Preparing to TTC in 2023

@CRbear I just had one cheapy POAS left this morning and decided to use it.

Also all these funny symptoms around my ovulation like fuller boobs and light bleeding/cramping just didn't feel right as never normally feel anything at this stage.

I'll update if it gets any further but I can't even work out when I conceived.

Getting confused now!

For anyone who missed my last message (but has more wisdom and experience than me in this area 😂) what could be going on?

Came off the pill Dec 24th had withdrawal bleed 3 days later as usual starting Dec 27th. Counting that as CD1. Using other methods as not TTC for a few months yet, just want to get an idea of cycles. So DTD CD8 and CD23 avoiding fertile windows. Tracked EWCM and believe ovulation was somewhere between CD15-17. Had some spotting on CD15 too, so I thought that could be ovulation.
However, day after DTD so CD24 I had more EWCM and light cramping which I wasn’t expecting?? Surely not ovulation then?

Now on CD31, no AF in sight and BFN yesterday and today, not even a hint of anything otherwise. No symptoms at all, and usually I always get PMS! I suppose it would be too early to test if ovulation somehow happened later on CD24? For the past 12 hours on and off I have had a very small amount of pink spotting which I thought was AF arriving but seemingly not.

Here’s the thing- when I’ve had a break from the pill previously for several months my periods returned immediately and consistently arrived very late in the evening of CD27, so practically CD28. Never varied.

Ah @Mushroo that’s so frustrating. I wonder if BBT could’ve been high for other reasons on CD8. Weird though. Bodies do the strangest of things

@CRbear my husband is on a high dose of antidepressants so his body doesn’t always play the game so to speak

Hi all! And hello to all the new faces since I last messaged! I’ve not been on here much as the month feels so long between the TWW and ovulating again. I’m day 7 today. We’re also just going to DTD every other day this month rather then target ovulation specifically (but I’m definitely going to do the sticks and temp to confirm I ovulate!). I found last month hit me like a ton of bricks emotionally but I’m reliably informed it’s easier once you’ve seen the negative once! You’re expecting it more maybe. So feeling a little more realistic about this month. I’ve decided I want to change jobs so wouldn’t be so bad if it took longer in some ways! Does anyone know if you still get stat Mat pay if you change jobs (remain employed, no gap) or does that mean I’d only get the maternity allowance? The things we have to think about eh!

@Mary1986 that sounds intriguing! What made you test?

@Summer022 i think that alongside being cheaper the internet strips are better than the CB smiley thing because at least they show you progression rather then being so all or nothing!

@Lindsey02 you sound fed up! Do you mean convincing your OH to DTD? That’s frustrating if so- does he understand how limited the opportunities are to get pregnant in a month?

Ladies I’m on day 3 of flashing smilies we DTD on day 1 and was hoping to today but no luck. I feel sooo down about it but seeing your recent msgs I feel a bit better as I may still have time as the peak hasn’t come yet on my CB ov tests

@TunnocksTCake Ahhh yes that makes perfect sense. That’s awesome thank you so much! :) it’s such a learning process isn’t it - I never knew making a baby would feel so complicated 😂

@Mary1986 oh i am so glad you said that as I have been doing the exact same thing up until recently - we were totally exhausted and I haven’t even ovulated yet 😂 Thank you so much, that’s super helpful!

@Summer022 I think the CB ones detect ovulation as well as lh, and flashing is for the surging oestrogen, peak is then the lh surge. It helps get all the days leading to the peak but I agree it feels a bit endless! EOD during flashing days is absolutely enough :)

@Mary1986 that is very very confusing! I cant help Im afraid but I hope you get an answer soon!

@Mary1986 oh god knows then! 😅 It’s a total minefield isn’t it! I do also think after a MC your body and hormones can be a bit all over the place, so maybe you’re still getting back to normal. Yeah that seems like a sensible idea, keep us updated! 🤞🏼🙏🏻☺️

@Summer022 you're exactly right, the Clear blue flashing smiley means high not peak fertility which is meant to be helpful but I just find it confusing!

Just before ovulation you'll get the static smiley and hopefully a positive on the easy@home too.

The first time I used Clear Blue I was making DH DTD every day on high fertility and we were worn out by the time I actually ovulated 😂

Hi ladies, I’m a little confused so wondering if anyone can shed some light. I have been getting a flashing smiley on clearblue for 4 days now which indicates high fertility, but I have also been doing the easy@home cheapies and they are all coming back very negative. I am guessing from this that the easy@home will only pick up my peak rather than high fertility? I would have thought the two tests even though different brands, would both come up with the same result. Anybody else had this happen?

@DollyGx I'm so confused too 😄 and thanks for your sympathy x

I definitely tested negative for HCG after my MC as I was looking forward to it all being over. I MUST have ovulated earlier than I thought but this would probably have been while I was on my period which makes zero sense and we weren't DTD then?!

It could be a false positive also not ruling that out because I can't make it make sense! I think I'll test again in a week and hope for a stronger line 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Mary1986 sorry hear about your MC 😞
that’s strange, I know some women say they don’t trust the OPKs, could you have actually ovulated earlier than you thought? Or could there be leftover hcg in your body? When I had my MC (I had a D&C) I was still testing positive about 2.5/3 weeks later as some of the hcg was still in my system, takes a while for it to go down I think, but then surely you wouldn’t have had a period if it was still in your system? Ahh I’m even more confused now 🤣
could the light bleeding have been implantation bleeding?! Keep us updated, I’ll have my fingers crossed for you! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

First month of trying and feel so deflated with doing ovulation tests daily trying to convince OH these times are precious. I’ve already got 2 kids one of which is 2 I think I might have to settle with my little princes.

I've been following this thread for a while and love seeing everyone's journeys - I hope everyone gets what they want this year :)

I need some Mumsnet wisdom today please...

I've got a VERY feint BFP this morning but it doesn't seem to make sense...I had an early MC just before Xmas, then a normal period 4 weeks later and according to OPK only ovulated a day or 2 ago so we DTD then and I was settling down for the dreaded 2WW.

There's no way I can physically be pregnant yet is there? Implantation can't even have happened!

I bled lightly a couple of days ago which I put down to ovulation bleeding (I don't normally get this though) and my boobs feel bigger.

Could the positive OPK actually be because I was already pregnant?

As I said it's very feint so not counting my chickens yet as I've been here before and it didn't get much stronger but I wondered if anyone had been through something similar?

@Lindsey02 i know! All of those years of being terrified of it happening accidentally 😂

Is so confusing isn’t it, I just wish it was simple!

I think I normally ovulate around CD15 so hoping it’s soon

So the month of planning to try my cycle seems to have gone mad!

I was due to ovulate the 30th Jan, so planned to DTD loads this weekend (haven’t been able to in the week). But my BBT has shot up implying I ovulated on CD8?! (I normally ovulate CD17).

No idea what’s going on, still going to DTD this weekend but my body seems to be screwing over my best plans!

@Mummymidwife33 I’ve on CD14 with my 3rd day of a flashing smiley 🤦🏼‍♀️ can’t wait to get the solid smiley! I told myself I’d act different this time and not let it take over but it slowly is.

im hoping I know my body as well as I did last time. I knew a few days after conceiving I was pregnant with no doubt at all my mind so had no surprise when I saw the Positive test.

Hi @Noodles4Me and @Lindsey02 I'm in the same boat- 38 and ttc #3. My husband had his vasectomy reversed 2 weeks ago so we are now ttc. I'm currently CD4. I had my other 2 children in my twenties so concerned that my age might be a barrier

Ladies I’ve really frazzled my brain! I’ve been having fertility readings on Etsy loads of said March - April which is ok now some are saying aug- sept 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Wonkyjelly so sorry to hear that 😢

@happyfeet5 hey! So I had my period 2 days late this month, just about to finish now - came on with pink spotting and thought maybe late implantation but then my period came normally. Finishing today (early) with light spotting again. So took a test and very faint positive - obviously won’t be a successful pregnancy but figured must be chemical with short period and mostly spotting.

Is it too late to join?

Age: 25
TTC: no 1
Starting: end of February

Previously trying for a year, finally tested positive in November but unfortunately ended in a miscarriage a couple of weeks before Christmas. We've decided to have a few months break but will be starting again in about a months time! (When I should be ovulating).

Has anyone had any success with pre-seed? The doctor at the hospital when we we're told we had miscarried said he highly recommended this but I've not known anyone personally who has used it!