Anyone else trying to get pregnant and want to talk about it?

Thought I'd join in too ! We are trying for #2, my dd is 2, I conceived her on my first month of clomid as I was diagnosed with PCO and did not ovulate regularly.

My problem this time round is that my cycles are all over the place last 2 have been 7 weeks and this one 9 weeks and still waiting !! It is driving me mad, anyone any suggesions about how to start your periods??

Hasn't Louise Jamieson got 4 by different fathers and that Leslie (I'm sure she spells it the man's way, may be wrong) Kenton?

Ps
Monkey - decaffeinated stuff is apprently ok. I can't comment on how dehydrating it is but on fertility sites it OFTEN says that drinking the full 2 litres of water a day is v v important.

Www - 2 kids by two fathers is so common these days as to not be worth commenting on - as a teacher we sort of raise our eyebrows in a knowing way when you get to 4+ kids by different fathers( oh yes it does happen - and not so rarely!)...I know we shouldn't but we're only human!

Didn't want to scare you or your dp, www!

One positive thing to add - I've had an easier first three years with son number two than with son number one. All the baby and toddler traumas have got to me less the second time around so far. I don't know if that's because I am more experienced or because son number is easier. Probably a bit of both.

I know caffein isn't a good idea, but does anyone know if decaffeinated tea is ok. I nned to drink it by the gallon at the mo. Is it ok? Also, will that still have the dehydrating effects that ordinary tea has or is it the actual caffein that dehydrates? tia

thanks everyone! Who knew there was so much to learn about mucus?!

Finally it migth be worth considering Foresight - I've not had their test as I dye my hair and am far to vain to stop doing so just so that they can tell me to eat less chocolate and more cabbage!

Marilyn Glenville again(???!).... here

That'll serve me right for starting to feel smug...
I'm taking the Zita West here vitamins - tho' not sure they're worth it as they cost an arm and a leg!
Naturally I'm not a very good advert for all of this as I'm still not pregnant!

Bum

Here is Marilyn Glanvilles site \linkwww.marilynglenville.com/supplements/fertility_plus_women_men.htm/here{}

and another one
It doesn't seem to want to accept more than one link in a post so I'm trying separate ones ( voyage of experience or what!)

web page with details regarding possibly useful supplements
Wow - have just trialed the above and it seemed to work - now I'm on a roll.....

WWW (or anyone else with a partner different from child's father)- can I just ask, how long into your new relationship did you broach the subject that you might, one day, like another child? How did you do it without panicking new partner and prevent him from thinking that that was one of the reasons you were with him? Can I ask what the age gap is between you? (I know I'm being cheeky but I know you're a similar age to me so...) Thanks

Dot you need to have a look on www.tcoyf.com ( Wills stay away!) if you really want the 'indepth' on mucus and temperatures and indications as to whether you are ovulating. As far as I know the egg white mucus is not 100% proof that you are ovulating properly - if it combines with an 'appropiate' temperature chart ( ie low until ov - rising just after ov and then staying high until just before your period) then the chances are higher - combined with a 21 days test then you would know pretty conclusively!
Musica - not sure if yu can - but it becomes elastic to allow sperm to swim in it easily so even if you do ov - if there's no elasticky mucus your little wrigglers don't stand much chance.
This is all explained in far more depth on tcoyf tho so Have a look - or if you're feeling flush go onto amazon and buy the book 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility ' by Toni Weschler ( read the rave reviews there!) it also gives loads of ideas on herbs etc which may ( or maynot!) improve fertility and suggests ( for example) that drinking grapefruit juice near to ov will help as this increases the amount of mucus produced by your body. There are a few other sites which I've got book marked - I'll, sort them out and may even try a live link later!

Just read more - the stretchy mucus doesn't mean ovulation definitely is taking pace/will take place, just as the absence doesn't mean you're definitely not ovulating. It's a strong indicator but not 100%. Same I suppose that it's v. unlikely you'll get pg if you have sex while having a period, but again, that's not 100% either

well wills and dot 1, as far as I know, white sretchy mucus = ovulation. I don't think you can have this unless you are, but dunno about the other way round iykwim.
Isn't the internet great? Until a couple of weeks ago I had no idea about mucus and now I'm an expert! Not really. Plus I am so shy I couldn't even say 'mucus' to my husband never mind chatting about it with anybody!

I hope I don't get done for copyrite - got this from the following site, hth

www.babymed.com/docs/english/179.asp

Q: I heard that the cervical mucus changes during my cycle and it may indicate when I am fertile. How does that work?
A: The cervical mucus is produced by the cervix and changes consistency throughout your menstrual cycle based on hormones associated with ovulation.
Shortly after the menstrual period ends, the cervical mucus is dry and prevents sperm from penetrating the cervix. About a week before ovulation under the influence of estrogen, cervical mucus becomes abundant, sticky and thick.
Cervical mucus throughout the menstrual cycle based on 28-Day Cycle:

Cycle Day 1-5: Menses
Cycle 6-9: Dry; little or no mucus
Cycle Day 10-12 (OD-4): Sticky thick mucus, becoming less thick and whiter
Cycle Day 13-15 (OD-1): (most fertile time) Egg-white or "spinnbarkeit" mucus: thin, elastic, slippery; stretchy, clear
Cycle Day 16-21 (OD+2): Sticky thick mucus
Cycle Day 22-28: Dry mucus

There are no significant changes in the cervical mucus which can tell you before a missed period reliably enough whether you are pregnant or not.

Azure - Not Pathetic! not at all. Probably the best way because if you're that content to what will be will be then hopefully you wont be waiting until the end of the month with baited breaths and then feeling a great sense of disappointment.

I've afraid I've been on the wavering side about having #2. We would like a sister/brother for DS but we're only now fully reconciled to the change in our lifestyle since DS was born 14 months ago - 2 children seems so much more difficult (threeangles, I'm humbled by you trying for #4!). Anyway, over the past few months I've been on and off the pill as DH & I try to make up our minds when to try - I'm off the pill again now and pretty much leaving it to fate. Pathetic, I know. Good luck to everyone ttc.

Or...can you ovulate without the white elasticky stuff?

Monkey - I can't imagine how frustrated you're feeling. The last time I tried, my period was 8 days late and it was torture - even though the tests were negative, there was still some bit of me hoping they were wrong....

Another mucus question! If you're getting the changes you've described - the stretchy elastic white stuff - does that mean you're definitely ovulating? Or can that happen without ovulation??! (we really need an on-site Dr.!).

Monkey ARRRRGGG - really though that was quite enlightening! - I knew that the presence of it meant ovulation but I'd never though further than that!

I'm soooo with you on the frustrating etc. I know that I can't be - I've been so stressed recently that it will be a miracle if it happened however I'm considering every single body reaction/function as being significant. For instance I too am getting sore boobs, I've lost my ability to be ordered in life (like not double booking myself) and suddenly I have a desire to drink hot chocolate (I don't normally like chocolate that much). The last time I double booked myself and ate chocolate was when I was last pregnant. I'm probably blowing all these things way out of proportion but I can't seem to stop my braining thinking about it....

I agree that the doctors will say wait but I'm not sure I'd have the strength to do so and would have bought a test already - well done for persavering this long (can't spell sorry).

Close your eyes wills - mucus. I read on the web sites I was talking about before about conception, all about mucus. No mucus at all means little chance of getting pg. Creamy yellowish crumbly means you're warming up, but still unlikely to get pg. What you look for is 'egg white'. so if your mucus becomes watery & runny it means you're getting ready to ovulate, (so you might as well have a go, as sperm can hang about for a few days) and if you have stretchy elastic whitish egg white - grab dh/dp/jump in your car & head up north. Apparently.

You can open your eyes now wills, & 3 angels, this site has a boy/girl sex programme for you to follow:- www.babymed.com/tools/fertility/calendar/main.asp

I really have to moan now about my limbo please. It's really getting to me today. I'm having a really bad day & have been shouting non-stop at ds's - I guess I've been so tired and lethargic (& on mumsnet) the last couple of weeks, the house is really starting to slip. It's a mess everywhere, & I just cracked & went mad about it. No help from boys, not surprisingly I suppose, so I just lost it. Plus, dh has been working late every night recently, so I'm having to do all the childcare without any help. Sometimes they're still awake when he gets in so he'll pop in to give them a kiss, but I'm feeling really put upon by him, once I've finished getting them into bed I can't be bothered to do any housework, and it's all deteriorated....

So on top of that I've had cramps the last couple of days, so I thought period was going to start, but still nothing. No cramps today, no period. Breasts seem to be leaking a tiny bit several times a day. Did another test. Negative again. If my period does start I'll feel so disappointed, but logically I know I can't be pg becasue the testsssss say so. I'm getting really fed up about IT and everything.
If I hadn't missed a period I would be due this time next weekish, so if period doesn't start by the end of the weekend I will do one more test & if it's negative again I'll contact my doctor. I just reackon if I 'phone him now he'll just tell me to wait till next weekend anyway.