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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.

Original poster

Relaxed TTC Feb/March/April 2016

991 replies

stumblymonkey · 29/12/2015 17:34

Hi,

We've just agreed to start TTC #1 in March so just starting to look at preparing for that - prenatal vitamins, losing some weight, etc.

I'm 33 and have only been with my OH for just over a year but we're both sure this is the relationship for us...we'll be getting married but want TTC as a priority and fit any wedding around Mother Nature.

Not planning any temp checking or charting or such like....maybe I'll change my mind if I'm not preggers after six months or so!

Anyone planning TTC about the same time and want to keep in touch on this thread for relaxed catch ups about preparing and then TTC?

Sarah X

OP posts:
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Nuttypops · 09/01/2016 14:31

Something else jumped out at me reading back, how people focus on the negative aspects of childbirth etc. I think you always hear the worst stories, but so many women do it everyday and it just becomes part of your experience.

Original poster
stumblymonkey · 09/01/2016 14:36

Radders...I'm taking Pregnacare pre-conception tablets which is basically a military-vitamin (without vitamin A as we aren't supposed to have too much of that) plus folic acid.

I bought 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' and folic acid is the only 'must have'.

It makes two other recommendations which are...it says taking at least 10mg of Vitamin B6 before pregnancy and in the first few weeks of pregnancy get less episodes of nausea/sickness. Sounds good to me!

They also recommend 15mg zinc which may improve fertility.

OP posts:
AliceScarlett · 09/01/2016 14:37

Radders I do look skinny, but I eat really well (paleo without the red meat), don't smoke or drink alcohol or coffee. If I was exercising more and was off my psych med, I'd be fine. Seems like such a tall order tho, to do all these things. Psych med I don't take often and would stop as soon as I was pregnant, its the exercise. But then I walk quite a bit, take 8 flights of stairs at work, do an hour of cardio a week....how much do you aim for? Ugh.

Original poster
stumblymonkey · 09/01/2016 15:02

I'm not doing very well with reducing caffeine but then I figure I've cut out alcohol and changed my diet this month so I'll get settled with that and then sort out the caffeine next month (along with psych meds)!

A few steps at a time....Grin

OP posts:
raddersmrs · 09/01/2016 15:03

I Best Buy some vitamin b6 then. I think I will take that and folic acid.

I don't do any exercise as in put time aside to do any at the moment. I work in an office but I am up and about all the time there, not stationary all day. I need to do some exercise to work on the core though as I have no tummy muscles whatsoever and need to improve it for my back. I think my back is going to suffer carrying a baby as I have suffered with it since I was 12. I also don't want to find it difficult getting back into shape after pregnancy so need to start getting in shape now to help afterwards!

TheresaMarie55 · 09/01/2016 17:42

Hi everyone, so exciting that people could possibly conceive this month! I've had a big sort out today, got rid of a load of stuff that was just stored away taking up room. We are getting some new shelves and storage boxes next month to tidy the girls room up a little. Want all this kind of stuff done before I'm pregnant so I can relax x

Pointlessfan · 10/01/2016 07:04

stumbly I'm the opposite, doing well but have had quite a beery weekend! I'm eating lots of veg though.

jiwgli · 10/01/2016 09:24

Hi all, can I jump in here?! I'm 27 and my husband and I just ditched the condoms. We have a lovely son (who is 3 in a couple of weeks!) I'm a super healthy eater and I'm vegan (non-preachy judgy though ;) so I've got a pretty good handle of my vitamins etc and won't be taking any others, although I'm going to take the vit B/folic acid complex twice a day now, as they're water soluble I might need a top up later in the day!

When we had our son, it was a total shock. I was on the pill, smoking, drinking, working too much.... so the ttc thing is very new to me, and a quick Google looks like it's a minefield!

My pregnancy was horrific, I almost ended up in a wheelchair because of SPD (probably because I was in bad shape when I fell pregnant) which didn't go after baby was born, until I started exercising a lot and lost a lot of weight. I start feeling the weight in my joints if I only out on a few pounds so if I'm going to carry another baby I really need to start looking after myself properly!

I broke a rib in the summer though (I pole dance for fitness!)and I haven't got back into it, not regularly at all- Although, I've lost 2.5stone by eating well so my bmi is at 20. I'm feeling good to go!

Are your partners doing anything to prepare? My husband eats terribly! He isn't vegan like me and eats a lot of convenience foods! I might start sneaking vitamins into his dinner because I know he won't take them, haha!

guidinglight · 10/01/2016 10:46

Hi all can I join? I'm 32 and DP and I are trying for our first. I think I'll be in for a long, bumpy road due to an irregular cycle. My DP works shifts which isn't ideal as we often don't see each other for days on end and he has erectile dysfunction which also doesn't help.

I'm finding it stressful as the anxiety to 'perform' doesn't help DP's issue and I think he often puts off having sex because that's better than trying and failing. I then end up feeling massively rejected (it was him that mentioned TTC in the first place) as I feel like even though he wants a baby, he can't bring himself to try. I don't know how to discuss this with him. I came off the pill in August but we've only managed to successfully have sex once since then.

I made the mistake of telling my two best friends we are TTCing but they don't know about our issues as I don't want to break his confidentiality. I told them because we were organising something that potentially I would have to drop out of. One keeps asking me how it is going (she's just being nice) and I find that hard, but I'm hoping that as time goes on she'll realise we're having difficulties and stop asking.

I'm taking pre-conception vitamins, and just tracking my cycle on an app on my phone. I realise that my post doesn't exactly fit into the 'relaxed' part of the thread as I'm anything but relaxed but I don't want to get into temping or anything like that as it will just increase the pressure. I don't smoke or eat any of the foods you're not meant to eat during pregnancy anyway so haven't had to change any of that. I exercise 5 times a week, but nothing too strenuous. I've cut down my caffeine to just a couple of drinks a day and have a bottle of wine over 3 nights at the weekend. I keep thinking I should cut the wine out too but I really enjoy a glass of wine with dinner at the weekend - I would stop as soon as I found out which would probably only be a couple of weeks as I do keep track of when we try and periods.

Sorry for going on so much, got nowhere I can turn in real life.

Felipa · 10/01/2016 10:47

Hi everyone

Well my healthy lifestyle is going okay I guess! I eat a varied vegetarian diet anyway with lots of fruit and vegetables, have been trying to eat the minimum amount of sugar (with a few afternoon tea break slip ups!). Caffeine reduction is going ok although I am still having around 2-3 cups a day, and I didn't have any alcohol this week or weekend, hoping to continue that over January although I do have a dinner to go to next weekend so will have one or two. Everything in moderation. Haven't started the prenatal vitamins yet as we aren't Ttc until early March and those things are expensive!

I do feel pretty good with the healthy eating and am sleeping well too. Have been doing a bit of exercise but could definitely do more. Need to build up energy lol

As for maternity pay, I only get stat pay which is rubbish but will start saving as much as possible in advance! Not sure how long I will take off yet, almost too scared to start planning as I had it all planned out before my last mc and it didn't work out.

Felipa · 10/01/2016 10:49

Not meaning that last bit to be doom and gloom by the way! It's obviously great to be organised and know what the plan is, but I'm just going to take a more laid back approach this time .

Felipa · 10/01/2016 10:53

Hi guidinglight welcome to the thread. Sorry to hear you are having difficulties, when are you supposed to be starting Ttc?

Don't worry about the wine, it sounds like you are very healthy overall and one bottle over 3 nights is definitely moderate!!

guidinglight · 10/01/2016 11:09

I came off the pill at the end of August and we aren't using any contraception so technically we are TTC already, but not having much luck (in actually having sex and subsequently falling pregnant).

AliceScarlett · 10/01/2016 12:39

My DH and I were talking today about having sex more and I came up with a disgusting but genius idea, I'll give him a BJ, spit into a cup and Turkey baste it where it needs to go! Gross, but you can't argue it won't get the desired outcome Blush

TheresaMarie55 · 10/01/2016 12:53

Welcome newbies

Alice I couldn't help but laugh at that 😂 . One flaw in your plan though, saliva kills sperm! X

mangocoveredlamb · 10/01/2016 15:32

Hello,

Please can I join?
I have a two year old DD and k think we are almost ready to start trying for number 2, it's a financial thing for us, but the spreadsheet is looking good for a March onwards conception!
Diet has started in earnest!

TheresaMarie55 · 10/01/2016 16:22

My diet is still going smoothly, think I'm getting used to it now and confident that once I've lost the weight I'll be able to carry it on as part of a healthy lifestyle. Went for a three hour walk today with the kids and dog, feel great!

Hello and welcome mango 😃 if all goes to plan I'll be stopping the pill either at the end of March or mid April x

raddersmrs · 10/01/2016 20:12

Those who aren't trying yet and have a plan in place of when to try, how are you coping waiting? I feel like I'm doing my own head in waiting and thinking about it. Then because I'm thinking about it I keep thinking oh maybe I should wait another month etc. At the same time being certain this is the right time.

Those who already have children, how long did it take you to conceive the first?

TheresaMarie55 · 10/01/2016 20:56

I go from one extreme to the other radders. Some days I'm really motivated with my weight loss and am like, yep, no baby being made until April and I'm at goal weight. Then I have days when I think, ah sod it, should I just come off now! I won't come off yet as I promised myself I wouldn't until at a certain weight but it's tempting sometimes.

I have two children and got pregnant with both the first month off the pill. With my second I came off the pill halfway through a pack and dates show I was pregnant around a week or two after . I must say though that me and my husband did dtd pretty much everyday and I lay with my legs up for a while after each time 😳😂 . I am expecting it to take longer this time but also planning around if it does happen quickly again x

Nuttypops · 10/01/2016 21:25

Guidinglight it can be tricky when so much influences ttc as you say. Staying relaxed is a really good idea in the process. Do you know why your cycles are irregular?
An aside, but hopefully a hopeful story for you. I had really irregular cycles when ttc our first, ranging from 30-60 days, DH also worked really odd hours and was frequently away. DD was conceived with 5 months of seriously trying though, and I had no problems during pregnancy. Hopefully it won't be too long for you.

So radders, in reply to your question. It took about 5 months for us to conceive our first. I had been off the pill for a year before she was conceived but DH was deployed for 6 months of that. I didn't go back on the pill after our first and we are just seeing how things go with this one as my cycles are still quite irregular after breastfeeding DD.

mangocoveredlamb · 10/01/2016 21:27

I'm coping with the waiting by looking at my spreadsheet (I know!) that shows when we can afford it/how much we'll need to save, and it scares me into buying more condoms!!
That and my pregnancy with DD did a bit of a number on my body and I'd like to be in a better position with number 2!

I met a friend's tiny baby today, that really didn't help! I did however resist biscuits!

I got pregnant with DD after 3 months, but I anticipate it taking longer this time!

Felipa · 10/01/2016 21:30

raddersmrs I have been waiting approx 6 months now and have gone through a range of emotions from irritation to relief to jealousy to sadness (mostly at Christmas). Now that the end is in sight and I only have two months to wait I am getting excited and motivated to be healthy.
I have mainly coped by planning nice things that i couldn't enjoy so much if pregnant/ heavily pregnant eg cocktails and nights out with friends, aerobics classes, a holiday abroad. Mostly have just enjoyed spending time with my two children and looking forward to when they have a little brother or sister.

It has been a tough wait but am now just feeling very very broody!!

Felipa · 10/01/2016 21:34

Forgot to say when Ttc-Indy my first child it took 2 months, then a mc, then a further 2 months. My second took 2 months.

Then for this third one we tried for 2 months, another mc, then tried another 2 or 3 months but it didn't work. so we have been on a Ttc break for 6 months now and am really looking forward to getting back to it.

Felipa · 10/01/2016 21:34

Ttc-indy?! That was meant to say Ttc-ing!

SoozC · 10/01/2016 22:10

Guidinglight - I know how you feel. My DP agreed we should start TTC then he keeps pulling out (sorry, TMI). Then he avoids talking about it. Finally sorted it with him yesterday, think I'm ovulating today and do impatient to start! I hope you manage to sort it. I just kept asking my DP when we were going to talk about it and eventually we did; persistence is key!