TTC baby #1

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Hi ladies . I’ve just finished my period today and my husband and I are now going to start ttc our first baby after having my Mirena removed last week.
Is anyone else TTC this month ? I’ve ordered some ovulation tests after I said I wouldn’t because I’ve read so many success stories on them so I thought I might as well just so I have some in case !

I’d love for people to share their journey with me ! I’m 24, 25 in two weeks . So excited for our journey . I’m trying to figure out this whole lingo on here and stuff sorry! X

Thanks for all of your tips and tricks on CM checking ladies ☺️ @notalwaysalondoner I'd never thought about it but in the shower seems like the best place to check everyday. Wait until Thursday!! Keeping everything crossed for a BFP for you.

@itsheapsswell I'll try to hold out until the day of/after AF is supposed to arrive and then test.. my first cycle TTC I tested a few times before AF and it just put me in the worst mood.

@Itsemily I'm sorry for your loss 😔 hope you're holding up OK. Yay for the fertile window, the fun bit haha hope your DH is a little more relaxed this month.

@Konbanwa Mother Nature is really playing with you this month, I'm so sorry. Really hoping AF is finally on her way. Have you been particularly stressed or anything lately?

@LeaBri nooo that sucks I'm sorry! While you're at dinner too, talk about timing. I think people are extremely lucky to get a BFP on cycle 1, onto the next one ☺️

I'm on CD16 today and I THINK I got my positive OPK, which is good because it's a day earlier than it was last month. If it's my cycles still sorting themselves out then I'll take that, I've been googling "short luteal phase" like a mad woman for weeks. So in the next few days my 2WW (which isn't actually that long because my cycles are weird 😂) will begin.. yay.....

Gosh I wonder if my cycle will be longer too as there seems a real trend here - psychosomatic or something when we know we are TTC our hormones respond! Like how my ovulation was 3 days later than other months this month!

No other symptoms to report from my side, boobs a bit less tender but no signs of AF arriving either. Will just try and distract myself until Thursday!

@han2291 Thanks for your message! I have been quite stressed at work lately which may have been playing a part in this long cycle but I have no idea really!

I had a bit of a cry to my DH last night as this is making me feel a like my body is broken and that birth control has really messed me up. I'm finding it all quite depressing to be honest but desperately trying to channel relaxed vibes (and failing obviously!). I fully understand the 'googling like a mad woman' mentality!

Congratulations on getting your positive OPK! Now it's just making sure to time DTD right so you can maximise your chances going into the TWW!

Good luck to everyone who is ovulating soon and I'll have my fingers crossed for you all!

@Konbanwa I completely understand that mentality and I feel like my cycle of trying I felt like crying everyday that I got a negative (and there were many days of testing). How many cycles have you been trying for now? It took my cousin a year to conceive after coming off the implant so I’m sure it’ll happen in good time! I wish I was as chilled as she was, I bet she wasn’t even worried knowing her personality but that’s definitely not me.

To make matters worse we had a sweet, but short ‘oops’ when we got pregnant after only being together a few weeks- this was obviously a long time ago now. I miscarried at 6 weeks that time and I had the coil put in a short while later. TMI but that first time we got pregnant using the pull out method (I know how incredibly unreliable it is now!)- which makes it worse. We weren’t even trying that time and it happened against all odds!! Fingers crossed that this cycle we get lucky again

I'll be super surprised if I'm pregnant this month as everything seems very 'normal'. Thinking I might look in to Preseed as I've heard some good things.

hey ladies . I’m so confused , I caved in this morning with my OPK, even though I said I wouldn’t do it this month, as DH and I have been DTD as normal , every two days since AF ended on Friday , so we are actively trying anyway so not missed a day . I’ve been getting TMI sorry- CM (more creamy coloured than egg white at the mo but still very stretchy ), last month I got my flashing smiley two days after my suspected period (it was light as it was after my coil removal ). This months AF was obviously super heavy , and ended last Friday . My test today was a blank circle , but app says I should be in my fertile window ? I did it the other day to programme the stick to my regular hormones , so it should be able to pick it up . Shall I just ignore it , keep DTD as usual until AF due back ?? And not bother with OPK ? Help 😩

@itsemily that sounds very confusing. To be honest if you and DH can handle it, DTD every other day is plenty whether or not you check when you’re ovulating. I checked the NHS website yesterday and there they say the research actually recommends just DTD every 2-3 days for your whole cycle except AF and not bothering with OPKs as they can be confusing and mean you don’t DTD at other times when maybe you are still fertile. So I’d probably stick with that approach unless you’re finding it too much!

I also feel “normal” except ever so slightly tender boobs @TeddyToaster. I’m on CD26. My normal period tracking app says AF is due today but my other temperature tracking app is predicting 2nd November as I ovulated on CD15. Think I will test tomorrow although when I put the dates in the clear blue website it said that is the first day I could test (if ovulation day is correct) so might try and hang on to first thing Friday. I’m just really keen to wait until the test will actually be accurate. At least I’m super busy at work and my sister is staying so am not dwelling on it too much!

I've read online reviews of various OPKs (as I was thinking about buying one) and lots of reviewers did not find them accurate at all. I would just carry on as normal if I were you and keep tracking your symptoms on your app.

I’ve been using the OPKs and have been finding them confusing and probably stressing me out more. I’m supposed to be in my fertile window but results are going up and down. I’m getting CM changes for the first time since coming off my pill which is promising. However my BT is also taking a nose dive this morning I was 35.90. I’m on half term this week and have far too much time on my own to think about things 😕

None of us seem like stupid people so why on earth can't a single one of us work this out?!

This whole thing is just nature's mean girl trick, isn't it?!

@Lea84TTC if you have a reasonably regular cycle I would work on the basis that you most probably are ovulating, so ignore the OPKs and just DTD

@notalwaysalondoner that is refreshing to hear thank you. I will just carry on DTD as normal with DH then, as he seem more into it now I haven't mentioned the OPK's so I'm gonna switch off, enjoy and just wait til AF is due to see what is happening. I don't have nay symptoms yet of any kind. Had a migraine and vomiting yesterday (due to migraine), and again today so I am thinking that's probably hormones but who knows. My AF showing up and getting back into normal has probably thrown my body a bit. OPK's are just companies ways of getting money I think! I know everyone seems to use them but maybe they are better if you have fertility issues?
@TeddyToaster I was thinking that! None of us are daft are we?! I think we all need to relax more, especially with half term @Lea84TTC !!
Part of me is just concerned that my body is gonna be out of sync now my AF is back in full swing, like I won't know where I'm at. I regret even looking into technical stuff!! I equally regret not coming off the coil sooner if I knew how much was involved. I know so many people (most my friends)who got pregnant without trying so it shouldn't be this difficult lol . I am so glad I can talk to you ladies

I’m having major test compulsion right now, because if I hadn’t taken my temperature AF would have been due today and still hasn’t shown up (yay!). However, because my ovulation was late, if I put my cycle and ovulation dates into the clear blue calculator it says the first day I could test would be tomorrow.... so then there’s quite a high chance of a false negative.
So ladies, should I test tomorrow or hold out until Friday in the hope it will be more accurate?

@notalwaysalondoner I downloaded a new app (Ovia) and it is well out compared to my other app so I'm giving up with those too , I am flying blind now, much happier lol.

Hold off til Friday ! x

@Itsemily I track my cycle on Flo if that's any help? You can log symptoms which increases the accuracy.

@Konbanwa I'm sorry you feel that way 😔 totally understand feeling like your body is failing you by not doing what it's supposed to.. hopefully this will just be a blip and cycles will return to normal once this one is over.

@TeddyToaster @notalwaysalondoner waiting for (hopefully) good news from you both for this month ☺️

@Itsemily is it kind of empowering sticking your middle finger up to the apps 😂 I find they're too "average" with their calculations like - oh hey it's CD14 you're ovulating - uuhhh no I'm not. As much as I hate using OPKs I'm going to carry on using them each month to see if I ovulate earlier each cycle. In the back of my brain if something is wrong I feel like I'm being proactive in documenting everything to show my GP later?! I know that's horribly obsessive but it makes me feel a bit more in control.

I think today I'm 1DPO and my rational thinking from the last 2 weeks has disappeared and I already feel myself obsessing, googling all sorts and thinking about being pregnant every bloody second of the day. I'm really going to try to let it be this month and not stress or symptom spot constantly, but I know that might be tricky.

Thanks @han2291

@han2291 yeah it is empowering lol ! I am tracking CM on Ovia so I know when it started , as that is helpful . And tracking when we DTD so I can use it as a calculator but not doing the OPKs and also not going to be DTD solely in my ‘fertile window ‘ because I don’t want to miss early or late ovulation because the app is tracking as standard ovulation like you say , and it isn’t always accurate . So we’ve said we will keep going til AF arrives . Surely we can’t miss it then?! We didn’t DTD last night as DH got back late but I know we’ll do it tonight so that’s still within the 2-3 days window of DTD which is the plan (without planning lol). Do you reckon we might catch the egg ?

Also I’m thinking about being pregnant all the time it’s actually killing me 😂😂 dh doesn’t help as he tells me he’s delivered a beautiful baby girl or twins or whatever and my ovaries hurt 😂😂

@Itsemily that must be hard when your DH is constantly around new babies! Does he get broody too, or he's just so used to the adorable newborn babies he doesn't really notice?!

Well having convinced myself I was PG, I've had some spotting this morning which I am still vaguely hoping is implantation rather than AF, but some cramps are starting so sadly I don't think it is this month for me. I won't know for sure until tomorrow as my first day OF AF is always really really light. Am happy I held out and didn't waste money on a test though! Think I might try OPKs next month just to see if they help, but don't want to be too obsessive.

And means I can drink when we (hopefully!!) celebrate winning the rugby this weekend - got to look on the bright side. I would have really struggled to hide not drinking among our quite heavy drinking rugby friends who are coming over to watch!

@Konbanwa I completely understand the feeling of just wanting your body to do what it's "supposed" to do.

@notalwaysalondoner I would wait as long as possible for a more accurate result. Very easy to say though!

@CurbsideProphet and @han2291 Thanks for your support! Still no change here and I'm just trying to not think about TTC too much.

I need to let my body settle down into my natural rhythm and not let myself get too worked up about it all.

It's easier said than done though! 😅

@Konbanwa hang in there you're doing amazingly well, despite how hard it is.

@notalwaysalondoner yes he says he sheds a tear every now and then! He gets name ideas too from them lol. He is professional about it and doesn't tell me a lot, but it makes him wary of complications which doesn't help sometimes as he sees the good and the bad. But most the time he is very broody!
Please don't use OPK's, I regret it SOOOOO much!

Hi all, may i join?
We too have decided to try i havnt started using OPKs etc yet but i do watch closely for ovulation signs and use Ovia app. Today is CD14 and is my ovulation day according to Ovia... however i dont have any CM today i had this in previous days such as monday which was CD11 is it possible that i am ovulating earlier? We DTD on sunday 28th and tuesday 30th so im hoping for a miracle!! But afraid if ovulation is scattered then ill miss my window? Thanks in advance x

@cheyanne101 hey yes please do join! Welcome :)
it is possible to ovulate earlier which is why generally they sex if you want to conceive and not chart (which is what we are doing now ), then have sex every 2-3 day’s throughout your whole cycle minus the week fo your period . I still panic that 3 days isn’t going to be enough but we sometimes can’t do it every other because of DH work ! But I’ve read everywhere than 2-3 days is plenty . So maybe do that for the rest of the month til your period is due just to be sure ! Good luck x