Any buddies trying SMEP for the first time this cycle?

[HopeWish]

Hello all!

I am 26, and trying for my first baby. I'm currently on CD4 of Cycle 3. After two cycles of only DTD a few times in fertile window and no result, DH and I are going to give the Sperm Meets Egg Plan a go this cycle.

For those who don't know, the plan goes like this:

-> From CD 8 DTD every other day until a positive OPK.

-> Start testing with OPKs daily from CD 10 (but I will be using earlier as O'd on CD11 last month!)

-> From positive OPK DTD on the day of the + OPK and two days after, then miss a day and DTD again the next day.

We will also be using pre-seed for the first time this month.

Is there anybody else who is doing SMEP this month? Or anybody who has tried it before successfully or unsuccessfully?

After the disappointment of AF arriving early, I'm excited to start a new cycle.

I'm a tad irritable today which makes me sad as that indicates AF but hey ho. I'm also tired of BD now - CD20. But because I may have missed the peak think it's sensible to continue. But then also think only do what makes you happy. We'll see what the day brings!

How are you @HopeWish ? Good idea to try and wait. I know it's so hard but I'm a big believer in waiting as long as possible.

@HopeWish there is a chance it would show up positive on Wednesday so that seems like a good plan and not too long to wait 🤞

@serialplanner only do what you feel is right, if you do have to do another cycle you don't want to be completely put off of BD. How long are your normal cycles? Would you be expecting it as early as CD20? Irritability could also be a positive thing x

I think you are right @SmileyT I have to remember the relationship side too! I have never tracked ovulation before but I have been off the pill for about a year and had 26-28 cycles from the beginning. Oh is it a good sign. Probably doesn't help it's so hot today!

What CD are you and when are you planning to test?

Hi all, just catching up. Lovely day for BBQs and relaxing!
@Slug123 I'd definitely recommend temping. It helps confirms you've ovulated and that everything is working well. I just dip in during fertile period now I know my temps well. Good luck with the TWW am well into that too. Done all we can now, just need to keep control of the hope!

@Hopefulmummie I would agree with @SmileyT it looks to me like you've not ovulated yet. It can take a day or so for temps to rise after ovulation especially if it was in the evening.

Fingers crossed for a peak soon @VP91x

Hope you're doing ok with your marathon @serialplanner. It's tough to go the whole month no wonder you feel a bit cranky. Hopefully at least you're almost through TWW.

How are you @HopeWish? Patience is so hard I'm rubbish so its completely understandable you're getting desperate to POAS. I'm aiming to hold out for 15 days DPO if AF doesn't arrive early. That means another 11 days!! Hang in there!

@serialplanner currently 7dpo and planning on testing 18dpo (one of my apps thinks AF is due 19th so I'll wait for that to pass) so think I'll be testing the same day as you @Seafrontsky if I make it that far 😬

@Slug123 this is my first month temping all month and I bloody love it, it was so clear when ovulation happened so it's nice confirmation that the opks were right xx

Ah ha so testing wise

Hope Wish 13th
Me going to try and make it to 18th if AF doesn't come before
Seafront and Smiley 19th

I can't remember everyone elses days and obvs we all might give in and hit the sticks before lol xx

And @GiraffeInScarf is around 15th I think 🙌🏾

@SmileyT you’re right, 15th for me, can’t believe it’s only 5 days to go already! How are you holding out?

@Slug123 I started temping last month, I was worried I was getting LH surge but not actually ovulating. BBT tracking has taken that worry away and I’ve found it easy to make it my wake up routine. I find it really interesting so carried on, I do love a graph 🤣

@HopeWish how are you holding out? Any promising symptoms yet? Wednesday isn’t far away now 🤞🏻 for you 😊

What test brands does everyone have lined up?

@giraffeinscarf

No symptoms yet. Only 7dpo but already kind of feel like I'm out this month. Got to remember that symptoms don't start until implantation, and if I am lucky this month, implantation likely hasn't happened yet.

This part of the TWW is the worst though. The closer it gets to test day the closer I feel like I should be feeling symptoms! Last 2 months I had serious bloating and abdo pain and thought I was PG both times but alas, no such luck! This month I don't know if I'm just ignoring the 'symptoms' now, or looking out for different ones. The most I could say is I had some sharp pain in my lower abdomen yesterday for about 2 minutes. I really don't think it is anything though as I had pains left right and centre last month and nothing!

I have an FRER lined up for Wednesday (10dpo) - just got to resist using it until then!

@GiraffeInScarf I'm trying not to be a negative nelly but I do feel like I'm out this month so no temptation to test at all 😕 I do have 20 hcg tests that came with my femometer opks and a couple CB early detection still in the box so if by some miracle AF is late I'm prepared. How are you feeling? Have you got a FRER?

@GiraffeInScarf I won't be testing until 24th-26th ish depending when I ovulate so I am a bit behind you all! Got. Some FRERs to use and then also have the HCG tests that came with my femometer pack.

Was still on blank circle this morning.

@SmileyT you would have ultimate willpower waiting for 18DPO. Hopefully AF stays away and you get a lovely strong line by then

@Hopewish keep the faith! 7DPO super early. Fingera crossed for yoj xx

Well I'm due to test/ AF on 21st and I won't test until I'm late.

If I'm out this month I'll be buying a thermometer by the sounds of it haha

And ladies, I already feel like I'm out this month on 1dpo so don't worry, I'm the queen of negative! Hahaha.

I've got my fingers crossed for you all!

Oh @HopeWish and @SmileyT I’m so sorry you both feel that way... realistically none of us are likely to even be ‘in’ yet for peak implantation day so no way can you be out! I think the mid point of TWW is the hardest, you try and prepare for a disappointment but you’ve both done everything possible and have all the right days covered 😊 Much as we see it talked about here I think most real symptoms come much later. Take it easy and let the tests give the answers in time. Still 🤞🏻 for both of you 😊

I have FRER ready for Friday, and the Clearblue monitor comes with test sticks which puts it ‘in writing’. It’s less sensitive than FRER tho so going with that first. I’ve still got some cheapies around but they’re for POAS urges, they’re the same brand as the OPK’s that weren’t reliable for me so I’m not having them mess with my emotions, they’ve only ever given me bad news anyway 🤣

Come on girlies. Positive spirits up. Some people have zero symptoms until a long while.

I hope to read lots of BFPs over the next week.

I have FRER, Tesco and CB ready to go.

Let's hope we get to use em and share good news🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 xxx

Hi ladies sorry I haven't been around much I've had a lot of family stuff going on so literally haven't had time to even breath only dawned on me that I was like 4DPO or something in not even sure OPKS went out the window with everything going on so I'm just playing the waiting game and highly doubt this month is my month !

@serialplanner @GiraffeInScarf Sorry I was being so negative, you are so right there really is no point being negative and I have no idea if I'm out or not. Had a little nap and ate a sharer bag of haribo and feeling much better 😂

I'm hoping to see loads of BFPs over the next week to keep us all positive. Sending lots of baby dust to you all ❤️❤️❤️

Love how all the pregnancy tests are at the ready! I am sure we will get some BFPs!!

I got my flashing smiley this afternoon after all those blank circles! Even had a blank this morning. CD12 so another SMEP day 😂 x

@SmileyT yum on the haribo!

@SmileyT nothing to say sorry for! A nap and Haribo does sound good though🥰
Xx

@SmileyT I don’t think anyone makes it through the TWW without a wobble (or 10), I know I struggle to keep away from thinking why will this month be any different from the others. Who shares Haribo anyway?! 🤣

@VP91x exciting progress! Won’t be long now although the exhausting bit ahead still. Haribo may help you too!

@Donnat89 welcome back 🙂 you never know, it only takes one after all and maybe taking your mind off it will be lucky for you. Missing the first 4 days of the TWW sounds good in any case!

@GiraffeInScarf that is a good point, going to have to get the sweets and lucozade in soon 😂 x

Ok, so now on (guessing) 1dpo and just had quite a bit of ewcm? Is that normal? I normally don't get it after a few days before ov

@Slug123 just keep DTD just in case ovulation hasn't happened yet? You will be on the plan anyway right?

Do we ever actually know which day we have ovulated?

@GiraffeInScarf yes it's been nice not to be obsessed tbh and I have another busy week ahead so I'm hoping it keeps me distracted a bit longer ! Xxx

Oops! Caved and did an FRER this morning. I feel like I can see something but it is sooo faint (2nd image tweaked slightly). I will test again on wednesday as I had planned!

@serialplanner yeah we're carrying on anyway. Finished the three in a row yesterday so plan was to do Tuesday too.

I don't think anyone ever does but why do our bodies play games with us like this?