Staying Sane - Positivity during TTC journey

[KnitKitty]

Hi ladies,

So, TTC is an anxious and sometimes heartbreaking time and is just a constant roller-coaster of emotions:
Some of us have been trying for a long, long time and just feeling like it will never happen.
Some of us are trying after a previous pregnancy loss.
Some of us aren't seeing eye-to-eye with OHs.
Some of us don't have an OH to lean on and are going through it alone.
Some of us are trying with fertility treatment.
Some of us are trying for our first, and some our fourth
Some of us want to be trying but can't yet for one reason or another.
Some of us are dealing with health issues which may affect fertility or mental health.
And some of us are about to, or have just started trying and might be worrying about how long it will take or if this or that will effect fertility etc etc...

It's just not the funnest journey to be on and I thought we could do with a thread just for positive messages and thoughts.

SO, no negative messages on this thread, but feel free to post:
A positive mantra or affirmation you use or think someone else could use
An idea of how to relax or pass the TTW time
A nice thing that happened to you recently
A success story despite the odds
A picture or word of hope (rainbow pictures most welcome)
A positive message to those who are going through one of the above scenarios at the moment even if you're not on the same journey as they are right now
A nice/positive quote you've read or heard
Or something which brightened up your day

The idea is that anyone having a wobble for whatever reason can come here and soak up some positive energy to help them feel better.

I'll go first:
A mantra I have been repeating to myself at the moment is "Good things happen to me. I accept miracles in my life."

A word of hope for anyone thinking of coming off the pill or who has just come off the pill and who has a history of endometriosis; I have suffered with endo in the past and was very worried that the moment I stopped taking the pill I would get all clogged up with endo again, but I conceived in the second month after coming off the pill and I have a colleague whose wife conceived two children (one the first month after coming off the pill, the second the third month after the pill) without a problem even though she has endo too.

Right, who's with me? Any more positive stuff to share anyone?

@CritterTamer ah how exciting for u! Twins would be my dream . I always always wanted twins . Any amount of baby/ babies will do though eh! Make sure u take it easy . Have u for some time booked off work to lie up and relax ? Make sure I do some meditation too

@Lolacola13 - yes I have the next few days off work until the ET. Had a nice morning in the gym and walking my dogs. Now it’s raining so going trelax and binge watch House of Cards 😊 So anxious to know how the embies are dong and fighting to stop myself calling the clinic to find out - trying to just relax and tell myself that they will call me if there are any problems!

@Knitkitty - hope you’re enjoying your day off too 😊

Every day/month is a new one, full of new opportunities and potentials. The past is the past. You don't have to stay stuck in a negative cycle. Find all the positives you can in your life and dare to hope and look forward to the future with a smile on your face.

I'm feeling good about work today because some big changes are happening and two people who have created a lot of misery are leaving next week. I think it should lighten the mood and I'm looking forward to a different atmosphere. :)

CritterTamer I hope you're still managing to be relaxed and positive! xxx

@Knitkitty - embryo transfer is today! Very nervous and excited but feeling positive we have got this far 😊

Ahhh good luck @CritterTamer !!! Go home and lie up let dh wait ok u hand and foot . If ever u can rip the arse out of something it's now!

Thanks both 😊 ET is all done and 2 lovely embies are on board. Now begins the dreaded TWW!

Can I join you guys? I'm having a really bad few days emotionally and feeling like I need to pause ttc as I feel so bad. Af arrived on Sunday and although I felt OK, I'm really not OK now. Struggling to think positive. Been trying since December, so in many ways not long but I'm heading towards 35 and I'm starting to feel really down, so need some positivity! I need some tips to start getting my head out of ttc and have already made a list to start on. I'm struggling to believe or hope...

Good luck @CritterTamer

@KnitKitty you're very positive, it helps to read your perspective so thank you

@CritterTamer how very exciting! When will you find out if it's worked? I hope all goes amazingly and it's twins 😍

@DaisyMay25 - official test date is July 3rd. Of course if it hasn’t worked I may know sooner than that if AF arrives.

Hi looking for some advice.
I had a mc and a week later a d&c in may.. 2 weeks after the d&c i noticed cm and assumed i was ovulating and dtd and have done every day or 2 days since! It has been 2 weeks since then.
As i have pcos i bought some cheap ovulation sticks online and have been using them for one week.. every day there is 2 lines but none as dark as the control line.
The past few days iv have began feeling sick and dizzy, sort of how i knew i was preg last time minus the sore boobs! Also alot of twinges in my tummy, some strong smells and last week i pee’d a serious amount of times within one hour! I have used 2 cheap preg tests from online and both show up negative. I know the furthest on i could be is 2 weeks so its still very early. I just dont know if i am imagining the pregnancy symptoms or has anyone ever had anything similar? So confused on what to do!!!

My DH/DP and I will rejoice at the news of my pregnancy- a daily affirmation!

Loving this page @knitkitty I'm not great at positivity so will follow this thread to help!!

@CritterTamer wow that sounds amazing and scary for you!! Best wishes and good luck there will be 2 cosy babas in there. Feet up and do not lift so much as a kettle!!😊

@VenusStarr I definitely recommend letting yourself have a good cry, but as this is a positivity thread, definitely follow it up with something nice! Weather's getting better so have a nice trip out somewhere, get the bikes out, go shopping, find yourself a hobby, do that thing you've been meaning to do for ages, teach yourself something, learn to draw or to crochet, find an online course or a YouTube video, get yourself Netflix, get the girls out for a night out (or a night in), all of the above! xx

@Anon7501 all I can say is try another test in a few days. But as this is a positivity thread, will be hoping for the best for you xx

@cookiewaffle thank you xxx

Thank you xxx

Thank you @CookieWaffle, feeling more positive after an evening with my sister, with some belly laughs :) like the other suggestions too, a different focus will help I think xx

CritterTamer how exciting!!! I hope the TTW goes quickly for you. Relax as much as you can, give yourself some treats and do some meditation and affirmations. Best of luck to you!!!

VenusStarr it's great that you've already started your list. You're not old enough for age to be a big factor in problems TTC, so don't panic because of that!!! Maybe a month or two away from TTC will allow you to find more balance in your life again and focus on other things. It's so easy to let it become your one main focus, which is partly why I started this thread. I don't think the stress of it helps your chances either so you can easily get into a vicious cycle. What are you planning to do to take your mind off it and on to other things?
As CookieWaffle suggested, a good cry can be very healing, but try not to wallow too long as then you'll get in a negative cycle.

Anon7501 my cycle was a lot longer after my ERPC (38 days long). Everyone is different, some women do get pregnant straight away, but don't worry if you don't. Symptoms can be caused by progesterone if you're gearing up for your AF or around ovulation. I'd give it a few more days and then test again if no AF shows up. And keep up the OPKs, you might get a positive for ovulation. Fingers crossed for you. Hope you're feeling ok after your MC. If you do get AF, I hope it's ok. I found mine was helpful closure, as much as I didn't want it to arrive. xxx

Angelmiracle thanks for sharing your affirmation, it's a lovely one. :)

Thank you for you reply, i am going to hold of until friday and test again with a clear blue (maybe more accurate) .. i dont take periods, never have so i would be more suprised if i got one lol!! Feel ok now, just happy i am actually able to get pregnant with pcos! So staying positive that it will happen again. Hopefully sooner rather than later :) xxx

Anon7501 Yes, that's great news that you got pregnant even though you have PCOS. And if it happened once it can happen again. They say you are more fertile after MC for about 6 months to a year, so fingers crossed for you. :)

What hobbies keeps everyone else busy?
I love knitting and crochet, and I've been teaching myself loom knitting this week. Never done it before and it's so easy and fun! I've made 3 baby hats so far this week and am working on a small child's one now. I'm thinking of maybe getting some good quality 100% cotton yarn and trying to make some preemie baby hats to give to charity. Not sure if there's a place to collect them though so will look into it. Might try to make some booties and scratch mitts too.
Anyone else teaching themselves a new skill recently?

@Knitkitty - yes, gardening 😊 I never had the remotest interest in gardening until we moved house last year and had a proper garden put in. Now I’m obsessed with watching it grow - I’m sure the plants are my surrogate babies whilst TTC.... (sad and pathetic I know!)

@Knitkitty I played piano until I was 16 I would love to take refresher lessons it's a nice release from things and makes you feel positive. DS first hat was a blue knit hat given in delivery suite the midwives said a lady knits them and regularly leaves them into neonatal and delivery suite lovely idea! I treasure that wee hat 😊

Today's daily affirmation - "Welcome to the world my beautiful babies"

Only on CD5 here dtd last night coz we wanted to not because we had to it was nice 😂

I found this thread at just the right time. Thank you for your wonderful positivity ladies.
I do yoga everyday. I tried the yoga yin @CritterTamer suggested this morning. It was so nice to feel like it could also be helping ttc.
I've always loved to cook but a couple of months ago I started my first ever knitting project. It's been unlocked a couple of times but I'm very excited that I nearly have a cardigan. Hopefully that'll distract me from the 2ww!

CritterTamer I like gardening too, it's good exercise as well. I currently live in a rented house though, so can't really do much in the one we've got, but just sitting outside and hearing the birds and feeling the grass under your feet can be so nice and relaxing! I have three orchids in the house which are sort of my babies too. One of them I've had for nearly 4 years now! Plants are great and it is so satisfying to see them thrive and grow.

Angelmiracle how lovely about the blue knit hat that you got!
Music can be a great therapy and good for relaxation. I've never played piano myself but my mum and sister both do. I love listening to piano music.

Hi ChaosMoon, welcome to our little positivity circle! Glad you found us. Wow a cardigan as a first knitting project is pretty ambitious! Well done! You'll have to post pictures of it when you get it finished, I'd love to see your handiwork!

Yesterday's bit of good news for me was I found out I'm getting a small pay-rise at work next month. :)

My affirmation for today is:
I accept lovely things and experiences in my life.

I've decided to talk to my dh tonight about stopping ttc for a while, which feels positive for me. I've been so anxious this week and emotional. I basically tried to pick a fight last night which he didn't rise to, but he did say that he's feeling a bit stressed by it all too. So it feels like a positive step to relieve some pressure.

@KnitKitty my lost is about healthy eating and exercise. I would like to take up yoga again as it's definitely helped before. I'm umming and ahhing about doing a 10k run.

I did have a thought pop into my head that it will happen which was a surprise.

Hope everyone is OK :)

VenusStar I'm glad you're feeling more positive about your situation and I think a break from TTC sounds like a good idea for you both so you can get life back on track for a while.
It WILL happen, it's just not been the right time yet.
You could always start training for a 10K and if a local one is advertised join up if you feel ready for it. :)