Anyone about to start/just started TTC number 2?

[mrsm22]

Hi ladies, I am 31 and have one DS already. After my DS I went back on the pill but have decided to stop the pill and start TTC baby number 2 and wondered if anyone was also just about to start trying or just started and we could follow each other and share as we go along. I literally have stopped my pill last week for the 7 day break, and am meant to start taking it again tomorrow but obviously won't be, so I am very literally just starting to try for number two but am very excited! That's why I thought it might be nice to go through it with other people who are also trying. I have heard some people say that after your first baby you are more fertile but I am not sure so I am really not sure how long it will take this time. Does it usually not take as long second time round? It has taken a lot for me to decide for definite that I'd like another as I had an awful time in labour with forceps and 3rd degree tears etc which really scared me and must admit I'm terrified of another scary birth experience.

Hi IBelieve. So sorry to hear about your MC. I hope you're about to get TTC again soon, once you know where you are with your cycle.

We had a lie in today, after DD's breakfast feed, which was nice. Still tired, but not as bad as I was!

Mrs, I think you're entering your fertile window now, so get DTD as much as possible for the next week :-)

We have so far failed to DTD today, when we are meant to be starting to do it every day from now. Apparently DH did try when he got in from work, but I turned him down in my sleep! Oops.

Maybe we can find time before he goes out to work later.

Have fun at your Nan's birthday, Mrs :-)

We're doing nothing this weekend, thank god. Can't be bothered with stuff!

What's everyone else up to?

Hi all, sorry I haven't posted in a while.

Stacks congratulations on your BFP, you must be over the moon!

Welcome IBelieve and sorry to hear about your MC.

Not much to report here. AF has finished now so we'll start dtd again tonight. I'm trying to convince myself that it would actually be much better if we didn't get pregnant until after Xmas (bit of reverse psychology to reduce stress levels!) - I could have a proper drink over the festive season, we could go on a free holiday abroad next year, and DD would be at school when the baby comes...

I’ve been feeling a bit down last few days, I still keep getting these cramps so thinking that its probably AF making an early appearance! its either due next week or week after so hard to tell atm! I’m trying not to symptom spot either especially not knowing how many DPO I may be! I swear when you want something so much you see other pregnant people and signs about pregnancy everywhere too!

Hi Kt - sorry you're feeling a bit down, I'm feeling a bit that way myself today. And I know what you mean, it seems to be everywhere you go at the moment. Patience isn't something I'm very good at. I really wish I had a crystal ball!
Hi Hungry - lucky you having a lie in today, I hope you feel better for it . Went to see my nan and my DS was trashing her flat, should have taken some Lego or toys for him but we weren't there too long. I'm not sure about the weekend, I'd like to get out somewhere with my DS but it's weather dependant.
Hi Metal - you're sounding more optimistic than the rest of us and I like your way of thinking! Let's hope it happens for us all before Xmas anyway x
Where's Lucyjojo?

Ooh, I've not read 'Death comes to Pemberley'. Is it any good Ibelieve? Whereabouts in the Netherlands are you?

Af showed up today. I'm obviously disappointed, but a longer cycle has got to be good hasn't it? And since I now can't work out ov I'll just have to dtd as often as poss

I'm not really feeling the positivty mrsm but trying very hard not to turn into a complete stressed-out, depressive wreck for the whole month! (I'll save that for the 2ww...)

Boo to AF, ATruth. But yay for a longer cycle. Do you think you might try OPKs at all? Or just go for DTD loads? We're doing belts and braces this cycle: DTD loads, OPKs and Conceive Plus. Surely it has to work?!

And everyone seems so down :-( I hope some positivity comes back soon. It is difficult when you're desperate for a baby, and I know I'll be as bad if I get to a third or more cycle.

The weather here is meant to be awful for ages. Good job I'm not planning on going anywhere!

Mrs, I'm glad your visit to your nan went ok, despite the destruction! :-)

I start using my OPKs tomorrow. It's in the bathroom ready for me so I don't forget!

Good evening everyone,
ATruth - really sorry you got AF! I hope you're ok. x I agree and think you just need to keep DTD as much as possible. That's the method we are going for at the moment. Still plenty of time for it to happen before Xmas for all of us.
Hungry - we do all need to lift our spirits a bit. Maybe we need to think about Donna and Stacks and let that give us hope. If my cycle is 28 days I should expect next AF on 1st nove so I will next poas after the 1st of November.
So on a brighter note, what's this Death Comes to Pemberley? I am just finishing the final fifty shades book and could do with choosing my next read. Is that one any good? Did everyone read the fifty shades books?

Yep I read them all mrs can’t wait for the film to come out! I too need to read some more books, usually read those trashy mags on my lunchbreak at work! We haven’t DTD too much this month so far either, cause DH is tired all the time! So that is frustrating me too. Think we’ve probably missed some of the fertile days too which is annoying. Sorry everyone else is feeling a bit down too. & your right mrs still got plenty of time for more BFPS before Xmas! Sorry AF has arrived Atruth but good that your cycle was a bit longer this time. What OPKS are you using Hungry if we don’t get a BFP this month I will buy some.

Hi Kt - I really got hooked to the fifty shades books, I've only a few pages left of the last one. Disappointing that there isn't a 4th one. I will defo go see the film when t comes out. I'm not sure what to read next. Any suggestions from anyone? It might actually take the mind of TTC if we all start reading a good book and I think things usually happen when you're not expecting it.

Kt, I'm using hideously expensive Clearblue digital ones with a smiley face. I find the ICs far too ambiguous to use and like the reassurance of a smiley face. And I think they're the only FMU ones too, so more convenient to use.

Mrs, I've not read anything for a long time. I used to read loads and my first degree was English Lit! I wouldn't read the 50 Shades ones though as they're not my thing. :-)

Maybe if I had a Kindle I could read while DD slept on my lap. I currently just MN!

Hi Hungry - my first degree was also English Lit! I like a good book but don't get a lot of time to sit and read. It's taken me ages to read all 3 of the 50 shades books. I know what you mean, they're not for everyone and not normally the sort of book I read but I did like them.
Can you share a bit more about these expensive ovulation kits.

Evening all, have only just finished my dinner after getting in from work, bathing DD and putting her to bed. I was trying to get her to go to sleep but she was being so funny and cute I couldn't help but laugh, so then she started laughing and obviously wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon! How do you find solo parent evenings Mrs, or anyone else whose DH works nights? I'm usually too tired to eat dinner, and just want to collapse on the sofa! I don't know how single parents do it.
Hungry how many degrees do you have!? My degree is in Eng Lit too, and History. I absolutely love reading (book geek), my DH and I get through so many books. I will let you know if I come across any good ones. I usually get a couple from the library each week, but everything I've read recently has been a bit hit and miss. I was quite into 50 shades for a while, but then found it a bit repetitive! The films will be interesting to see though. Ooh did anyone read The Hunger Games? I think they were kind of aimed at young adults, but I really enjoyed them, and the film is brilliant too, the second film comes out soon.
I have been feeling a bit 'meh' too. Just playing the waiting game. Have DTD 3 times so far this cycle, eod and hoping to keep it up for another week or so. Think I'm ov this weekend, which is annoying as we hardly see one another over a weekend. I've pretty much convinced myself its going to happen this month, as we're packing in as much dtd as we can and using conceive plus. I'm just trying not to think how devastated I'll be if it doesn't work this month.
Phew sorry for the essay!

Oh and hello Ibelieve! Sorry you've had a rough time so far, but nice that you have your little one.
And sorry AF got you ATruth but I suppose at least you know where you're up to now.

Lucy, just the two! Eng Lit and Law. The latter was by virtue of doing 2 post grad diplomas in Law, so not a further 3 year undergrad course.

Mrs, how many degrees do you have?

See here for info on tests:

uk.clearblue.com/clearblue-ovulation-test-range/clearblue-digital-ovulation-test-–-7-test-pack

Sorry mrsm but I hated Fifty Shades - one of the only books I didn't finish. And I do normally like erotic fiction I just hated all the 'Oh my'-ing that was going on! I'm loving the idea of a ttc Book Club though

Since having DS I've tended to read lots of trashy novels and teenage fiction (good storylines but easier vocab!) - I also started with the Hunger Games Lucy I'm an English teacher though, so I have to read a lot of other things for work. Who am I kidding? In reality, I have to read Of Mice and Men three times a year!

I'm not too upset by the AF actually. I know DH isn't quite there and I'd rather start a pregnancy feeling like we're both excited rather than worrying that his heart isn't in it.

Hi Lucy and Hungry - I have two degrees. I did a BA Hons in English Lit and then a two years masters in literature again. So that's 3 of us with English lit degrees! Hungry - you must be the brainy one of our gang with the law degree. You must be really clever. I'm glad I did both degree's but have to say that I ended up with a job that has no relevance to them at all - I work with numbers most of the time at PwC in the tax department!
Lucy - I also love to read but it can take me a while to get through a book due to lack of time. I like Stephen King. I was thinking about giving those vampire books a go by Stephanie (can't remember the last name) but I'm not sure if they will be for me. Please recommend any that you've liked or that you like. My DH works Friday and Saturday nights and it is a bit lonely after my DS goes to bed. Me and DS have tea together just the two of us both night 's and I put him to bed and come on here really, tidy up the house, do some washing etc. We count our weekend as more Sunday and Monday. Like you, normally on Friday night I'm just knackered and ready for bed. I was off today which was really nice but usually work weds to Friday. I'd really like to be a SAHM with two DC when it eventually happens.

Hello ATruth - another English brain so that's 4 of us. Are you a secondary teacher? I loved studying English lit and reading all the books. I too am up for a TTC book club but only if everyone would be in (Hungry - would you give it a go )! Something easy reading to start maybe. Let's see what everyone thinks to the idea, Metal, Kt, Hungry, Lucy,Toothpaste, Spider, IBelueve, Donna, Stacks and anyone I've missed. When I was pregnant with DS I got really into a pregnancy magazine and used to buy it every fortnight when it came out, I think it was called Pregnancy and Birth but i really enjoyed reading that when I was pregnant. Did anyone else read that? I found it really helpful and in every one it showed you how many weeks you were and the state you were at in your pregnancy and what stage the baby was at so like if you'd baby now had eyelashes and could blink or hiccup. Oh it feels like a long time ago now that I was pregnant but it was only the year before last.

Yeah, head of English at a secondary school. I love it, but am finding it rather stressy at the moment. I also have the typical working parent guilt. DS can say 'no work mummy' now and it breaks my heart every morning I couldn't be a SAHM though so it just shows how different people are.

I read old copies of Pregnancy and Birth when I was pg, but never actually bought it iyswim. There was a set that seemed to be passed between me and my friends for years The Rough Guide to Pregnancy was my favourite guide when I was pg.

Oooh... Death Comes to Pemberley is only £1.59 on the Kindle. Bought

If we were going to have a book group, Knife of Never Letting Go is supposed to be great. I've been meaning to read it.

My job is totally unrelated to my degree too Mrs, I do admin for mountaineering qualifications. It's something I kind of fell into, it was never meant to be permanent, but then I we decided to start a family, so I stayed for the mat leave...and here I go again! I think I'd quite like to be a teacher, either primary or sixth form or a college, or even adult learners. Do you enjoy your job ATruth? I'm the same after having DD, I read lots of easy-reading stuff now, too hard to keep up with anything too taxing when you're running around after a toddler!
I definately like the idea of a book club. Would be good to chat about something else and hopefully take our minds off of ttc. I can't begin to think how awful it would be if it doesn't happen this month...I've got a few weeks to go though yet.
I'm glad you're ok with getting AF ATruth, it will be nicer for you when you can both get excited about it like you say and hopefully takes the pressure off a bit too. You can enjoy the run up to Christmas without worrying too much about the whole thing!

Haha you beat me to my question ATruth!

I didn't read any magazines actually, but I got all the email updates from the various websites...bounty and boots etc. They were always a bit off with their timing! It does seem like forever ago doesn't it Mrs? My DD is 2 three weeks today and I have been thinking alot recently about when I was pregnant, and when she was just a tiny baby.

Knife of Never Letting Go - I'll google it and see what it's about and come back to you ATruth. I did English with the intention of lecturing at university, that was my dream job but usually to become a lecturer you have to do a phd after the masters degree but by that point, after 5 years at uni I had just had enough and wanting to start earning money etc. But part of me wishes I had done a PhD. I don't loved my job but it's a good firm to work for, private health and good maternity package etc and like Lucy says, I fell into it really and haven't gone anywhere yet. I could he a SAHM until the kids go to school for definite.
ATruth - how many days do you work then as head of English department?
Lucy - your job sounds really interesting, what do you actually do? What degree did you do?

Ok ATruth - that book does sound good and very different. Shall we start a book club? What does everyone think? We can just all read starting at the same time and discuss as we go along. I haven't got a kindle though so I'd need to go buy the book. I'm up for it, who else is?
Hungry - where are you? Are you willing to grab a book and try give it a go? We could give each other a few days to buy it and agree a start date?