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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.

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Original poster

just decided to start ttc what do i need to know?

17 replies

tryingasofthen · 23/08/2010 00:00

sure so many people have asked before, but me and DP have decided that we are going to buy essentials for a little one slowly (over about 4months).
at the moment im on the implant going to get that out next week then use condoms until we have, clothes, toys, nappies etc together big things will wait till im pregnant.
but i just went completely of subject what do i need to do in the next 4months or so to make conceiving easier???
TIA xx

OP posts:

DuelingFanjo · 23/08/2010 00:09

I wouldn't worry about buying stuff now, even if you do manage to get pregnant straight away you will still have 8 months or so to buy stuff.

I would start off with just making sure you have regular sex throughout the month, cut out smoking if you are a smoker (both of you) and go easy on the alcohol too.

Lynli · 23/08/2010 00:45

You could see you Dr for a check up, make sure you have had all your immunisations. See if your iron levels are good. Take folic acid.

Stop smoking
Stop drinking
Have sex.

I wouldn't buy anything yet just save money, you can never have too much.

zazen · 23/08/2010 01:10

"You could see you Dr for a check up, make sure you have had all your immunisations. See if your iron levels are good. Take folic acid.

Stop smoking
Stop drinking
Have sex.

I wouldn't buy anything yet just save money."

Yep agree with all that and also, just in case you didn't see it...

TAKE FOLIC ACID. And zinc for him.

Also buy a few ovulation predictor sticks and test yourself to see when you ovulate. Have more sex at this time. testforless.com do a cheap generic stick.

It may take longer than you thought to return to normal after the implant. Take a good multi mineral and vitamin supplement- Solgar is good.

Don't bother buying all the baby stuff, or waiting till you have some stuff together - you'll have plenty of time for all that after your positive.

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 23/08/2010 12:10

Heya, thank you for the replies,
quick question how come none of you would recommend buying most little things as we start TTC?
as the baby will have its own room we wanted to get it all ready so we dont just have 7/8 months to get everything and trying to remember all the little things when pregnant is surely harder?

not disagreeing just wondering why no one would get things ready?

OP posts:

slowshow · 23/08/2010 12:15

So you're planning on delaying TTC until you've stocked up on clothes, toys and nappies? I'm sorry, but that's mad! What's the rush? Personally, I'm just too superstitious to do that. And some people might take a year or more to fall pregnant - if you find yourself in that unfortunate situation, the LAST thing you'll want is the sight of loads of baby paraphenalia in your house.

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 23/08/2010 12:21

No sorry read OP back and realised what it said! no i meant were going to use condoms till my cycles sorted after coming of the implant, and whilst we are actively TTC we will start getting things not before we start.

i was all over exited whilst writing OP :) sorry

OP posts:

notasize10yetbutoneday · 23/08/2010 12:29

I would never buy things until I get my BFP. My lovely friend bought a new house and as they were starting TTC straight away, decorated the samllest room as a nursery.

That was 10 years ago and 3 rounds of IVF later they are yet to have a child.

I really hope you do get pregnant straight away but as Slowshow says, if it doesn't happen straight away, you will make yourself sick looking atthe things you have bought.

DuelingFanjo · 23/08/2010 12:34

it took me ages to get pregnant and I eventually managed it with IVF so it would have upset me to have stuff in the house once it started to get difficult. Each to their own though, and economically it does make sense I guess.

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 23/08/2010 12:39

:( ok i see why you wouldn't want to, it just seemed to make sense to me and DP to do it that way, but dont think i will now

thanks for the advice

OP posts:

Ineedsomesleep · 23/08/2010 12:40

Forget the condoms and start TTC straightaway, it might take you a couple of years to conceive.

Don't buy toys, clothes and nappies until at least your 20 week scan. I'm sorry but just because you get pregnant doesn't mean you are going to have a baby, its sad but true.

As for buying clothes, toys and nappies before the baby is born, well that's just a bit mad.

You will be given lots of toys and clothes. We've hardly ever had to buy clothes for DS and he is 6. You will probably be given lots of other stuff too and NCT Nearly New Sales are great.

Put the money you would spend on buying those essentials in the bank and start TTC and good luck.

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 23/08/2010 13:02

we wont be given anything, we live 200+ miles away from all our families that was why we wanted to get things as we started, but i wont now because like you said it could take forever i suppose.

dont you have to have a full cycle to find out your fertile days?

OP posts:

MissLolita · 23/08/2010 22:09

Hi, I agree with everyone else on here - don't buy anything yet! You run the risk of having to look at baby stuff despondently if it doesn't happen immediately and if you have guests and they see bits and pieces it could lead to questions of "any news?" all the time which will not help!

Ineedsomesleep · 24/08/2010 06:49

Living over 200 miles away from your family doesn't mean you won't be given anything . They may still want to give you things. Anyway, most of the stuff we'v been given has been from my bf, who had a boy 3 months before my DS was born. I've also had things like a cot from a work friend. People are usually only too happy to offload their baby stuff on you.

Was just wondering how old you are. If you are under 35 then I wouldn't buy the sticks to wee on for at least six months. Just have fun with your DH. If you are over 35 and haven't conceived in 6 months they usually advise a trip to the GP, think its a year if you are under 35.

And no, I never waited to have a full cycle, I just had sex.

CaveMum · 24/08/2010 07:14

tryingasoften congrats on taking the decision to TTC!

The first thing I'd recommend is to come and join us on the First Time Frolickers thread here - all of us are embarking on the journey of ttc for the very first time and you'll be more than welcome.

Personally, I came off the Pill in May, after 14 years, and I've yet to have a period. It can take a while for your body to get back into a natural cycle.

Definitely look at your lifestyle - eat healthily, drink as little alcohol as possible and stop smoking. Take supplements (some people, myself included, take Pregnacare tablets which contain all the folic acid, vitamins etc you need for pregnancy).

I'd agree with the other ladies in saying don't buy anything until you are definitely pregnant. By all means put money aside to buy things, but you don't know how long it will take to get pregnant and finding yourself surrounded by baby clothes etc could be depressing.

It is probably a good idea to go and see your GP, tell them you are planning to ttc, get as much advice as you can and ask for a general health MOT.

Good luck!

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 24/08/2010 07:34

thanks CaveMum thanks posted over there :)

just bought some pre-pregnancy vits online, had a medical yesterday and got all clear to conceive safely.

i wont buy anything, bit daunted by the fact everyone thinks its going to take along time though :( we thought it would be about 4/5 months.

thank you!

OP posts:

daisystone · 24/08/2010 08:39

As others have said - forget about the condoms and collecting items and concentrate on conceiving if you really want a baby.

Not everything happens to your timetable you know. Yes you may be fortunate and get pregnant in a couple of months (I took 4 months which felt like a lifetime at the time) but equally you could take a LONG while and still be trying to conceive in a year (like my best friend).

The main thing is get on your folic acid immediately, because if you do fall pregnant this is the most important thing you can have done for your baby.

Trust me, you don't need to buy massive amounts anyway and you certainly don't need months to prepare! I am 6.5 months pregnant and am building things up gradually - just got to buy the car seat and Pram now. I had nothing in the beginning and haven't bought everything in one go, just bits here and there.

Work out when you are ovulating and start having sex a couple of days before ovulation and then have sex either every day or every other day from that point through to about 4 or 5 days after ovulation. Personally I wouldn't bother with the ovulation kits - they are a faff and a waste of money. Just get to know your cycle really well.

If you need more info - check out Zita West's 'Conception and Fertility - the complete guide to getting pregnant'. It will tell you everything you need to know.

Original poster

tryingasofthen · 24/08/2010 09:07

I have been waiting a year to be aloud to TTC i know things don't happen in my time limit.

i wanted to get things ready, all my life that's what i do i started buying house things just over a year before i moved into my own house, but as ive said im not going to now, it may have been a mistake on my part to think i should, i just thought as it was in a room that we never go in it wouldn't cause a problem and the only reason i don't think that now is cause everybody has told me it could take years.

ive ordered all the vitamins i need, and started to prepare to be pregnant.

OP posts:

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