TTC Feb 2025

@MakeMeJuno I’ve heard of EPO for lengthening luteal phase before actually.

Mine just seems to have randomly lengthened by itself. Last month it was 14 days and this cycle I’m 12dpo and no AF yet. Strange after years of short cycles but I’m glad about it

Hello!! Found out I'm pregnant this week!! Does anyone know if there's a WhatsApp group for anyone due in November 2025?!

I've had some spotting with cramps aswel so hard trying not to over think it all aswel ,my fingers are crossed both are little beans are sticky and it's just because we are near what should of been our monthly (mines due tomorrow)

Thanks so much everyone. I am still having some spotting and lower back cramps but otherwise feel ok - trying to avoid repeatedly testing!

@xTinkerbell not sure if it's just coincidence but I started taking evening primrose last month and my luteal phase was one day longer. Obvs don't know what it would have been this month xx

@Taysonic definitely! I started trying to understand my cycles out with TTC and it’s really interesting having that understanding.

I read that vitamin c & b6 can help lengthen luteal phase. I tried vit C but actually stopped it partway through the month last month as I was worried it was drying up my cm. I was too scared to try b6 based on what I read so I haven’t actually done anything. Have been actively trying to improve my diet though so maybe that’s had some impact I’m not sure. No AF yet so far so good for a longer luteal phase again this month so hoping that’s just regulated.

Hope your little one is okay!

I think knowing and having this information is such a gift, isn't it? SO much of how we function is tied into our hormones, and to know and understand exactly what's happening with your body is amazing. Hopefully, you'll start to see things go in the direction you want them to. Ive heard about people trying to extend their luteal phase but don't know much about it - what kind of thing helps to encourage a longer luteal phase?

All hopes of DTD last night dashed when my son was ill. Ah well, at least it's early on in the cycle. Did remember to do my BBT this morning (twice in a row, well done me).

@MakeMeJuno congrats!

Basically waiting to find out what’s going on with my cycles. I’ve had a consistent 10 day luteal phase since having my daughter in 2022. Not hugely concerned by this because I got pregnant with my son despite this but it’s annoying having 21-24 day cycles and would like them to be longer.

Last month I randomly had a 14 day luteal phase so really hoping for the same this month and things finally starting to regulate.

Today is 11 dpo and no AF yet so we’ll see.

Congratulations @MakeMeJuno so happy for you!

I've also been considering if we should pause so we don't have a Xmas baby but I guess what will be will be.

DD 3.5 was asking me for a sibling today 🙈. I'm there thinking 'we're trying!!!'

DTD to order is harder than I imagined 🙈.

@MakeMeJuno Congratulations ❤
@Mama09876 @xTinkerbell nothing wrong with taking time for yourselves, ttc is so mentally exhausting, especially when you've got busy home and work lives too!
@Taysonic i'm day 8 tomorrow so will start testing then i think

Congratulations, fingers crossed for a sticky bean x

Awww congratulations @MakeMeJuno! Keeping all fingers crossed for you and here's to a straight forward, uncomplicated, glowing pregnancy.

@xTinkerbell and @Mama09876: hopefully taking the foot off the gas gives you both a bit of headspace. Always think recognising when you need to give yourself a break and knowing when to 'invest' in your own health and wellbeing is something we easily overlook.

@LuckyDuck93 Yay for SMEP! We jumped the gun a little bit and made the most of some childfree time yesterday to kick things off. But officially Day 8 today so... will probably enjoy ourselves this evening too.

I'm kicking things off today with a bang. Set up the PreMom app last night, did my first BBT this morning and will OPK this afternoon. Think I'm going to try and do afternoon testing around 2pm.

I have the 'luxury' I suppose of all the optimism and enthusiasm of newly trying. And the excitement of it being DP's first baby makes it even more so... but already, I'm not sure I can sustain this level of effort for long!

@xTinkerbell i think I’m going to for a few months take some time to look after myself a bit more and slow down! Life always seems to be 100mph so I wanna slow down and just chill for a bit then see what happens.

@MakeMeJuno congratulations ✨

Good morning ladies. I got my BFP on a digi... I truly had no expectations this cycle. Stopped tracking as much, accepted it wasn't going to happen and agreed with DH to break until summer. Not saying thats why this happened,but just sharing. Sending you all love and hoping this one sticks xx

@Mama09876 I’ve tried to step back a little bit too. I was getting far too stressed, still trying but trying not to obsess over it

@Mama09876 sometimes I think that is the best way, no point in putting extra pressure on yourself when you're already stressed anyway!

@Taysonic you’ve summed it up completely how I feel. Stressed with work, putting myself through exams to progress with work but they’re not exactly easy as well (pretty much the equivalent of a degree level) on top of everything else it’s just got a bit much, I think I need to slow down and regroup and look after myself a bit.
i did have moment last year of wondering if I even wanted a 2nd but I know I really do, I think it was the thought of having a 2nd child whilst in the mist of a whirlwind of chaos!
So nice to have people who understand/been through it to talk to 🥰

I’m not going to do OPK sticks this cycle, I still take my BBT (when I remember 🙄) and just see what happens!

SMEP sounds like a good’n ladies! I have heard of it so be interesting to see if it works for you, got everything crossed! 🤞🏻

@Mama09876 @PoppyGirl222 @Taysonic hope you're all doing good!
Totally understand what you mean about a reset, strangely i've enjoyed the first few days of this cycle because it's been so nice not to think about ovulation or the tww, its like a nice little break for my brain.

I'm on CD6 today too and going to try SMEP like you @Taysonic, emojis in the shared calendar sounds like a really good idea, I get sick of OH asking if we should be DTD that day so then there's no question about it 😆So romantic!
I might have a look at that thermometer, using natural cycles atm alongside premom as I love the thermometer storing my temp if I go back to sleep before syncing, but if I can find one to sync with premom that would be better as i prefer the app.
Due to ovulate next friday and away next saturday with family but without hubby, so hoping ovulation isnt late!

Hi @PoppyGirl222 - SMEP is the 'Sperm Meet Egg Plan' - a very short e-Book written by Deanna Roy. It has some useful information in it around fertility and recommends a structured DTD plan to maximise the chance of conception. I followed it the first time I got pregnant (cycle 1 - boom!). It essentially encourages you to ba-doink every other day from CD8, and then every day for three days once you get your ovulation test peak, miss a day, and then have another go on the next day for good measure.

I'm also fairly sure BBT will blow my mind, but I'm giving it a go. I've got the Easy@Home OPK kit, and there's a thermometer I found on Amazon that also auto syncs to the PreMom app so giving that a go. Worth a punt, hopefully.

And @Mama09876, ABSOLUTELY know the feeling. When I previously tried to get pregnant for a second, we tried for almost three years. I definitely went through phases of trying to identify what the issue was (I was VERY stressed at the time - my boy had started school and it threw up loads of undiagnosed SEN issues that completely caught us by surprise and he stayed on a part time timetable, juggling that with work and the pandemic was just a bit of a maelstrom) and I'd go through patches where I questioned if this was even something I wanted... But couldn't work out if I was just trying to protect myself from further disappointment.

It's a REAL mental challenge I think to get your head around. But, the fact that you're still here, checking this forum, says a lot about how much it all means to you. We can give you a big cuddle whenever you need one! And let's be honest, TTC puts a lot of pressure on sex. After a while, I think a bit of a reset to take the pressure off and just enjoy each other can be a good thing.

@PoppyGirl222 @LuckyDuck93 @Taysonic
Morning ladies!
how you all feeling? I’ve been unbelievably stressed the past 6 months with work and I really don’t think it’s helped the whole trying for a baby at all. But thankfully that’s calmed down in work now so I’m going to take the approach you have @PoppyGirl222 and need to clear my head and get back looking after myself!
I’m due to ovulate on Monday but my other half is away from today till Sunday with work so honestly I’m not going to think about it this month. If we have sex on Sunday night then great but if I don’t catch ovulation I’m not putting any pressure on it.
I might even take a few months off till April/May so I can get past the months of having a Xmas baby 😂

I just feel a bit mentally drained mostly with work to be honest but TTC isn’t helping either. Think I need some months to get back in a healthy state of mind.
but then there is a part of me that feels I can’t really afford to ‘take a month off’ with our ages etc 🙈 I’m just all very conflicted at the moment.

It’s nice that there’s some of us so close together with near exact same cd 😌 it’s really helpful and supportive. What is SMEP? I’ve not even ventured into the bbt area, i know i’d be rubbish at doing it for a start plus i wouldn’t know what to buy and i’ve zero clue as to when it should go up & down or what that would mean. I might give it a go down the line but i’m still trying the strips and using the Premom app for now. I know we all say we’re not testing early but i am literally not doing a test this time before at least 12dpo (that’s my congratulations you’ve held out this far date lol)

Trying so hard not to symptom spot because actually really don’t think this is our month but… 8dpo and backache and I’m just torturing myself

Think there's a few of us the same - AF turns up, there's not much you can do proactively, just got to take that time to refresh and get ready to go again.

Time goes fast though - just checked and I'm already CD06. Those days have swung by quick. The four of us are all fairly close together, right?

I've just ordered a thermometer for BBT too. Will try and make a concerted effort to stick to it, as I like the clarity it gives others on here. Might not be able to use it usefully this month as I guess you need a bit of a data build up to notice patterns etc. but in for a penny...

Fully embracing SMEP this month. Partner is super keen and excited and put emojis in our shared calendar. Ha ha.

@LuckyDuck93 @Mama09876 @Taysonic Hey guys, sorry i was gone. Needed to clear my mind and start fresh. Did loads of normal life stuff that makes me happy. Loads of wee dates & just making memory kinda stuff. How are we all doing? I’m on cd7. Where are you all?

@Fingerscrossed2025 ooh interesting - I have some heartburn and tingly boobs, lower back ache and slight cramps. Will test tomorrow again I think xx

Thank you , so sorry to hear your loss aswel , I had counciling right up until last week , ooh how nerve-wracking excitement all the emotions in the world are you going to test again tomorrow or Thursday ? I had all the signs of af apart from last night my mouth filled with so much saliva all night which was a sign with my dd, my fingers are crossed for your strong positive very soon