What do I need to do before we start?

[crashbangwhallop]

DP and I have decided we want to start TTC but I have no idea what we need to do. All I can think of is taking folic acid? I have a DS but he wasn't planned and I was fairly young so it didn't really go how I wanted it to.
This time I want to plan as best as I can and have a better idea of what I'm doing.
Where do I start?
What's the best piece of advice you have? and do I need to go to my doctor and tell them we are TTC?

The first thing you need to do is relax! You can take pregnancies conception vitamins if you want to but honestly, don’t stress yourself out so soon

Good luck!

Track when you’re ovulating, take your folic acid and enjoy yourself. Ring the gp when you get a positive test and they will refer you to the midwife. Good luck.

Just shag! Download an app like Glow to track your cycle if you like reminders of your most fertile times. Folic acid is a good idea. You don't need to visit your doctor unless you've been trying for a year with no success. As and when you conceive, book a booking in appointment with a midwife through your GP surgery.

Thanks Bifs I'm very excited I've wanted baby number two for a long long time! I can't help it!

Also if it helps I haven't been taking contraception for 2 years (it did some nasty things to me so we had to rely on condoms). I have always wondered how you tell when you're ovulating so that'll be interesting to find out!

Patience lol

Or be patient as that should have said but I read your thread title as “what do I need to have...” because I’m half-reading through a migraine.

My advice: low expectations. You have no control. Just because you're ready for a baby now, doesn't make it always happen.

Says the Debbie downer at ttc 22 months...

physicskate I know the feeling. 15 months in, zero pregnancies and had to come to the realisation that just because I wasn’t ready to have a baby doesn’t mean I could just have one that easily

The ovulation tests from amazon are really cheap, you have to see on them twice a day starting from around cycle day 10. It’s a good way to figure out your cycle, and they definitely played a part in the two year old terror in my house that is currently shouting from her bed!

Pee*

sending lots of positive vibes and fertile days for you bubblegum and psychicskate. I think I would be gutted either way if it doesn't happen but for now, I think I'll just start taking the folic acid and whatever other vitamins. I've just lost a fair amount of weight so hopefully, that works in my favour. DP has a bit of a way to go with his weight but I'm helping him with that.
Thanks for the advice. Obviously need to not overthink it just yet and see what happens.
Hopefully, this means I'm just a lot more prepared this time around. I have had one failed pregnancy some years ago but again I wasn't even ttc and it pretty much put me off having sex for a long time. I was terrified of it happening again and I still am but I think if I don't try I would really regret it.