Preparing and TTC in 2023 - Thread 2

@TTCTeacher that's defo a line! Tentative congrats! That's what my line looked like at 10dpo last month (ended in cp) I would be really shocked if you had that line at 7dpo... I'd say you are defo more likely to be 9dpo!!

@HannahLouD and I think I’m 9DPO today, both of my tracking apps have me as ovulating a couple of days apart, but getting a bfp at 9DPO makes more sense than if I was only 7DPO?

@HannahLouD I’ve actually just done a FRER and I’m fairly sure it’s 100% a bfp! In total shock as I really didn’t want to get my hopes up after last month’s disappointment!

@TTCTeacher I can defo see something! I poas on the easy at home ones when I was like, 1dpo just so I knew what a true stark white test would look like so I had something to compare to... And in absolutely every light and angle there is no line at all! So I'd be cautiously optimistic that yours is a real positive! 🤞 Do you have a frer or similar to test with? How many dpo are you?

I also have a question for you ladies... I'm only 7dpo but I'm 99% sure I'm already out this month and I'm feeling so deflated already. Last month when I got my bfp I had cm constantly after ovulation (went between lotiony and watery) and this month I have been completely bone dry. I've not really read a single thing saying that this is a good sign... I just know I'm out already :(
Has anyone experienced this? Been completely dry down there and still got a bfp? I think I just need to accept it's not going to be my month!

A month later, and after telling myself I was never using the Easy @ Home pregnancy tests again because of a couple of really dark false positives last month, here I am with another possible line?
I feel like this one actually has more potential because it’s as faint as I would expect it to be at 9DPO instead of the darker ones I was getting last month… my DH isn’t convinced but I definitely think I can see a line?

Also struggle with DTD at specific times of the month. We are a once a week aswell, OH would have it more, it’s me, I’m tired, have two kids and would prefer to sleep. 18months in and it’s HAARD.

I’m expecting to ovulate 28/29th March and OH is working away 27-29th 😏 bloody typical

@CRbear Glad you feel less alone! 😊💕
@Mushroo ahaha I'm glad it's not just us then! 😅🙈 Luckily I'm now 2dpo so the pressure is off for now... at least until we inevitably have to start again next month 😂

This also accurately describes me and DH!

@Mushroo and @HannahLouD ❤️❤️❤️

thank you so much for your kindness and empathy! Much appreciated. I do actually feel less alone with it! I’m glad I posted.

@CRbear i could have written this.

I also have PCOS but naively thought because I’d become regularish it would be ‘easy’. I know I’m only on cycle 2, well, now 3 I guess, but I’m already struggling.

Also sick of sex 😂 we normally only DTD about once a week and so it feels really forced, there’s no ‘relax and enjoy’ happening at all! Similarly to you, because I can ovulate anywhere between day 15 and day 23 with no rhyme or reason, we have to DTD every other day for what feels like ages. It’s not just 3 days a month and done.

Just a note to say you are absolutely not alone in this and I feel the exact same, just like it’s never going to happen now and I’m already sick of trying.

@CRbear Hi! Sorry to hear your struggles :( Sounds like it's been a long, hard time for you.
I can't relate to the very long cycles (although mine was longer this month due to a chemical last month) but I'm also on my third cycle trying and I totally get it. This month, since when I thought I would be starting my fertile period, me and my partner had been going to bed and he'd be like "do we have to have sex tonight then?" and I'd be like "well, it's probably a good idea" (or something along those lines) and then he'd just be like "come on then, let's get this over and done with" - in a jokey way, but still... it isn't very sexy and doesn't make you feel great when it feels like a chore or like you have to rather than that you really want to. He was so tired the other night and he said if we didn't "have to" he would have loved to just go to sleep... I've felt really bad as I feel like I'm forcing him to do it. I know he wants to as he wants a baby just as much as me, but it is a rubbish feeling.
Sounds like you're doing all the right things though and there's nothing much more you can do... I really hope that you get your positive opk soon and obviously your bfp soon too!! 🤞 x

Hi all. I’ve not been on here much. I’m embarrassed to be finding this all so hard when it’s such early days (currently somewhere in cycle 3).

After two long cycles coming off the coil and getting on all my supplements etc. I’ve had 6 pretty regular cycles. In fact the last one I ovulated day 15 and genuinely, naively thought I was “cured” (of PCOS 😂). Im now on day 31 of the next cycle with not even a hint of ovulation and it has knocked me for six.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I hadn’t had the “perfect” cycle last month but as it is I’ve been LH testing since day 9- it feels like the longest time in history and I’m spiralling wondering how on Earth I’ll get pregnant if I have cycles like this! Im sick of sex already 😂 we’ve been having it every other day as suggested by sperm meets egg plan but we can’t go on like this if I’m going to have these long cycles. It’s ruining sex for us. There’s no spontaneity. It’s grim. I expected TTC sex would get to me eventually but not cycle 3. I don’t know what to do.

As I already “do” all the supplements I don’t know what I can change. I feel helpless which is new. Before there was always something to try.

sorry for the essay but needed to vent! I’ve told a couple of people in real life and they just say “you have to relax” “stop testing” - which might be reasonable (if annoying and impossible) advice for someone with regular cycles but we need to know when I ovulate so we can have a break from sex! I know they just don’t understand but it’s infuriating.

@LeopardLover Hi! Thanks for checking in and sorry I haven't updated in a while... YES! I have finally ovulated! I'm currently 2dpo... Got my peak on opks on Friday and then had all the signs of ovulation on Saturday and have had two temp rises since... phew!!
Hope you and everyone else are doing good!

@Hopingforno2in2023 that great news - hopefully a move in the right direction for you.

Im feeling a bit down today, cycle 2 of TTC and AF is definitely imminent after a BFN. I’ve had loads of spotting again and feel like my body has just gone weird the minute we’ve actually started TTC. All was fine pre Xmas! It’s so frustrating.

@HannahLouD How are you doing? Any sign of ovulation?

@Hopingforno2in2023 How exciting! Hopefully the 25th will be the plan and results :) Are you feeling like things are really starting to move along now?

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Hope everyone is doing ok? DH and I had our appointment letters through from the clinic today. I have a blood test and DH has semen analysis on the 23rd March and then I have an ultrasound and we both have the results appointment with the consultant on the 25th April. Not sure if the 25th is when we are given the plan or just the results.

@HannahLouD I havent had a CP myself but I do know lots of others on these boards often report delayed ovulation following one. I guess there’s been a disruption in hormones and they need to get back to normal before your normal cycle kicks in again. I can understand the desperate desire to get back on the ttc wagon again. It will come my lovely. Also, it’s normal not to ovulate every cycle

Has anyone ovulated late or not ovulated at all after a cp? Starting to worry I won't o at all this month... Feels like literally forever since I realised I was having a chemical... It's only actually been 19 days since the start of my cp but this waiting for ovulation sucks... Just want to try again! :(
Thanks all x

@CinderRosie Haha I know what you mean, generally the most active posters are already trying! I can't wait to reach 3 months of folic at the end of the month, even if we don't start trying for a few months.

Although I'm still thinking about switching jobs which could delay things, my main reason is trying to lose a few lbs and work on my fitness! I'm about 4lbs off my pre-pregnancy weight and just want to tighten things up a bit 🤣

@CinderRosie thank you! Let the paranoia begin 🤣
@Hopingforno2in2023 yay!! Hope you made it to the appointment ok 🙏🏻

@DollyGx that is a blazing positive! Congrats!
@Hopingforno2in2023 glad you've made it to your appt safely and don't need to wait another cycle.
@LeopardLover glad to find another one who is waiting to TTC!

Got my third day of flashing smiley on CB advanced ovulation test today, was thinking it'd be a static.... maybe tomorrow. Just tracking this month out of interest to see if I ever get a positive OPK as never do on the cheap strips.

Two mins after posting that they sky cleared and I am here safely!

Close to tears this morning. Supposed to be my day 3 bloods today but have woken to heavy snow. DH is away with work and the car so I was having to get public transport to the clinic which is over an hour away on rural roads. I can’t risk getting stranded and no one able to get DS from school especially as school may close early (or not open at all!). I have just left an answerphone message to cancel. Gutted this will mean another cycle’s wait :(

@CinderRosie no digital ones available but I was able to pick up a normal CB one, it looks pretty good considering I’ve drank so much water today so it’s pretty diluted! Course I’ve bought several so I’ll be doing more tomorrow morning, and probably the day after that too 🤣
@LeopardLover thanks! I had to make do with Tesco express today and no frer available unfortunately 🤣 will keep testing though! 🤞🏼

if this is a genuine positive, I just want to share what I done this month in case it helps anyone, of course there’s no way of knowing if any of this made any difference at all -
1 glass of grapefruit juice every morning up until ovulation (meant to increase EWCM and I have to say I did have more than usual this month!)
I used the Premom app with the easy@home ovulation tests (available from Amazon) that can be used with it, you upload a photo of the test and the app tells you if it’s low/high/peak. Test at least a couple of times a day when you’re in your fertile window to try and catch your peak. I do think this helped as I managed to catch my peak and had sex before and after it.
I started taking some Zita West supplements in January - a pregnancy multivitamin, the vital DHA omega 3 and vitamin D spray.
Funnily enough this was the month I’d contacted my GP to have tests done and had my first blood test last week and was due to go for the second this week but hopefully no need anymore 🤞🏼

@HannahLouD Glad you're trying to remain positive, it can be really hard but there's nothing to say it'll happen again. You have a 5 year old so it's possible! I understand the impatient thing. I'm only being patient because I've only taken 2 months of folic acid. Once I'm at 3 months I think I'll become impatient to start TTC 🤣 I'm going through a never ending remortgaging process and considering getting a new job soooo! Still a bit longer to wait for us. Fingers crossed you'll get another BFP long before I'm ready to start joining on the countdown to ovulation 🤣 and the TWW xx

@DollyGx Congratulations!! I'd just want to see it on a FRER to convince myself but there's no denying that second line 😊