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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

Planning ahead!

178 replies

decafgirl · 04/09/2005 09:53

Is it just me who's planning ahead before she's even ttc? I've decided to come off the pill at the end of December and have started to drink decaf (v. difficult!), eat more fruit and veg, cut down on the vino etc. Am I mad to plan this far ahead?

OP posts:
JAG123 · 04/09/2005 12:42

I don't think that you're mad every little helps. Don't forget to start taking folic acid or a vitamin like sanatgen pronatel. I came off the pill well over 6 months before TTC my DD.
Wish you lots of luck and might see you over on the TTC threads.

Original poster
decafgirl · 04/09/2005 17:57

Thanks I was beginning to think I was the only one! A few friends have said they didn't do any thing 'special' before ttc but I'm a natural born list maker! I can't wait to be over on the ttc pages but a new job means I'll have to wait just a little bit longer - fingers crossed not too long though!

OP posts:
JAG123 · 04/09/2005 18:03

Well hope to see you there soon. Unless i get that elusive BFP of course.

rubles · 04/09/2005 20:10

No I am the same decafgirl. I have come off the pill and joined a gym in anticipation of starting ttc in Nov/Dec. I am even going to begin checking my temp too this month 'just for fun' so that I know when I ov.

(I did all of this last time, and managed to get pregnant by ACCIDENT(!) before our alloted ttc time despite my military monitoring.)

jane313 · 04/09/2005 20:25

A few months ago I caught the end of a fertiliy expert interview on This Morning. She said that you should start ttc as soon as you come off the pill. Something to do with the boost of hormones.

jersey · 05/09/2005 08:42

Hi decafgirl, I've been dipping in and out for last couple of months as we are starting TTC in dec as well, fingers crossed XXXXXX

Mainly due to sorting finances out first. This will be our 2nd. Is this your 1st?

Have you been for your german measles check at the docs yet? as that needs to be done 3 months before TTC.

Good luck ***

Original poster
decafgirl · 05/09/2005 19:09

Hi Jersey, this will be my first; I'm so excited (even though it seems like a lifetime away still!) I didn't know about the german measles thing - do you still need to do that if you know you've been immunised? My cycle as far as I can remember was anything up to 42 days so it may take me a bit longer to get into the swing of things so to speak I hope it doesn't take too long though!

OP posts:
jersey · 06/09/2005 08:13

Hi I was immunised at school but was told that in some people it doesn't last.

If you go to the doctors they will either take a blood sample then or send you to the hospital for a blood test (you have to have a lot done when pregnant, and I hate needles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

If your immunisation has gone you have to be re immunised which has to be 3 months before you start TTC or it will damage the baby.

Not sure what my cycle is as I'm on the pill which stops you ovulating. I go anything from 26 days to 30 days at the moment. I'm stopping taking the pill in November if DH isn't made redundant on Wed!

Can we keep in touch as we will be going through this at about the same time?

I'm 34
DH 39
DS 13.5months

Artoo · 06/09/2005 09:30

Planning ahead is certainly no bad thing I did some reading before I came off the Pill, and started taking my Folic Acid. Then I had an enforced 8 week pause whilst I waited for my smear test results (I was very overdue, and the doctor recommended I wait for the all clear before starting). This month is my first month of trying, and I've modified my diet in preparation (I follow a low carb way of eating, but have had it recommended to me that I raise my carb levels whilst pregnant), and started taking proper pregnancy vitamins (too much vitamin A in my normal vitamins).

I've also been charting my temperature for my last 3 cycles, to get a feel for how its all working. I feel as ready as I think I'm ever going to be (I just hope it all works now!)

I'm also 34, like jersey. TTC my first.

GL to you when you start!

Hugs,
Artoo.

jersey · 06/09/2005 10:09

Thanks Artoo. Good Luck .

Original poster
decafgirl · 06/09/2005 15:55

Would love to keep in touch,
I'm 24
dh 27

All the info on rubella is really helpful; I just assumed I'd be ok, I'm really glad of it as well -I teach in a primary school and get every thing going!

I suppose I should make an appointment - I hate needles too! Aaagghh!

OP posts:
Original poster
decafgirl · 06/09/2005 15:57

PS - Fingers are crossed for you artoo! Thanks for the info xxx

OP posts:
jersey · 08/09/2005 09:42

How are u doing decafgirl, getting impatient yet?

I am especially since my sil just had twin girls this morning. Major broody time coming up!!!!

Going on hols next week then only a month or so to go as I am coming off the pill in nov, not expecting to catch straight away.

Original poster
decafgirl · 08/09/2005 19:53

Hi Jersey I'm good thanks! I'm very impatient, especially as it's just my new job (and a new house!) that's making us wait.

Congrats to your sil - are the twins on your side of the family then? You may catch more than you were bargaining for! Ha ha

Enjoy your hol xx

OP posts:
jersey · 09/09/2005 08:27

Hi

My SIL DH was a twin, his mum a twin, grandmother a twin, etc. Although its not supposed to pass down the male line, it wasn't a total surprise. We had been joking that it would be twins especially as she had very bad morning sickness!

One set of twins on my side on my maternal grandmother so there is a vague poss. Wouldn't mind as DH wants 3 kids and that would get them in 2 goes instead of 3!!!!!!

Original poster
decafgirl · 09/09/2005 20:17

Was thinking today... you know you're ready to start a family when... you can watch 30 seconds of a baby program on Discovery Health and already name her baby, his weight at birth and even the midwife!

Ring any bells?

OP posts:
jersey · 21/09/2005 08:48

Yeap, I've been watching the baby progs whilst I iron before DH and DS get home!!

Dh keeps coming in saying oh know not those again!!!!

Artoo · 21/09/2005 09:28

Yup, I took a good course of Little Angels and House of Tiny Tearaways before making the final decision that I really did want one of my own It's all "research" isn't it?

Hugs,
Artoo.

muppet3 · 21/09/2005 17:27

Can I join in? I've been reading posts for ages but haven't wanted to join in too soon as I'd get too excited. This week should have been my first week of a new pill packet, but instead I'm out in the brave new world of TTC (after 9 years on the pill)! We're starting trying in 2 weeks, on holiday. (And we're kind of abstaining altogether til then.)

I'm: 27
DH: 27 also

This will be our first, we hope. Am completeley clueless about temperatures and timing - can't even remember what my cycle was back when I was 18 But I am such a list-maker too decafgirl! I've changed my diet to include masses of veg and fruit, and am on the pregnacare. I had the MMR jab to update my immunisation status a couple of months back - and I checked on the NHS website and the official advice now seems to be that you only have to wait 1 month til TTC afterwards.

Anyway, sorry for the long introductory post! They won't always be so bad ...

Original poster
decafgirl · 21/09/2005 21:19

Hello! Welcome to our mad little thread muppet3! I'm really exited for you - you'll have to keep me informed if you have any luck!

I'm in an extra broody mood today coz one of the girls at work brought in her 5 week old baby! He's sooooooo cute and I got to hold him and everything!

I was looking at the pregnacare in boots the other day - you must be well hard - they look like a horse would have trouble swallowing them! It'll not be long for me now though!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
decafgirl · 21/09/2005 21:21

PS) Hi jersey, how was the holiday?

Hi artoo, hope you're keeping well, any news?

xxx

OP posts:
jersey · 22/09/2005 08:07

Hi decafgirl, holiday was fantastic thanks, went to Jersey where we got married 2 years ago at the castle.

Welcome muppet3 to our little thread. I'm on a count down now till Nov for starting TTC. AF arrived yesterday with the full works of cramps etc. be glad when this goes for 9months!!!

I found temping worked for me when I had my DS, but not sure if it will when I'm up and down in the night!

Hi Artoo, how are you doing?

Artoo · 22/09/2005 12:16

Hiya Muppet3, nice to have you with us, welcome to the mad thread for scarily organised people

decafgirl, I tried pregnacare but didn't get on with it at all - not due to pill size but due to the fact you need to take them with your evening meal - for many years my routine has been that I take my vitamins in the morning, and I just kept forgetting to take the pregnacare in the evening. So I'm now taking clearblue vitamins, and getting on much better. I have been warned that morning sickness might make it harder for me to keep a morning vitamin down (lovely!), and I may need to try to get the hang of taking them in the evening instead (at which point I'll finish up the pile of pregnacare I still have - curse Boots and their 3 for 2 offers!).

Glad to hear you had a good holiday jersey, me and DH had a lovely week in south wales last week with a load of friends, very relaxing and fun

Well, as far as how I am getting along, provided af doesn't arrive before I'll be testing very early next month. My temperatures look good on fertilityfriend, and it looks like we had some well-timed BD-ing, so I'm pretty happy I've done everything I can do to have the best chance of pregnancy. But it's a long road ahead, and I would be extremely lucky to succeed in the first month of trying, so this may well just be a rest period for dh before starting again next month

Hugs,
Artoo.

muppet3 · 22/09/2005 12:38

Thanks for the warm welcome

I know exactly what you mean Artoo - the routine is usually eat dinner, watch tv or go out, get into bed, switch light off, remember pregnacare, get out of bed to take it ... After taking a pill every evening for 9 years you'd think I'd remember a vitamin pill! There again DH was always careful to remind me about that

kleggie · 22/09/2005 21:13

Any room for a little one? Just started taking folic acid, continuing with the pill for a couple of months while it takes effect, waiting for smear test result then ttc!!!

Luckily, I don't smoke, drink alcohol or caffeine so there's not much to cut out.

me: 25
dh: 24

This will be our first child. Spending a lot of time saying things like 'I will never give my child a dummy' and 'they will not have MacDonalds in their vocabulary until they leave home'. Wonder how many parents out there could tell me exactly how long the idealism of motherhood lasts before reality hits you in the face! Is it as soon as you give birth?!