Thread 23. TTC #1 - New Year, New Opportunities. Let's keep those BFPs rolling in!

[AlexiaB]

Calling all OPK-ers, Temp-ers, Clomid-ers, Femara-ers, IUI-ers, IVF-ers and anyone else on the TTC #1 Bus.

Happy New Year! It's 2017 and it's OUR year

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. We've ditched the Gregorian calendar in favour of the TTC Cycle Day calendar, and we don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts, we just keep it legs spread and fingers crossed (LSFX). We love a baby bomb from a prior bus-mate but if we get told to 'just relax and enjoy it' ONE MORE TIME you will get a punch in the face!

We have a new Grad's Thread. We recently lost a whole load of ttc veterans to the good side and we're absolutely desperate to join in the fun! May 2017 lead us all to upduffed heaven and the Grad's thread, amen.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly, don't convince yourself that you're pregnant in the tww. That is paramount!

Hop on board, post your stats and prepare to be dazzled by the wealth of TTC knowledge we long-timeys have to share...

I've had a withdrawal bleed. It's all odd. I just need some advice on when to start using opks

I was on microgynon for 7 years and came off mid pack. Your GP will tell you not too but that's only because it makes it extremely difficult to work out your due date if you fall. Especially as you have no idea how long your cycle is and when you normally ovulate etc etc. But I don't really think it's dangerous or anything.

How's your cycle since?

I haven't even thought about using opks just looked them up.... Might order some if I get AF. I track in 'clue' app and it predicts when you have a fertile window. Maybe do that for a month and use the tests in this window the month after

Well I've been TTC for fucking ages so my cycles perfect now but I don't really remember it being too screwed up. Think I had a full blown period 5 days after then just regular cycles. All women are different though and withdrawal bleeds are very common. I would wait for your actual period and then start doing opks on CD10 but you could be throwing money away if your hormones are still balancing properly. You sure you want to do opks from the word go? You may not need them.

skipper My GP said it was fine, it's only hard to calculate due date as you said.

wonder it depends what test you use. If you use a FRER I think you can test up to 5 days before your missed period.

I was on Rigevidon for 3 years and came off beginning of December.

I'm thinking I want to do opks because they track ovulation but you think it best if I just freestyle for a while?!?! I'm also worrying about everything to do with conception - my friend even told me regular lube slows sperm down!!

Welcome Wonder and On

Wonder that's probably the worst thing to do if you're unsure of your cycles. Clue will be all guess work re fertile window. Unless you BD every other day consistently you won't have a clue (no pun intended) and could easily miss O. I'd recommend tracking CM and doing opks as a minimum (temping even better). I made this mistake to begin with and probably wasted a good 9 cycles with no idea when I was ovulating, what my lp was and when I was in the tww. I was taking a relaxed, stupid approach pukes with regret

shh start doing an OPK from cd8 every afternoon at the same time and without consuming fluids for 2-3 hours prior. It could take you a couple of cycles to notice a pattern and figure out what works for you. Fmu works for Winging, it absolutely doesn't work for me. 4pm is my peak time.

Thanks for all the nice comments guys. No AF yet and didn't manage to get any tests. Hopefully DH is going first thing in the morning, if not I'll wait it out another day.

shh absolutely do not use any lube that is not sperm friendly eg. preseed, conceive+. Also avoid bj's if possible because saliva isn't good for sperm.

I'm using ovulation tests ATM just to see if my body has "restarted" but all negative so far

You can ssh they help massively to track an ovulation day but it can make things stressful too especially as you're just starting out. I'd just go for regular sex for a few cycles to let your body get into a rhythm again.

Hope all you new starters are taking folic acid too! Very important. Nearly every GP and specialist I've seen has mentioned it, also a good multivitamin does help.

Welcome wonder and on! Everything I read makes me so glad that I've never been on birth control and have used condoms until TTC. FX for you both!

Wonder, I use clue too but I don't find it very good for predicting things like fertile window. Unless you temp, it doesn't take any notice of your symptoms (e.g. EWCM or cramps) and just calculates your ovulation date based on your average cycle length and a 13 day LP. My cycles vary between 27 and 37 days so unless I'm having a bang on average month, I would miss my FW if I just used the app. That said, it's the only app I've been able to get on with and is a million times better than that awful Ovia

Good luck for tomorrow Orange! I am debating whether to test tomorrow or leave it to Saturday.

Kwik I have a heated clothes rail and I wouldn't recommend it, it only dries the tiny part of the clothes it touches. I would however recommend a dehumidifier with a laundry setting. Mine dries clothes in a couple of hours it's amazing and your house doesn't get condensation and damp either!

I'm using a app called my calendar and although it's just guessing at ovulation etc I find it really useful. it can be used for periods, ttc, birth control, meds, etc

I'm using a app called my calendar and although it's just guessing at ovulation etc I find it really useful. it can be used for periods, ttc, birth control, meds, etc

skipper I've been taking folic acid since September/October I was too excited because it meant starting TTC soon!

kathrino Good luck to you too!
Good luck Alexia too !

Welcome all newbies!

Jam lots of love to you. We are here if you need us.

Alexia your chart looks fab, I have my fx that AF stays away for you.

So I had a dip in temp 3 days ago, it then rose slightly but dipped down more this morning (14dpo). Also have been feeling crampy (anyone else get crampy feelings in their legs as well as uterus?) and light brown spotting. Expecting AF to show tomorrow. If it does my 'fuck it' is going out to my birthday meal with all my friends and having a bloody good drink!

Sounds like a good fuck it day to me pug!

I second only using sperm friendly lube - we use pre-seed (I do the applicator bit before DH comes upstairs or it would ruin the mood!) and I actually prefer it to normal lube! Obviously has made jack shit difference as we're on cycle 7, but definitely helps on days where I'd rather do anything other than scheduled dtd 😂

I was on microgynon, then nexplanon implant then back on microgynon for over a decade - dr said it wouldn't affect fertility but after about 6 months of cycles sorting themselves out, I know I'm never going on hormonal birth control ever again!

Thanks for the info, yeah I am taking a cool causal approach to it  but I like your advice... off to amazon to add to basket for when AF no doubt makes an appearance.

My cycles have always been pretty regular when not on pill contraception. And now I've had 2 29 day cycles so hoping the prediction was accurate. It's also been falling on the full moon / new moon for my on and af days... a little weird. With Xmas and New Years I haven't had much time to think, but now I just want to know if it's a bfn or bfp

Pug I can't interpret that chart very well but your temps still look fairly steady and high compared to your pre-O temps. The chart-lover in me would love to see your temps on fertility friend to see how high your temps are in relation to your coverline (the horizontal red line of the crosshairs). Really hope the brown spotting is a good sign. I don't think you're out just yet! If it goes up a bit tomorrow will you test?

alexia here's my FF chart.
I think if it goes up or AF doesn't show I will test. More because it's my birthday meal tomorrow evening and I want to know if I can drink or not, otherwise I would wait another day or two as I hate seeing that bfn staring me in the face.

Yay Pug I didn't know you had FF too! Thanks for sharing. Your temps, BD and specifics all look good. With you on hating seeing snowy whites but even FF is telling you to test tomorrow (T on Stats line) Praying we both get high temps tomorrow and no AF!

Really should not watch One Born Every Minute. OH came home to me bawling my eyes out

Okay so this is my chart and I still pulled BFNs on 2x cheapies. Also whipped out the digi I had stashed just in case. "Not pregnant" obviously. Feel like crying! It'd be just my luck to have a pregnancy looking chart and not be. No af or spotting which is my only hope atm.

Aww skipper hugs!

I'm so behind! Welcome all the newbies! Good luck pugand Alexia.