Waiting to try to conceive

[Amonstercooper]

Another thread for those who are waiting to try for a baby. It doesn't matter how long or short the wait; why you are waiting; or how many DC you have. All are welcome.

Old thread here.

Hello everyone - WOW I haven't posted in ages but it's just got so busy!! Lovely to see all of you - and it seems all of our experiences/sentiments have the same theme....!!

Anyway, I have a big and EXCITING update on my front - after further discussion by DH and I - we're moving up starting TTC to JANUARY! EEEEK! I literally just got off the phone cancelling the flights for our big trip in March to South Africa & Mozambique (full refund) - we decided to cancel because we'd be visiting high-risk malaria areas at the worst time of year for (and because we both care about TTC WAY more than an expensive holiday now). Also DSIL is having a rough time in her life right now and we will maybe visit her instead next year (she lives in Melbourne) - Oz is definitely more a preggo-friendly destination (aside from the flight).

So!!! Very excited!! Going to find a CBFM on eBay or Amazon and start POAS in preparation!!

Thanks for all the advice & personal accounts re ovulation days when coming off the pill, it's reassuring to know that it is not just my body being funny. I'm on CD17 now & am still using my OVKs but no sign of a line yet. I bought some cheapy sticks so I'm just going to keep doing them each day until I get that line, then I just have to keep my fingers crossed that DH forgets agrees to not using any contraception!

ladybourne- I came off the pill to start getting used to my normal cycles and I'm glad I did as it seems like they might take a while to settle into a regular pattern. Plus I don't know if it's in my head but since I have been off the pill I have been much hornier!

Welcome peggypatch! (hands over cup of tea , actually make that wine while we can) My babycrack is designing our future babies room in my head, even to the point where I have looked up baby furniture online!

Forgot to say, exciting news Zara! Plus a trip to Oz, happy times!

Congrats Zara!!! Getting the OH on board is a BIG step - keep expecting mine to change his mind again - just keep reminding him that we'll be having LOTS of early nights when the time comes, this seems to be doing the trick!

Thanks nenehooo and pinsent!!! :D Yes quite exciting as we're moving TTC ahead 4 months from April next year! DH is fully on-board - can't believe we're finally on the same page on this!

Pinsent I have also had ovulation at around 20 day mark since coming off the pill. I am feeling like my cycle is longer than normal but then again I never paid so much attention to it before the babycrack hit, so who knows! Also errrr can confirm increased horniness here too since coming off the pill....!

Those who are off the pill and using condoms - what brand are you using? Got some Boots brand ones and they are bloody rubbish (difficult to get on) and it's annoying. This condom malarkey is so annoying, and the no-pants dance is less enjoyable IMO.

We've gone for the withdrawal method rather than condoms, not as reliable but then that's a good thing IMO . X

Zara that's great news, congratulations! Also can report much more 'horniness' since coming off the pill, very frustrating what with having to use condoms for the next few weeks - we are using durex featherlight (red packet) and they're pretty good, though not compared to the real thing

We're using the Persona monitor. It has a failure rate of around 6% but so long as you're happy with that, it's a good option. You can pick them up on eBay.

Yep agree with VeniVidiVino - the Durex Featherlight ones are quite nice. Since coming off the pill, I have been tracking my cycle on the Period Tracker app. Anyone else use any other apps? I find Period Tracker quite good and the graphics are very pretty too. The first month after coming off the pill was pretty awful with a 49 day cycle and after 6 months got closer to 32 day cycles. Have been going Zumba to get healthy and fit.

On the babycrack thing - I can't stop having a sneaky peek at Mamas and Papas to see what new stuff they have... nursery interiors...ahhh! I know I shouldn't - counting chickens and all that bad luck stuff... but I can't seem to resist the temptation.

Hello ladybourne and mrspeggypatch - do you take both folic acid and pregnacare together or is it one of the two? I have been researching the whole mutlivitamin intake thing and not sure whether to take both or just the one? Will probably start from next year. Also I am vegetarian so might need to take some iron ones too.

redstrawberry I'm using the Fertility Friend app as I am also temping so I can add temps in and see chart. Layout/interface is not as nice as Period Tracker but I figured I wanted it all centrally located as I am using Fertility Friend.

My extent of babycrack obsession is getting so bad that Amazon is helpfully sending me info about various baby products on a daily basis (based on what I've already been searching) and all the online advertising I see now is baby-related (thanks Google - glad MIL couldn't work that one out when she was using my computer when staying with us recently...). :S Clear your history ladies or you'll get outed!!!!

This is prenatal vit I am taking (includes iron too) as well as Boots brand Omega 3 fish oil capsules and evening primrose oil (but will stop taking that as soon as TTC, because I understand from reading other threads it can interfere with your ovulation?)

Awayinamanger arrrrghhhh I should've remembered the Persona monitor, you've mentioned it before! By the time I saw your post I'd already given my money to Mr Amazon for a CBFM, 20 sticks and some pre-seed (am I over-prepared or what?). Can't wait till AF comes (bet that's the last time you'll hear me say that) so I can start using CBFM!

redstrawberry I take folic acid, iron, zinc and omega 3-6-9 based on all the old wives tales I've read on here. Also a vegi, so the iron's for that. The omega and zinc are to boost fertility and regulate my cycle. No idea if any of it works, but I have gone to a regular 31 day cycle with OV around CD 15, so I'll stick with it!

Looking at nursery furniture is way naughtier than buying babygros I reckon! You win the babycrack cup!

Zara it sounds like you're all set to go! I don't blame you on the preseed as you can rest assured that just on the one time you are planning to TTC you will mysteriously dry up just as all the chemists are shut and have to pour a whipped egg white up there....

DH is dithering again over booking holiday. Last time he just didn't take any holiday at all because he "thought it would look bad". This time he won't call his boss specifically to ask for holiday (next May) because it might look like he is "desperate". Madness! And so very frustrating.

Thanks for the wine Pinsent My DH has that babycrack sympton- I've caught him planning how the study will be...

Exciting news Zara! You must be so pleased! We've always used condoms- I would recommend Durex Mint Tingle, though tbh recently with all the thoughts of TTC I've been getting so annoyed at using them!

Redstrawberry - I just been taking the pregnacare conception ones- they were on offer in Boots and had extra stuff about aiding conception! I've read others alternating the pregnacare and folic acid.

Awayinamanger (love the name!) - v frustrating re the holiday- is there anything particular why he may be dithering- is he worried about redundancy or anything? Are you planning to go somewhere superexciting?

Booked driving lessons today to have one a week on saturday! So excited! This weekend we're going to see our God-daughter all weekend- she's just over one so it should be a fun filled, and eye opening weekend!

Woah woah woah... what's all this Evening Primrose business?! I take it every day (plus starflower oil, zinc & folic acid) for acne/irregular cycles. Had NO idea it could be bad for TTC!
Have now ordered Take Charge of Your Fertility from Amazon, and will change my pill-popping habits from now, and drink tonnes of Grapefruit juice from around Jan 10th
Thanks ladies!

Hey everyone

I?m in a glum mood today? My mum was going on and on about my wee cousin?s new baby tonight and how wonderful the baby will be and how she has found all these lovely outfits for the baby. I don?t know whether to cry or scream! I know I have been saying I?m not broody but deep down I really am, I?m just worried about money and having to go back to work and generally how I will manage to be a good mum. Meanwhile my cousin who is eating crap, taking no vitamins and had to have an iron jag cause she refuses to take her iron tablets is getting a baby, the council will give her a house and money and my own mum is buying her baby clothes! Argh!!

Do I sound horrible and selfish?!?! I think I have just realised I do want a baby so so much but I want it all to be right and I want my mum to be buying me the baby stuff!

Someone please slap some sense into me????

Sigh? Moving on?

PeggyPatch Major well done on loosing weight!!!!! 3 stone is fab!!!

As for prouduct info?

I?m on the prenagcare conception pills, as is my husband, tho I have to remind him to take his as he would rather be on the sportsman pills!

We use the featherlight condoms as well. I must be the only woman who likes condoms!! They take away all the mess! Mind you I guess when TTC I will have my legs in the air trying to keep the mess in! Too much info?!?!

Whats the grapefruit juice all about??

Also I have a weird question? I? ve heard people saying you shouldn?t get your hair dyed in pregnancy, is this true? If we are ttc next month can I get my highlights done at the end of this month??

hello!! haven't been on a while, keep dithering about MN as I do have a tendency to get obsessed with these things!!!
Zara - how exciting!! woo!! I will be joining you on that January bus i hope...
nene - I think that you can carry on taking Evening primrose oil once you are TTC ( it is suposed to help with the old EWCM) but you stop at ovulation in case you get pregnant. I think it's just sensible to quit messing around with hormones once you could be pg.
whoever said about christmas drinking and TTC - I've heard that mother and baby don't actually share a blood supply until somewhere betwee 5 - 10 weeks, so alcohol won't pass to the fetus. So if you're not actually drinking so much that you're going to damage YOUR health, I don't think you need to worry too much. If my cycles continue as I expect, we'll be starting TTC over Christmas & New Year, I'm not going to stop drinking but i usually don't drink much anyway, maybe just a couple of glasses of wine each evening.

Wee Sooty - agree with you on the condoms, I love not being the one who has to get up and rush to the loo to deal with the mess! another one using durex featherlight... best thing is they don't smell of rubber gloves any more!! which is great as that smell always takes me back to my pre-DH days and naughty teenage fumblings..

So we are still on for end of december TTC... Husband is 100% on board too now and often initiates conversations about baby names :) He's also being massively protective and overly sweet with the cats too, I often catch him cradling one in his arms, singing to them definitely time for him to be a daddy!

I had a job interview a couple of weeks ago, for starting after christmas, when my PhD funding runs out. I should be pretty much finished writing up by then, and the job is at the same place I'm based now, so I don't have to start accruing maternity rights from scratch, hooray. It's public sector too so we're very grateful about how generous my mat leave is. Hopefully should find out this week if I've been successful... will throw a minor spanner in the works if I don't get it, but am fairly hopeful (3 interviewees for 2 posts...).

I'm much better able to deal with the babycrack now I know we are definitely starting TTC soon. I'm a massive tightwad though so I do find myself peeking at ebay for pushchairs etc rather than mama's and papas!! Also we're having a trip to the USA in May so have been researching what's cheaper to buy out there baby-wise!!

sooty you're not being selfish. I totally understand how you're feeling. When my SIL was struggling to get pregnant she refused to give up drinking & smoking or lose weight, yet she claimed she desperately wanted to get pregnant. Her argument was that if drug addicts can get pregnant then why should she give up booze & fags! If I had been struggling to conceive for almost 2 years, there isn't much I wouldn't do to help myself. So when she announced she was pregnant a little bit of me felt resentment. Its so annoying that there are women out there who don't even look after themselves & show no sense of responsibility yet fall pregnant at the drop of a hat, then there are lovely women who will make amazing mothers who struggle. Just remember that when your time comes you will be an incredible mum & your mum will have admiration for you rather than pity.

:0 zara i have to keep clearing my browsing history too on a regular basis! thanks for the list awayinamanger need to buy me some zinc and omega-3s!

I will be sticking my legs in the air or putting a pillow underneath when I finally start ttc weesooty let gravity do the work! I think after coming across this thread earlier on this year I presume it's safe to colour your hair www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1386-is-it-safe-to-dye-your-hair-while-pregnant/AllOnOnePage

weesooty you have my sympathies - We haven't had a baby in the family for ages either and 2 of my SILs are also TTCing (although both have fertility problems and are having treatments) and I sometimes (selfishly) think all 3 of us might be pregnant at the same time next year and mine won't matter as the other two have been trying for ages!

Zara, congratulations! DH and I are heading off to Oz at the end of December which is when we've agreed to start ttc. Can't wait, already counting down the days on the calendar....
Peggypatch, good luck with the driving lessons! I passed my driving test just last month......decided to learn to drive, thinking it might come in useful with children in tow!

Both my SILs have had fertility problems. However one of them is barely able to support her first child financially, regularly drinks heavily in spite of having fertility treatments, also she ends up dumping her child on family everyday to take on her responsibilities such as nappy changing, dressing up daughter, putting her to bed etc. And it just makes me mad that they ttc for a second when they can barely manage the first.

Hi, can I join you ladies? DP and I have just decided to start TTC #2. Have cut out alcohol and coffee (am keeping tea though - gotta have something to enjoy!!) Am also taking folic acid and vitamins etc. Can't believe I'm doing this again - having my son was wonderful, but such an emotional rollercoaster - it's taken ages for me to feel ready to even THINK about having another one. I must be crazy!! But yay, so excited!!

Question: does anyone else find it hard to muster the energy to DTD every other day? By the time little one goes to bed at night I'm shattered and ready for sleep myself!!

MrsPeggyPatch yes there is a very definite reason for dithering - he knows that after the holiday I want to TTC and he thinks that if he can keep putting the holiday back, he can keep putting off TTC. We are supposed to be doing this epic pre-baby fly drive to the West Coast USA, but anyone would think it was two weeks in a third world jail I was planning!

Pinsent that was an excellent post. I completely agree.

Hullo all- I'm on the waiting platform for a variety of reasons, mostly the fact I've just started a new job. Do need to get a move on though- OH is nearly 40 (I am younger) and occasionally gets mopey about not having children yet but equally keeps referring to himself as 'not a grown up' so I am biding my time as much as screaming, weeping broodiness allows. Am a bit worried that by the time we get round to it I'll be the only mum we know with a baby (other people's children are at school :() but ah well, I believe said baby is quite time-consuming on its own...

Have been downloading menstrual cycle monitoring apps since I realised that even after so many years of life I have absolutely no idea when I'm ovulating and am being mightily amused by their conflicting verdicts, despite all theoretically working to the same information. Am trying to sort of dust myself off and shape myself up for TTC but I don't know how much I can do that's subtle enough not to be ridiculous, given we're not actively trying currently.

splash you are welcome on the thread but just to point out that we are all waiting to try, not actively trying.

Chemise welcome to the thread!

Thanks moggle have read up on it now - apparently you need to stop taking it after ov because it can cause cramps - maybe that's why I get crippling period pains every month?! As for men with cats, my OH cradles the cats, then says "Look honey, we don't need babies - we've already got them!" Hilarious.
On the downside, I got AF today - meaning my Cycle was 24 days this month, was hoping it would be 26 as that would mean it'd been the same for 3 months. But alas I'm still irregular
According to CM and OV pain I tend to OV around day 11 or 12 every month - is it bad to have short cycles?

Hello everyone!
Just to let you guys know AF has visited. So no accident baby:(
I think my course is going well, I've had two school days and had so much cramed into my head. I've found out its not an nvq as that's an out of date term.

It's fantasic to see loads of other peeps on this board! ( waves to everyone)
Lw