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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

What else can I throw at this baby making game?

16 replies

LittleMissPear · 02/12/2013 11:13

AF arrived this morning and I'm feeling really Sad. We've been trying since April and had a chemical pg in September. Anyway, I'm thinking I want to throw everything I can at ttc next month- what else can I do? So far I've just used opks. I never get much/any ewcm, should we try preseed? Vitamins? Supplements? Also, i've started spotting about 10/11dpo each month (which I mistakenly think is implantation every time) should I see my GP about this? Does it indicate a problem with my luteal phase? Ahhhh! Sorry for long post.

OP posts:
moggle · 02/12/2013 12:17

After 2 years of trying all kinds of things we just dtd every other day during the middle couple of weeks of my cycle, put a pillow under my bum after (which I don't think has any effect but it saves the bedsheets when I'm too lazy to get up straight away!), take conception vitamins and hope for the best. I honestly don't think for most people there is much we can do 'at home' to improve the chances of getting a bfp. I used OPKs for a while just to make sure I was ovulating and doing so at a fairly predictable time. Tried temping but what was it going to show me- I already knew I was ovulating and when we needed to dtd. Maybe useful if your schedules mean you can't Dtd whenever you want but apart from that...

You could go to the GP about the spotting though. I have had that a couple of times. I have heard it can be related to B vitamins, and I do find if I take my vitamins religiously it don't spot, so maybe there's something in it. I never went to the GP but did mention it to our fertility dr who wasn't concerned.

Original poster
LittleMissPear · 02/12/2013 13:02

Thanks Moggle - sound advice! Have you had your BFP yet? I know that deep down it's mostly down to chance but I feel so frustrated that it's out of my control. We tend to DTD everyother day in the run up to ov and as much as possible over the few days... maybe we need to keep going beyond ov date?

OP posts:
CosyTeaBags · 02/12/2013 13:16

I'm another one in the same boat. I had been trying to DTD in the run up to ov date, then usually stopping when EWCM stops. But I do wonder whether I'm stopping too early and scuppering my chances month after month?

The SMEP recommends carrying on doesn't it, just in case. Maybe they're right.

Bloody frustrating isn't it!!

PrimalLass · 02/12/2013 13:20

I highly recommend taking your temp and charting it. Opks worked for me first time round but with DD it was charting that did it. Also, drinking grapefruit juice.

SomeDizzyWhore1804 · 02/12/2013 13:24

Chinese medicine. I tried for 7 months and conceived the month I went to a Chinese medical centre. I had four sessions of acupuncture- one a week- some foul tea I had to drink four times a day and some tablets to help my "damp womb". Still not sure if I believe that's what did it but there you go! We also used fertility lube, did fertility massage (loads about it online but my acupuncturist taught me some for my husband to do on me) and varied our positions that month, as well as doing it every single day- sometimes twice a day- every day of the month. Even when it seemed pointless in my cycle we still did it.

CosyTeaBags · 02/12/2013 13:30

Even when it seemed pointless in my cycle we still did it I wish I had the stamina...

OK TMI alert - please tell me more about fertility lube. Just googled Pre Seed, and it says it has internal applicators. Does that mean you can just pop some up there without your DH knowing..? What did other people do?

CrazyThursday · 02/12/2013 13:34

Have sex earlier in your cycle than you think you need to. I was tracking ewcm and doing ov tests and fell pregnant from the times we had sex when I thought it was too early....

Original poster
LittleMissPear · 02/12/2013 13:58

CosyTea - I've just done the same! I've just purchased my first ever lube - makes me feel a bit naughty. Willing to give it a go though.

Thanks for all suggestions so far, I am liking the varied positions idea, so will DH! Not so sure about chinese medicine - how do you know what its made up of? I might have a look at the massage though.
Grapefruit juice? Why?
I think I might be too lazy for temping.......

OP posts:
SomeDizzyWhore1804 · 02/12/2013 14:23

The tablets they gave me looked legit and had a leaflet and everything. They weren't mad expensive so I thought I might as well. The tea was a bit more on trust as it was just bags of leaves and bark that I had to boil but it tasted so rank that it must have done something Grin

moggle · 02/12/2013 14:49

No bfp for us yet, we have our ivf consultation on Wednesday. So I'm probably not the most optimistic person to ask! I have tried most of the things suggested in this thread. Preseed I don't really understand (although we did try it- DH didn't like the sensation, it was stickier than normal lube). Surely any sperm left outside the cervix after ejaculation is very unlikely to meet the egg regardless of what lube you use, it's just got so far to go- So how is preseed outside the cervix going to help? From everything I've read, it's the cm inside the cervix / uterus that you have to worry about and there's nothing much you can do about that. Oh I tried using cough syrup too, yes it made everything very damp down there but still no bfp.
I did take some Chinese medicine (dong quai) on instruction of my acupuncturist but when I told the IVF nurse she said to come off it as they don't really know the effects it can have and need everything to work predictably for the ivf cycle.

I think it's good to try new things (as long as they are safe) as it makes you feel you have some control in this process, but I think most of the "I tried X and got pg that month" stories would have got pregnant without X anyway :-)

CosyTeaBags · 02/12/2013 15:09

What about caffeine? I'm a tea addict (hence my username!), but wondering whether I should cut right down on that?

Good point re pre-seed. Anyone else have any experience of that?

I agree, that it's good to try new things to feel in control of the process, but then the danger is of getting obsessed I suppose.

Good luck on Wednesday Moggle

CosyTeaBags · 02/12/2013 15:11

LittleMissPear I also had spotting at 10/11 DPO for a few cycles. I also convinced myself it was implantation bleeding. I mentioned it to my GP as it may indicate low progesterone. I'm trying to get my day 21 test re-done, as Ive had 2 low results but I think they were on the wrong day each time.

So it could be worth mentioning, and perhaps asking for some blood tests?

violetbean · 02/12/2013 15:20

Friend gave me this bookhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0749924691 Pregnancy by Patrick Holford which I found quite helpful. Not everyone agrees with his views on nutrition though - he's a little 'alternative'. Going on a really relaxing 2-week holiday with DH helped as well - that's when we conceived. Good luck! Thanks

violetbean · 02/12/2013 15:21

oops sorry link didn't work, am on phone!

NurseSapphire · 03/12/2013 10:38

Don't stop DTD after estimated ovulation. I am five weeks pregnant, and according to my dates I conceived on CD27. I was sure I ovulated CD14. Regular sex throughout the whole month is so important. I wouldn't be pregnant now if I had just stuck to DTD when I thought it was the right time. Good luck all. xx

Paully06 · 03/12/2013 18:54

Hi ladies,

I find reading these threads helpful! LittleMissPear, i have 'old blood' spotting 9/10 days post ovulation. Its seems to always happen. When it comes I know my period will follow, so i always know i haven't conceived 4-5 days before my period due :( i did tell my gp but she wasn't concerned. We have been TTC since May, we did have a little go from september - January last year also, and then we had to put things on hold.

The disappointment each month is horrible. Especially as so many of my family and friends are pregnant. Im very tempted to go for a fertility assessment at a local private clinic. Has anyone ever done this?? I had my progesterone levels done on CD 20, it came back as 31 (slightly below normal - GP wasnt concerned as it was a day earlier than i should have had it done) DH has semen analysis done which is normal.

My concern is the old blood spotting every month.....

We use preseed and i take pre conception vitamins each month, my hubby takes well man.

A christmas/new year BFP would be a dream come true for us all!xx

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