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!

[orangekitkat13]

@AnotherOriginalUsername haha!!

[HappyThoughts7]

Morning all, how are you all getting on? Cycle day 38 for me now, and still no AF. Used an IC yesterday morning & another BFN, so no idea what’s going on! Xx

[Unicorn234]

I'm on CD 33 and no signs of AF. I had cramps and twinges the other morning and thought it was arriving but nope nothing so far 😢

[orangekitkat13]

I'm 23 days since my implant was removed and no AF either. Plenty of symptom spotting and a bit of cramping this morning. I think I'm going to test again on Sunday.

[sammielouise]

I'm CD12 today, had my flashing smiley last night and this morning, but complete negative to cheap ovulation strips so hoping the digital is more accurate and it's on its way! It's going so slow! 🙈

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

I have no idea what day I'm on, but my app tells me to test in 8 days...

[gossipgirl28]

I'm on CD23 and 9dpo. Had brown spotting for just over 2 days now (enough to need a panty liner). I'm thinking this is implantation bleeding as it's not red blood or as heavy as Af.

Anyone else experienced implantation bleeding a week before AF is due?
When do I test with Internet cheapies?
Xoxo

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

Ah fuck I can't handle these hormones!

Found out something medically significant this morning which has long been suspected but has pretty much now been confirmed and now on some sort of emotional rollercoaster about the morality of conceiving a child with a potential abnormality

[orangekitkat13]

@AnotherOriginalUsername sounds like you have a difficult decision to make now. Sorry to hear things are getting complicated for you.

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

@orangekitkat13 I have a condition that is likely inherited and is 50/50 as to whether any children will have it, but it's now confirmed that my uncle has it, my grandmother had it, my great grandmother had it and I'd probably bet a whole heap of money that my dad had it too (he died suddenly in his 40s). I'm seeing a geneticist in about 3 weeks for genetic testing

[orangekitkat13]

@AnotherOriginalUsername wow I'm sorry. I'm not sure if knowing is better or worse than not knowing. Are you going to hold of TTC until after your appointment? I wish I could offer something more by way of comfort.

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

No, not waiting as I've already been diagnosed so it's always going to be 50/50 that any children will have it. It's something that my husband and I have discussed at length, but I would feel incredibly guilty if we had a child that then had the gene mutation. I was diagnosed in 2016 (fortunately through chance rather than because of symptoms) and basically at my first annual review, I was told that if we want children, to do it now

[orangekitkat13]

Ahh ok well best of luck, hope it happens soon for you!

[Mipha]

I’m on CD20, maybe 6dpo but not too sure. Time is going sooo slowly! Gonna really try and just wait for AF but will be so tempting to test.

[LG88]

Hi ladies, hope you don't mind me joining in! I'm a bit of a gatecrasher as this is my 3rd cycle but I still feel very new to it all. I have had some different symptoms this month after ovulation and am desperately trying not to get my hopes up. I drive myself crazy symptom spotting!! Its really helpful to read about others who are in the same boat and knowing that I'm not totally mad! Fingers crossed for quick results for all!! xx

[Unicorn234]

Morning girls
It's CD 34 for me today and tested this morning but got a BFN 😢
Ever since testing I've had tummy ache so think AF might be on her way.

[LG88]

Rubbish, sorry to hear that @Unicorn234.
Its crushing isn't it. Every month trying so hard not to get your hopes up and over analysing every tiny thing. It's enough to drive a person totally crazy. 😖

[sammielouise]

Oh sorry to hear that @Unicorn234

Can anyone advise- I'm CD13 today and have had flashing smiley faces on the clear blue advanced. I'm still getting complete negatives on cheap OPKs though? Not even a hint of a second line! Is this normal? I'm still trying to get my head around it all so may be being silly but totally unsure what to expect!
Thanks all!!

[Unicorn234]

This is my first month ttc after coming off the pill and before the pill my periods never became regular so I dont really know where I stand. I've followed the Ovia app which tells me when I 'should' of ovulated based on a 28 day cycle but feel like ive completely missed the window as i obviously didnt ovulate at that time. I think I might have to start using OPKS but it was something I didn't want to do as I didn't want it to be regimented, but if I don't do OPKS I feel like I won't know when I'm ovulating

[LG88]

I used OPKs just once to set my mind at rest that I was definitely ovulating and roughly when. I haven't used them again now I know because I dont want to add pressure. Xx

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

@Unicorn234 I too am just off of contraception (coil removed on 5th Feb) and I'm also using the Ovia app. I've not been using opks but have done some reading around cervical mucus changes and ovulation instead. I have no idea what my cycles are like after being on hormonal contraception since I was 15 but I can safely say that I definitely experienced "egg white" cervical mucus which I never have done before!!

[Unicorn234]

I had quite alot of white discharge probably about a week ago and ive had so many different symptoms. Hate how our bodies can make us feel like somethings happening but it isn't lol

[AnotherOriginalUsername]

Creamy white discharge is not conducive to sperm travel. You will have a small window (a few days)) where cervical mucus changes to watery and clear, then like raw egg whites, then watery again. It's during this period that the mucus is making it easier for sperm to get to the right place before an egg is released. Raw egg white type is your most fertile time

[Unicorn234]

Maybe I haven't ovulated then 😐

[flyingplum]

@AnotherOriginalUsername - I've not been on any form of birth control since about 2012 (hated them all...just johnnies in our house...), and have mega irregular cycles, so got quite well acquainted with my CM. I started tracking things on an app that I realised the overlap with ovulation and (when I wasn't TTC) being able to roughly predict when AF would come. Was a revelation - and so nice not to be completely caught off guard on AF time! The EWCM, especially if it's, um...copious...is really something to behold! i remember being fascinated by it as a teenager, but having no idea what it was.