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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

HELP:TTC, slimy discharge(TMI!!) but neg result on clearblue ov predictor

70 replies

comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 12:49

Hi all, please help
Am TTc number 3 and having no luck, I'm on day 14 of cycle and getting the slimy discharge I'm told signals ovulation, but clearblue predictor says " No!" Am trying for a boy this time so want to TTc as near to ovulation as poss... should I start BDing today or wait? Have failed for last few months (by waiting too long? Being overweight this time? not sure)
Any advice most appreciated.. fell immediately with DDs so none of this worry before...

OP posts:
kittylette · 13/09/2006 12:56

just do it ;)

just for the sake of it lol

rubles · 13/09/2006 13:13

It might be worth noting how many days of fertile CM you get before it dries up or you get a positive on your OPK. If it helps, I generally get around 5 days of it, so you may have a couple of days yet to wait.

Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 13:19

Thanks guys- kittylette I am very close to that approach but DP is out tonight so don't want to haul him back if too early!!
Rubles..I'm being thick but what does "fertile CM mean"? Sorry, up all night with small DD with cold..

OP posts:
lemonaid · 13/09/2006 13:25

Fertile CM is, effectively, what you're describing as "slimy discharge" -- cervical fluid with the same sort of consistency as eggehite (often called "egg white cervical mucus" or EWCM to its friends). It's caused by rising oestrogen levels that you get mid-cycle before ovulation. I usually get it for 3 or 4 days before ovulation, but everyone's different. Are you charting all this stuff? If so, and if you don't get pg this cycle, you'll have a better idea next cycle of how many days of EWCM you can expect before ovulation.

It doesn't necessarily mean that you are definitely going to ovulate, either ovulation is triggered by lutenising hormone (LH) rather than directly by oestrogen but it's a reasonable indication that you're in the mid-cycle fertile patch.

alexsmum · 13/09/2006 13:26

fertile cm is cervical mumous that appears whn you are fertile.it's the slippy slinmy egg white stuff that allows the sperm to travel.

Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 13:32

Thanks- so would you suggest that now is the time? Have phone to hand ready to ruin DH's night out....
This gooey phase only usually lasts a day with me, and no I'm not charting yet.. naievely thought I'd fall easily like last two times..

OP posts:
lemonaid · 13/09/2006 13:40

If you are trying for a boy by timing your BD sessions I'd be inclined to leave it until tomorrow, personally. You're not getting anything on the ovulation predictor yet.

Not too late to start keeping a record for this cycle even if no full-on charting. You know the first date of your period, presumably, so you can work out what cycle day today is. Make a note that you have EWCM but a -ve on your OPK, and note what happens the next few days too. TBH after the first few months ttc DS, once I had established that I was boringly regular, I only ever charted the few days around when I knew I was likely to be ovulating.

Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 16:01

do you think the ovulation predictors are reliable? Plus how long after it says I'm ovulating have I got? Last time we BD'd the next day but no joy

OP posts:
lemonaid · 13/09/2006 16:23

Again, varies by person. I think they are pretty reliable for most people, but on the other hand I know women who've never had a positive result but are definitely ovulating. I've never used the clearblue one -- is that a digital one or one with two lines? My pattern if I remember correctly (it's been a while) was that I'd get

Before O-3: no test line shows
O-2 or O-3: test line showing up faintly
O-1 or O-2: test line dark, but not darker than control line
O or O-1: test line darker than control line
day after +ve result: test line showing up faintly
after that: no test line shows

The best thing to do is get used to what's normal for you.

For a first cycle of following this stuff, when you've only just had EWCM and no +ve OPK, my personal inclination if trying for a boy would be either (a) keep using OPKs to see and record what the test line does, BD tomorrow (since you only normally have one day of obvious EWCM) and then again the day after, or (b) [what I think I personally would do in your shoes] wait for a +ve OPK and then jump your DH as soon as possible thereafter -- I'd suggest same day.

If you were just trying for a boy or a girl with no preference I'd be inclined to BD today and then again day after tomorrow, and again two days after that (I'm not sure how much faith I have in the boy/girl methods, but worth a try -- and I have to say that (not deliberately) DS was the result of perfect boy timing).

Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 16:51

Thanks lemonaid.. you sound like such an expert!!! Thought it would work so easily but now I'm starting to think maybe I won't get preggers easily again, let alone do all this silly boy stuff- obviously would love either sex but already have 2 fab girls.. time for a bit of blue I feel!

OP posts:
Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 16:54

ok, now I have period-type pains.. does that mean I'm ovulating? Should I test again ( not digital ones, two line clearblue ov predictors) or wait till tomorrow??
and lemonaid, sorry to be such a cretin but can you explain nwaht +opk means?

OP posts:
lemonaid · 13/09/2006 16:55

It's actually scary how much I remember -- ttc a year for DS and read all the books, websites, etc. (being the sort of person whose initial reaction to any situation is "I'll see if I can find a book about it"). On the subject of which, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler, is excellent and well worth a read. It's the sort of thing that ought to be taught in those largely pointless personal development classes we had in school.

lemonaid · 13/09/2006 17:00

+OPK = positive result on an Ovulation Predictor Kit.

Not sure about the pains. I can sometimes feel ovulation pains but they are always much more to one side (sort of like a stitch, although not quite that far) than period pains which IME are lower down and more central.

If you've got the tests around and haven't peed for a couple of hours (you need to save it up for a reliable result) then I'd take another test. I always used OPKs around 2pm myself -- ISTR that a lot of women have their LH surge mid-morning so if they test first thing in the morning then they may miss it.

Fundamentally, it can't hurt to BD tonight or first thing tomorrow morning...

Original poster
comebacksummer · 13/09/2006 17:11

See my worry is that last month I went through all this, ignored discharge and waited 2 days until +OPK (look at me with the acronyms!!) which was clearly too late...
Thank you for all your help.. will save up a wee and test again in a couple of hours!! I'd better put the kettle on...

OP posts:
lemonaid · 13/09/2006 18:56

Well, even if you do absolutely everything right, BD at the right time, yada yada yada, you only have something like a 20-25% chance (depending on your age) of actually conceiving each cycle. It's hard to have something so important that we have so little control over.

Sanity · 13/09/2006 19:57

Oh, I remember it soooo well, I too was waiting and waiting , on the phone to my friend the fertility expert(she was the only one who had the full library on how to concieve a particular sex!) she told me to wait at this stage, I also got paranoid went to the loo every five minutes(it seemed) and ended up wiping away all my evidence.....I did wait one more day, I too had stomach cramps the afternoon before, I fell pregnant...and now have ]shock]twin boys!

Original poster
comebacksummer · 14/09/2006 07:58

Well, still have CM this morning and still have slight cramps but STILL no +OPK, so hubby has gone off to work without any BDing.. will take lemonaid's advice and test again at 2pm today too. Sanity, wow congrats- I have by necessity had to wait another day as you can see by above.. DH is out with work again tonight (BLOODY WORK) but has said he won't drink and will get back by 10pm ish if I decide we need to BD tonight.. bless him, and it's so sweet of him too because this baby is down to me.. he would happily stick with our two DDs and not rock the boat, doesn't particularly want a boy at all which I find odd! But he says if I want it enough then we'll go for it.. he's just worried that I'm obsessing (which I am) and that I'll get depressed if I don't fall this month.. it's just so hard because with the other two there was none of this palava.. had no idea when I was ovualting, just had sex very regularly and fell first time with both DDs....

OP posts:
alexsmum · 14/09/2006 10:02

if you have ewcm then i would go for it and not worry about the opk. your body is your best indicator.

Original poster
comebacksummer · 14/09/2006 10:05

yes, I'm starting to think that too.. especially as i missed last month waiting for +opk.. problem is I let hubby go off this morning and tonight he'll be late.. panicking now I'v left it too late again...
AAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH this is driving me mad

OP posts:
saf1 · 14/09/2006 12:00

I too am trying for baby number 3. Also have 2 DD's and want a DS. So like you thought I would be pregnant this month and much to my horror my period came today. In all fairness I did decide to stop taking my pill on day 10 so think I've messed my cycle up a bit.
I think I'm obsessing a bit also as we've been waiting until I was ovulating or at least thought I was and still nothing this month.
Oh well better luck next time.
I would just go for it tonight if I were you. You have a 50/50 chance anyway and just give it a whirl.
LOL

Original poster
comebacksummer · 14/09/2006 12:11

Hi saf1
Thanks for that- glad i'm not the only one slowly going insane here.. did you fall easily with your 2 dds too? I am such a control freak that I just expected everything to work out pat.. I really wanted an april baby but no luck and now we're looking at june...not sure if i want a summer babe, as they are surely at a disadvantage with starting shcool etc, but then again it could take a good few months to conceive at this rate so we could be back to yet another autumn one ( both dds sept)
good luck this month!!! have you had any good try for a boy tips you coudl share????

OP posts:
Original poster
comebacksummer · 14/09/2006 13:26

Oh good grief.. I just tested negative on the OPK AGAIN>> am I not ovulating this month? Was it hopeless as I didn't leave 4 hrs between wees? Should I now wait until tomorrow? I stupidly didn't write down when my last period was but almost sure it started bank holiday monday so i'm on cd14/15 ish...HELP!!!!

OP posts:
Sanity · 14/09/2006 14:22

Hi comebacksummer, don't panic, what length is your normal cycle? do you know what day you normally ovulate? my friend ovulates on day 17/18 so don't panick just yet, and do it one day too soon and you could have another DD!

Trying for a boy is hard....timing is essential, you have a 12 hour window when you start to ovulate, so I believe and boy sperm are fast swimmers!! just don't have much staying power... my boys were born 15months ago, I charted temperature/bodily fluids and my normal cycle...have since moved and can't find my chart to help you out with any more in depth details...

lemonaid · 14/09/2006 14:50

I ovulate between CD17 and CD19, normally CD18. So not having ovulated by CD14/15 would be normal for me.

Would you rather conceive a DD now or a DS in 6 months? I think that should influence how picky you are about when you BD.

Original poster
comebacksummer · 14/09/2006 17:47

Hi sanity and lemonaid
My normal cycle is about 30 days, and last month I ovulated later than the predictor kit expected.. had to buy 2 kits. It's just that as i followed that last month and didn't fall pregs I'm all of a dither
i know what you're saying lemonaid.. obviously if i did get another dd i'd adore her like her sisters and it would not be an issue at all.. i just would like to see if i can help mother nature out just a teensy bit to see if i can up the ante to get a boy...so i guess i have to hang on in to get a positive??

OP posts:
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