Anyone else waiting to TTC?

[happytobemrsg]

I thought we could keep each other company while we wait!

Your age/DH age: 29/39
Baby #: This will be #2
When are you TTC: I think we should start in June when DS is 2 but we are so broody it might be sooner
Why are you waiting: We are doing some house renovations at the moment & sorting out some stuff financially. Everything seems a bit up in the air & I can only stress about a couple of things at a time. I'm looking forward to life settling down only to have a newborn mess it all up again
What are you doing to keep busy?: I'm project managing house renovations & enjoying one-on-one time with DS before he (hopefully) becomes a big brother. DH & I are having a huge joint birthday party in September for my 30th & his 40th so I'm enjoying planning that!

@TheOneWithTheBaby travelling with kids is obviously different but I still enjoy it. In some ways it's easier when they're really little as they're quite portable we just went to Iceland with our kids (they're 1 and 4) a few months ago and it was amazing.

Thanks or the reassurance Nosering! I think I just got thoroughly spoiled - I had never been all inclusive before and I loved being waited on

I do love city trips, pool holidays etc though so I'm sure I'd love going on a holiday with kids too!

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever I love your idea for the table numbers - very original and also very personal! We had a similar idea with our guest book, by filling it with photographs of our 10 years together.

@Pinkroseuk I hope the weather brightens up soon so you can get on with the gardening! At least you have the kitchen and dining room to keep you busy in the meantime. I'm currently in the process of repainting the kitchen cabinets as a low-cost way of freshening the room up!

@BusyBee27 I definitely agree DIY will be a good distraction, while also feeling like I'm achieving something useful! Perhaps DH won't get too spooked if I start removing things from the room slowly and decorate around him.

@NoseringGirl I'm the same with enjoying tracking and the science behind it - it helps me feel in control too. It can't be a bad thing to get in tune with your cycles early on, to make it easier once you do start to TTC.

@FlapJackered I'm busily scribbling down your pearls of wisdom! Perhaps we should do a TTC/pregnancy tip of the day each day?

I've been considering starting tracking my cycles (a year before we start TTC, because apparently I'm a little obsessive). Does anybody have any recommendations for apps and/or thermometers? Reviews are so up and down.

I was a little intrigued by thermometers which automatically sync to an app via Bluetooth, but I'm concerned it's more of a gimmick and ultimately a waste of money... Has anyone tried one of these?

Oops! It looks like I missed the last page of the thread - apologies @TheOneWithTheBaby! I'm glad to hear you had a good time on your holiday - all inclusive is just the best, isn't it? But it definitely gives you the travelling bug! Hope everything comes back fine and the next two months go quickly for you!

@TheOneWithTheBaby that does sound amazing! It's definitely less relaxing with kids around. We do have a list of holidays we're going to do when our lot are too cool to holiday with Mam and Dad anymore.

@ParmaVioletz my favourite app by far is Fertility Friend. I've been using it since 2011 and love it. It's got a great introduction to charting course that I found really useful. You can use a free version or pay for the VIP one which comes with more features (I've ended up getting it again because of the geek tendencies but have used the free version over the years too). I started out using a cheap BBT thermometer that I got from amazon. It does the job. I used a fermometer for a while (got it through a crowd funding thing) which was a blue tooth thermometer. It was a decent gadget but no real advantage over the cheap bbt one other than not having to read the thermometer when I was half asleep. I use an Ava bracelet now which records your average temperature overnight (along with a few other things) and works out your patterns to predict ovulation etc. I really love it but it's not cheap! I like the accuracy of it as there's a few things that can throw your bbt off. Saying that, I used to do shift work and my temps still showed when I ovulated. Sorry that's a massive essay in answer to a simple question. Too many years of trying all these things out and it's addictive

@NoseringGirl you don't need to apologise to me for an essay - did you see my last post?!

You sound a lot like me in that I become a little addicted/obsessive. I have to be careful about what I'm spending on gadgets and gizmos. The geek in me loves the idea of syncing and tracking things automatically, but I don't want it to go the same way as my poor Fitbit...

I'll certainly have a look at Fertility Friend and buy a cheaper thermometer to get me started. Thanks for the suggestion!

@ParmaVioletz a cheap bbt thermometer and the free version of fertility friend will definitely give you enough to geek out on for a while. Slippery slope though
I love my Fitbit! I've got far too many gadgets monitoring my every move and body function

Thankyou @ParmaVioletz- good luck with the cupboards- I have down that before and a really good way of reusing the ones you have but it is time consuming!

I use Flo to track with but it doesn't do temperature- other than that I have found it a really good app :)

Hi everyone! Another newbie here :-)

Your age/DH age: 28/29
Baby #: This will be #2
When are you TTC: June
Why are you waiting: My little girl is a January baby (was due 28/12) so trying to avoid another Christmas time baby as my bank account couldn't handle it.
What are you doing to keep busy?: My 15 month old keeps me pretty busy! I'm also busy working, trying to lose the baby weight (is it still baby weight 15 months on??) and house hunting.

Hoping to get some advice. I've been tracking my cycles ready to start TTC in a couple of months. I've had AF back post-baby since last July and barring the first couple of cycles they've been relatively regular. I've no idea what's going on this month though. I'm a week late and I've had EWCM on three different occasions (around 10 days apart) most recently yesterday. Anyone had this before? Could it be I haven't ovulated this month?

@Tinks177 welcome! My body did something similar last cycle. I had signs of ovulation (EWCM, OPKs darkening etc) so it was gearing up to ovulate but never actually managed. I ended up having breakthrough bleeding a bit later than my period was due.
Any chance you could already be pregnant though? That would definitely explain the absence of your period if you had ovulated!

Thanks @NoseringGirl I'm 99.9% sure I'm not pregnant but I did a test this morning and it was negative. I did have a bit of spotting a few days ago but it didn't last long. It's all very confusing sometimes isn't it!

@Tinks177 it really is, so many curve balls!

According to my Natural Cycles App, I was supposed to ovulate on Tuesday but everyday I enter my temp, it pushes it back . All my LH tests have come back negative. I know it's my first cycle since coming off the pill so it can take up to 3 months to ovulate again but I'm so nervous that my cycles are all wrong and that I'll struggle once we do TTC.

@FlapJackered - I also want a copy of your Filofax!! I am very much a Monica from friends too.. I've already got our car seat picked out and have a pram shortlist. Also looked at the maternity clothes I could buy for work.

In other news, OH & I have been referred for some genetic tests before we ttc. I have a relative that was born with PKU so they're being cautious with us. I'm trying not to get too stressed about it but failing miserably. I've even looked at the diet I'd have to be on if we were carriers and it basically excludes every nice thing. I guess I just need to be grateful that they are doing it now and it's not delaying us ttc.

Also, to distract myself (and I know I'm probably over thinking and overplanning here), I've started to think about cars. I'm considering changing mine - are there any that you would specifically recommend? Or avoid?

I'm not sure if I'm being daft. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my car, it's only 5 years old & lovely, but I'm wondering if it could be more practical (eg it doesn't have wipe clean leather). Current car is 5 door hatchback.

Budget is up to £20k, satnav/park assist are must haves. Would like an automatic & want a min 2 litre engine. Think I might just be dreaming but also telling myself that I won't be able to justify the money once I've got a little one!

@dottydally we have just changed our car in preparation for little ones!
We had a 4 year old Astra hatchback and changed it for an estate with more extras such as park assist, heated seats and a bigger engine!
Oils really recommend the model - we have a 1.4 petrol but 150hp and it pulls better than the 2litre diesel we used to have - loads of room, a year old and £15k so within your budget-

Hubby sold his corsa earlier in the year(have gone down to one car) and although we said it was big enough for little ones the extra room is nice and also easier as we regularly go out with friends and family where there's 4 adults :)
(I have also been looking at car seats and pushchairs and seen a bargain we want to get but worries Incase the rules change again for car seats etc )

@Pinkroseuk exciting news on getting a new car (heated seats sound dreamy too!). I was looking at a lovely BMW estate, but when I mention it to anyone they all say 'isn't that a bit big for you' and it's awkward because I just have to nod and smile, can't tell them the real reason! interesting to hear it still has the same power as your old ('bigger') Diesel engine. Is your new car automatic or manual?

How are you finding life with one car? On paper we could go down to one car but I think I'd struggle as we live in a very rural place. Ooh! Which prams/car seats have you got your eye on?

@dottydally good luck with the tests. That must be worrying, but good to know what you're dealing with and get it out of the way. I feel the same about going to the GP about my Thyroid thing.
I would love a new car too. I love the Land Rover Discovery Sport (I love big cars!) but not practical for our little city streets and second hand ones are diesel too which I think is not a wise investment. I would love heated seats though. My DH has them and it is a source of real happiness for me getting in his car in Winter!

@Tinks177 I had the same. I had EWCM 3 times this cycle and Natural Cycles has told me I have only just ovulated on day 38 . Apparently stress can push back ovulation hence the multiple EWCM.
It is looking like I am going to have a 48 day cycle this time. It's all good fun isn't it!

@FlapJackered thank you! It's so nerve wracking isn't it. But I know it's the right thing to do. Is your GP being helpful? I don't know much about thyroid issues so not a clue what they would do!

4x4's are the dream! But no, probably not ideal if you are in a city. They're a common thing where I live but it's rural so I guess that's to be expected. Taking into account your location, what car would you get? The impending clamp down on diesels is also prompting me to consider a petrol instead. I know diesels have an advantage when doing lots of miles (which I have been doing), but petrols are looking like a good choice. Also thinking leather will be wipe clean whilst I consider the fact that there will inevitably be sick on them some point with a little one! Very jealous about the heated seats. My OH's car has them and I will always have them on - even in the heat of summer!

@dottydally thanks! We wanted BMW but the cost is just too much - the Astra was the closest we could find with the luxuries that we could afford! Yes we have done the same- have also had it with our house as we moved to a 4 bed last year (a cheaper area so we could afford something bigger)! It's a manual- I have never mastered an automatic!
It's going okay so far - we go to work together so from that point it's easy - we're also out in the sticks - main town at least 30 mins away.
We love this one- as found it cheaper elsewhere!
www.cosatto.com/shop/last-chance-to-buy/travel-systems/wish/my-space
We think it's pretty unisex too!

Hope the tests go well :)

Sorry about the random ramblings... But I've just got an email from the Book People and have found myself looking through all the childrens books.
I cannot wait to be read to my children at bedtime and take them down to the library (if they still exist by then!) to choose new books every week like my mum did with me. Little things like this make me ridiculously broody. Can't wait to tuck them in at night and kiss their little squidgy cheeks!

@dottydally I quite like the Volvo small SUV. It is quite pricy though. I know what you mean about diesel - I would be worried about buying a diesel as I think they are already losing their value with the impending electric takeover.

I just had the doctors appointment, she almost wasn't going to let me get tested because I am 0.04 within the normal range (!) but then I heaped a pile of papers on studies etc showing risks of miscarriage, birth defects etc on her desk and she agreed to test me! Just got to wait until the 10th May. Frustrating as I was all set to start ttc this cycle but will have to wait now. At least I have all you lovely ladies to keep me company!

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever I know what you mean! I keep doing the same when I see baby clothes etc.

@Pinkroseuk They are quite pricey. I'm finding it hard to justify as there is absolutely nothing wrong with my current car. To anyone who already has a little one, how important is boot space?

Gosh you are organised! I'm hoping our 3 bed will be plenty (although I don't anticipate we will have more than 2).

It's good that 1 car life is working well. OH and I work in completely different directions so not sure it would ever work for us unfortunately. We did consider trains/buses but they just aren't practical.

The travel system is so cute!! And definitely suitable for boys or girls. Things with patterns also tend to look cleaner for longer as marks aren't so obvious.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever Not ridiculous or ramblings at all. Those are the small things I dream about being able to do (along with going to the park and watching First steps!).

@FlapJackered ooh I hadn't even thought about volvos!

Well done for standing your ground. Doctors are sometimes not as helpful as you would like but I'm pleased she's agreed to test you. I'm so jealous of all those that are ready to start ttc now.. I've still got another 9 months or so to wait

@dottydally it's useful to have a lot of boot space as even smaller pushchairs can take up a lot of space and if you go away for a few days with the car you'll also want to be able to get travel cot and various other baby supplies in. Even going shopping can take up more boot space with babies. I use a sling a lot rather than a pushchair though.

We were planning on starting trying next month but I'm going to a wedding in June with a group of my friends. It'll be a boozey one and I'm considering putting off TTC for another cycle in case I get pregnant straight away. My friends will know right away if I'm not drinking. On the other hand, my DC both took nearly 18 months each of TTC so it seems unlikely I'll manage it first try and I'm 35 so don't want to put it off too much! What should I do?

@NoseringGirl did you prefer the sling to a pram? I think I've chosen what I want (Audi A5) so just got to find the right one now.

Hmm. It's a tricky one - would it worry you if you did end up having to tell your friends if it did happen straight away? And would you be able to test shortly before the wedding to see if you have the all clear to drink?

@dottydally yes! We only ended up with a 4 bed as it worked out cheaper than a 3 bed we were looking at as the people wanted to move quickly - more to clean though!

Thanks - yes I hadn't thought about that with the pattern - another bonus thanks!

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever not random at all- very much looking forward to it too :)

@NoseringGirl is there anyway you would be able to drink something that looked like alcohol but wasn't?! We went to a wedding in Lithuania last year where they drink for 2 days straight! OH had been diagnosed month before with Type 1 diabetics so couldn't drink- there was loads of vodka so we pretended we drank that but actually had water- no one even noticed! If not maybe if you can test before you go if timing works?

I finished my second round of Provera on Thursday and still no sign of AF - first time around it started equivalent of two days ago so trying not to worry but it's not easy! I should be seeing the hospital again next month but still had no letter- anyone else had letters really close to appointments?