Ttc number 2 advice needed

[needahugbug]

Hi there my partner and I are ttc number 2but as our 1st baby wasn't planned I'm a bit clueless with regards ovulation tests etc. Ideally we want to conceive asap so I want to try and do everything we can to achieve that. Any help of advice greatly recevied :) xx

Get yourself some opk’s first of all. Start using them from around day 8/9 of your cycle until you get a positive (test line dark as it darker than control line) Test twice a day. You should also download a fertility app (glow, fertility friend and Ovia are good ones) you put in your period info like length of cycle, length of period etc and it will calculate your fertile week which is the week you need to concentrate on having sex. Best is to do it every other day in that week. You should get a positive opk in that week which means you will ovulate around 24-36 hours later. You can only get pregnant when you ovulate so having sex after won’t work but you can have sex before as sperm can live up to 5 days in the Fallopian tubes and it’s advised that you should have sex a day or so before you are due to ovulate as the sperm will be waiting there already.

You can also use a basal body thermometer to chart your temperature (this can tell you if you’re ovulating unlike opks which can be positive even if you’re not ovulating) you have to be very strict with it though. You need to take your temperature when you first wake up and it has to be done at the same time every day. So if you tend to get up in the night then bbt might not work for you.

Also try to remember that it can take longer than you expect, even if you’ve already had a baby. My daughter was conceived while I was on the pill and I’ve been trying for over a year with no contraception and no pregnancies. It can take up to 12 months for a healthy couple to conceive. You only have a 20-25% chance of conceiving every month so the odds are really stacked against you so it’s best not to go in with too many high expectations! You will get weird symptoms that seem like pregnancy symptoms. They aren’t. They’re hormonal. Try not to dwell on them too much even if they’re unusual for you e.g. if you never have sore boobs and then suddenly one month you do. You will drive yourself insane if you symptom spot, trust me.

Have sex during your fertile week, use opks, don’t put too much pressure on yourself and know that it can take a year. Don’t symptom spot, don’t take pregnancy tests a week before your period is due (wait until a missed period if you can!) and download a good fertility app. You can also take supplements such as omega 3 and folic acid. These won’t help you conceive but it’s good to have your body fully prepared if you do conceive.

And breathe! I think that’s all. Good luck!