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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

How long did it take you to conceive your first baby?

30 replies

renovationqueen · 12/03/2026 14:28

Hi everyone,

My husband and I have been trying for our first baby since October 25. Both 30, I've never been pregnant - he had a pregnancy with an ex that sadly didn't go to term.
My last cycle was the first time I had used ovulation strips and they were positive 2 days after my app said. I thought this meant that I'd been misjudging my ovulation and that's why we hadn't conceived.
Then 8dpo I had some spotting that I thought was implantation bleeding and got really excited but sadly came on an unusually heavy period yesterday.

Feeling unbelievably sad about the whole thing and was just wondering how long it took everyone to get pregnant with their first children after starting trying. Starting to worry that it might not happen but realistically if I've been wrong about my ovulation dates this is only the first month of being accurate.

Any success stories would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
renovationqueen · 12/03/2026 14:54

Pineapplechunksandcream · 12/03/2026 14:47

4 years (I was mid 20s) via fertility treatment in the end. I don't know what current advice is but 20 plus years ago it was alternate days when trying not just around ovulation. It is very early days and most will get pregnant in the first 12 months so try not to worry too much (I know thats hard). What's your general health like? Focus on that, taking the right vitamins and eating well. Put yourself in the best possible position for pregnancy.

Thank you for replying, we definitely could be having sex more generally but we're both so busy and end up exhausted in the evenings and we've probably been putting too much focus on the 'ovulation date'.

Both active and healthy BMIs, we try to eat healthily with lots of fruit and veg so hopefully doing all the right things. I think I just assumed it would happen faster but it's really helpful to hear from others about their experiences isn't it 💐

OP posts:
NoYourNameChanged · 12/03/2026 14:54

I hate to say this, honestly I do, but it’s really not been very long for you op! It’s still well, well within the ‘normal’ realms, altho I know it feels like forever!
it took 18 months to conceive my first and 2.5 years to conceive my second.
Personally I’m not convinced ovulation strips are the exact science they’re supposed to be, they’re good to confirm you definitely are ovulating I think, but timing when you sex around it can be a bit disappointing because it isn’t as straightforward as ‘have sex on that day, have a baby!’

DramaAlpaca · 12/03/2026 14:51

It took me eleven months, aged 28. Then in contrast I conceived DC2 first time of trying, and DC3 after about four months of trying. This was in the days before ovulation tests were invented, but I had a regular cycle so just assumed that I ovulated on or around day 14 and concentrated trying around then.

Wishing you the best of luck, and try not to worry as you haven't been trying long - I know it feels like ages though.

Utardelis · 12/03/2026 14:50

Its so hard to not let your mind take over

I got a BFP on the 5th cycle of trying but this was my second month of ovulation sticks - unfortunately that pregnancy ended in miscarriage but very luckily I got another BFP three months after and praying for a good outcome this time 🙏

Not sure if this is a coincidence but thought worth mentioning… I did notice that both times I got BFPs we had done it the day before my peak and the day after my peak test

good luck 🍀

Pineapplechunksandcream · 12/03/2026 14:47

4 years (I was mid 20s) via fertility treatment in the end. I don't know what current advice is but 20 plus years ago it was alternate days when trying not just around ovulation. It is very early days and most will get pregnant in the first 12 months so try not to worry too much (I know thats hard). What's your general health like? Focus on that, taking the right vitamins and eating well. Put yourself in the best possible position for pregnancy.