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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

First Month

86 replies

keepswimming1 · 01/08/2013 14:22

Hi everyone,

I have just joined the site, and would love to hear your stories.

I came off the pill in May, and started trying this month, how do you calm yourself in not getting your hopes up for AF not to arrives (she's due any where between tomorrow and Sunday)

I don't like waiting lol

OP posts:
ArkadyRose · 01/08/2013 22:25

If you're not used to checking your cervical mucus and aren't sure what you're looking for, you might find this helpful.

ItalianWiking84 · 01/08/2013 23:07

Arkadyrose thank you :) made sense so I better start checking that as well, tho I only notice that I get the thick sticky one :( hoping its because I haven't noticed the other ones...
But then I have a lot more knowledge for next month and then it's just trying again
Thanks again for great help :)

ItalianWiking84 · 01/08/2013 23:09

Vjones: hormone surge is yet another unfamiliar w

ItalianWiking84 · 01/08/2013 23:09

Sorry big fingers, meant to say I hope it does the trick for you :)

2kidsintow · 01/08/2013 23:11

You can get cheapy poas ovulation tests online that will tell you when you are due to ovulate. I found these helpful as I'm a control freak and used them when trying for DD1 and DD2.

I found that although I had a 'classic' 28 day cycle, I ovulated quite late.

I was one of the lucky ones and managed to catch on either the first or second month of trying.

Good luck. Have fun trying!

ItalianWiking84 · 02/08/2013 07:49

2kidsintow: I will go on Amazon tonight and see if I can find those sticks, thanks :)

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 09:17

VJones - Good luck and have a lovely holiday x
AF arrived for me this morning. how disappointing!!

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 09:37

And me!

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 10:15

Its so disappointing - I didn't expect to be so gutted, after all it was my first month.

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 10:22

It's totally natural to feel that way. I swing from thinking it's gonna take ages to conceive to doing it really quickly and I have to cling onto something because I'm a control freak. I will feel exactly the same.

ItalianWiking84 · 02/08/2013 10:26

keepswimming1- Sorry to hear that AF came, but I am sure next month will be your month

VJONES1985- Your going on holiday next week, right? Hopefully AF will be gone soon and you can enjoy your holiday and get some rest and relax :)

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 10:31

I guess on the positive note - af arrived bang on time, so I should be happy that after 12yrs on the pill I am regular.
My oh probably wont be in the country for my next O so will have to wait a little longer now. I think his due to leave a week before O day.

Italian - how long you been trying?

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 10:32

Yep, AF lasts two or three days so am looking forward to week one of ttc.

However, is it normal to be such a bundle of mixed emotion?? I'm excited but also so anxious and sometimes want to cry - I keep thinking of all the things I should do to increase our chances but at the same time am trying to stay relaxed. If I don't fall pregnant in a few months I will worry that we're doing something wrong or I've got something wrong with me :(

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 10:47

Vjones ? how long have you been trying? And did you you come off the pill?
My hormones are all over the place, I stopped taking the pill in May. I read somewhere that 80% of people trying will conceive in the first year, so that has to be good odds right?

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 10:51

Swimming - I'm anxious because I'm just coming up to ttc cycle one. I came off the pill last week after 12 years and am worried about how long it'll take for my cycle to return. Next week will be ttc week one and the plan of action is to dtd every two days although I might increase this during my fertile time. Yes, 80% of couples conceive within a year but that seems a long time to me!

ItalianWiking84 · 02/08/2013 10:53

keepswimming1- Yep I had the same, mine came bang on time, so at least thats not an issue, lol....
Sorry that your OH is not in the country for next O, luckily my OH is working close by our home.

I have been off the pill since ultimo April, and trying for "real" since June :) So been a couple a months now... Hoping August is my month

VJONES1985 - I know how you are feeling. I am just the same, I wanna take it relaxed and let it just happen if it happens, but on the other side, I am a control freak and really wish that I could also in some way control this some more, lol. Until like middle of June, I didnt even go to any sites online or learned more about getting pregnant, but then my control freak took over and now I am here, :D
I do think it is normal, that in a society like ours, where we monitor and check everything, that we also want to check this....

ItalianWiking84 · 02/08/2013 10:57

VJONES1985 - I came off the pill after 15 years and my cycles has been regular from day one... My cycles is 31 days and so fare I have got my AF every month bang on the day

VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 11:01

I'm glad you feel the same way and thanks for sharing your pill experience. Seems like Swimming has a similar story too, so that makes me feel better. I've been on Pregnacare and folic acid for about a month.

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 11:02

Yes it seem like a long time to me to - esp since my oh works away for 60% of the year. I was also on the pill for 12 years. I'm trying to stay positive (which isn't easy)
I found in my fertile week I was very very horny, my boobs were also very sore and I get a pain in my lower abdominal. then until my period I'm extremely hot and very nauseous still with sore boobs, which is really annoying as I get it into my head that I might be pregnant.
On the positive to af arriving today means I can now have a glass on wine tonight.

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 11:04

In your fertile week, did you increase dtd at all? Hopefully I will have similar symptoms like you, to help me better pinpoint my fertile week.

Original poster
keepswimming1 · 02/08/2013 11:09

My oh went away 2 days before O day, and we dtd everyday up until then. There's no harm increasing your chances hun x
I've also brought those tablets but have started to take them yet, I thought I'd start when I know hubby will be in the county on O day.

OP posts:
VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 11:16

My doctor recommended taking them asap so that they're in the system already so that's what I've done. Have heard conflicting stories about dtd the daily because some people reckon it can lower sperm production but I guess if it's only for a week, it might not have a big effect.

blueamber · 02/08/2013 11:16

I think it's a myth that women are more fertile just after stopping the pill. It takes time for your body to start producing hormones by itself again. It can take a while for your body to produce enough hormones to start ovulation and it can even have some false starts: where it tries but doesn't get there. In my case, it took three months after stopping to ovulate. So don't worry if it takes some time.

Also, it depends on your cycle when you ovulate; not everyone ovulates two weeks after their period. It's usually 12-16 days before your next period, so if you have a regular cycles you can identify your fertile days that way.

Cervical mucus around the most fertile time represents egg white, it's clear and very stretchy (you can test how stretchy it is between your fingers) and usually lasts a few days leading up to ovulation.

If you DTD every other day you should usually catch the right time. Sperms survives inside you for at least 2 days, so with this method you always have some sperm waiting when you ovulate. When you get a positive on your OPK, you ovulate within 12-36 hours. Once you ovulate, the egg only survives on average 16 hours, so that's why it's best to DTD regularly.

blueamber · 02/08/2013 11:21

I think DTD every day doesn't lower sperm production if your OH has healthy sperm.

VJONES1985 · 02/08/2013 11:32

I totally see what you mean, blueamber, about the body taking a while to produce hormones again. But what confuses me is the number of women I know who accidentally got pregnant after missing one or two pills. This suggests that the body can release an egg quite quickly after stopping the pill.