Newbie Alert - Advice for a first timer?

[jellypi3]

Hello everyone - complete newbie here!

I am looking for some advice. My OH and I recently decided we wanted to start our family in the next 12-18 months. We are both 24, own our own house, have good jobs, healthy etc. so we thought it was a perfect time, especially as lots of friends are planning / pregnant too.

In May I stopped the contraceptive depo injection. I had been on it for 5 years, and my doctor warned me to stop because of potential bone thinning.

Since then, I haven't had a period but have been getting period-like symptoms (bloating, cramping, apparently being grumpy). I know it can take anything up to a year to get your rhythm back, which I'm not happy about :(

My OH doesn't want to start trying until AF visits, because he is worried that if I haven't bled then it couldn't affect the baby if we did conceive. I have looked online and can't find any stats on this but he is really worried about it.

So is there any fact behind his fears? And is there anything I can take to help improve my situation? Any vitamins etc that might kick start my cycle (GP has been useless incidentally). We both want to start the baby making process without using protection, but are both worried!

Thanks :)

Hi Jelly welcome to the wonderful world of TTC!!

I will be honest, i haven't heard of your OH's concerns before. In my experience, if you are not bleeding then you are probably not ovulating and therefore no amount of unprotected sex will make that baby. Once you have conceived then it doesn't really matter what did or did not happen before this. Babies are very well protected in the womb.

You should take Folic Acid and maybe some pre-natal vits (although I only take folic acid whilst trying and then move on to the vits once i have conceived, they are bloody expensive )

Not too sure if there is anything you can take to kickstart your body into a cycle, I am sure someone far more knowledgable will be along and let you know.

I would maybe start pinpointing when you ovulate (when your cycles start again, of course). This can be done a number of ways, charting your BBT, using OPKs and checking your ahem CM and CP (some do and find it useful)

I think overall, try and relax and enjoy it (easier said than done, I know, it took 13 months and medical intervention for us to conceive DD).

There are lots of friendly and helpful ladies here, I am sure you will get lots of help and support :)

Have not tried it myself but Agnus Castus is talked about on here a lot. From people wanting to regulate hormones and periods. I think you can get them from holland and barrett but read a bit more on here about them to see what you think and ask people more experienced that me :)

Hi Jelly

I was on the depo for 10 years and it took 6/7 months for my periods to come back.

We decided to start ttc a few months after my periods came back but after a year of trying and no joy found out I wasnt ovulating. Im just starting to ovulate now after 16 months of ttc.

There are some people that can get pg straight away after coming off the depo but it is very rare. Ive never heard of it being damaging to a baby.

All the depo does pretty much is put your ovaries to sleep which is why most people dont have periods.

Iwas told that it can take any when from a few months to 2 years to get pg after the depo.

I hope it happens a lot quicker for you.

By the way I was never told about the bone thining and found that out myself!!

Thanks for your replies! A very warm welcome indeed!

Luckily we are both still young so we have plenty of time, though I would like to have finished having children by 30! I do regret the injection, but I couldn't take the more convenient pill!

I'll let him know his worries are unfounded and start taking some vitamins :) I'll look in to the Agnus Castus as well!

Good luck Jelly

Im only 26 dp is just turning 30 glad we starting trying earlier.

I regret the depo massively!!!