TTC tips and advice

[Wifelife]

TTC and cycle 5 has just ended with another visit from AF... very fed up, cycles averaging at 6 weeks long so when many other ladies would have had 9 chances since January by this point I’ve had 5 ☹️ (Some cycles considerably longer than 6 weeks)

No consistency, finding tracking difficult and when I’ve opened up to friends and family they are trying to be helpful and kind but conversation stops dead and I’m just told ‘don’t worry it will happen’ ...

I’d love to know your best TTC tips?! Diet, health, stress related, anything and everything - I’d especially love to know how you tackled the stress and whether or not you think that contributed towards your BFP? I’m just feeling so disheartened and confused, my body seems to be working against me at this point ((of course I know so many ladies struggle for much longer than this but I’m just hoping for some friendly support))

Anyone?

Hi

Have you been investigated for PCOS?

I had irregular, long cycles & I understand how difficult it can be when ttc.

I have lots cysts on my ovaries but not the syndrome. It’s worth getting a scan to check that out.

Other things I would recommend would be to take a multivitamin specifically designed for ttc. I take the pregnacare conception ones but boots etc do their own versions.

I’d make sure my weight was in a healthy range (if you do have pcos extra weight can make a huge difference).

I’d download an app like fertility friend, buy a basal thermometer (about £3 on Amazon) and start charting my temperature every morning.

After about 3 cycles of charting you should begin to see a pattern.

I’d buy Toni Weschler’s book ‘taking charge of your Fertility’

@LatteLover12

No not yet, I spoke to a nurse at my doctors surgery who didn’t seem concerned and prior to this year I didn’t have any irregularities or concerns which is why stress has been suggested as the cause, a close family member has PCOS and not conceived in three years since TTC and her symptoms don’t really match mine so I’m not sure what the problem is...

Started reflexology a couple of weeks ago and she didn’t detect anything worth noteing, nurse advised that the doctor wouldn’t investigate issues until we had been TTC for 2 years! So at this point I’m considering private investigation..

I’m just feeling a bit fed up, I keep being told that the power of the mind influences our bodies so much more than we realise and perhaps that’s true but then I think there are obviously women with much worse stress in their lives and conceive so it just makes me feel that stress is a convenient reason and not necessarily the culprit ☹️

@LatteLover12

Thank you for those tips, I hadn’t considered a scan but definitley will

I’m just outside the healthy range at the moment so diet is definitely something I’m looking at too.

Thank you xx

Have you tried the sperm meets egg plan? Google it I've tried that this month and I'm on my tww at the moment.

Last time I conceived although it didn't work out... I did a few things differently .

I cut down on my caffeine intake, stopped taking any anti histamine, started running just doing the couch to 5k and I stopped drinking green tea. After 9months of trying after my first ectopic the month I did all this I conceived

I've done all this again plus sperm meets egg plan this month so I'm hoping it's worked again 🤞🏻

Good luck don't give up hope x

It can take the average couple a year to conceive even with no problems so don’t be too worried.

I do think stress can have an effect on your cycles but if you look on lots of ttc threads you’ll see lots of posters saying they were as regular as clockwork until they decided to try for a baby & then their bodies went haywire for no apparent reason!

Keep trying, I wish you lots of luck

@katielouise8

I’ve been looking at SMEP and think that’s definitley the way to go as I don’t know when I’m ovulating due to being so irregular

My DH and I have cut caffeine and exercise is something I’m going to introduce and I hope this will help.

Thank you - good luck, I hope you get your BFP the tww is so hard!

@LatteLover12

Thank you and you’re absolutely right it definitley can take a lot longer than we might anticipate even without any problems, I think sometimes that’s part of the issue - so many of my family and friends are very happy to share how quickly it was for them but you don’t often hear from the ladies it takes much longer for xx

I’m trying not to get too worried about it it’s just frustrating- thank you for your messages

I second charting your bbt along with using OPKs. If you do it religiously it confirms that you’ve ovulated.

Are you checking your cervical mucus? I never got any egg white even though I knew I was/had ovulated due to temping, and I know it sounds like a gimmick, and I was just as skeptical at first, but I got my bfp the first time using conceive plus lubricant, on my 4th cycle. Happened first time for someone else I was on a thread with too (it was because of her I bought it!)

@Halfbloodprincess

I’m definitely going to start temping this month which we haven’t before and in honesty I don’t notice much cervical mucus wise, it’s never been particularly prevalent even before TTC but we are looking at preseed as I’ve heard very good things so that’s the plan this month - preseed, temp checking and taking prenatal vitamins, fingers crossed!

Thanks for your reply xx

Check your thyroid levels. I had no symptoms and my TSH came back high, it severely affects the ability to conceive and carry to term.

@KatBeCool

Oh I hadn’t even thought of that, thank you!

CD 45 and since AF briefly appearing late yesterday she’s gone again, feeling all the crappy symptoms though ☹️

Good luck with temping and charting . It helps you to feel more in control and keeps you busy. Plus, you have more information for your doctor if things still don't go to plan. Lots of people seem to conceive with SMEP, so I'd definitely recommend that.

Definitely try to lose a bit of weight. It's the first thing your doctor will tell you so it's best to pre-empt that! It can help with hormone levels too.

Pre-conception vits are a good idea, and will mean you're nice and healthy when you get your bfp (which is a good idea because you don't know what foods you'll go off!)

Cutting caffeine obviously helps with stress reduction if you can manage it, as does increasing the amount of exercise and fresh air you get. These are also good preparation for pregnancy.

I know it's a bit cliche, but sooooo many people conceive on or after a holiday. Worth a try? Either way, you get to pamper yourself with a holiday and lots of time with DP, which is a good idea as it's much harder with a toddler in tow

@crazychemist thank you for all your tips, definitley need to consider the diet and weight aspect of things, nothing drastic really needs to be done but I think if I can easily make small changes that could make all the difference then it’s the best place to start - just told DH about the holiday idea... he wants to see how the vitamins etc do first 😆

Hi Wifelife, I have been off the pill for about 4 months now and it took a while for everything to settle. I would also recommend temping because that allowed me to see what was really happening with my cycle. It was all over the place for the first couple of months - spotting at odd times, 38 day cycles, a total lack of CM. This month it is sticking to a more normal pattern with various types of CM at the right times, a regular LP and a more predictable O. I read it can take up to a year for things to settle down, so don't stress just yet. Definitely jump on the prenatal vitamins too so you are ready for that BFP when it comes along :)