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.

Morning ladies,
Currently 9DPO and feeling like it’s Monday... haha
Getting tested for Covid antibodies through my work today, we’ll see how that goes...

Overall feeling tired, my bbs have been sore since 3DPO and I woke up with such an itchy belly button 🙃 had some cramps on and off the past few days as well. Have found out that there are no early tests to be found near me, so I have to wait until the 20th to test, close to your test date @Slug123 right?

How’s everyone getting on?

@HopeWish I was squinting so hard but I couldn’t see anything ☹️ Sorry
But please share more pics when you test again!! 🤩

@gingerglitter4ever I think AF should be due for me 21st/22nd so not far off!

If you're 9DPO should you not be testing earlier though? Or do you have extreme will power?

I'm really struggling, starting to accept it's probably not going to happen for us without some help. Can't help but feel like it should have be now!

I did have a dream last night I got a BFP! I think that's why I'm down today, woke up to reality haha!

Ah man @Slug123 I’m sorry to hear your down, the TTC journey is quite a psychological one... I don’t think many ppl realize before they are in it how much it can impact you.
In regards to testing, I would love to test earlier but I can’t get a hold of any early response tests as they are sold out online in Sweden and many pharmacies don’t carry them haha
I don’t think a BFP would show on a “normal” test before AF no?

Hi Ladies,

Had a few days away as it was my birthday Saturday, turns out lockdown bdays whilst TTC are not that relaxing!! 😂

How's everyone getting on?

@serialplanner @VP91x any progress? Is anyone else waiting on a positive OPK?

@SmileyT pineapple has been lovely, even if the core is a little chewy. Also had some ground sunflower seeds this morning 😂 I was that bored.

@HopeWish I feel like I can see something but not sure if it's a shadow? is there any colour? How many DPO are you?

@Slug123 is today your 'day off' then one final dance tomorrow? I think we're at the same stage.

My three days finished yesterday but my temp hasn't stayed up/really risen so not sure I've even ovulated...great way to start the week and the TWW 😫 I've got loads of tests here anyway so will try to hold out until 24th. Going to try to put it out my mind for now as nothing else we can do. Xx

Hey @cherrychatter happy belated birthday! 🎂 Hope you managed to enjoy it?

I got my flashing smiley yesterday evening after my fourth or so blank circle. So just waiting for my peak now. I am on CD13 now.

Has the core been making your tounge all itchy?

You have your last Bd tomorrow don't you? X

@gingerglitter4ever I certainly didn't know how hard it was going to be. I'm quite a tough cookie, normally nothing phases me so I've never experienced anything like this before!

I don't think it would show but I've never had a BFP so unsure. Hardly even done any tests as since starting TTC I've only had two months where AF was late so only ever done 2 tests.

@cherrychatter it is our 'day off' yeah haha! I definitely need to get on the BBT tracking if this month isn't our month don't I? I'm tempted to carry on every day for a few more days just in case I haven't OV'd yet given the EWCM last night

Thanks @VP91x Not the normal birthday celebrations but it was okay ☺️ will celebrate when lockdown is all finished!!

Happy you for your flashing smiley, fingers crossed for your static any day now! My peak came on CD16 so hopefully yours will be here shortly.

Yep, last BD tomorrow and then will just do a some whenever we fancy it for the rest of the cycle and yes! The pineapple made my tongue really tingly the first night, was a horrible feeling but last night was fine.

@Slug123 this is my first month temping so can't really say how I feel about it yet. I think it'll be useful but also worrying it's another thing to stress me out. I think we'll do tomorrow then just whenever we fancy it. Not sure why you're getting more EWCM though?

@cherrychatter happy belated birthday!

I think BD as much as you can/want to. I got so tired yesterday and decided not to but if I had the energy would keep going EOD until AF since I didn't get a smiley face on the OPK.

Excited for all these tests!

Hope Wish 13th
Giraffe 15th
Me 18th
Seafront and Smiley 19th
Slug123 and Gingerglitter4ever 21st
Cherry chatter 24th
VP91 25th

@serialplanner thanks lovely!

Yeh I think if I hadn't got a positive OPK I'd still be trying to DTD EOD as well.

I'm excited for everyone's testing, almost every 2 days! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Hi everyone. Hope you are all good

That's me starting the 2ww 😭
Planning to test around 23rd if AF hasn't came before
Good luck everyone

Yeah it doesn't show up very well in pics (only 8dpo) but I defo see a very very faint pink line irl. Used an IC with SMU which was negative, but was more diluted than FMU.

I tested early because I woke up in middle of night last night with a sharp pain in tummy and thought it could be implantation. If it was though, chances are hCG isn't high enough yet anyway.

Could go either way at the moment!

Well fingers crossed @HopeWish Are you going to try again on Wed or leave a little longer?

Question for those who are temping experts...how long am I meant to be leaving my thermometer in for? I just do it under my tongue until it beeps which is after about 30 seconds but I just read somewhere I should be leaving it in for 5 minutes?!? Mind blown.

@Hopefulmummie we're roughly the same date! I'm going to test 24th I think. Fingers crossed for you!

@cherrychatter hope so so I can get my 3day stint done and dusted haha. I think with the thermometer it is fine until it beeps!? I have a bluetooth one so I think it would ignore me after it beeped and took a reading anyway xx

@HopeWish my fingers and toes are crossed for you and that line!
I don’t know how gonna get through another week... but I guess I’ll be able to symptom spot a bit haha
Are you having any symptoms?

Oooh let's hoping @HopeWish! My fingers are tightly crossed this is your month. I squinted till I went bosseyed but couldn't see anything, photos are so hard!

Thanks for the listing @serialplanner I need you and your organisational skills in my life! Have no idea what day it is half the time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @cherrychatter! Post lockdown celebrations are going to be amazing! 5 mins of temping seems unnecessary to me? Surely it only beeps once it has a stable temp.

Oh @Slug123 I hope you're ok. It can be really tough I know, I think its important to try to forget all about it at various points if you can otherwise we will all go crazy!

5 DPO here, pretty grumpy I have to say!

Happy Birthday for Saturday @cherrychatter 🥳 I haven't actually tried the pineapple but I'll be grinding up some sesame seeds for my chicken tonight 😂 I just did a test and mine carried on going up after it beeped, I'd honestly never even considered this before. More googling to be done...

@HopeWish ooh I'm excited to see your test on Wednesday. So hard to see things on MN especially on my phone but if you can see a coloured line then it should progress 🙌🏾

@Slug123 maybe do eod for the next week or something if you and OH fancy it. TTC is hard don't be too tough on yourself.

@serialplanner thanks for the list so helpful as I get confused where we are all at 🤗

I'm feeling much more positive today, gave myself an unofficial half day and had a nice walk home from work and as cheesy as it sounds I just keep trying to remind myself of all the positive things I have in life. Last night I told OH I was over trying and I was going on the pill so need to try and back track on that 😂

@cherrychatter haven't had any more since yesterday evening so who knows? Could be because I was only 1DPO yesterday I guess? I alos agree, you're very organised, impressed!

@Seafrontsky It really is so hard to keep your mind off isn't it! My app says I'm 2DPO and going mad already! Extremely grumpy and tearful. Bloody hormones! Haha!

@SmileyT I think we will. We've not been sticking to the plan anyway as there's not much to do in lockdown so BD'd a bit more than the plan- oops! Haha! Glad you're feeling positive, I was yesterday after having a day of pampering myself. I also keep trying to look at the positives but my life seems to be work, TTC, work, TTC at the moment!

Thanks for the birthday wishes @Seafrontsky & @SmileyT**

I know what you mean @VP91x It was a bit of a relief that we'd got to that point in a way. Keep us updated when you get your static smiley!

@Seafrontsky that's what I thought re temp but as @SmileyT** said (& I also tested earlier) the temp keeps rising if you don't remove after the beeps! 🧐 will stick with removing in the beeps for this cycle then it's consistent!

@SmileyT now I'm just confused about thermometers 🤣 at least I'm learning something new most days! Glad to hear you're feeling more positive today.

@Slug123 that may make sense re EWCM and 1DPO! I guess it does no harm! You've done well with your extra BDing...now the wait begins!!!

Evening ladies 😊

First day back ‘at work’ (tho I chose to set my office up in the garden just because I could!) which has been a welcome change and helped pass another day. I’m counting down to testing on Friday (4 days to go!) and for the first month ever I’ve barely been aware of DPO, tho I’ve kept today in mind as it’s day 9 and most likely for implantation 🤞🏻😊 FWIW I’ve felt absolutely nothing 🤣

@HopeWish I think I see what you see, can’t make out just yet whether it’s a shadow or the start of something, and photos are so difficult to get across what you can see! You should get an answer for sure on Wednesday tho, hoping so much you get your positive 🍀🤞🏻

@cherrychatter happy birthday! Hope you managed to make it fun 🥳 my thermometer has 3 choices, quick (1 min) normal (3 min) and full (5 min) I think, I have it set on 3mins which seems to give it enough chance to settle without taking forever. Don’t really know how much difference it makes but I do get a really smooth chart so I’ve stuck with it. Mine looked a bit rubbish for about the first 3 DPO but give it a few days. More than happy to take a look/compare charts if you’d like 🙂

@Slug123 It’s a horrible feeling isn’t it, you’re very much not alone. I hope you’ve found something today to help you feel better but don’t lose that hope. You’ve timed it all right (and then some!), you’re definitely in for the month and who knows when you might get lucky. Life does seem to revolve a lot around TTC but coming here to share it at least adds a sociable side!

How interesting with the temp @smileyt and @cherrychatter I didn't know that! I guess it's about consistency with time taken and how long for?

Thanks @GiraffeInScarf bit of an anticlimax of a birthday but it was sunny so can't complain too much! Okay I will persevere a little longer with my chart and see how it turns out then will send a pic. Would love to see yours sometime.
Glad your TWW is almost over and has been more relaxing for you this month, definitely doing the count down!

We all spoke about preseed earlier in the cycle, did anyone end up using it? We did for the three days, the first time I used far too much and it felt really weird, second two uses I used much less and it was fine but still a slightly strange sensation!

We have only used Conceive plus but just like normal lube- no syringes!

Hopefully I can tell you in a few days if it has worked🤗

@cherrychatter I have been using it everytime but literally only use a quarter of a syringe (if that) it is more than enough! I can't remember how much it tells you to use, but it's been good to use! Xx

@cherrychatter here’s my chart. It looked rubbish until the cover line was added and I totally lost heart until then (about 3 DPO I think, it confirmed o date then too). Once the cover line appeared it felt much better. No dramatic rise but I’m happy that it’s enough.

We used pre seed twice, didn’t go full applicator as it looked loads! It’s definitely only for fertile days as far as we’re concerned but would use it again, it wasn’t bad in any way (other than applying in advance to avoid spoiling the mood) and if nothing else it mixes things up a little during an intense week 😂