To not make too many lifestyle changes while TTC?

[RainbowHoping]

I’m taking vitamins but that’s it, business as usual otherwise.

I had a MC last week after doing everything right - zero caffeine, zero alcohol, healthy diet, lots of exercise.

The saving grace is that we did conceive pretty much instantly, as soon as we started using OPKs. It was a very early loss at around the six week mark.

We are TTC again as my tests have returned to negative and the bleeding has stopped. As much as we are desperate to be parents, I am trying not to take it too seriously this time and just relax a bit. I’ve had two lovely strong coffees from the local coffee shop this morning, and DH and I plan to go out for drinks and dinner at the weekend.

I do have a niggle in my mind that it’s wrong to do this and could hinder us conceiving quickly again, but I also don’t want to put my life on hold and at the moment coffee, cocktails and the spa day we have booked for next weekend are what’s keeping me going!

AIBU to go on as normal (aside from taking the prenatal vits) until I get a BFP again?

Live your life as you need to. You can always look into lifestyle changes later down the line.

I don't think you are BU. I'm TTC and taking vitamins and not drinking but not cutting down in any other ways. It's stressful and upsetting enough without removing all the things you enjoy in life!

I lived my life completely normally whilst TTC.

Sorry for your loss.

Thanks everyone. It’s difficult because the NHS website seems to make it very clear you shouldn’t do any of the above, but I can’t see how it could be harmful

I didn't change a thing whilst ttc. I was a healthy weight anyway, and I maintained the 2 exercises classes I did. I ate and drank my normal diet, which included caffeine and sugar.i'm not much of an alcohol drinker anyway, but if I was out, I was drinking.

I've mostly continued as I would have anyway...including switching jobs, going for promotions, etc. We've been TTC for five years and started IVF 3 years ago...yeah, life goes on...
I'm currently 18 weeks pregnant, so not having caffeine or alcohol at the moment. That's a choice, though. Other people still happily have coffee throughout pregnancy and that's fine, too.
Good luck. :)

I cut out caffeine/ alcohol/ sugar, was on all the vitamins in the world and then some during my years of IVF, not to mention cutting out plastics and fragrances. When we were told our only chance of pregnancy was with donor eggs, I totally relaxed. I enjoyed a beer or two at gigs, I had a red bull every day, I used all the lovely body lotion I wanted to. We then got pregnant naturally after having picked and paid for our donor eggs. In those 5 years of hell and worry I’d never been pregnant naturally. I think a huge part of it was the stress of feeling like I had to do all these things. For the first time in years the pressure was off.

It’s probably totally anecdotal, but I feel like there’s something to be said for that change of mindset. Trying to live a certain way only added to the stress.

Obviously avoid getting completely wasted or doing anything to extreme, but no, I don’t think you need to avoid all caffeine and all alcohol until you are pregnant/suspect you’re pregnant. Enjoy yourself in moderation. Often being relaxed and not stressing about getting pregnant very much helps.

After 8 months of TTC I must admit I'm pretty much only sticking to vitamins now. I do lots of exercise anyway, and only have 1 cup of coffee a day, and I'm a healthy weight.

Our fertility specialists suggested having a boozy weekend when we know I’m ovulating as a good way of getting pregnant because TTC is stressful and unsexy.

I think until you get that positive test you are fine. (Unless alcohol dependant).

The only times I’ve got pregnant is when I’ve been drinking coffee, wine, and eating what I like! I think stress doesn’t help, the ovulation tests, the scheduled sex, etc. it’s only when I’ve had a break from it all I’ve managed to conceive.

How old are you and how much will you worry if you don't fall quickly?

I've voted YANBU by the way :)

I did NOTHING to assist falling preg with my first 3 DCs except get the coil taken out each time. I fell within 2 months of ttc each time. I was young though and had all 3 before i was 29.

Late 30s - trying for DD4 - started without a care. Nothing happened. Ended up trying everything known to man to speed up conception and it still took 2 years to fall!

Chill out for a few months and then if it's not happening you can take a few steps to try to speed it up.

Definitely enjoy yourself. NHS only advices to reduce caffeine in pregnancy. Majority of fertility issues are beyond the ability of lifestyle changes to sort, unless you are very unhealthy, and given you got pregnant easily before, likely you will again. It’s important to enjoy yourselves as a couple

I had to come off some of my meds and reduce the doses of other meds. I also had one med I could take whilst TTC but had to stop taking once I got my BFP.

However, apart from that I just took my prescription folic acid and my conception multi vitamin and otherwise ate normally.

It can take a while, there's no point creating unnecessary stress during it. You need to be able to live your lives and enjoy time together.

Honestly just live life as normal. It would be prudent to quit smoking if you smoke but other than that just crack on. If I had my time again I'd have got in shape as I was about a stone overweight when I got pregnant and suffered with PGP and feel this wouldn't have been so bad if I had been fitter (but I don't know if that's scientifically proven).