How long before TTC to come off the pill

[looneytune]

Hi

This is the first time in this section as my ds is 4 and I didn't know about Mumsnet until 2 years ago. We plan on TTC from August, after our holiday is out of the way.

What's the advice on stopping the pill? When we TTC ds, I was told you don't need to wait once you come off the pill, you can just start trying. What's the advice now? I m/c'd 3 months before ds was conceived and we'll never know why, just one of those things. Obviously I want to TRY my best to do everything right as I don't ever want to go through another m/c (although I know that these things just happen so I could try and try and it still happen). I just want to know whether or not I'm safe to try for baby number 2 if I've only just stopped the pill? Any advice would be great

I presume I should start taking my vitamins/folic acid now?

TIA

Hi Looneytune. I'm no expert but I have 2 dc and have always used pill in-between pregnancies. I was advised to use condoms until I'd had first natural period. This is purely for counting weeks. I am sure nothing you did caused the m/c, many women become p.g while still taking pill. Actually both times I was ttc I was too impatient to 'waste' a month and just went for it!

The pill leaves your system very quickly after you've taken the last tablet. I would therefore think the advice is the same now as before but would speak to your GP about it some more in any event.

Would say do not put yourself under undue presuure by trying to do "everything right", especially when ttc. My counsel to you when you are actively ttc is to make love when you both feel like it and do not think at all of rigourously timing intercourse. Also lay off using opk's and temperature charts; these can bring about pressures as well.

start taking the folic acid, and try to aim for TTC around days 11- 16 of your cycle, if you are regular

I came off the pill, had one full cycle, then started TTC, got pregnant immediately with DS

with DD, came off the pill, didn;t wait, got pregnant 2nd cycle!

go for it !

sorry if this is gross but keep an eye out for discharge like egg-whites, that's a sign you're ovulating.

Wow, thanks for the quick responses. I'm so pleased to hear that it looks like I can just go for it once finishing the pill as we hate using condoms and I'd prefer I just stop taking the pill, we carry on as normal and wait for a late period

I have no intention of using any charts or anything, I've always been lucky to conceive very quickly. Conceived the m/c'd baby straight away and then after the m/c, waited 3 months before trying and then conceived straight away again. Also has a pg when I was a lot younger and that with a one off split condom. My sister is also pretty fertile and so was my mum. Having said that, I'm now 31 and dh 46 so I don't want to get cocky and presume it will be as quick again, just not going to put any pressure on us The only concern I have is that early menopause runs in our family (from early/mid 20's usually) but I'm not going to think about that!!!

Oh, I'm sooooo excited now, would be trying now if it wasn't for our holiday coming up!!

Thanks for the advice