30-something first time TTC and looking to buddy up!

[MrsD28]

Anyone want to join me? All are welcome!

A bit about me: I am 33, have been with DH for 8 years but only got married about 3 months ago (and started TTC as soon as we got back from honeymoon!). We are now really keen to start a family... and already getting impatient with all this hangin' about!

We are being very open about the fact that we are ttc, I didn't think about being superstitious. I'n not sure how long I should give it till I go to see my doctor, I thought six months so if nothing happens bu Christmas I'll go see her in January. Have started charting my temperature and doing opk test strips today and got a faint line on the test line. I haven't been on the pill for many years and I'm always a regular 28 days but last month I was 26 so keeping an eye earlier this month.

Hi ladies. Do you mind if I join you? Nearly 32, ttc for 7 months, married for a year (together for 13 years).
Initially thought it would happen straight away but obv not. Have been ovulation testing from beginning because the length of cycle can vary from 27 to 32 days (31 seems average).
Period arrived yesterday. A few days earlier than expected. ??
As I've read more, finding out up to a year is very normal. But you still always think you'll be faster than that don't you!

MrsD28 I'm due next Friday and am going to try really hard not to do any early testing. It made me a nervous wreck last month! Trying not to symptom spot either - last month I had a positive test result after my period was four days late but it wasn't meant to be. So this month I have to just stay relaxed and see what happens!

Hi there,
Can I join in too? Been with DH about five years, married for 2 but needed to wait until I had a job with maternity leave before we could try. Been off my mini pill (migraine stopped my combined pill) for 3 months. I missed my first AF as I got used to no pill. Last month I started driving myself crazy so this month I'm using clearblue opks and had my first peak fertility reading. Definitely understand the feefeeling of really wanting to conceive but being a bit terrified at the same time.
Really pleased to find other people in the same boat, agree with superstition and not wanting to tell people and jinx it. Seems all my friends already have children and many conceived on the first month of trying so don't want say anything until we have succeeded!

The first few months I was convinced I had a wide variety of symptoms and bought tests. But I'm not doing that now. Don't want to have a false positive. And they cost a fortune!

I did OPK's for the first few months and found it made me more stressed. I have positive ovulation tests but because of my irregular periods it's never on the same cycle day so caused me to become anxious. I tend to know I'm ovulating by the change in cervical mucus. I suppose I will know for definite once I've had my blood tests.
I have told a couple of very close friends but we haven't told any family members we are ttc as I don't want any extra pressure...especially as both sets of parents are desperate for a grandchild!

Hi folks,

MrsD28 - is it alright to join in? I'm in a similar spot - 30ish, married very recently and off the pill & trying for a baby already. Glad you set this thread up - trying to conceive (not to mention trying to get your head round all the acronyms that go with it) is a bit of a strange new world for me.

I had another question too - does anyone have any good blog recommendations that deal with the whole awkward trying to conceive phase? I couldn't for the life of me find one so started one myself to help me stay sane and see the funny side of things. It's at www.breakingupwithcontraception.com if anyone fancies a laugh at my expense.

I'm interested though in hearing more about others' experiences too, hence the request for suggestions! Preferably ones that are engaging and entertaining - I know it's a serious topic but personally I prefer a light touch. It is miserable enough having to pee on sticks.

X

Hi

Can I join too? I'm 36 and just started ttc at the start of this month. Only had a rough idea about when I was ovulation based on putting my dates into an app on my phone but my periods are not particularly regular and my cycle can be between 26 and 31 days! AF arrived today and I admit I'm much more gutted about it than I thought I'd be.

So I'm thinking with my age I should really start using some sort of monitor to give myself the best possible chance? I've seen a few suggestions of opk sticks, would this be a good place to start? As you can probably tell I'm fairly clueless, I didn't even want to have children til I met my now husband. I always thought I was just a dog person

C xx

@clarabell100, in terms of monitoring it might help or it might not. The official NHS advice is to just have sex every 2-3 days. I have got myself a monitor because I was getting stressed at having a slightly irregular cycle and trying the predict ovulation. Some people find it more relaxing to feel they are doing something and they know if they are actually ovulating or of they need to go and speak to the GP if you are only getting negative opks. I am in this group. Others (like Mookie85) find it far more stressful and if you get worked up about it then it might start affecting your cycle and reducing your chance of conceiving.

I had a look at the different options for opks and bought myself a clearblue monitor. I got mine on ebay as they are pretty expensive - not sure I would recommend this though as there is no way of wiping the memory so if you get one 2nd hand it has someone else's cycle information stored.

Hi all,

I'm in the same boat. I'm 32 and this is first time TTC, on my second month now and currently 3 days late but negative pregnancy tests! Frustrating! Xx

Thanks emalady, I was actually looking at those monitors on eBay last night as they were so expensive in Boots etc. didn't realise you couldn't wipe the data though, that's not ideal! I'm thinking I might start off just using some opks for a few months to see if I can get to grips with my cycle- I've been in the pill for so long I've no idea what signs to look for so it may just take a few months to educate myself!

Blondebecky - fingers crossed you might get a positive in a few days!

Hi All! Finally posting as an active TTC-type since having my implant out 2 weeks ago! I'm 31, been with OH nearly 10 years and TTC for the first time! It's exciting but daunting... Most of our friends have already got kids, some on number 2 so it feels like we are kinda behind!! What is everyone using as their method for timing or whatever? The day after my implant came out AF arrived, which seemed like a normal one (on the implant for 5 years and only a handful of periods in that time!) so I have no idea if I have started a real cycle, if I will even ovulate or whether it's going to take time to get back to normal. But just in case things are working as normal we plan on DTD a few times over the next week or so and just cross fingers!! Anyone else had experience coming off the implant?

Clara I bought one of the digital monitors not the advanced ones with the touch screen so I don't know if they can be wiped. Still it was a LOT cheaper than buying a new one so I would probably do it again.

Ah nice to see so many of us in the same boat. All my friends have children, some of which have started high school! Got some catching up to do. We have decided to keep it quite when coming to TTC. Kinda less pressure on people asking us questions then.

Clarabell100 and Emalady - it's insane how expensive all the TTC gear is in Boots. £49.99 for a digital ovulation test? Have you found they paid off in the long run though over going for those single use sticks?x

Hello! So pleased that so many people have joined the thread. I found it hard to relate to posters on some other threads because they were either:

a. Already mums (i.e. had been through this before, and weren't stumbling around in the dark like I am!)
b. About 25 (and thus a bit more relaxed about it all... plenty of time)

So... bit of a strange situation this week - would appreciate any advice! I am almost certain that I ovulated about two weeks ago - had all the signs (EWCM etc), which have been pretty accurate in me. I was (pessimistically) expecting AF to appear on the weekend... but got nothing. So I (optimistically) took a pregnancy test (Tesco cheapie) on Sunday morning... but got a BFN. Meanwhile, AF has still not showed up! So confused!

Hi everyone, so for me AF appeared with a vengeance this weekend, was more gutted than I thought I'd be. But preparing myself to try all over again this month and have bought some cheap ovulation sticks from the Internet so will have a go with those this month. This TTC business is more of a mindfield than u ever imagined. I've also Googled that I should be taking something like pregnacare tablets with folic acid etc in or vitamin B tablets is anyone else doing this?
MrsD - I have no advice I'm sorry but crossing my fingers for you. Could it be that there isn't enough of the hormone yet to show up in the pregnancy test? Are you normally regular? How have you not tested since Sunday? You've got willpower (I know it's only Tues but I'd be testing daily) maybe test again tomorrow....?

I will be 32 next month. We got married in Nov and really want a baby.

Been trying since May.

Would love to chat / buddy up - PM if you fancy having a natter anyone.

Funnybeanz - yup, I'm taking the Boots conception support tablets. But it doesn't matter what you take so long as it has folic acid. I spoke to a friend who's a doctor and she says it is really important - to do with helping prevent abnormalities in the foetus.

Am I seeing it right- that looks like a positive to me, albeit a faint one. But I've never seen a positive before so maybe not the best person to ask. Maybe try again in a few days.

Sophie D - Hi. Are you still feeling positive or started to get fed up? From the sounds of it, four months isn't that long but I know I'd be frustrated too (I've only been trying one month and I'm already chomping at the bit with frustration!).

x

I am getting frustrated by all the weird side effects post-Pill. Felt so nauseous for the first few weeks - thought I was preggers.

Plus only had two periods in that time so seem to be on a 45 day cycle which is not great as reduces chances of getting preggers and is hard to plan for!

Started taking Agnus Castus and downloaded an app to track cycles.

You do talk yourself into thinking you feel different and must be pregnant - already wasted loads of tests!

Sx

Hi all, just got a positive from my cheapie ov strips and so did a clearblue one and got my first smiley face so now I'm not sure how I know if we are too late to DTD or have we still got time? We DTD on Sunday night which I'm guessing was too early and now he's not home from work till Friday night so will this be too late?

Cordelia- no idea I'm afraid. It's only wed today though so maybe fri is ok? Good luck though
Sophie- thanks for sharing. I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I've been nauseous and dry heaving for the last ten days - kept thinking was maybe pregnant by some 1 in a gazillion fluke despite only being off pill for 3 weeks. Wasted a ton of tests (and money, grr). Just got my period- brought me down to earth with a big fact bump. So now I'm nauseous and grumpy. 45 day cycle sucks- I'm sorry to hear that.

I've not been taking any supplements either - will pick some folic acid up next time I'm in Boots!

I've still not got round to ordering any opk sticks, where is the best place to get them from? Are the cheap ones just as effective? I think we've decided to go with those for a few months and invest in the digital monitor if we have no luck.

Cordelia, I'm not 100% on how it works but I think Friday would be too late. According to the app I downloaded to track my cycle the egg 'dissolves' after 24 hours. However, sperm can remain viable for up to five days so Sunday might have been ok. And of course it all depends on whether you definitely ovulated today. I'd still give it a go on friday anyway! Why not!?

Clara I used the boots own brand cheapie multipack for the first month (I got them off a friend after their divorce), I think they work just as well but only track your LH surge rather than progesterone as well? The only issue I had with them was a positive result was a test line darker or equal to the control line - I found it really difficult to tell if it was the same or a bit lighter and that was getting me worked up so I swapped so it had a digital display of yes/no (or low,high and peak).

This is my first wait having been reasonably sure I have ovulated and dtd at the right time. Argh! I do not enjoy waiting!