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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.

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Original poster

Going to start TTC... Any advice?

16 replies

butterflyFairy1 · 15/02/2015 23:08

Hi all, so yeah pretty much what it says in the subject bar haha.

Me and my partner are ready to start trying for a baby, and was wondering whether there was any advice anyone could share in order to help the process :)

It's such an exciting time for me as all I've ever wanted is babies. But after being a lurker for a few weeks, I can see it's not as easy as what it's percieved to be!

Thanks ladies.

OP posts:

misspantomime · 16/02/2015 13:35

Can I ask how old you are? Are your cycles regular (anything from 25-35 days counts as regular I think).

You need to work out when you ovulate so you can pinpoint the best time to BD. Ideally you should get yourself a basal body thermometer so you can manage and chart your waking temperatures (this will allow you to see what day you usually ovulate on). You also need to regularly check your cervical fluid to see when you are most fertile (watery or egg white fluid indicates ovulation is near and you are fertile). I would also recommend checking your cervix as a third sign (soft, high, open and wet shows you are fertile).

It's more than I can explain over the internet really - would strongly recommend purchasing the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility as it explains all this in more depth than the internet ever could - it's quite cheap on amazon and widely used. I am TTC at the moment (month one of trying!) and have found it an invaluable tool.

Original poster

butterflyFairy1 · 16/02/2015 16:19

Hello misspantomime, thank you for replying :).

I'm 23. Not too young, but not too old either! My periods are usually every 26 days, I know that as ive been using an app to track them otherwise I'm rubbish at knowing when I'm going to come on and like to know.

A lot of information, then!
I'll get a thermometer, what should it be normally, and what should it be when you ovulate? I know everyone's different, but a base line would help...
Cervical fluid, okay I'll start checking that. I've recently come off so I'll keep my eye on things.
And checking my cervix... Sounds really amateur, but how would I do that exactly? :| I have seen ladies mention it on other threads, but im completely new to this whole baby making game myself haha so any advice would be beyond helpful.

And thanks for the advice on the book. I'll download it on my phone so ive got it with me handy wherever I go (in case I get bored on my lunch hour!).

Thank you for your advice though, you've been helpful and definitely gave me some things to think about x

OP posts:

MonkeySeeMonkeyDooo · 16/02/2015 17:52

Sorry but I disagree. All you need to do to begin with is dtd lots. Don't get bogged down with temping and tracking your ovulation etc etc already. Ttc can take months, even a year (equally it may not!). You'll just end up stressing yourself out really early on if you don't get pregnant straight away. Just have fun to start with. It's really easy to make sex all about ttc, don't.

Can I just add that I've done it both ways, got pregnant very quickly with my first DC but suffered a mc and then did ovulation tracking ttc my second.

Original poster

butterflyFairy1 · 16/02/2015 18:09

Hm that's true too, I can see myself getting stressed out pretty quickly if I do everything under the sun to help the process and i don't fall pregnant. I know I need to relax and just let it happen, but with all the ovulation predictor kits around etc, it's easy to fall into that trap!

OP posts:

mrsfazruns · 16/02/2015 19:29

lots of DTD!! I OPK'd when started ttc and got BFP first month - unfortunately miscarried!! The stress of it all has made us decide to just let nature take its course - lots of DTD and no tracking and let it all just happen!!

Hobbit19 · 16/02/2015 21:14

Yeah don't worry about all the temping shenanigans, it sounds really complicated and the human race has been getting upduffed for several million years without it! Just shag and enjoy yourselves, if you are already tracking your cycle you will know when to test. Good luck!

Original poster

butterflyFairy1 · 16/02/2015 21:26

Thank you mrsfazruns and oneyorkshirepud :) think I'm going to do what you suggested, as did monkeyseemonkeydooo - lots of dtd! I just know I'm going to be a POASaholic though, it's all too exciting! X

OP posts:

mrsfazruns · 16/02/2015 21:32

I do track my cycle too ..... I'm 30-31 days and know I ovulate around day 16 so lots of shenanigans happening around that time just to make sure!!

BikeRunSki · 16/02/2015 21:33

TTC your first at 23, I'd just stick to straightforward shagging to start with. No need for thermometers etc just yet.

misspantomime · 17/02/2015 09:05

I'm 25 and ttc for 2 months - started with temping as it's very useful (and very interesting) to be able to see how your cycle works. For example I know that this cycle I ovulated late for some reason, so now AF will be late (assuming I didn't conceive). If I hadn't been temping I wouldn't have known that and would have assumed I was pregnant.

It's also useful for the future as it helps you spot possible issues and problems that you wouldn't have picked up til much later otherwise.

Personally I think it's a really good thing to do and I don't think it's much faff at all. Especially if you use a website to chart like fertility friend.

jellypi3 · 17/02/2015 13:42

OP, I'm 24, so similar age to you. I would just focus on shagging at the moment. It might sound blunt, but once you start temping, using OPK's, stocking up on IC tests etc you start to stress.

I would just focus on DTD every other day, but try to enjoy it and not make it regimented. If you miss a day, so what, there's always tomorrow.

I started temping purely because I didn't know if I was ovulating or not, and it has stressed me out more than when I wasn't temping.

So yeah, I would give it a few months of just shagging lots to see if you are lucky. If you want company, you can join us on the JS'er fred where we positively advocate just doing the deed as much as possible :)

Good luck!

MissusDave · 21/03/2015 10:15

Hi Everyone,

I'm a newbie, so apologies if I get my acronyms muddled! this seems like a really lovely community so I thought 'd jump in and have a go. I hope this is the right thread to post in, I've had a look through others (although not all 530 pages I confess) and I was hoping for some advice.

DH and I have started talking in a roundabout way about starting a family, timescales are not his strong point, where as I really want to know when we're going to 'officially' start!

My question is, I've been reading advice about diet and supplements to help when TTC, and I would like to know, should you start with all these things before actually TTC, and if so how much before?

If there's already a topic on this or I've missed a helpful page on here please point me to to it! :)

Thanks all!

mrsfazruns · 21/03/2015 10:25

I didn't put a date on it!! Think "the book" says start folic acid 3 months before but if you fall pregnant then just start it straight away!! So if yku are going to start trying then start the folic acid!!! I also cut down caffiene straight away ... Massive coffee addict!!!

Other than that just go for it!! After next AF start tracking cycle!! DH know when it's ovulation time because I start instigating DTF every other day lol x

Rosieliveson · 21/03/2015 11:03

Hi, definitely start on the the folic acid as a priority.
I am a lot little older but we started ttc number 1 without any ovulation kits etc. It took us a long time even though I thought I knew my cycle. I am now 7 weeks with number 2. I used internet cheapie ovulation kits this time and conceived in the second month of trying.
I think our problem first time around was that sex every other day isn't always desirable practical. Sometimes we were tired or just didn't fancy it. I think that meant we missed a few chances. The opk just focused our efforts so, in my opinion, were well worth it.
Good luck

mrsfazruns · 21/03/2015 11:18

I agree .... DTD sometimes feels like a chore but when that opk is positive you know you either get on with it or miss the Boat! I use the cheap ones off Internet and BFP first cycle because of them!! Had a MC at 9 weeks and cycle only just back to normal this month and got positive opk this morning!! My app says not due to ovulate for another 3 days so I think opk's are def worth it x

Pixa · 21/03/2015 11:26

I am 24 and have been TTCing for 7 cycles. I didn't start with OPKs and I still stand by that decision. We had lots of fun for six months. Now in our seventh cycle, we have started to use OPKs.

We concentrated on becoming a little healthier; taking pre-natal vitamins, cutting down on caffeine, eating better, moving more.

We implemented a treat weekend, so when it's 'ladies time' (as my husband calls AF), we go out for afternoon tea with champagne or cheesecake as a way of lifting spirits and we tend to chat about what type of parents we hope to be.

Just have fun, and enjoy the snagging!

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