What can I do to help the chances?

[BranchingOut]

We have been having unprotected sex for a while, hoping for baby no 2.

I am fairly sure that I am ovulating - positive blood test.

Have been taking pregnacare and super Vit D, due to deficiency.

Have ovulation tests and can identify my fertile period.

Have bought DH vitamins, but he has not eaten any yet...

Anything else? What is the deal with cough syrup? Anything else to take?
Thanks for any tips.

Thanks, but really I am not at all stressed about it! I would just like to do the little things that might make a difference.

If it happens, great. It not, then I am reconciled. However, I am 38 so would like to maximise my chances.

Hi - this is my first cycle. I spent a lot of time doing TTC research last month....

For the past few weeks I've been taking Vitex (Agnus Castus) drops each morning and also a fertility herb tablet called Maca twice a day.

Also, took Evening Primrose capsules for CD 1-15 and now I'm using Progesterone cream for CD 16-either AF.....Or I'll continue using cream for first trimester if I manage to get a BFP.

Also taking daily prenatal vitamins and fish oil capsules.

Now in 2ww.

Good luck both!

Agnus Castus can mess up your cycles.

If you're overweight, lose a little weight. If you smoke, stop. Cut down the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink a bit, use preseed if you need lube. And shag shag shag.

I followed the guidance in "getting pregnant faster" religiously for months. It made fuck all difference. Sadly if you're ovulating and shagging then there's really not much you can do to sway the odds in your favour. Good luck.

Ah yes, I have some conceive plus that might be helpful.

I am 5'7 and 12 and a half stone - is that overweight enough to be an issue?

No, being slightly overweight shouldn't make a difference but a healthy lifestyle (which I'm not saying you don't have) certainly aids conception. I'm 5'4" and about a stone overweight but have recently lost 16lb so am not going to beat myself up over it.

Don't take agnus castus, if you have regular cycles this can delay ovulation or even prevent it. Don't take any herbs as they have not been proven to work. Progesterone cream does not work either, only the tablets work and they are prescription only. Normally you'd have normal progesterone levels anyway.

Take your prenatal, vitamin D and if you want Omega 3, but make sure this is not from cod liver oil, as it contains too much vitamin A which can be harmful in pregnancy. Instead go for fish oil.

Conceive plus is for when you don't get enough egg white cervical mucus. If you do get this, then using nothing is the best (so no other lube or even spit). But obviously if you need to use lube then that brand would be best, or preseed.

Some say cough syrup helps to increase cervical mucus, but I wouldn't take any medication unless necessary. They also say grapefruit is good.

Not being overweight is always better but don't go on an unhealthy diet, just eat more healthily and exercise if you can.

I am also wanting to start trying for baby number two in the next few months and will be coming off the pill to try conceive. Like you, I have been trying to remember and think about what things help your chances. I took Pregnacare tablets daily for folic acid and vitamins which were recommended by my midwife first time round. Sorry to be graphic but sex in the morning is meant to be better and usually when you are ovulating you know because you feel similar to how you do when you're starting a period. To be honest I don't think a lot can boost your chances other than regularly having sex but I do think eating a healthy diet helps, no drinking or smoking and also being very relaxed and laid back about it. Good luck

Shame about morning sex being better than evening! I get up at 6.30 on weekdays and the last thing I wanna do is have sex. Plus, I don't think hubby would appreciate being woken up early every morning, ha ha!

Well it's what they say, but who knows with any of these things?! I'm up with my little boy between 6am and 7am every day so not ideal for us either!

Hi BranchingOut - just following up on my post above.....my TTC prep actually worked first time! Got my BFP yesterday on 10/11 DPO.

I would definitely recommend the Agnus Castus, Evening Primrose Oil capsules, Maca capsules and finally, the Progesterone cream.

Good luck with your TTC x

Congratulations!

Branching I am the same height as you and got my BFP the month that I lost weight - I'd been trying about 5 months, then stuck to slimming world for a month and got BFP the following month. I dropped from 11.5st to 10.5st so personally I'd suggest that you try to lose a bit - it worked for me :)

Oh, and had got pregnant first and only time using no contraception with DS1, when I was around 10st. So I knew there was nothing wrong as such, and weight was the only difference I could think of to change.