To ask what you’d do if you were 37 and TTC naturally for the first time?

[DragonflyRuby]

We’ve decided to try for a baby properly for the first time. I had a v. Early mc when I was 33 which was an unplanned pregnancy. At a scan after they said all looked well so assuming that’s true what would you/did you do to give yourself the best chance? I know I’ve left it pretty late but that’s just the way life worked out.

I’ve bought folic acid, we’re DTD like rabbits and I’ve bought some ovulation sticks to try but any top tips would be much appreciated!

I was 36, took us about 6 months, but that was without putting pressure on ourselves, tracking cycle etc… I had the attitude of if it happens, then great, if not, then great too.

DC born happy and healthy, it was a bit of a hard road back for me physically and a tricky birth, but that can happen at any age.

i didn’t bother with folic acid etc… until I was pregnant, then took it religiously per recommendations.

Good luck OP 😊

TTC since 36 no luck, had all kinds of tests nothing showing. Cut out alcohol, caffeine and ate a very healthy eating. Now 40 and 38 weeks pregnant wish I’d just gone alcohol free years ago tbh.
Was always using ovulation sticks to check is ovulated, as soon as period finished DTD didn’t wait to ovulation.
Also partner cut alcohol back completely, odd glass of red etc, he was always training for marathons etc, first time he wasn’t training for anything. Not sure if coincidence. Hope this helps, good luck! Xx

Penetration alone, yes. I'm one of those who can't. Using something like a bullet works in this case for me.

OP, the above is what we did the month we concieved (although i was younger, at 30). We luckily fell first month. We also used cheap ovulation sticks (which I didn't find helpful) and moved onto Clearblue Digital Ovulation sticks. They were much more helpful for me. We focused on the 4 days around ovulation- day before peak, peak day, estimated ovulation day, and the day after.

I'm now in month 2 of TTC at 34 and doing all the above but also with the addition of Preseed lube. Other lubricants are thought to not be so sperm-friendly!

I tried for three years and finally had ds at 36. Then a surprise dd at 40 that we definitely weren't trying for. Good luck op!

Took me 6 maths to conceive at 36 but only 1 at 39. Ovulation test were great.

I got pregnant by accident at 36. Don't overthink it just go for it.

My number one tip is to ignore (or tell to bog off) anyone who tells you not to stress/relax/etc. there is no evidence that state of relaxation impacts conception so don’t get yourself in a tizz trying to “relax”.

Second tip is read “it starts with the egg” and follow as much as you feel able to. Definitely take the ubiquinol, regular pregnancy vitamins don’t contain enough CoQ10 and get your husband on a
good sperm vitamin. Use a sperm friendly lube as well. Sounds like you already have limited alcohol and a healthy diet covered. Any other “tips” are just anecdotal with not much science behind them tbh.

Focus on having regular sex every other day or so around the fertile time (but make sure you also cover a good few days either side). The “storing it up” thing is not true beyond 2-3days and there is some evidence that sperm over 4/5 days old deteriorates in quality and needs to be cleared out. Some men produce better sperm by ejaculating every day (again some evidence this is true for those with poor morphology), but there’s no evidence that doing it more than once a day or two increases chance of conception.

I’ve conceived twice at 37 (miscarriage with the first pregnancy). As others have rightly stated, taking your supplements and DTD every second day especially around ovulation.

When I had the miscarriage (it was a later mmc) I asked the consultant at my review checkup if there was anything I could do to help the next time. She recommended a higher dose of folic acids as older women have a higher rate of certain birth defects which can lead to miscarriage and higher folic acid can help prevent them. It’s a few years ago now so I can’t remember the dose but worth speaking to your gp about

Alcohol can affect your hormone levels and menstrual cycles. I don't suggest putting your life on hold but cutting down on drink seemed to help my cycles regulate.

I conceived super quick with my first, then it took me ages conceive with my second. A miscarriage and three years later and I finally fell pregnant with my daughter.
So, I went from being super casual to pretty obsessed with ttc.
Things that helped me was tracking my basal body temp, keeping an eye on mucus (sorry if tmi) and using ovulation tests to know exactly when I was ovulating. I also took an expectorant (guaifenesin) whilst ovulating which helps keep cervical mucus thin and allows sperm to move more freely.
Also don’t DTD too frequently during ovulation otherwise the concentration of sperm will decrease. We did every other day.
Good luck and hope you get that BFP very very soon ❤️

I conceived at that age - it’s a normal age in London

we used the sperm meets egg method and I took vitamins to help my cycle. It could be luck of course but it worked in a few cycles both times - with my 1st and 2nd (first cycle with my 2nd using SMEP plan actually)

I was being helpful. If you don’t understand the difference between correlation and causation, I think you should be the one to pipe down. My friend tried for 3yrs, gave up drinking, completely changed her diet, had acupuncture, etc. The month she decided to toss it all in, drank way too much, started smoking again (hadn’t smoked for 15yrs) - she got pregnant. By your sound scientific reasoning everyone should take up smoking and drinking because she’s living proof it worked for her!

One has nothing to do with the other you're being ridiculous.

@LuckySantangelo35 nor can I, I didn't mean the orgasm has to happen while the p is in the v but asap afterwards while sperm is in there would be helpful! Most women can (I hope) finish themselves off after penetration and ejaculation has happened

Op if you get the book what yo expect while you're expecting there's lots of good stuff in there about conception too x

I wouldn’t do anything other than plenty of sex for now. If you have problems conceiving, you can look at all the other stuff.

37 isn’t old. I know many women who have got pregnant quickly and easily at that age.

No advice but I fell accidentally pregnant when I was 38 and gave birth to my 3rd child when I was 39. I'd had my other 2 children at 24 and 30.

I think this is very important, I fell pregnant 1st time I tried with 3 of my pregnancies and each time I made sure I came after him. It's got to he worth a shot. Good luck!

Make sure your bedroom is pitch black at night. Reduce the use of plastic around food. DTD a couple of days prior to ovulation. My 3 best tips. I conceived fairly straightforwardly at 37.

I would say that you're quite lucky to have conceived (presumably) quickly just having sex once per cycle on what you thought was ovulation day. Especially if older.

I was told by a fertility specialist that it's better to have sex every couple of days leading up to ovulation and that a wait of over a few days would mean sperm isn't optimal - but I agree to avoid it every single day to build up some good sperm. The cycle I had sex every day nothing happened! But sperm also needs to not be too old because sex has been avoided.

I conceived very quickly twice having sex every other day from the end of my period to my ovulation day in my first pregnancy and every two days (in this same period from end of period to ovulation) in my second pregnancy.

OP, 37 isn't that old. I'm not too far behind you btw. I wouldn't put it off longer though if you really want a DC.

Keep taking folic acid. I also took it in folate form in a conception multivitamin.

Look after yourself in terms of sleep, avoiding too much stress, eating well but also enough calories etc.

Tracking your ovulation is not for everyone but I personally did. If you become obsessed, stop and go by your cervical mucus which will usually let you know when you're fertile - however, mine is not as reliable as I get older! When slippery and more like egg white, start having sex every other day.

Have fun and good luck!

I forgot to add that just because you get a peak on an OPK don't assume you'll definitely ovulate the next day. It could be a bit longer or even closer than this. We vary. So I suppose in practical terms, maybe have sex the day or even two after you expected was your ovulation day too?

Hi. I had my first at 38 and my second at 42. It'll happen, try to relax. It might take 6 months it might take 2 years. I wrote down when I expected to ovulate and tried to DTD then. I panicked with my second, because it wasn't happening as quickly as my first. But it did in the end.

Good luck

Lots of talk about cervical mucus which I understand, slightly nervous that mine definitely seems to be less that I used to have. Might look into some preseed!

Dtd every other day, eat well, drink less alcohol and caffeine, and don't forget to have fun!

Don't worry about it OP. Mine has been a lot more scant since I'd say about 34 BUT, after telling myself I must be infertile, I conceived second month of trying both times so consider myself v lucky.

I still have my tracking of mine on my phone and I noticed that I had none near my ovulation day but just a small amount of times before it on both occasions. This is why it's so important to not wait until ovulation or directly before it only. The whole point of the EWCM is to provide the right environment for sperm to last for up to several days then when an egg is released hopefully magic will happen and there'll be plenty waiting to fertilise it.

I had my DS at 39 and DD at 42 both conceived naturally. Lots of mum friends are similar age. We were TTC for 4 years though. Would avoid stress and coffee.