New to this - General Ttc help...

[TTc2019BabyNo1]

Hi all,

I’m just writing to hear some general advice and help and just to vent a bit about how clueless I am as we’re not telling friends/family we’re ttc. I’m completely new to this, ttc our first child after 8 years of not really thinking about children but all of sudden desperate for a baby.

Came off the pill in December (after 12/13 years) having no idea my cycle wouldn’t just go back to normal and now trying to navigate this minefield of cycle day calculations and ovulation tests.
I am a bit lost as I feel absolutely no different after coming off the pill.

I have no idea where I am in my cycle, done a few ovulation tests over the last few weeks - all negative. I have no idea if/when i might ovulate. Wondering what other people suggest, should I do an ovulation test every day until one becomes positive?
Or simply just wait until my first post-pill period?

Also- on ovulation tests - does the second line gradually get darker the nearer you get to ovulate? Or is it just no line, no line, no line, solid dark line..?

Sorry for the essay! Thanks for listening 😊

Have you downloaded an app to track your cycle? I used Ovia.
I found ovulation sticks tricky. For me there was always a line and it got darker, then lighter again. So you know the darkest of the lot was when you ovulated.
I preferred to track my basal body temperature every morning. Putting the temps into the app it then estimated when ovulation happened.

If I were you I would begin tracking everything in an app but bear in mind it may take a month or two to establish a pattern. The more data you have, the more accurate it will be.

That’s a long time to be on the pill so I’d assume your cycle is still getting back to normal. I’d give it a few weeks then maybe see the doctor or nurse for advice if you’ve not had a period? For me, my ovulation test don’t get gradually darker. Two days ago I had a very faint line at 10am and then blazing positive at 3pm. I think they recommend testing twice a day so you don’t miss the surge. Good luck.

I have attached a photo of my ovulation tests from before Christmas. I got a peak on Monday am and think I probably ovulated on Tuesday as a result. Mine seem to gradually get darker then all of a sudden they are really dark and then it's gone.

Thank you all for the tips! I had no idea about testing twice a day! It’s a bit difficult because of work and the instructions said not to do it first thing, but I will definitely try and do two from now on, thank you!!

Yes i’ve been on the pill for a long time not even really thinking about what it was doing to me :(!

Definitely will start tracking things, would just like my period to arrive to know I’m ovulating! Fingers crossed it happens soon.

Thanks for the help! Whoever knew trying for a baby would be so stressful 🙈! Just kicking myself I didn’t think about starting earlier!