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.

Sadly I think AF is starting. I feel unusually sad. I'm at the beginning of my journey so can't complain but is it wrong to say it's so much effort. We are once or twice a week people and both genuinely happy with that (been together a long time + stressful jobs) so TTC and SMEP was a lot. And fun too but still🙈😂

Oh gosh all the emotions. I'm still a bit cheated by how much we are told when we are younger just one time could end in pregnancy!

Anywho I better get the clear blue 4 day OPK on order and I need to work out some extra cheaper tests to order to test the evening.

One of you had the monitor? Is that worth the investment?

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

X

@serialplanner I completely get it. 10 months and we're exhausted, that's half the problem. I just don't want to try anymore because if the physical and emotional exhaustion :/

CD17 & I finally got my smiley on the OPK! Following SMEP and was supposed to dtd yesterday but ending up watching a film and dtd around 1am so I’m like hmmm did we dtd yesterday or today.. either way I guess we have 3 more days of dtd including today.. I always knew smiley would come on a not dtd day 🤣 How is everyone? X

Thanks @cherrychatter

@serialplanner ahh I'm sorry that AF has arrived. I totally know what you mean about the effort, I'm only officially coming to the end of cycle 1 but I can't imagine doing this for another 11 months before even being able to consider assistance 🙈 not so bad at the moment as even though me and DP are still working I am not leaving the house at 5.30am for the gym and getting home at 9, feel like the scheduling of sex will be so much harder in a few months time. What did you order in the end? How are you feeling today?

@Littlebee1990 finally getting your peak is definitely the highlight of a cycle for me, enjoy your busy weekend DTD 😊

@Seafrontsky normally 29 days cycle

@SmileyT yeah that does make sense actually

Temp continuing to rise

@Hopefulmummie what DPO are you? I'm 7 now and starting temping 3 days ago. Got a rise every day so far, is that normal?

Thought DF was going to swing for me when the thermometer starting beeping at 5.30 this morning haha

@slug123 I'm either 6 or 8 lol I've been getting rises the past 4 days too but tbh I don't know if that means anything?

@Hopefulmummie nor me. I only bought a thermometer this month because the other girls on here recommended it haha! I guess we'll find out in about a week 🤞

Anyone symptom spotting? I've not felt well since Tuesday night but woke up today and all symptoms are gone! Don't know what that means I'm sure but every month I go through this

@slug123 I think it's def the best way to predict ovulation along with lh tests. Are you using them?

I'm the worst symptom spotter. I've been have some sharp cramps the last couple of days. Fingers crossed for you. X

@Hopefulmummie I've been using lh tests for about 6 months now yeah but never done temps before so next month should be eye opening if we're not lucky this month.

We went for a bike ride Tuesday night and I suddenly felt really sick and dizzy and had bad cramps. It was only 2 dpo so too early to mean anything but since then I haven't felt right and then woke up today feeling fine so who knows. Probably completely unrelated but I'm a terrible symptom spotter too

Happy Saturday ladies 💕
Approx 12-14dpo today and I have light spotting and feel really dizzy, any thoughts? It hasn’t increased since it started so I’m not convinced it’s AF yet esp. since it’s a little early for it to arrive.. am I clutching at straws?

Evening ladies, how’s everyone doing today?

@SmileyT I’m sorry to hear it’s not your month but I’m glad you got to enjoy the wine instead! Hope you get a nice relaxing weekend, treat yourself lots and get that positivity ready for a new week and cycle 🙂

@serialplanner sorry that AF seems to be coming. I know what you mean too, DP and I are similar. TTC is exhausting and can totally take away what your normal happy sex life is! Hopefully the better you get to know your cycle the better you can target just the right days so it’s less intensive.
I used the monitor, @cherrychatter has one too. I think it’s similar to the 4 day sticks but with memory/tracking, you log each cycle like an app, it gets to know your personal hormone levels. It also has pregnancy tests which, when it came to it was brilliant to see. I think I paid about £25 for 20 fertility sticks + 4 hCG. I was lucky in getting early peaks so got 2 cycles from a box. It’s not cheap and honestly it’s not giving you anything you’ve not already got with the 4 day sticks, a tracking app and digi tests. I used it from the start before I knew anything about TTC and personally it’s been right for me tho.

@Slug123 sounds like the temping is off to a good start! Definitely not a bad thing for it to be creeping up 🙂

@gingerglitter4ever I hope it’s good news! Especially if it doesn’t feel like AF it sounds promising!

Hi everyone

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday. Hoping all the symptoms lead do BFPs.

Decided to order the CB connected OPK which sends the info to an app on your phone. Plus SMEP and conceive plus again.

Fingers crossed for May conception🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽 (and April for those still in the game!)❤️

Feeling better today, I think once you accept AF at least it's days until you can "start" again. Must remember that next time I want to test early😂 x

@GiraffeInScarf glad to hear you think so.

@serialplanner I feel better today too. I have no reason to think so but I think I've somehow convinced myself this month isn't my month. Trying to take it easy just in case as you never know and we also don't know what's actually happened over the last ten months. Never know if I had a few CPs in that time so we've agreed I should take it easy and lay off the HIIT just in case haha!

Done a bit of gentle gardening today, fresh air and my garden always makes me feel better- I'm a bit of a green fingers and my vegetables l patch is like my baby in the absence of a real one! And the other bonus is because DF wants me to take it easy I got him offering to do all the heavy lifting

@Slug123 aww keep the possibility open - you'll be testing soon enough🤗

In the meantime, all of that sounds a lovely way of keeping yourself distracted xx

Hi everyone.
Doing the SMEP this cycle as well as the bbt. Looking forward to seeing my temp chart at the end of cycle, but a little intimidated by the 3 days in a row BD. Will see how it goes and hope for the best. Any advice?

Hi all can I join ?
Had my 3rd DD September last year with new DP after a 20 year break from babies. Enjoyed it all that much that we decided to try again. I got pregnant again in December last year which ended in a MMC in February this year. Finally after extended bleeding and retained product I'm currently on CD5 of my second cycle after MMC and I'm going to try SMEP this month fingers crossed to all x

Hi girls,

Hope you're all having a good weekend. Lovely weather in London today but I'm hibernating on the sofa instead.

@SmileyT & @serialplanner how are you both getting on? Did AF actually arrive or are you still playing the waiting game? @SmileyT hope you're feeling better after your fall & managed to enjoy some treats this weekend I.e. wine.

@serialplanner I know you've got the CB connected but just to say I agree with what @GiraffeInScarf said re the monitor, I've been using it since mid November and four of the months I used all 20 sticks, then the past two cycles it only asked for 10 sticks so one box covered those months. At approx £30 a box on amazon it's fairly expensive. Good for keeping track and takes the guesswork out of normal OPK's but if you're happy with the digi tests then it's not giving you anything extra really!

Happy you got your smiley @Littlebee1990 hope you've enjoyed a weekend full of DTD!!

How are you finding the temping @Slug123? It's interesting isn't it!

@gingerglitter4ever when are you going to test? Sounds like some interesting symptoms!!

Hi @jaxs23 & @Dipsy77. @Dipsy77 so sorry to hear about your loss. Good luck with your SMEP journeys!

Xx

@cherrychatter very interesting! On day four and no drop so I'm trying to remain hopeful. Massively symptom spotting despite trying my hardest!

The weather was lovely here earlier but clouded over now. Went for a nice walk this morning and back to the gardening this afternoon but all light work again just in case!

Welcome @jaxs23&also so sorry to hear about your MMC @Dipsy77. Hope you're doing ok and good luck with SMEP.

How you doing @cherrychatter? You in TWW?

@gingerglitter4ever have you tested yet?

Am desperately trying not to symptom spot as it drives me crazy. Am 12DPO and due to test Tuesday so only a few days to wait. It's more a lack of symptoms this month, normally I get very sore bbs about 7DPO, bloated and grumpy but nothing this month at all. Am absolutely exhausted but could just be tired! And also had cramps 8 and 9 DPO but could just have been my Jean's were too tight! See looks like I have been symptom spotting after all! Happy weekend everyone.

@Slug123 glad to hear. My temps been up and down but only very marginally and still above cover line, first month like you so not sure what I'm even looking for 🤣

Glad you're taking it easy. We had a virtual house viewing yesterday which was interesting, currently in a flat so cannot wait to get into a house with a garden!! Glad we have a balcony as at least we can get a little sun/fresh air at the moment!

Hi @Seafrontsky. Yep, currently 8DPO so half way. You've not got long to go!
I think it's difficult not to symptom spot no matter how hard you try and our bodies can change so much from month to month that it's difficult to know! Got my fingers crossed for you!!

Afternoon ladies ☺️👋

Sorry I have been quiet on the thread.

CD19 now and no sign of ovulation - it's been getting me down! CB has been flashing at me for 7 days now and I have now ran out of sticks so won't get anymore for this month. Ordered some more cheap OPKs as used my last one too so waiting for them to arrive for today.

BBT temps are still low.

How is everyone? Xx

@Seafrontsky I'm the same as you. Normally for sore boobs by now but nothing.

Had nausea on and off for a few days and cramping but the big one for me, since yesterday evening I can't stop weeing. I normally go a lot more in the tww but, I might be imagining it, it seems worse this month. Who knows?

@cherrychatter same as me, 8dpo, will you test or wait for AF?

@serialplanner sounds like you have a good plan ☺️

@Seafrontsky I’m excited about your test! Not long to go now, and symptoms or no symptoms doesn’t seem to matter.

@VP91x how long are your normal cycles? Maybe you’re just a little delayed this month taking time to get that egg perfectly ready 🙂 Glad you’ve managed to get some more OPK’s in time.

@cherrychatter ooh, virtual house viewing sounds exciting! How did it go? Browsing rightmove seems an excellent way to pass some time 😂

Finding it quite an anxious time just now but I love following this thread to keep up with everyone. I’m so sure there’s more positives to come 😊