Newbie with lots of questions, cycle length, weight, vitamins!

[itscertaininaway]

We have just started TTC, very exciting I just have some questions.

My cycle is 36 days long, it always has been, is this a bad thing? Will I find it harder to get pregnant with such a long cycle? How will I know if/when am I am ovulating? Is it possible to have a regular period and not being ovulating?

Do I need to take vitamins? I know I do if/when I get pregnant but do I need them when TTC?

And finally, I am a bigger girl (size 20) I have lost weight this year and I am continuing to but will it stop me from getting pregnant? I am so worried about this.

Sorry to have gone on!

Hi certain,

I don't have answers for you I'm afraid, but I'll be following your thread as I'm just starting to TTC #1 and have lots of similar questions.

I'm a size 20 too and wonder what impact this may have. I've lost 1.5st and hope to lose more but don't want to diet too much if pregnant.

I started taking pregnacare original a month ago and came off cerazette yesterday. Pregnacare has all the right vitamins and folic acid, also is 3 for 2 in many shops which is a bonus.

Good luck TTC and I look forward to seeing replies and updates :)

Hi Gillian, thanks for your reply.

I will look into pregnacare can you get it everywhere?

The weight thing is a worry isn't it!

I hope you get your bfp soon :)

Hi Certain and Gillian,

So long as your periods are regular I don't think it matters so much, I'm a size 18 and have been TTC for a good few months now and have used ovulation tests so I know I definitely do ovulate, and that's the main thing! If you haven't already, go buy some ovulation tests and track your cycle that way. I've recently bought a clearblue fertility monitor to help (can be found cheap on eBay!)

Other than that I'm taking folic acid tablets, avoiding alcohol and eating lots of fruit and veg!

I think from what I've read it's once you are pregnant that your weight is more of a concern, and you perhaps have more appointments to check blood pressure etc than you might if you were a healthy weight - but as this is #1 we're trying for I'm not certain!

Good luck ladies!

Hello everyone!

Good luck op, making the decision to start is exciting isn't it!

I met with my dr when we started ttc. I'm a size 18 and my Dr was very supportive. I have read that us bigger ladies could benefit from a little more folic acid (500 rather than the normal 400). You can get it prescribed but I just I take pregnacare but also have Shreddies and OJ for brekkie which easily makes up the extra hundred.

As far as the ovulating goes, have you considered temping. I have found that invaluable in learning about my body and making sure that everything is dog what it should. Good luck! :)

Mrs Gingerbread its actually 5000 rather than 400, so better off getting a prescription for the higher dose folic acid (annoyingly you can't buy it over the counter!)

Hello,

A book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" is very useful to help you track your cycle, and find out when you have ovulated, and whether all is normal. It's quite a fascinating process, especially if you like doing graphs and the like!

36 days is probably fine, and no problem at all, but either charting or using OPK sticks (I chart because it's cheaper than buying sticks, and also tells you more about your cycle) will tell you when you're ovulating, so when to, er, concentrate your efforts .

Weight can affect your fertility (I don't know how much they've researched this though- it can certainly affect IVF outcomes), as can smoking, drinking and age (the last 2 are my problems!) but plenty of bigger women conceive just fine.

Hi - I'm pregnant (20 weeks with number 1) and my advice would be:

Cycle length - I had long cycles which were also irregular. There isn't necessarily any reason why a long cycle should make it more difficult for you to conceive, particularly as your post suggests that your cycles are regular. It was a little more tricky for me due to cycles ranging from 28 to 50+ days. I would not recommend using ovulation strips or a clear blue fertility monitor straight away if you have regular cycles - they tended to just stress me out more if I wasn't getting the "correct" result! Just have sex every few days through your cycle. Not every day - sperm quality will be compromised. Try looking out for signs you are ovulating - some women get ovulation pains (mittleschmerz - like a small cramping pain), you may notice more cervical mucus, etc. and make sure you do the deed around this time. It took us 15 months to conceive (I am 37 so expected a bit longer) and the monitor and ovulation strips didn't help at all in the end!

Vitamins - I would recommend taking a pregnancy multi vitamin while trying to conceive. It won't do any harm and will help to get you in the habit. I took Pregnacare Original. Boots often have on offer 3 for 2. If you find it doesn't agree with you just try another. I've also used the seven seas one in the past.

Weight - I was overweight before pregnancy. Trying to lose some weight is one of the most productive things you can do if trying to conceive. Not only that but you will also reduce your risk of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and early birth. I joined Weightwatchers and lost a decent amount but was still an overweight BMI when I discovered I was pregnant. Weightwatchers will no longer weigh you when you are pregnant but you can attend the meetings. I chose not to as I was feeling awful in early pregnancy but did focus on continuing to eat healthily. Your midwife will advise you to be careful of weight gain during pregnancy if you are already overweight and may even give you a maximum target weight gain. Thankfully I have only put on 300g so far as I have continued to eat healthily. I have also read that slimming world is great and their eating plan is completely compatible with pregnancy. You don't have to consume many additional calories in pregnancy and only really towards the end anyway so focusing on healthy eating for you and baby is extremely important. I don't want to sound preachy and certainly understand how hard it is - I've struggled with my weight since my teenage years - but I would encourage you to focus on healthy weight loss. It'll also help a lot with preparing your body for the extra strains of pregnancy.

Good luck in TTC!

Thank you for all of your replies. I will investigate ovulation sticks and the book.

I am cross at myself for letting myself get so fat, I just hope it doesn't affect things too much! I don't drink much or smoke so I am ok on that front.

Oh sorry I didn't see your reply NanooCov thanks for such a detailed answer. Congratulations on your pregnancy :) I am 30 so I do worry about time ticking away but hopefully it will be ok.

I have been doing Weight Watchers so I will continue on it.