OK so I'm chucking the pills out tonight...

[CupOfBrownJoy]

should namechange probably but cba... sorry.

Have never ttc'd before so I'm feeling excited and terrified in equal measure. I'm reasoning the decision to myself by thinking that we're not exactly ttc, more just not avoiding conceiving if it happens, iyswim.

So, bearing in mind I'm sort of trying to convince myself that its not really happening, what should I be doing? Can I still enjoy a glass of wine? I gave up smoking a few weeks ago and I know this will prevent any Saturday night crumbling of will power...

So, does anyone out there have any advice for a complete ttc novice?

Help!

Yes, relax!! Well done for quitting smoking, that's really important!
Minimise your drinking but life is too short to stop! start taking folic acid. Try not to get too hung up on opks, cm etc! Just relax and swi! Aiming for three times a week every week :-

Oops that went too soon..:)
Good luck!

oh my God I don't even know what opks and cm are??

I'm a complete know-nothing...

I didn't til I joined MN and that was after trying for a year! Here's a quick tla for conception...:
Opks- ovulation predictor kits
Cm- cervical mucous
Af- aka the evil witch/period
Poas- pee on a stick
Piar- pee in a ramekin (what the 'brook no argument' crew do!)
I'll do more when my phone is plugged in!
All I would say is try to track your periods so you get an idea of your cycle. I

Ok got a lead. Ummm what else?
Dpo- days post ouvulation
Cd- cycle day

oh Lord thanks for that!

There's obviously much more to all this than I ever imagined!!

Have been running my pills together so tbh as far as cycles go your guess is as good as mine at the moment....

I'll start keeping a note of periods (although I'm not really sure why - I'm sure it might be useful....?)

oh for my cycle, yes I see

Also I know it's a bit weird but it's worth noting the flo' each day...over a while you should see a pattern.
According to one fertility expert you'll see light-medium-heavy-medium-light pattern.

Oh I'm Faith BTW not my real name but some people get a bit bemused by what to.call me been ttc for 23 months (!). DH hormones are affecting his swimmers which appears to be the issue. Just waiting for him to see the specialist and things should improve...

oh well good luck Faith!

I'm Cup, its a new name but I'm liking it at the moment, and I've never posted on this board before...

Tomorrow is my first day with no pill!!! I'm 33 and DP is 43 so we've decided to just go for it. He's just keen whereas I'm keen but scared...

Nice to meet you. If you have the time and the inclination it would be nice to have a hand-holder!!

Are you more fertile if you normally have heavy periods? I've always been really heavy tbh (tmi!) but less so once on the pill.

Hi
i agree just relax i'm still thinking about ttc no 2 at the mo but i'm not gonna use opk 's for a while and just go with the flow!
When i last came off the pill my periods were fine, i originally went on it many moons ago to regulate them, now i am back on it (hopefully not for long) they barely happen!

Good luck x

Hello and welcome. The old timers on here (like me) are mostly friendly but a bit cynical. Hopefully it will happen for you quickly so you don't need to join us!

Take folic acid, live reasonably heathily (some vices allowed for sanity's sake) and have lots of swi (sex with intent), particularly around 2 weeks before yo would expect your period. Try not to worry about it until you have been going for a few months, then you might want to start thinking about mucus and opks, etc. But for now just enjoy!

thanks all - my intention was to just come off the pill, do some sensible things like not smoke (and now take folic acid) and forget about it, really.

Then, if nothing has happened after say 6 months, start to think a bit more proactively.

Thanks again for the support.