Newbies: anyone else just starting TTC#1 ?

[Joey0805]

Well that's it. After 13 years of being on the pill I am now not. For various reasons I didn't come off a few months ago to allow my cycle to get back to "normal" (who knows what that is when I was on the pill twice as long as I had periods naturally) so I have no idea how long it'll take me to ovulate. Anyone else in the same boat? Having spent my whole adult life assuming I'd get pregnant just by looking at a boy without BC I am now realising it might actually take months or even years to conceive. Plus I'm not talking about this with friends; they either got pregnant vv quickly or are no where near that stage. So, would be great to hear from a few of you in the same boat...

Thanks. 2nd test + too! Eeekk!!
Drs booked for weds xx

Good luck everyone!

Congrats pinkie!! So happy for you!! Xx

Sorry been quiet for a few days ladies!! Heads all over the place! Hope all is well!!

What's best way to track temp? When do I start? Also what's the best strips to buy? New month and all that!! Can't keep kidding myself one that 'not really bothered' xx

CD38, 20 DPO, still no sign of AF. So fed up now! I will do another test on Sat just be be 100% sure but I have zero pregnancy symptoms and did POAS at 17 DPO so no reason to think that would be a false negative. So bored of this crappy cycle now!!!

Congratulations pinkie!

Congratulations pinkie!

I've been having spotting on and off since Saturday, but still no sign of AF. AF isn't late, but it's odd that I've been spotting for so long without it properly starting. I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant. Zero symptoms! I hope that timing works out ok next month because DH will have to work away quite a lot He's away mon-wed this week and I miss him!

Pinkie - whoop!

Proof - ditto, I've been away Sun to now and my DH is away now til Thurs night. My flight landed as he was entering the airport! Sucks...

Proof I feel your pain!!
Hubby has been away practically every night except the weekends for last three weeks ???? xx

For those whose partners are away it's frustrating! I get it. My DP was working away for the first 5 weeks.

Keep at it!

Hi all - AF arrived today for me. That's ok as this cycle is proper ttc! I am so hoping I ovulate on 24th Nov as ff tells me I should so we can DTD as much as pos before then as DH is going away for 5 days! Typical it would be when I am in my fertile week! How inconsiderate!! Haha!

Oh dear! We're all suffering with absent DHs. As if getting a BFP wasn't difficult enough!

Hello! Literally just joined MN so frankly haven't got a blimmin clue on any of this, but this thread seemed like a good place to start!

I'm 33 and the deadline for starting to try is fast approaching (terrified but keep thinking shouldn't leave if much longer!!). Was on the pill for a trillion years and barely had periods. Off if for over a year and still not much to write home about, irregular, long cycle etc. Was also crazy party girl for years so not convinced it is going to be quick....

The 'strategy' so far is come 1st Dec we shag every other day if poss and hope for the best! Does anyone have other tips,or things me and hubs should be doing in advance - vitamins etc?

Thanks ladies! X

Welcome Waswebb!!

Make sure you are taking your folic acid! They recommend you take it atleast three months before!! I take the multivitamin for people trying or are pregnant!! I also use the Ovia app!! Recommended ??

Good luck xxx

Blimey, really?! I thought you just took FA when you started trying, shows what I know! I've been using Ovia for a few months but only to chart periods.....question on that, my periods are always later than it predicts, which suggests my fertile window would be later too...or will it 'learn' this and adjust over time?

Thank you for the warm welcome Shellbell .... How long have you been at it? Sorry haven't read back that far xx

AF came two days ago for me, only the first month of trying so im remaining positive! And my cycle is starting to settle down after having the implant out which is good. Me and my other half both work shifts so we sometimes go a whole month without having a day off together!

You may need to adjust it depending on your cycle now! I had to adjust my ovia after my length was messed up after coming off the pill... Went from 28 day cycle to 37-39 day cycle! I'm still confused by it all Waswebb!! Haha!!

I came off my pill mid August and got married ?? so only been trying for last 2 months! Feels ages thou haha!! I started taking FA before I came off the pill! Think im going to start tracking temps etc too! It will all be fine Waswebb ?? all in the same boat!

Good luck boo bear!! My OH is back tonight but only for a few days and not even fertile time ??. Xxx

Congrats pinkie!!!

I've just read through the last part of the thread to catch up with everyone. :)

Same old with me though. Still waiting for AF on CD73! I managed to get the blood tests done this morning. :) Early start for me. Haha. I tried to do it yesterday, but despite getting to the hospital before the bloods bit opened I ended up being 22nd in the queue and there was no way I would have got to work on time. Today I got to the hospital nearly an hour before (just after 6:30!) and I still ended up being 7th! I stuck around this time though and managed to get them done and (just) get to work on time!

Ainat - you are amazing staying sane! I am CD40 and so fricking bored - just want to get on with it!!

WasWebb - defo start on the frolic acid and if you want to better know ovulation dates, use something that picks up the LH surge. I use the advanced CBFM - this was my first month using it and I did ovulate over a week after I thought I would so I'm v pleased with it as that's pretty critical info!.. There are loads of cheaper options too if you're not keen to splash out on one of those bad boys!

Joey0805 what's the advanced cbfm?

Shellbell - I think the advanced cbfm stands for ClearBlue Fertility Monitor, although correct me if I am wrong Joey!

Big welcome to you WasWebb and as Shellbell said we are all in the same boat and I am sure you will find out so much useful information here.

I have been off the pill since mid September and have let my body settle down up until now. My second 'real' AF is here at the mo and then this is the cycle we are really properly ttc! To track when I ovulate I have been taking my bbt temperature every morning and using Clear Blue Dual Hormone Indicator opks which seem to have worked well for me last cycle. My DH and I are also taking his and hers Pregnacare Conception vitamins.

That's right - I got the advanced one because someone said they might stop making sticks for the old one... Mine does ovulation testing and then pregnancy testing too and you enter in your period dates, when you dtd as well. It's expensive though as you buy the monitor but then the sticks to pee on are pretty pricey. Does seem to be worth it for others though! For me, it can't really be blamed for my body refusing to have an AF so I can get on with the next cycle but as I said I did find it helpful this month as I didn't think I'd ovulate as late as I did.

Regarding the temp testing... What's the best way to test? Do you use a digital therm? Xx

Yeah I use a digital thermometer especially for measuring your bbt. I temped orally last cycle and because I sleep sometimes with my mouth open I was concerned how accurate my results were. However, when I have put my temps into ff it still detected ovulation on day 14 so obviously the rise in temperature was enough for ovulation to be detected.
This cycle I am going to continue temping orally and I may also temp vaginally and keep my own chart with those results as I would be interested to see how much of a difference, if any, there is between both sets of temperatures!

Thanks ladies! All hugely useful....it is rather more scientific than I initially thought! I am off to check out some acronyms!

Realised my multi vit has some folic acid but has Vit A (which is bad, right?) so may go invest in something a bit better tomorrow....

Currently waiting for the dreaded lady visitor....obv not pg, I just actually wish they were heavier and longer and then they would feel more 'proper'. Somehow in my head I relate massive heavy periods as a sign you are fertile!

On another note, how is everyone behaving on the booze front?! Realised Dec may be a little challenging to abstain much!! Xxx

Joey I don't think 'sane' is the right word. I'm getting really annoyed now. Just want AF to put in her appearance!

I actually wish I had joined MumsNet months ago. If I had I would have realised that this could happen and I would have stopped taking the pill months ago and just used condoms in the meantime.

Ainat! I know how you feel!! Wish I had stopped mine ages ago aswell!!

Waswebb, don't take vitamin A!! I just use tesco/Asdas on brand!! I still have a wee glass of vino every now and then! Can't cut it out completely the now ?? helps take away the stress sometimes!!

Tessiegirl, thankyou so much! I will start keeping a note of it tomorrow! Xx