutella I don't think I've ever had heartburn at all.... like ever.... so I'm really sorry but I can't help you there. Hopefully someone else can though!

@mgwyegve welcome back. I know how you feel, it's hard to not think about it when it's something you want so badly. I'm glad I started this thread because it gives me somewhere just to get things out of my head and that helps me feel a bit better. It's also great getting to chat to everyone else and us all being in the same situation too. We are now on cycle 8, I should be ovulating at the end of the week so am obsessively using OPKs at the minute. I'm getting that fed up of waiting now that it's getting to the point where I am willing to try anything. Trying pre-seed and a ferti-lily cup this cycle for the first time. Will let you know how that goes!

fingers crossed for everyone!

OP posts:
mgwyegve · 25/07/2022 19:42

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted here, have been trying to think about TTC less but it’s pretty impossible!!

I am now in my fertile period with a positive Opk this afternoon. This will be our 6th cycle TTC. I’m trying to stay positive but am starting to worry that there may be a problem with one of us… I’m a massive worrier at the best of times so always jumping to the worst possible outcome! I know realistically 6 months isn’t a massive amount of time to be trying I just never would have imagined it being so difficult! Nobody knows that we’re trying to it’s hard not having someone to vent to sometimes!

Anyway, fingers crossed this could be the one!

baby dust and happy thoughts to you all ✨ x

BeeLieve86 · 25/07/2022 18:23

@LauraA31
i did track my BBT about 6 or so months ago and it is a very good way to to track, especially I’m sure alongside using opk’s. It can be a bit difficult making sure you take your temperature every morning properly, but it soon becomes a habit.

hope this helps… xxx

HeartNutella · 25/07/2022 15:42

has anyone further along experienced heartburn and bitter after taste at around 7dpo? I've never had heartburn, literally perhaps one time in a period of years.

LauraA31 · 25/07/2022 11:24

Hello all!

After a bit of advice around BBT, I use easy@home ovulation tests and the clearblue ones. I am ordering some pre-seed but not expecting miracles.
I have tried to do a bit of research into BBT, but feel that i would monitor it far too much!

Any advice/opinions would be great! X

BeeLieve86 · 25/07/2022 07:55

@LauraA31
fingers crossed for you too! Keep us updated ☺️ ✨✨✨✨✨

LauraA31 · 25/07/2022 07:52

@BeeLieve86 It was the other way around with us, boyfriend has wanted to TTC for around 12 months and i put it off because of work and moving house etc, he was over the moon when i finally told him i was ready to try 😅

This month is his birthday, and my testing day would be a week before his birthday. I am trying to stay level minded but im secretly hoping that i can give him a BFP for his birthday!

Fingers crossed for you! X

BeeLieve86 · 25/07/2022 07:41

@LauraA31 thank you ☺️
yes this week is pretty exciting but I Really don’t want to get my hopes up. I guess I’m cautiously optimistic.
I am just on such a high that my partner is finally ready! I’ve had to be so patient with him. It was driving me crazy.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

LauraA31 · 25/07/2022 07:32

@BeeLieve86 Hello! How exciting that you are ovulating over the weekend. Keeping everything crossed for you!
My fertile window starts end of the week and I should be ovulating around Tuesday so not too far behind you! 🙂