TTC #1, Cycle 1. Anyone In?

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi all,
Longtime lurker, occasional commenter, rare poster here.
DH and I decided to start to TTC after much deliberation recently.
I've been on the pill for 16 years and haven't had a natural period in that time! Had my withdrawal bleed which started on 15th Jan and think I may have ovulated on Thursday 2nd Feb. I was doing OPKs (I know - first cycle, but if I'm going to do it, I'm going all in!) and got an almost-positive then - didn't have any more OPKs with me to test slightly later in the day.
DTD numerous times in what I'm estimating is my fertile week (working on the basis that my cycle is 28 days but don't really know at the moment).
So now the waiting begins.
Anyone in the same position or want to join?
Advice and your stories welcomed!

Exciting times for those of you who can test now. 😊 According to Flo I'm only 2dpo -although I'm not convinced I even ovulated and even less convinced with the predicted time given by Flo. Think my cycle is still messed up by the implant.

I'll try to keep relaxed and not get too obsessed yet - counting this and the next cycle as bonus attempts as originally we weren't going to start trying until in June after I've ran Edinburgh marathon which I've signed up for in my infinite wisdom 😂 not.... If my some magic we hit a BFP before then will gladly skip the event lol..

How's the training going @snowbrigade?

@AnotherOriginalUsername It's going ok, though was certainly not helped by the recent weather! Roads back to normal now where I live luckily. Trying to train enough but also not overdo it as that can really mess up hormonal balances too. Everything's such a fine balance!

I wouldn't overthink it, exercise is good for you all round. You'll be fine on the day, I imagine Edinburgh marathon is a big one?

@snowbrigade Hope your training is going well! How exciting, have you done marathons before?

Sorry for TMI but my flow is now getting heavier, although I would still say it's light. Not really enough for a pad so am wearing a panty liner.

No idea if it's hormonal or what

@AnotherOriginalUsername yep, it's a fairly big one so has a good atmosphere, I did the half there last year.

I hope your appointment with the geneticist goes well.

@jemimafuddleduck I did one full one last year, so at least the training is not a complete shock to the system!

If I can drag my sorry self around 26.2 miles (Although my GPS said more like 28!) at 5st overweight on 8 weeks training, anyone can!!

Sorry you're in test limbo, @jemimafuddleduck

I had predicted my own AF as
Mon/tues (have v irregular cycles so used to doing this based on body symptoms), tested yesterday and BFN. Still not arrived today...couldn't resist another test. Still BFN, but still no sign of AF. Think I must have messed things up in terms of ovulation date, so am going to resist doing anymore testing because I think we didn't DTD on the right days if that's the case. Just gonna have to wait for herself to turn up and ruin my day...I think either tomorrow or Friday if my recalculation is right. If it isn't god knows what happening.

@flyingplum That's so frustrating. What cycle are you on now?

I'm pretty sure this is AF now so I'm going to log it as such on Ovia.

I've also ordered a BBT thermometer and some Pregnacare tablets from Amazon so stepping things up slightly this month.

What sort of things are you all doing? Would be great to get some more tips!

I'm just taking prenatal vitamins and keeping fit/active and continuing to lose weight

Only on no.2 (though, I suppose no. 3 now), @jeminafuddleduck, so I shouldn't really be too upset. Deffo out this month though - AF has arrived as I've sat on the sofa this afternoon. Pretty much exactly when I predicted her to based on my ovulation symptoms. Have been doing this a long time (to work out when AF would come, before we were TTC) so I really should trust myself on my ability to work it out. Means we did DTD on the right days (and some 'wrong' days to, cos...eh, who doesn't like a shag? hee hee) but no joy. Ah well, next month (this month) is another month. Good luck on your technological innovations! I don't want to get too regimented about it...bit worried that this might take us a while, and I'm scared of taking the joy out of our sex life. Just gonna make sure we shag a bit more this month, haha! DP will be pleased!

@flyingplum good to know someone who's in a similar boat!

@jemimafuddleduck sounds bizarre! not sure if helpful but after my first withdrawal bleed coming off the pill I had every crazy symptom under the sun but it calmed down after about 5-6 weeks.

This month's the first month I'm trying ovulation tests but I'm a little sceptical. I've been using the Kindara app as well (which I've actually found really helpful for putting my symptoms in, so after a few months I can look back and know it's a normal cycle symptom and not a pregnancy one). I did try temperature tracking but mine was absolutely all over the place for the first two months so I gave up (this was oral temp though).

@snowbrigade, good luck with the marathon! I am going to up my exercise too...just started a new job though and have little motivation left at the moment :(

@jemimafuddleduck, sorry about AF. I hope its not too bothersome. Fingers crossed to cycle 3! I have a BBT (oral) but I am finding a bit tiresome and am becoming quite lax with it now. I read that you should only do it before getting out of bed and not if you are ill, had less/more sleep than normal, 2+ alcoholic drinks the night before. If you get out of bed to wee at 4am but then get up as normal at 6am, the 6am reading won't be accurate so you would need to remember in a sleepy haze to do it at 4am. I work shifts and so I think I have too many fluctuations for it to work properly as I would get too many anomalies. Maybe if you have a more structured schedule it would be easier!

Sorry to hear that AF has arrived for some of you. :(

I'm currently just using the Flo app and taking pregnacare vitamins. Also not drinking alcohol (stopped that anyway for lent so it's a good coincidence) and desperately trying to reduce my caffeine intake. That's a killer, I've pretty much fuelled my entire working life with caffeine for years..

At the moment BBT and OPKs sound like a bit too big of a hassle for me. Though knowing myself, once I've had a few disappointments I'll be doing it all. 😂

@snowbrigade how are you trying to reduce the caffeine? I had to go totally decaf on cardiologist orders after drinking 7-8 double espressos a day but actually came off it gradually without issue. Do you drink instant or filter?

@AnotherOriginalUsername I drink it all filter, instant, espresso, you name it, I'll have it! Been drinking probably around 6 cups a day, currently trying to limit myself to two cups a day - I.e. sticking to the 200mg limit that seems to be quoted as a healthy guideline. It's a real struggle in the afternoons.

I cut down (out of necessity with a dodgy heart) by mixing it half and half, then 1/4 caffeinated then 3/4 decaf when finished, then fully decaf after that

Hey ladies, I'm abit worried last month that I didn't ovulate, according to ovia i should be coming into my fertile window in around 3 days. I've noticed alot more discharge the past couple of days in my knickers. Is this a good sign that I could be due to ovulate or is it not a sign at all? Lol help!!!! 🙈

@Unicorn234 sounds promising! I also don't think I ovulated last month- no peak OPK and 10 flashing smileys without static!! AF is late, but it's only first month after implant removed so not sure where I'm at- BFN when tested earlier today

@Unicorn234 I think that's a good sign. Is it creamy or clear? TMI overload sorry! I think it is supposed to be clear and stretchy just before you ovulate.
I don't think I ovulated last month either.

@unicorn it does sound quite promising... I’m not sure what is even going on with y cycle as I have a history of irregular cycles although today I’ve been getting some pink spotting so I think AF is on her way 😬😩 if so this would have been my shorted cycle in a while lasting 45 days

@orangekitkat13 it's more creamy lol. Sorry for the TMI
@sammielouise @WaitingForThatBFP this is my second cycle since coming off the pill and before the pill my periods were so irregular. Fingers crossed my body is preparing to ovulate lol 🤞

Creamy comes before stretchy so watch out for it changing in the next few days, sounds like you are on track to ovulate.
Wow 45days is a long cycle! I've only just finished my first proper AF since implant removal so not sure how long my cycle will be.

@orangekitkat13 and @sammielouise I too am trying after the implant removal. Had it off on the 23rd of Jan. Had a small bleed soon after that, not really a real AF. Then had a short 24 day cycle. Now on my second real cycle after implant removal and first one when I'm TTC.

@Unicorn234 speaking of CM, I'm now supposedly about 6dpo and have had lots of EWCM. Really confused as I also had that around my presumed (using Flo app to track) ovulation time... So either I'm actually ovulating late or something's going on. Just in case I'm ovulating late, we DTD yesterday. On the other hand I notice my self starting to symptom spot which is really silly!

@snowbrigade very similar to what I had except I had a 35 day cycle.

@Unicorn234 I think it is possible for you to ovulate twice in one month, maybe that's what has happened!