Preparing to TTC in 2023

Hi! Can I join? We're going to start TTC around May time! I'm planning on coming off the pill January time, although I do have Endo so a little nervous about that 😬

Has anybody started taking any supplements etc or made any lifestyle changes ready for TTC? I already don't drink or smoke but going to really try and up the exercise... try being the important word there 😅

I'm 28 and already have a 2 year old so will be trying for number 2! Very excited already and glad to have found this thread!!!

@ViewFromTheAfternoon loads!!!

Does anyone watch any pregnancy/baby related things on YouTube? Family channels or "mummy vloggers" (🤢hate that saying) I love watching labour vlogs and "finding out I'm pregnant" videos!

Dont why that cut part of my sentence off!

I was gonna say I’ve seen changes already since losing weight!

@WanOvaryKenobi that sucks to hear. I had the same thing when I was given provera to bring on my periods… hit me with a vengeance.

im trying to eat healthy too but it really is soo hard as it’s getting colder. I’ve lost 2 stone since July and still got a little bit more to lose, so I’ve deffo made positive changes, but a little

I’ve also just started taking Myo-inositol, and making sure I’m taking my vitamins.

trying to do all I can to keep calm, and not let every day things stress me out!

Well, everyone’s fitness ideas are great. It makes sense to do that beforehand for however long you can. I admire your resilience in the lead up to Christmas! I want to enjoy Baileys in abundance, just in case I can’t next year!

@Mushroo , glad to hear it’s not too bad! I’m not a fan of herbal tea either so good to know it’s drinkable 😁

@

@DanisEndo , the inositol I use is this one: www.fertilityfamily.co.uk/inofolic-alpha/

It is supposed to be helpful with PCOS symptoms even for women who aren’t yet TTC.

@bethhop85 snap!! I’m not really a herbal tea drinker but I surprisingly don’t hate it

We are tea twins, @Mushroo ! 😁

You can’t get inositol on prescription unfortunately. I get mine from Fertility Family - you take two sachets a day (one first thing in the morning and one just before bed) in a small amount of water. I have had great results after taking them for two months. You can also buy cheaper inositol on Amazon - most people recommend a powder version instead of a capsule as it apparently helps absorb it better.

Yes, spearmint tea is different to peppermint - it has a sweeter, smoother taste 🙂These are the ones I bought: www.amazon.co.uk/Palanquin-Spearmint-Tea-40s-Bag/dp/B09FTMW4YJ/ They are tea bags as I’m not fancy enough to manage loose leaf, haha!

@DanisEndo you can just order inositol online. get it from myprotein as they usually have good offers, or the one from ‘bulk’ is good.

it also has to be spearmint tea (no idea on the science behind it!). It’s impossible to find in the supermarket - I use this one: www.amazon.co.uk/Palanquins-Spearmint-Herbal-Tea-Bags/dp/B007H7OXOS/ref=asc_df_B007H7OXOS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310538443620&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2287583325393739064&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046620&hvtargid=pla-564248047655&psc=1

Thanks for having me!
Good luck to all the first timers. With DD I took pregnacare preconception vitamins from April 2021 then after our wedding in July DTD unprotected. Got my BFP in August.

I used the clear blue ovulation tracking though I'm fortunate to have a regular cycle. Don't know if it's a coincidence but I'd also dropped weight ahead of my wedding so was at peak fitness. I plan on doing the same for #2 though I expect with a 1yo won't get as many opportunities to DTD 😂.

Well done on getting some fitness in @Mushroo and keep us posted on your step challenge

@WanOvaryKenobi so sorry to hear what you’re going through 😥PCOS can be so miserable!

I definitely agree with @Mushroo ’s suggestions. I have found taking inositol to be really helpful and also taking a much higher dose of vitamin d - so many women with pcos have deficiency if vitamin d and I wish I’d heard about it years ago! You can take up to 4000 IU each day safely (according to various research papers I’ve read). I use the Vitabiotics 4000 IU tablets and they have been great.

Sending you hugs 💗

That’s great to hear, @Mushroo - well done! I find it so hard to stick to a PCOS-friendly diet as I have such a massive sweet tooth 😣

I had heard that spearmint tea was helpful for pcos too. I’ve just this minute bought some from Amazon! I also bought some of the cheap ovulation test strips recommended on MN (the easy@home ones) as I currently have no idea when I’m ovulating and will get through lots of them while I work it out, so don’t want to spend a lot on them. I’m planning to DTD every other day just in case but would still be good to know if / when I’m ovulating.

I have saved a little bit over the last couple of years (money that would normally have gone on expensive train season ticket) so hopefully that will help. I would just be so delighted to get a positive though even without saving as much as I’d ideally want to.

This is so exciting to hear how everyone is preparing. Will be great to start seeing some BFPs in the new year…! ✨💖

@WanOvaryKenobi very frustrating! Sorry to hear nothisterone is so rough. Have they suggested anything in the meantime for you? I think the private consultation will at least give you some more clues.

If you haven’t already, I’d really recommend having a look at ‘healthy PCOS’ on instagram. It goes through ways you can help via lifestyle. I’ve found a lot of it to work (ish, my periods are still not perfect but I have something of a cycle for the first time ever). It helped me feel like I was doing ‘something’ which helped mentally anyway. I’ve been:

• trying to get steps In
• lifting weights
• inositol daily
• spearmint tea daily
• vitamin c, d zinc and folic acid.

all of the above took me from a four month cycle, to 32 days (albeit despite being 32 days for about 6 months, last month and this month are looking more like 37 days annoyingly!)

Update for the PCOS ladies.

I'm on Norethisterone to induce a period and it is incredibly unpleasant. Feels like the worst PMS symptoms all rolled into one. Will have to take these every few months as I am not getting periods.

I also have an appointment with Ross Hall (private) to see if I can get ahead of the NHS waiting lists. Even just to get an idea of what treatment will look like. It's all quite isolating and I haven't felt like I'm getting all the right info from my GP.

@Mushroo Yeah we are going to do the same as most on here and try and be chilled about it. I just worry that in that case I may miss my ovulation dates and then keep getting BNF's every month which will get very upsetting. So I think DTD every few days is a good way around that so hopefully we won't miss the window.

@bethhop85 Yes same I think calorie counting works best for me.. when I actually stick to it, which is my problem!

@happyfeet5 omg no it's totally normal to feel that, I think everyone has those moments, I know I do. Just the other night I came home from a meal and it was only about 10:30 but I was so tired and I could hear next doors baby crying and I just thought i'm so glad I don't have to deal with that right now. I can just get into bed and go to sleep and get up tomorrow whenever I want.. do I really want to give that up? But ultimately I do know that I want this.. I have done for a few years now and I just can't wait. But I definitely have those moments of doubt every now and then

Morning all! How are we all? Welcome @TrudyProud i think you’re one of the few non first timers so all insight welcomed!

I forced myself to do an exercise class this morning for the first time in ages, as I’ve been feeling really sluggish which doesn’t help my cycle. I already feel like this month is going to be a long one! I’ve decided my goal for November is 10,000 steps a day.

Can I join? I joined 2021 group (under a different username) to conceive #1 and loved the camaraderie .

Backstory: Mum to gorgeous DD (6months old) who's EBF and now weaning on solids.
We were fortunate to conceive our first cycle ( I was 34 and conceived the week after our honeymoon) but I'm 36 now.
We are in the process of extending our new house and I'll be returning to work in March 2023. We plan to TTC once the extension is complete and my enhanced maternity leave package is reinstated. Hoping for 2 (or 3 ☺️) under 2 so we'll hopefully have conceived by July. Looking forward to seeing all our BFPs!