Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

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.

Flip

Original poster

Help!

19 replies

Laur0804 · 09/08/2012 15:25

Hi everyone. I am a newbie to this website but thought I would give it a try!

My husband and I have decided to start trying for baby and we are now on our second month. We decided to use ovulation sticks straight away. I'm 31 now and because I have left it a bit later in life to start trying we wanted to make sure it would happen straight away.

I usually have a 28/29 cycle and last month my surge was detected on day 17. It is now day 19 of my second month and my surge hasn't been detected. I've been using Clearblue sticks.

I am so worried that its not going to happen for me. All I want is a baby and I'm worried Ive left it too late. Can anyone give me advice on what to do? do the ovulation sticks always work? We have been pretty much doing it every night so that we don't miss an opportunity :) Thanks

OP posts:

PuppyMummy · 09/08/2012 16:43

hi I don't use sticks so can't comment on that bit but I would try and get used to the fact that it might not happen straight away. even if u dtd at the right times.

its very frustrating!

I'm 31 and on cycle 5 of ttc #1 we dtd at least eod all through the month and do all the other things that can be done to 'help' but so far we haven't been lucky yet.

its a waiting game! sorry to sound negative, just trying to help u manage ur expectations! of course u may be lucky and it might happen straight away!

PandaWatch · 09/08/2012 16:57

A few days variation in your cycle is nothing to worry about AFAIK. I've been using CB OPK's since Feb and whilst usually I get my smiley face on day 16, a couple of times it's been 2 or 3 days later.

I think that stress can delay ovulation so your worrying may be affecting things a bit (but I'm not going to tell you to "just relax" because it's the most annoying thing in the world!!).

31 is not old btw. It's very common for people to start ttc in their early thirties now and doing so successfully. One of my friends was 37 when she started ttc and got pregnant on her 2nd cycle. But sometimes it just takes time. And whilst that doesn't make things any easier please at least be reassured that just because it doesn't happen straight away doesn't mean it won't at all.

Good luck!

LeeloDallas · 09/08/2012 17:13

I'm new to 'ttc' (have one DC but we weren't trying!!) and I can say you've not left it too late at all!

It can be very frustrating when you've done everything right but still don't get a BFP for the month!

As long as you're doing it every day I can't see what the Ovulation sticks can be doing to help (aside from making you worry you've not ovulated yet!), like PandaWatch, I don't want to say 'just relax' but try not to get too tied up in the ttc-ing, it can be easy to get obsessive about wanting a BFP last week!

Although stick around here, everyone is lovely and can give great advice, insights & some laughs along the way

Original poster

Laur0804 · 10/08/2012 08:54

Thanks for all your advice!

I know I just need to relax and to let it happen naturally. :) I think I am just overly worrying because 3 of my friends were trying for babies and they all got pregnant in the first month of trying! I just hoped it would happen for me too.
I think the sticks were probably not the best thing to start using. My husband hates them! :) :)

Its nice to hear other peoples stories on here and to get advice.

OP posts:

Happilymarried155 · 10/08/2012 10:11

What time of day are you using them?

Try not to get to wound up about it happening straight away, I am 25 abd have been ttc for 18 months now, sometimes it just doesn't happen straight away, you dont want to put too much pressure on yourselves! Good luck x

maples · 10/08/2012 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Laur0804 · 10/08/2012 10:47

Hi there,

I have been using them about 6pm every night. I sort of wish I hadn't started to use them now but I will carry on the cycle then maybe stop.

I am going to try and not worry too much and just wait and see. Have you used the sticks? Thanks x

OP posts:

PandaWatch · 10/08/2012 12:23

I totally sympathise about other people getting pregnant at the drop of a hat! I am surrounded by people like that. Although since we've been ttc we've come across a few people who were ttc for quite some time with no obvious problems but they eventually ended up with beautiful babies!

I think the stats are something like 65% of couples will get pregnant in the first 6 months, 85% within a year then of the 15% remaining, 85% of them will be pregnant within 2 years.

Happilymarried155 · 10/08/2012 20:49

I used them between 2-3? I think that's the prime time. Maybe you could try doing them then x

KickTheGuru · 10/08/2012 21:12

I've been using OPK's for over a year and I've only had 3 positive results. And I've only used the Clearblue.

LH surge is very slippery to spot.

DTD EOD and try pick the fertile week and DTD as much as possible then.

ruthieruthuk · 14/08/2012 10:34

Hi I am 32 and I have been using the Clearblue fertiliy monitor, which is very good, it gives you a reading of low, high or max fertility, is quite expensive to buy but we got a good deal on eBay, tbh i think the sticks are OK, the monitor is nothing special and tells you same thing. Also do sex with you partner every other night not every night as doing it every night is not good for the sperm, you get a lower quality sperm doing it every night so maybe consider this. Good luck x

Original poster

Laur0804 · 14/08/2012 15:51

Hi Everyone.

Thanks for all your messages. I think I'm going to defo give up on the sticks before I go crazy :). I am now on day 22 now and still no smiley face! So I'm not sure if I have ov or not this month.

ruthieruthuk how long have you been trying for? x

OP posts:

eurochick · 14/08/2012 16:14

2-3pm is supposed to be prime time, so it might just be that you have missed the surge this month.

I ovulate on day 14 from my right side and day 16 from my left, so apparently ovaries can vary!

It is really very early days for you so please try to relax a bit and enjoy trying, at least for the first 6 months.

ruthieruthuk · 14/08/2012 19:25

Hi Laur0804

I was on implant which was taken out March 11 so have been trying over a year and a half now, have had investigations and my fallopian tubes are damaged and coiled so I have a less chance of conceiving as to a normal person as my tubes will only work under pressure, doc says i still have a slight chance which I don't really get if my tubes only work under pressure.. but when you are in docs surgery sometimes questions like this don't always spring to mind when you have been presented with news like that, all I can do is try and stay positive, have given up drinking and smoking to increase my chances to a max, hopefully fingers crossed who knows may work and I really hope it does, IVF just sounds so traumatising, I'm really not looking forward to it but if it has to be done it has to be done

Christelle2207 · 15/08/2012 18:29

Hi
As others have said you need to not put pressure on myself. We all hoped to conceive within 1 or 2 cycles but there are loads of us on here who are still here several months (years!) later. In my case, about 10 months and no explanation why. I honestly think that stressing about it has in my case been a key factor so have done away with the opks!
I too made the mistake of using opks from the beginning and wish I hadn't. GP was right in telling me that they cause "unnecessary stress". I don't always get a positive but blood test told me that i ovulate - I think it's a case of either the LH not making it into my urine in enough quantity or more likely that the surge happens really quickly so testing once daily doesn't catch it.
The NICE guidelines - and what the NHS will tell you - is that sex 2/3 times per week - throughout your cycle, is what you need to aim for. When you start listening to your body it will do all kinds of strange things - ive just had a 44 day cycle ffs - and unfortunately most of them time you won't know what it's doing.
I think trying extra hard around what you think is ovulation time is a good idea but equally important is lots of sex throughout your cycle, and hopefully when you and your DP feel like it! DTD "when required" isn't always much fun.There was a lady on here who had sex only once in a month, later found out it was a whole 6 days before she ovulated - and guess what that was the month she got pg.
31 is very young so I doubt that that's a factor. All my friends (except me) have conceived in their 30s no trouble at all. I suspect that you will get pg within the next 2 or 3 months, if you don't there are plenty of us here who are in the same boat and we'll all get there eventually.

YoullLaughAboutItOneDay · 15/08/2012 18:35

Please don't put so much pressure on yourself so early. You have been trying for one month. This is the phase where you should just be enjoying having lots of sex and not worrying about contraception . There is time to get all serious and scientific a few months down the line if you are still waiting.

I am going to say this gently, but I think it is worth saying. If you are used to a career and being a high achiever (which you may not be, but I'm guessing...) , motherhood can be a bit of a shock. TTC is the first lesson in unpredictability and letting go of control. If you can master it now, you will find labour and babyhood a lot easier to roll with!

Original poster

Laur0804 · 11/09/2012 20:07

Hi,

Sorry I've not replied for ages. I could not remember my logon details for this website :)

I decided to relax this month and just enjoy it. I did a test today and I'm pregnant! I could not be happier. It took 3 months which I know is not a lot at all.

Thanks everyone for your help. I think I just needed to be more patient. I hope everyone on here gets the resuly they are looking for :) :) xx

OP posts:

janey1234 · 12/09/2012 10:23

Congratulations laur!

Can I ask (also TTC) were you still using the sticks when you conceived... Did you ever get the smiley face? Intrigued....

Paradisefound · 13/09/2012 20:34

Currently approaching 9 weeks pregnant. My advice ditch the sticks. Have sex regularly throughout your whole cycle. Use a fertility friendly lubricant such as pre- seed ( amazon).

It took ten months for me to conceive at 36 yrs, really long cycles. I tried the sticks and rarely got a smiley face ... Waste of money. Try to forget about trying to get pregnant ... Relax, enjoy life ... It will happen.

Flip