Um hello, newbie, ttc, needing a place to talk to people :)

[Fruityb]

I've been reading the site for ages but decided to sign up as need an outlet and place to talk as ttc is quite secret and it's not something I have loads of people I could talk about it with. Plus I'm quite shy and my ovaries aren't something to bring up at social gatherings!
I'm 31, came off pill in October and me and boyfriend have been ttc since. I didn't know how long it would take to get back to normal as had been on pill for eleven years. Turns out it took four weeks, and am now on third AF since coming off, so annoyingly normal in one way! I'm getting my head round all this tracking stuff but don't want it all to get clinical with the fella as it takes the fun away!
So just wanted to say hi and hopefully share in people's stories. It's not all as straightforward as I always thought, and I'm always the one that would start panicking something was wrong with me. I'm pleased I found somewhere I can just write it down if nothing else.
So, hi, and hopefully can take some good advice away.

helen87 I was on microgynon. I originally went on it at 16 because I was having heavy painful periods, but obviously I have got used to 18 years of easy periods!

I did the exact same as you! Tried a few different pills along the way though and the last one I was on was Jasmine. My first proper period was very light and not painful at all so dunno what happened there. It was ridiculously long too. Hope next one is more normal or none at all!!

I always ran packets together and it would appear it's by caused me any problems as am back in rhythm straightaway lol. Happily the crippling pains everyone told me I would grow out seem to have gone, so maybe they were right. I was on microgynon 30/rigevidon for 11 years.

Well there's hope for me yet then!! Next slightly graphic question.... I'm just trying to get my head around all the cervical mucus stuff, anyone know how long you're supposed to see the egg white stuff for?!!

Whilst we're talking about graphical..... TMI but my lips (yes, down there) ache and throb. This has happened to me before with my period but never just 'off the cuff'. I haven't had any vigorous sex for the last two or three days so just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Sorry TMI

Helen, I've read so many different things about all of this by now I'm totally confused; it seems to vary wildly from one woman to the next.

I've just read that your downstairs lips(!!!) can swell and ache during ovulation so maybe it's that?!

Yeah I have read loads of different things as well. Most websites say it's your most fertile time but don't worry if you don't get it because you can still be fertile so it makes little sense really!!

Thanks Helen - it's all so confuzzling but possibly I've ovulated later than I thought then when shags up the timings of JSing...... Just weird as I've never had it at the time before.

I think ignorance is bliss lol

Yeah it might be a load of crap and just one of those random things but who knows! This is definitely a time when you over analyse every last little thing isnt it!! I think just keep having sex throughout the month regardless has to be the best plan, but then I might have changed my mind in a few months when I can no longer be bothered to do it that often!!

Hey, I've just had my first AF after microgynon too, we DTD without a wetsuit but classing it as a freebie & going into our first cycle now. Got my AF spotting on 12dpo\cd27...didn't expect a short cycle. Tbh its been as painful as normal but nothing much to show for it. Its a waste of tampons!keep imagining it might be just IB but I know I'm not.

As to ewcm, I thought I ovd on cd15 but on cd16 I wiped with to & (tmi) had what I can only describe as a 'huge blob' of it. So not sure which was my true of date! There was a good site for cm which showed pics but I can't remember it x

So confusing! X

How is everyone today?

I've retreated to bed with a bit of a temperature. Joy of joys. DH (who is being shockingly rational about the whole situation) has agreed that if I'm not pg this month, my body is being weird - I've always had really cold feet and hands, which is why I married my own personal radiator, but for the past two nights I have been roasting to the touch (except for my poor old feet, who have remained cold even now) to the point where DH disappeared to the other side of the bed because I was too warm to sleep next to. It felt like sunburn, (without the pain) on my chest, back, stomach and legs.

Hormones are so much fun, aren't they?!

LOL, I love these threads as they make my obsessions seem more normal!

I've also only come off the pill recently and was scared I wouldn't ovulate for ages. When I got a positive opk on cd21 I was so so happy. I can't even imagine how exciting getting a bfp line must be.

Also in the 2ww, spotting every tiny twinge and ache. Hope we don't have to do this for too many months, it could actually drive us crazy!

Hope you feel better soon Kiki. Are you spending your time in bed reading stuff about conception and implantation?! If I spent as long as long on my job as I do on that I would have been promoted by now!

Thanks, angelicjen. I'm hoping it's a 24 hour thing that magically rights itself overnight. Indeed I am in bed and reading anything and everything I can get my little mitts on about dates, conception, implantation etc. oh dear, but I'm so pleased to know that the panic/symptom spotting/mild hysteria(?) is widespread!

I run my own business from home, which on one hand is great re:disappearing back to bed as can deal with everything via my laptop; but on the other hand leaves me without human company throughout most of the day and thus will end inevitably in talking to the fridge, and symptom spotting before the return of DH this evening. I vaguely remember a time when I didn't do this (about two weeks ago...)

Bella- that happened to me as well. It was ridiculously light so I kept convincing myself that it was implantation bleeding even though I knew there was very little chance that it would be! Thanks for the info on EWCM, I think I have seen the website that you're on about, the one with the finger covered in lots of lovely looking stuff?! I think I had my first experience of it last night, it was ridiculously stretchy and weird looking, so I gave in and did an OPK test today and it came up positive which I was over the moon about! Not entirely sure what day in my cycle this is because I started spotting on and off before I had much blood and it also never really amounted to anything so I don't know what day to glad as the first day but it's a good sign!! If I count from the first day I started spotting this is CD18 which sounds late but after an 8 week wait last time I'm pretty happy with that.

Kiki- Strange about being really really hot. Do you know what day in your cycle you're on?! I tended to get hot when I was on my pill break and then I found myself really hot the other night as well so I am thinking it can definitely be a hormonal thing. Is it a typical pregnancy symptom?! I would google it but as someone else has put you can google anything and it will tell you that you're pregnant!

Angelic- I agree with you, it's so nice to hear other woman who sound just as crazy as obsessed as you isn't it! DH listens and really wants a baby but I don't think gets the obsessive symptom checking, googling and calendar tracking stuff!! I was really excited when I saw my OPK positive and I thought the same, I'll be a wreck when I get my BFP!! I nearly went over my data allowance on my phone last month from my obsessive googling whilst at work!! Random things pop in to my head so I start googling and then it spirals out of control and I've either convinced myself that I'm pregnant or infertile. It's not good!!

Helen - the hot thing is definitely weird. Can't really see anything about it being a symptom (which perhaps makes it one of the only things that isn't!) so I'm chalking it up to some kind of bug.

Today is CD20 for a cycle that has been 27 days on the nose since I was 21 (apart from one 30 a few years ago). I've never been on the pill, for a variety of dull reasons, so I've had a good (nearly) seven years to get to know my cycle and general feelings leading up to the dreaded AF day. Things are definitely different this month, but I keep reminding myself that this is likely because I want it to be different!

Kiki- Oooh well that does sound promising definitely. Must be much easier if you actually know your body when you symptom spot! I know plenty of people who got pregnant on their first cycle so it's not like it's impossible at all. I know what you mean about wanting things to feel different, but when you've been regular for so long it would be very mean if it's just decided to change to wind you up!! I'll feel my fingers crossed for you!!

** keep my fingers, not feel them... that would do no good at all!!

Helen - Haha! Thanks, if feeling fingers crossed helps, let's just go with it as well! I know it's not impossible, I'm just terrible at getting my hopes up, and I'm horribly impatient at the best of times.

The problem I'm finding is that only two friends have also reached the thinking about babies seriously stage, and I can't really talk to either about these kinds of things. The first gave birth to her darling little boy two months ago so has enough to worry about without adding any pestering from me; and the other friend is in her late thirties and has been ttc for a very long time without success, so I wouldn't want to even bring up the subject of pregnancy with her as I know how upset she is about her situation at the moment.

I'll be more than a little disappointed if my body's decided that now is the time to throw in the irregular cycles! The cramping is definitely way earlier than usual, so it's either a good sign, or the mother of all AFs.

DH has just sent a text to remind me that next week we're flying out for skiing with the in-laws....on Thursday 16th...the day after AF is due. I was convinced the trip was the following week! Well, this could be very interesting indeed!

Kiki- haha yeah I'm up for anything that brings us some good luck!!

Yeah that must be really hard for her. Did it take your friend long to conceive? I have 3 friends with babies at the minute, 2 conceived on their first cycle and the other within 3 months, hope I get that lucky!!

Yeah it would be really unfortunate if it starts mess up just as you start to actually care!!

Ooh that could be awkward. Would you wait a while before you told them if you did get a BFP?!!

Helen - My friend didn't have any issues and it was all quick and very straightforward. I've never come across a more laid back pregnant woman in my life!

Yes, next week might be very awkward. I wouldn't say anything to them for quite a while, I don't think. I'd be too worried about getting lots of hopes up (it would be the first grandchild for DH's parents), so we'd keep it to ourselves as long as possible. I think I'll probably tell my mum quite quickly as I know she'll tell me if symptoms are normal, or something to be checked out.

If I did get a bfp next week, I'll probably spend the whole trip freaking out if anyone skis within 100 feet of me - this is obviously quite likely, and will now have to brush up on angry French, that only ever gets an outing during ski holidays. To be honest though, my mother in law would probably be perfectly content if we had to stop for a few extra hot chocolate breaks so sitting out a fair bit of the week doesn't sound too bad.

Test stockpile may have to be packed for travel though, and knowing my luck I'd put them in my carry on and have it searched in the middle of the airport; might be best to stow them in checked luggage instead...

It's so encouraging to hear how quickly your friends managed to conceive. I hope we're all that lucky! Do you have any idea of a prospective test date for you yet?

Kiki- haha well that's good to know as well. I think that it's good to hear about people who have conceived really easily etc because I've got a bit bogged down reading threads on this website where everyone is having problems. As much as that might be me in the future I'm not sure it's good to worry about it so soon in trying, easier said than done though!!

Yeah I know what you mean. DH thinks we should tell our families at the same time after a 12 week scan, but I think it's different and I'd want to tell my mum and sister earlier (my sister is actually one of the 3 I mentioned) for the same reason as you say, they'd tell me and reassure me with any symptoms and also I'm a rubbish liar and hate keeping secrets!

Hahaha angry French sounds good! Yeah I don't think the hot chocolate breaks would be much of a problem then! Yeah maybe you should conceal them in your suitcase in a sock or something?! It would be very awkward if they saw them especially if they don't know you're trying!!

Well I had the ECWM on Tuesday night and then had a positive on an OPK at dinner yesterday as well as being very bloated for 2 days and feeling a bit sick on Sunday night so I'm going to weigh all that up and presume I'm ovulating this week, so I'd guess AF would arrive in about 2 weeks and can start testing then. It's hard because I don't know my cycles yet so I'm not confident that's all right and therefore don't know when to tone down the 'trying' a bit!! Have you decided on a day you're going to test?

Helen - I know exactly what you mean about reading other threads on here and immediately assuming there will be problems. You're definitely right about not worrying too soon as well - the average time seems to be around 5 months anyway, but I'm sure most people would be telling a little lie if they said they didn't hope they were one of the lucky ones who got their bfp really early on.

DH agrees that we should tell my mum early - she will inevitably tell my Dad, despite agreeing to keep it secret (but that's okay!). I hate keeping secrets too, and I just know I won't be able to do that with Mum - plus she had various issues and fairly serious problems at times when pregnant so I definitely want reassurance from her whenever I need it. I certainly wouldn't want it getting out to everyone else early though as my sister is getting married in a couple of months and don't want to take any focus away from her and her big day; although if we do get a bfp sooner rather than later I will tell her after 12 weeks has passed. It will be slightly easier than the pretending to drink various glasses of champagne over Christmas and New Year and sending DH to the bar for glasses of lemonade that when asked by any of our friends swore was gin and lemonade!

Test stockpile is certainly going to be concealed in socks or similar! I'm trying to make myself wait until next Wednesday to do a test, but as I'm rubbish at waiting I'm thinking about taking one of the really sensitive ones (I now have a selection to choose from....oh dear) on Saturday morning as that would be 4 days before I'm next due. If it's a bfn I have a really busy weekend to forget about it and then I'll be patient until Wednesday. If it magically is a bfp I'll still have a really busy weekend, but will have something extra to be cheery about (although I won't be getting too excited until I've had a number of bfps over a few days and a blood test to confirm!)

I think the best approach as you don't know about your cycles yet is to just keep on 'trying' whenever there seems to be a sign of it being the right time. The opks are at least going to give you a indication of where you are in terms of cycle and hopefully this leads straight to a bfp! If not, any data that you can collect this month is only going to help in future months if necessary.

I'm still amazed that the whole process can be so much more complicated than I'd ever realised when I was younger. There was certainly a large period in my life where I assumed you just decided now was the time to have a baby, and generally it just happened!

Kiki- Yeah I definitely am hoping I am one of the lucky ones, even holding out a hope that it works this month (might be incredibly optimistic though!) But then I think there wouldn't be so many people getting 'accidently' pregnant from drunken one night stands if it was that hard for everyone so it's probably good to be optimistic! I have to keep telling myself these positive things because if I let my mind wander, I end up feeling sorry for myself for some stupid reason, despite the fact this is only our first month!! It's all very weird isn't it!

Yeah that sounds like a good plan. It's nice of you not to want to steal the thunder from your sister! Definitely good to have people to talk to as well, so it's good you and DH agree to tell your Mum. I'm sure my DH would be fine with it if I said I really wanted to. My sister found out she was pregnant on the same day I got engaged and then she went up having her baby really early and it was the month before our wedding and her baby was in hospital for a long time so it kind of distracted a little bit from my wedding, but it was just one of those things!! Hahaha did you manage to get away with that?! I wasn't going to drink over Christmas 'just in case' but AF showed up just before so thought I might as well have a few seen as it would be the last time for a long time!!

Hahaha which ones have you got?! I have some ebay cheapies and my plan is to test with a better quality one afterwards if I get a bfp! Yeah some of them do say they show up to 8 days before or something don't they, but I think you're right, don't get too downhearted if it's a bfn and then test again once you're late!!

Yeah I think you're right. We've tried a lot (!!!) over the last 5 days so might have a break tonight and just go for every 2-3 days for the rest of the month and see what happens. Yeah hopefully if AF comes this month then next month I might have more of an idea what's going on! Yeah even though I'd heard people saying it took a while, I didn't really think about it too much and definitely had no concept of how much it consumes you!! Think there any many people who just 'go with the flow'?! This website would make you think not, but then again if you're pretty relaxed about things you probably wouldn't be on this website would you!!

hi all. Just discovered this forum and great to see I'm not alone, and also can finally tell people what's going on! TTC #1 Came off the pill in Sept after 14 years (was on the mini pill and hadn't had a bleed for 9 years) AF arrived Nov and 24 days later in Dec (I have another tab open to get used to these acronyms!!)

Hubby and I are 'not stopping getting pregnant' as opposed to actively trying, but in my head we're actively TTC and like a lot of you, am now getting obsessed!! Desperately trying to keep the fun though and not make it a chore!! Reading all the signs and myths and wondering what every little niggle is!! Just learned about Pink Pad as didn't even know apps existed! Not at all getting broody with all my friends and sister having babies, and the blumming cute baby clothes in the sales(!)

Question for you ladies- opinions on seeing the GP for a pre pregnancy check? Some say before you TTC, some say wait until after a year of trying before you see anyone. I'm 28, not smoked for 7 years, occasional drinker, sporty and active but apparently overweight (as most women are on doctors charts) but still am not fear free of there being something to stop us getting a BFP.....

Hi misskgb! Good that your cycles seem to have gone pretty normal so fast coming off the pill, bet that was a relief for you! (unless you hadn't even thought about the prospect of it taking ages to regulate!) Yeah the acronyms took me a fair while as well! Is this your first cycle trying?!

Yeah I definitely think getting obsessed is a male/ female divide!! Not heard of Pink Pad?! Is it a typical cycle app with all the signs and symptoms and dates and all that stuff?! Yeah I'm in the same boat as you, babies are everywhere!! I even spotted a pregnant woman in my wallpaper the other day (that's taking it too far though I think!!)

Personally I didn't even know that you could have pre-pregnancy checks. I spoke to doctors a few times when I hadn't had a period for ages and then was bleeding for ages and I told them that we were wanting to try and to be honest they didn't seem remotely interested so not sure I would go for a pre-preg check. Maybe a family planning place would be better if they do those in your area?! Yeah I'm the same, 26, no health problems, normal weight etc etc but I still worry to so don't blame you at all!

Good luck to you too :)