Preparing and TTC in 2023 - Thread 2

everything crossed it’s a sticky one @HannahLouD

CD12 and still low OPK 0.3-0.4, usually get a positive CD11 or 12! OH is away until tomorrow night anyhow so not a bad thing but odd indeed

@HannahLouD Oh gosh, I am crossing EVERYTHING possible for you!! 🥹 Congratulations 🎊 it's so positive you've got a positive two months in a row now. Praying it's a sticky little one! X

@CRbear @CinderRosie thank you! 😊 Fingers crossed it's a sticky one this time 🤞🙏

@rosecbrm I'd suggest taking folic acid as I read that starting this 3 months before TTC is optimum.

@HannahLouD fingers crossed for you

I'm CD5 today and we are officially going to be TTC from my next cycle. I am SO nervous, I already have an 18yo DC so was a young mum and it's been ages since I've been in the baby days.

Everything crossed for you @HannahLouD - though understand your fear.

not quite the same but I often think to myself that trying to stop myself being excited about something in case it doesn’t happen is silly. Am I really going to be less disappointed not to be pregnant if I am not excited beforehand? No! I’ll be just as disappointed but didn’t even get to enjoy it got a short time. So now I just enjoy the excitement and deal with the negative if and when it occurs.

10dpo... So terrified of another chemical...

Brill thank you!

@Mushroo I’d second testing a bit earlier with the OPKs than you think… I left it a few days later than last month to start testing because I was on a hen do, but tested the day I got home and was already getting a dark OPK! I ended up with my peak the following day, so could have easily missed it as I ovulated about a week earlier this cycle than last cycle!
Premom was the main app I used, alongside natural cycles, which I had been using as contraception before ttc.

@CRbear thank you! I caved and did a digital this morning and it’s also positive so starting to get more excited!

Hey all! Hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread..

I am getting married in July and me and partner are eager to start TTC for baby #1 as soon as possible, trying to hold off until at least June before we start trying as I want to enjoy my hen and wedding! But as we all know as soon as you start thinking about these things, it's seems to be all I can think about! But we are really trying to patient and wait until closer to the wedding.

I just wanted to jump on as I've loved reading everyone stories and tips etc.! Does anyone have any advice for the few months leading up to start TTC? Anything I should definitely be doing to prepare?

Also massive congrats to all those on your BFP's and also lots of baby dust to those actively trying at the moment! X

Thank you! I’ve ordered a massive pack to settle in for the long haul so can pee with abandon! I might start a bit earlier then like you say to get a feel of it all

@Mushroo - sounds like a good start date! Though for the first cycle it could be worth doing even earlier to see how it progresses? Learn about yourself. I use the app Premom to store pictures of them all. I’ve always used my FMU but apparently afternoons are better. When I get my first reading over 1 I test morning and afternoon until it starts coming down again. But everyone’s different - you may have to experiment a bit!

Checking in and hope you’re all doing well! CD3 and decide to try OPKs this cycle.

Can anyone give me a dummy’s guide? I’m going to start using them around CD12 (normally ovulate around CD17).

Do I use them once a day? I’ve seen some people say twice. Also is it morning wee or should I use any?

I was thinking of everyday at around 11am, is that right?

Also are there any apps people recommend? I’ve downloaded Premom so far.

Thank you!

@TTCTeacher that definitely looks positive to me! How exciting! Fingers crossed for you.

@HannahLouD thats interesting about temping vaginally giving a smoother chart- mine are so rocky! Do you just use a normal thermometer? I also had no idea a chemical could show up so late- doesn’t make me feel so bad about testing early then. Would be awful either way.

After my vent a few days ago, I felt a lot better and think I accepted this was not the cycle. I checked what I’d changed since last month. The only thing was that I swapped out all my individual supplements and started pre conception vitamins. I checked where the dose on the pregnacare was lower that my original pills and started taking the original in addition where it was. Then I just hunkered down to wait for my period assuming this would be an anovulatory cycle. We didn’t have sex for a few days, until yesterday morning when we just fancied it. I did a LH test after out of habit rather then because I thought it would be useful and there was a blazing positive - t/c 3 which I’ve never even seen before! So bloody well relaxing was the right advice after all. And maybe making sure I was getting mega doses of magnesium, zinc and coq10! Who knows. But I’m grateful. We’ve used PreSeed one more time since and hopefully sex the day before ovulation and on the day will be enough!

Will be a 50 day cycle all told. We will be mid cruise with my entire family when it’s time to test so that could be interesting! Should make the TWW go faster at least.

@LeopardLover glad you're feeling more chilled out about things this time... I'd like to think I will be but I know I won't 😅😂

Yes, my partner is supportive, but like a lot of guys (from what I've gathered) doesn't really get this whole ttc malarky like us girls do! He knows I temp (as the beeps sometimes wake him up 🙈) and he knows I do "something" to know when we should dtd, but I don't think he realises how much time and effort and absolutely obsession that goes into it on my side 🙄😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Absolutely recommend temping vaginally! I'll defo be doing it that way again going forward!

How are you doing?

Any updates from anyone this morning? Anymore bfps?? 😊

@HannahLouD I totally understand that!! I didn't really get excited until 20 weeks last time, but I'm hoping to enjoy things a bit more this time.

Oh bless you, I'm totally sure he understands!! You've been through a lot. Has he been really supportive? 💜

Such a good idea doing it vaginally, I might do the same!

@CinderRosie I'm definitely planning to wait until after AF is due as I did the time I fell pregnant with #1 (after disappointment) but who knows haha. And very true re what HannahLou said, it's a waiting game after that. I'm hoping to book another 8 week scan in when the time comes. And probably a NIPT later down the line as I just like to know everything!

@HannahLouD I’m sure when it comes to the time I’ll probably be caving with FRERs 👀😂

@CinderRosie good luck for when you start trying! 😊
Just wanted to say, unfortunately even if you do wait until af is due or after, you can still pick up a chemical... I was testing positive (clear pink lines) until 5 days after AF was due... but I absolutely do recommend holding out to test if you can! I said I'd wait until I was late this month, but already decided I'm testing early at 10dpo again 🙈😂😂x

@CinderRosie yeah I’m not going to be fully confident in it until I’m a couple of weeks down! But happy to finally have a bfp!

@TTCTeacher That is definitely a positive.

I’m scared of having a chemical so when we start TTC (hopefully in a month, eeek!) I’m going to try to wait til the day my period is due if my nerves can take it!

@LeopardLover ah thank you... I hope so! I think weirdly I'm trying to tell myself it's going to be a bfn and then it'll soften the blow a bit if it is... Although let's be honest, I'd probably still be just as gutted 🙄😅🤦🏻‍♀️

It is really exhausting! I feel really bad as well now because for the past week we've only dtd once as I've been feeling really tired and my poor partner is feeling a bit bummed 🙈😂

Yes, still doing BBT! Changed to temping vaginally this month though and my chart is so much less messy... I really do (for me anyway) think it's more accurate. Only thing is is that your temperature starts out higher to begin with than orally... Not that that's a problem but I can't really compare to last month. x

@TTCTeacher Eeeek! Congratulations! That's a very clear line 😁 and a decent one for only 9DPO!

@HannahLouD you definitely aren't out yet - I don't recall having any CM before getting my BFP. Are you still doing BBT?

We still won't begin trying until... Probably May now but I remember DH being exhausted with DTD laat time Hahaha. It definitely became a chore because it was such organised fun! We won't get as much chance during my FW as our toddler is sleep averse and my DH has a really manual job 😅 it only takes one time though!

@HannahLouD ah that makes sense! I’m going to try not to test every day because I know how obsessive I can get about things like that, but I’ll maybe do every other day for a week or so just to keep an eye on things!
My fingers are crossed for you! If it makes you feel any better I’ve had basically no cm for the last week! If it wasn’t for the fact my boobs have been killing me I probably wouldn’t even have tested this month at all, because this is probably the least pregnant I’ve felt in the tww since we started trying!

@TTCTeacher good idea! :) I did a weeks indicator digital at 11dpo and got a positive then.

So these were my tests... (9-14dpo) knew I was having a chemical by 13dpo to be honest as the lines stalled and weren't getting any darker. I stopped testing after that because I knew what was happening. A week after AF was due I started bleeding (tested again then and had a vvfl still but basically gone). So for me it was that I stopped having line progression.
I had high hopes for this month as I've read so many success stories of bfp the month after a chemical, but judging by my cm (or lack of in fact!) I just know I'm out already :/ x

@HannahLouD thank you! Going to wait another few days and do a digital I think!

Without wanting to sound insensitive, how did you know you were having a cp?