Thread 20 TTC #1 - We. Want. Babies.

[AlexiaB]

Hugh enjoys ISW and his love affair with Doreen. He watches out for skittle tits and weepyitis. Mrs Arseholey Fucknut (AF) shows up when you least want her but brings wine and soft cheese as a consolation prize.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind and well meaning but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly don't convince yourself you're pregnant in the tww. That is paramount! It messes with your head and makes you crazy crazier.

We don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts. We want a fanny full of determined Doreen, not unicorn farts and gnome tears with extra sparkle. We've been going a while now so the novelty has somewhat worn off and we're slightly battle scarred and bruised in the cervix area.

Post your stats and add your dates. A more lovely, supportive group of ladies you couldn't wish to meet. We like it when the grads stick around too. No question is too daft. We have opk experts, temp experts, cervical mucus management teams and symptom spotters extraudinaire!

[LondonJem]

Sorry Nicky fx for good SA results next week

Congrats notthere fx for a sticky one. As far as I understand spotting or a little blood is quite common in early pregnancy.

Welcome parsnip I take seven seas trying for a baby and use OPK tests. No temping for me.

[Binkybunny13]

Notyet yay for the BFP! Congratulations! totally understand that you'd feel nervous, but just see how it goes one day at a time

Skipper I normally spot for 2 days before full AF, have tried not to read too much about it as I think it would worry me more at this relatively early phase TTC! You are right, a book is needed for all this stuff- let's hope we all get BFPs before we can write it

I am still without AF- 4days late now, and no spotting like I normally have. 2 BFN though, and didn't DTD much this cycle- realistically know I'm just waiting for AF but since I came off BC in Jan/ Feb have had 30 day cycles bar last cycle which was 28 days. I just feel different, not my usual pre-menstrual feelings, and now it's messing with my head!

[AlexiaB]

Congrats notyet!! Happy and healthy 9 months to you. Brown spotting isn't uncommon in early pregnancy as Jem said. Did you test again today?

Welcome Parsnip :) At the mo I'm taking folic acid, vitamin d, vitamin c, omega 3 and b-complex daily. I temp and use OPKs as my cycles are long and crazy at the minute. I wrote some temping tips previously I could repost if you like?

Sorry Nicky

I've just noticed Halloween emojis haha

[AlexiaB]

skipper I know some people from FF who spot in LP and have fallen pregnant. If it's not a lot of blood I don't think it will stop you conceiving. Hopefully though when you go to the fertility clinic they can help you/put your mind at ease.

Binky sorry about the he BFN and limboland. It's the worst.

[sk1pper]

Thanks all, yeah will wait and see what the fertility consultant says once I've got all these tests out the way. At least I've got a ton of data for them.

Binky - not out yet! Xx

[Notyetthere]

Alexia - My mind is at ease for now as several people have mentioned that it most likely is an implantation bleed. And yes I have tested again today with a Tesco's own.

[kwick]

sk1pper I LOVE pickeled oniknd vut always but them... are they easy to make?

Congratulations notyet!!!!
I completely get your nervousness... just take one minute at a time.

Welcome parsnip!! Sorry about your MC

[AlexiaB]

Looks good notyet :)

[miwelaisjacydo]

Welcome parsnip 🤓 I only really take folic acid. Someone else will be able to advise re supplements. Am guna temp track this month of no bfp.

Yay notyet💐💐

[miwelaisjacydo]

After spotting the other day have no sign of anything at all no AF.

[sk1pper]

Kwick - so easy, just buy some small onions or shallots, take the skins off, cover in salt and leave them overnight. Then wash the salt off them in the morning and leave them to dry out. I normally buy sarsons pickling vinegar to pickle with, you can add whatever you want to this...I've added a chopped onion, garlic, bay leaf, mustard seeds, pepper corns, cloves and chilli flakes. Though you don't really need to as the sarsons stuff has spices in already, I just like mine more potent. I'm going to try and make a sweet version using honey today.

[Starmist]

Welcome parsnip. I take seven seas trying to conceive tablets. Have tried over supplements over the months but have recently just stripped it back to taking the one tablet. I don't opk or temp... maybe that's where I'm going wrong, I've kept away from it as I think it'll make it more stressful for me. I do monitor CM though & use that together with my app to help me know what point of my cycle I'm at.

Congrats notyet yayyy

[HepKestrel]

i alternate folic acid+vit d and pregnacare conception tablets.

no opking until first AF.

Folic acid is the one you must start taking.

[kwick]

Sorry so sk1pper what I meant to say was that I LOVE pickled onions but I always buy them.
Thanks for instructions

parsnip let me recommend "It starts with the egg" book to you - lots of information on supplements there that help your fertility.
I take coq10 600mgs, 4gs daily of wonder drug for PCOS, DHEA 25mg 3 times a day, vit e, folate (natural form of folic acid) 5mg (not usual 4mcg as I have a high BMI, vit d, vit c

[MouseLove]

I think I might have to ask my doc what I should be taking. I have 1x 400mg of folic acid daily and 1x cod liver oil + multi-vitamins DH takes nothing apart from the odd vit c when he's feeling sniffly.

[AlexiaB]

kwick thanks for the reminder about vit E - I've been meaning to buy it for weeks!!! writes on shopping list

[HepKestrel]

skipper is sometimes get brown spotting a few dates before . Sounds completely normal to me.

[kwick]

mouse I think you will find it is 400 micrograms not miligrams - so I take 5000 micrograms a day.

[Melba14]

I had a misscarriage in September and have started ttc again I had a strong feeling I was pregnant again but then started my period but it was irregular and wasn't sure what to expect so spoke to my doctor and had my blood drawn as my period only lasted 3 days and ranged from bright red blood to pinky brown to spotting. 7 days later I received my blood result and got a hcg level of 5 so confused then 3 days after I've started spotting again. Is it possible that I've implanted twice did a hpt test and got a bfn. Is it too early to pick up I have another blood draw on 31st October so nervous and panicking now this is my second time for my first baby.I have had several symptoms e.g headaches cramps nausea aches. Please Help

[AlexiaB]

Hi Melba, sorry to hear about your miscarriage. How far along were you? Your hcg level could be taking longer to return to 0 (unless you had this confirmed 0 post mc?). A hcg level of 0-5 is typically considered "not pregnant" (for some people 0 isn't their normal level it's anywhere between 0-5). If you are getting BFNs I would say it's likely old HCG in your system but you will know more on the 31st. I truly hope you are pregnant but I just thought I'd point this out. It's hard to say more without knowing your suspected O date etc.

[parsnips82]

Hello! Thanks so much for the info! AlexiaB temping tops would be great.
For def going to give that book a try!

[AlexiaB]

1. Keep calm. Don't stress yourself out over every single temperature. The better you sleep the more accurate your chart will be.
   

1. Choose a time to temp each day when you will have had at least 3 hours solid sleep, then set a daily alarm. (I temp at 6.30am every day including weekends)
   

1. If you don't temp at the same time each day you will see an 'open circle' on your chart. This indicates an unreliable temp and you want as few of these as possible.
   

1. Each day input your basic data on Fertility Friend - temperature, CM (cervical mucus) and BD (baby dancing/sex).
   

1. If you use OPKs there's a section for that under Data > Tests & Devices.
   

1. Ovulation is detected once FF detects 3 days of elevated temps. You'll see red "crosshairs" on your chart pinpointing ovulation day.
   

1. You will know AF is coming once your temps start to drop dramatically or below the coverline (the horizontal red line) as you approach the end of your usual luteal phase.
   

1. It will become much easier once you know your pre and post ovulation temperature range. For example, I know I haven't ovulated unless I see temps sustained well above 36.40.
   

Parsnip hope this helps. Stay calm, sleep solidly and temp at the same time each day and you should get a reliable chart. Also use a BBT thermometer which shows two decimal places eg. 36.21 not 36.2.

[sk1pper]

Alexia - you are such a fertility pro, I'm not sure what any of us would do without you!

[MrsG280516]

Can anyone analyse my OPKs? I feel like I'm going a bit mad, are they getting darker?

[HepKestrel]

MrsG yes, maybe the positive surge will be tomorrow. what cd are you on?