TTC Feb 2025

@Fingerscrossed2025 congratulations - wishing you a sticky bean! I think I also have the start of my BFP today and am feeling overwhelmed. I had a CP end of last year which hit me disproportionately hard, so I can't imagine how you must be feeling. I won't tell DH for a few days so feeling very alone right now!

Oh bless you! Congratulations. I can ABSOLUTELY appreciate you may have a whole range of emotions going on. Let yourself feel ALL you need to feel. I'm a big believer in embracing your emotions as you need to.

Thank for your response I rushed to the shop for a branded one and this is the result 😬😭😍 all the emotions right now

I can definitely see a line. I'm not as expert as others are on here on knowing what an 'evap' line looks like or anything like that, but I can absolutely see something. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Hi all just wondering if anyone can see my second line , I lost my little boy at 16.5 weeks in July last year and not a whiff of a line since used all but two of this pack last month with no indents or false lines , I didn't track ovulation but going by ewcm I'm 9/10 dpo due on Sunday, any reality checks are more then welcome

Just wondering what apps and strips and things people use? People seem to use premom a lot?

@Mummy2RJ id say that looks promising!
@ToysRus56 we're the same, this was our 5th cycle and I felt gutted, I think the closer it gets to 6 months of trying the worse it seems, even though I know people try for so much longer it still feels like forever.

@Taysonic I had a lovely relaxed weekend too and a couple of glasses of wine, I feel like it's refreshed me for this next cycle

Ah I'm sorry it's a negative @ToysRus56 - I know it's upsetting, but allow yourself to feel all you need to feel. I've not used OPKs before, but maybe someone else who has might be able to help? Do you have an app that you upload OPKs to?

That reassuring to hear 🥰 thank you! Oh I hope so. Yes DH just popped to the shop for a CB digital. I'm a bit scared to take it 😵‍💫

That sounds like a lovely relaxing weekend ❤️

Negative over here 😞That was our fifth cycle so feeling a bit upset. I'm also wondering whether I'm ovulating much later in the cycle..? The tests and CM indicates around CD13, but for a couple of months I've had a sharp pain around CD18. By that point we've always stopped having sex, so I'm just wondering whether that's it but that seems weird as I have no CM....

It does look REALLY promising! Did you take another test this morning? Can't beat a digital for a bit of extra clarity I reckon! Keep us updated!

As for me, had a LOVELY weekend, drank a little bit of wine, played board games, did some crochet, took my lad to the cinema, had a family Sunday lunch... And now I'm gearing myself up for Cycle #2. Told my best friend over the weekend that we were trying. I play sport with her so she'd be the first to know when/if I become pregnant as my sport isn't recommended to be played whilst pregnant... Makes it all feel a little teensy bit more real.

Also bought some CoQ10 supplements over the weekend to try and help with egg quality. Can't hurt to give it a go, right?

Did everyone have a nice Valentine's weekend?

Thank you 😊😊

@Mummy2RJ I can see a line there!! Maybe test again in a few days?

I think I'm going to have to test for ovulation next cycle. My app says CD12 but I had literally no CM. I think it was CD 10/11. We DTD on CD9 & CD11 so hopefully caught it.

I got 2 VVFls. Did the top test first then the second one about 10 minutes later to confirm. Is it time to get excited or shall I wait a few extra days? AF due today and these tests were done on a whim with evening urine after multiple BFNs the last week!

Welcome @ToysRus56 👋

Sorry to hear so many of you have had AF arrive. I was hoping for lots of Valentines BFPs.

I'm in my fertile window now 🤞.

Testing on 28th, day before I'm due off on a Hen Do.

I would love to join if possible! My period is due next week and resisting testing. First cycle of trying SMEP this month - pretty relentless!

Obviously, I'm not a medical expert and don't want this to be considered medical advice but... what is discussed in the SMEP book is this:

There is 'anecdotal' evidence (and little scientific evidence) to show that taking a cough syrup with the only active ingredient being the expectorant: guaifenesin. This can help thin mucus and help with sperm longevity and mobility. BUT, check the cough syrup as syrups can often also contain anti-histamines which will dry up mucus. So if you want to try it (to be taken just before ovulation), finding a syrup with only guaifenesin as the active ingredient, and without anti-histamines may be worth a try!?

Funnily enough, I was reading about EWCM in the SMEP book last night. It talked a little bit about the importance of it as obviously a sperm-life enhancer and helping them live a little longer and get to where they need to be. I don't think that was a problem for me almost ten years ago, but I think it's probably more of an issue now that I'm older. It did have a recommendation for some kind of cough syrup you could take that helps produce mucus (both for coughs, and downstairs!). Let me try and dig out what it was... It might be worth a try? I feel like I've got nothing to lose in giving it a go.

@Taysonic sign me up to that petition please!!

It's so hard to not overthink everything isn't it, the temping is the only thing i've found to be totally reliable and also the reason I havent spend a fortune on tests. I had a chat with hubby last night too and said we need to start looking after ourselves more, better diet etc, we've given it 6 months of not changing our lifestyle at all so maybe something needs to change now. TMI I know but I also dont get EWCM very often, probably only every few months that I notice, so been looking into how to improve that..will be drinking lots of water for the forseeable 😆
Probably going to givbe SMEP a go this month, worth a go!

@xTinkerbell - keep hopeful and positive, I know it's a weird seesaw to be on. I REALLY wish TTC'ing was like in the Sims where you get a little lullaby song straight away if you've been successful. Wouldn't that save a lot of worry and anxiety!? Can we petition for that to become a thing?

Good to know the temping works @LuckyDuck93 - I've been thinking about the Oura ring ever since someone mentioned it on here and I'm SO tempted to invest. I don't need it. But, I know taking my temp any other way is not likely to happen for me because I'm forgetful and always running late! If I'm going to temp, I need it to be automatic - ha ha.

Had lots of good chats with my other half last night, explained to him all about SMEP and he's on board to properly follow that. We kind of followed it vaguely last cycle but not religiously, and obviously I wasn't OPK'ing so with a bit more information, hopefully we can time it right.

I've half convinced myself it's implantation we'll struggle with. And my only 'evidence' I have for this is that I have some strange skin bumps on my face after little cuts have healed which I assume is additional scar tissue. If I healed internally in the same way, with excessive scar tissue, following my C-section with my first, I think that could potentially be a problem. Don't know for sure, and it's just a bit of paranoia on my part but I had three years of unprotected sex with my ex and not a single pregnancy as a result so... I feel like it builds a bit of a picture.

@xTinkerbell its a very hard mindset to get out of though, its certainly hard to relax when you want something so badly.

Hope everyone else is doing ok, AF arrived today- at least I know my app is accurate now 😂

I have this horrible feeling that it won’t happen this time for me and I don’t know why. It’s probably my anxiety but I need to really try to shift my mindset

@LuckyDuck93 god remember those days when you thought you literally could get pregnant at any point! 😂 it’s so annoying isn’t it when you know it’s on its way you just urge it to happen so you can get on with the next cycle. I was the same on Tuesday! Hopefully won’t keep you waiting much longer.

I can’t remember if there is anyone left to test tomorrow now? I was really hoping they’d be a few of us eagerly waiting for tomorrow 😔 but wasn’t meant to be this month.
sorry if I’ve forgot if anyone is still testing good luck! 🤞🏻

@Mama09876 meant to tag you in that post, not myself 😅

@Taysonic sorry I missed that post earlier- that sounds so traumatic for you!

@LuckyDuck93 I think frustrated is the right word, remember when in school everyone told you you'd get pregnant if you even looked at a boy!! I'm frustrated today because all spotting has stopped but my temp has dropped, so I know AF is coming, just wish it would get on with it then I can start again