Preparation for conception - advice please?

[DublinMummy]

I'm sorry if this is a topic that has already been covered. I would like to have a baby next year some time and am a bit worried because I am already 34 and sick of magazine articles telling me my fertility is dropping like a coconut from a palmtree.

Are there preparations I can do now so that when the time comes to conceive I can be at the starting block?

I know it sounds a bit odd btw. I already have a lovely, loved child from a previous marriage & am waiting for divorce, various things, to happen before moving on & having child with new partner. Confusing I know.

I wouldn't worry too much, 34 is still young. Give up smoking and drinking and just relax if I were you...

There is a lot of hysteria surrounding female infertility at the moment. Try not to take it to heart!
And good luck

Thanks. I just keep worrying about whether I should be taking ovulation tests to check everything is working, so that I will have time to have treatment etc and still not be too old to conceive and not too old for IVF!! I have no reason at all to think that I won't be able to conceive (and I've already had a baby). Even as I write this I can see it's just panicky and I wonder am I starting to obsess!! I'd just hate to think now the time is right and to find that I'd missed the bus.

34 is young! Also, as you already have a child you are fairly unlikely to be unable to conceive. No need for ovulation tests unless you have been ttc for a year with no joy.

Start taking folic acid daily 3 months before ttc, eat as healthily as poss, don't smoke, cut down on caffeine and alcohol, take some exercise. And good luck!

Sorry but imo yes you are starting to obsess. You say you don?t currently have a partner and yet you want to have a baby in the next year? Unless you are planning to have a baby by using a sperm doner I would suggest you sort out your own life first before considering bringing another baby into the equasion. How do you know you will be in a new relationship in the next year, and if you are in a new relationship within the next year how do you know you?ll both want to start a family together straight away. Most gp?s won?t refer you for treatment until you have been trying for 12 months, or 6 months if you?re over 35, so you should just relax, and when you meet the right man you can discuss together if/when you are going to have another baby.

No that's not right - I do have a partner and we would both like to have a baby but I want to wait until I have the legal elements of previous marriage sorted out.

Hi,

Wannabe1974...think you misread as DB says she DOES have a partner.

LOL

ah ok fair enough and apologies for misunderstanding . I do think though that it would be wise to just relax with things until you feel the time is right to start trying. did you have any problems conceiving your first child? is there any reason, other than media hype, why you think you might have problems conceiving again? does your new partner have any children from previous relationships?

No there were no problems first time round, it's just me getting into a worryrut. And feeling guilty ahead of time - it's me putting it off now (to sort out previous cr*p), so I'm thinking it will be all my fault if when the time comes I can't do it. Sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. DP has no children and very much wants them.

As others have said-relax about it. Women in their thirties are having kids all over the place! Im 25 but my 30 year old friend is soooo much more fertile than me-she only has to bloody look at her DP! Also, as others have said, start thinking about your lifestyle-alcohol, smoking etc. Also-do what I did and have some checks at the GP now-smear test, vaginal swab, full blood count. That way with me, I knew that if something needed sorting then I could get it done before TTC. And if everything is fine then it may put your mind at rest a little...