TTC first baby cycle one! Anyone else out there?

[rosesandponies]

So.... first baby 🤞🏼🙏🏽🤞🏼🙏🏽 Meant to be ovulating tomorrow. Main challenge atm is keeping things fun with the husband and not making him feel like a baby making machine 😂 How’s it going for other hopeful first time mummy’s?

@FlapJackered thankhun. I know just get myself all positive for no reason. I'm only cycle three so would be so lucky lol x

Hi @Broodywifey1 I finished my withdrawal bleed on 5th July and am now on my first cycle heading towards a natural af. I’ve been using the CB digital sticks and as advised by CB themselves, I wouldn’t recommend using them the first month! I’m currently on day 8 of flashing smiley with no idea when the solid will arrive! Definitely stick to the cheapies.

@flapjackered I feel exactly like my period is about to start 😂 and I'm preparing myself for it tomorrow. I thought that I had an unusual amount of CM a couple of days after we last had sex, and thought omg this is different so obviously its a pg sign! In reality, if anything I have less pms symptoms than normal. My nipples aren't even that sensitive, which is what I've noticed the last couple of cycles. Ahh who knows. It's too early to have signs anyway! @rosesandponies if it makes you feel any better, I have a mahoosive spot on my CHEST! As well as having has some horrible bit whiteheads on my nose. Bloody hormones! @chanel05 i hope the smiley goes solid for you soon! Its frustrating waiting for it, i tested for well over a week before i got even a faint line on an OPK and was starting to think I never would! It never actually turned positive either, the opks don't always pick it up apparently xxx

First test since ttc this morning, bfn. Definite signs of AF starting now, spotting and tummy cramps :-( knew really that would be the outcome but still a bit gutting. Ah well. Definitely not the best timing for us, so heres to a brand new cycle. Once DH is less stressed I think I need to ask him about upping our sexy time. I looked back on my calender and we are only averaging about once a week, despite always having done it at least once in my estimated fertile time each month. There's only me keeping track, I feel a bit like I'm getting my hopes up on my own and he's not really involved. At the same time though, once I involve him, there's no going back as he will get to know my cycle too, and so we risk what some of you have said about losing the romance (at least on his part - at the mo he just sees me as being horny, not me thinking I'm ovulating!)

I'm not sure whether to do OPKs again this month, or whether to actually just forget about everything and not track anything at all, and maybe just ease off this month completely and just wait for my period. What do you guys think?
Xxx

@Crossfitgirl sorry about AF coming 😓

I asked my DP first as we've been using the SMEP plan. I asked him if he thought it would spoil the romance "scheduling' our sexy time but he was happy to be involved, he is getting used to my cycle but I've explained to him I still want to have sex with him because I enjoy it but want to maximise our chances of conceiving at the same time.

I know every couple will be different but it has been great for us, during the TWW we go back to sexy time when we feel like it so we relax a bit more.
Maybe have a chat with him and see what he thinks - if he'd rather you just keep track and initiate when you're fertile without involving him you'll have all of us for support (I know it's not the same).

@Crossfitgirl so sorry to hear about the bfn, I agree with @TheMagicTorch and have a chat with him and see if he wants to be more involved?
I like using opks because DH and I don't have a massive sex drive. We would normally Dtd only once or twice a week so I like having the opks to know when we need to up it. They're not for everyone though and if you're finding it stressful it maybe an idea to leave them for a few cycles and see how you go?

9dpo and the temptation to POAS is building! I need some willpower to wait until Sunday when AF is due. The Tww is not good for productivity!

Hi,
I was wondering if there was room here for one more? My husband and I have just started ttc for baby #1. I think we are at the end of my fertile window. Now for the waiting game. I think the earliest I can test is the 30th July. I know it's super optimistic to think it'll work the first time round but here's hoping! X

Welcome @PixieDust2 !
I'm sat in the garden enjoying a cuppa and listening to the toddler next door having an EPIC tantrum with his mum begging him to stop. Trying to cheer myself up thinking of how she would probably like to be in my shoes right now 😂
@FlapJackered I am going to test on Friday if AF doesn't come tomorrow. She's definitely on her way though as my PMS has calmed down - tends to do so the day before - and I've got cramps in my lower back as usual. (Despite this there is still a part of me that clings on to hope...) @Crossfitgirl commiserations - better luck for us all next time! I didn't tell my husband when I was using OTKs or where I am in my cycle - any added pressure puts him off. When I mentioned that it was important to DTD on a particular day in the cycle before last it pretty much ground things to a halt until after the window had gone. Can totally relate to the work stress thing, if my husband is stressed it takes a superhuman effort to turn his mind to sexy time - but he is on board (finally) in accepting that it's not all my responsibility to do that

I'm only on CD4 and already wishing time away to my fertile window. This whole TTC is just a waiting game isn't it!
@rosesandponies - lovely! Hope you're enjoying your cuppa. I can't wait to get home from work for a cuppa -although it's looking a bit overcast!

Welcome @PixieDust2 - you never know! It does happen for people first time, good luck.

@FlapJackered it's so hard isn't it! I am so obsessed during the TWW I barely think about anything else. No idea what I'll be like when I'm actually pregnant! How will I concentrate on work? lol.

I had a temp drop this morning to just above the cover line, so I am pretty sure AF is on her way. 😢

Any news from those waiting for AF? I've got bad cramps this afternoon 😩 I'm cooking a huge bolognese to keep my mind off it. Will test tomorrow morning if she's still not here - although considering I have had 5 week cycles not too long ago I was wondering if I should not waste tests and wait a couple more days? What does everyone think

Hi ladies, I was wondering if I could come and say hello! For loads of reasons it hasn't been practical for me and DH to think about kids before now. Now I'm early thirties and been on the pill for over a decade so there's a lot against me! I only took my last pill at the beginning of this week but I'm so excited to start TTC!!! This wait is too much, I don't think I'll handle the TWW well at all it's so great that you're all so supportive of each other. My DH is brilliant but you really need other ladies to talk to! I'm all stocked up with ovulation tests and pregnancy tests, just need to jump forward in time now! I have no idea how this will go for us but I'm definitely starting the journey feeling very excited.

Hi all, so I have been waiting 6 months since our honeymoon to start ttc due to zika. Finally we can start trying this month. Can I ask how many times you have sex around ovulation? Every day? x

Still no AF this morning so tested using one of my expensive clear blue tests that's meant to work earlier - was negative 👎 Really wish that AF would hurry now as took 29 days last cycle which is short for me!

Welcome @pixiedust2, @mrsc87 and @heidi414 ! Good luck on your first cycles :-)
AF is now here for me, she came a day and a bit late! @rosesandponies even though I tested after my AF was due, I still had that little bit of hope that it was a false negative, as I was only 9 or 10dpo. If you think you might doubt the result then I'd wait, but if not then go ahead! Let us know how you get on.
Someone asked about sex during ovulation - me personally, as my DH doesn't know when my fertile days are, I just try and initiate during that time so for me it's been once or twice (he'd know it was unusual otherwise as we don't normally have sex very often) however I know lots of others do it every day in the fertile period or at least every other day. What have you planned with your DH? My DH said yesterday he'd rather not be told when to have sex, and since he gets anxious very easily I am going to just keep initiating when it's time rather than saying btw love I'm ovulating 😂 I think the pressure would put him off!

@rosesandponies sorry about the negative test, its so hard when you're later than usual isnt it? At least we will all be going into the next cycle together though :-) xxx

Welcome @MrsC87 @heidi414 @PixieDust2 !

Sorry to hear about the bfn @rosesandponies and about AF @Crossfitgirl . It's so hard this tww business.
I am hoping to test on Sunday but may cave tomorrow depending on my temp and if Af shows!

I got a dip yesterday on my chart so I thought I was out but now it has gone up just slightly, which is suppose is better than going down?
Also it maybe in my head but I felt so sick in the supermarket yesterday, which may just be psychosomatic/wishful thinking.
🤢

Thanks @flapjackered, just the way it goes! I have the day off work today so I'm having a huge clear out, get rid of some stress! They say a clear environment is a clear head!
What do you use to temp with? I have not looked into temping, don't know anything about it but given I never got a positive opk on testing this cycle, I'm thinking about it for future. Going to do IC OPKs again this month just to see if I did just miss it last time xx

Note to self: don't test until you're at least 4 or 5 days late because I'm still foolishly hopeful that it's a false negative as no AF yet - she's not going to come unless I relax! Also apparently a house move can mess with your cycle... argh I don't know.
I'm going to copy you @Crossfitgirl and start weeding my new garden to get the mind clear.
@FlapJackered I started charting my body temperature in the first cycle but gave up because I didn't really know what I was doing and it just looked all over the place. Advice on this would def be good from anyone who has tried?
Welcome to the newcomers!

@Crossfitgirl @rosesandponies
I find charting really interesting. I think it is best used with opks. It won't show you when you're going to ovulate really but it shows you when you have ovulated, as your temperature will rise. Sometime you get a dip which gives you a clue, but I think what it does help with is to know when you're in the tww.
You just have to take your temperature when you wake up in the morning ideally at the same time. You can take it orally or vaginally (the later is better but I prefer orally!)
At the end of the tww your temp normally dips if you're going to start AF and rises if you're pregnant. Although some things can affect it so it's not an absolute science!
I use natural cycles but Fertility friend is free and pretty good.
Just make sure you use a nasal body thermometer to 2 decimal places and check it works by testing it 3 times in succession and they should be pretty much the same or it is a dud one.
Here is my chart so you can see the pattern of when I ovulated etc.
Now I am just waiting to see if it dips tomorrow or stays above that cover line!

*latter

*basal 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thank you ladies for all the replies the Othwr day I ordered cheap ovulation tests and the cheap pregnancy tests on amazon to stock up 🙈. For the first time I can ever remember I had very strange sensitive nipples even when I put my Pjs on I noticed the top touching them! Thought that was strange so took an ovulation test and it said I was ovulating DTD the last few days so now waiting on my two week wait, now I’m thinking is it possible if I only had a withdrawal bleed and havnt had proper AF from coming off the pill?

Hello all, can I join too please! I'm 2 dpo on my first cycle of TTC and also first month off the pill.

@heidi411 I'm in a very similar position to you - early 30s and realised I've been on the pill for 13 years!!

@MrsC87 we also had to wait for Zika period to pass (although just needed to wait the 8 weeks as DH had the blood test done). Re sex - we did it 3 times during the 6 day fertile window. I've read in a few places that every other day is best, so the sperm concentration is still high.