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.

Evening ladies 😊

Just wanted to pop in and say hello, and wish you all lots of luck (and stamina!) for the next cycle. It’s impossible to feel down for long on this thread because someone lovely and positive is just around the corner 😊
Good luck, I can’t wait to see some more positives in the next few weeks 🥰

@SmileyT thankfully mine is very similar. I usually ovulate on or around CD14 and then my luteal phase is usually about 12 / 13 days so cycle is about 26/27 days. At least I will be similar to you. Though add to the DTD experience a dog that howls and cries when he isn’t in the same room as us 😂

Awww thanks @GiraffeInScarf how are you getting on?

I've done SMEP for the first time this month and it's definitely helped me feel calmer knowing that we've done as much as we possibly can! It does make it feel a bit more manageable somehow too!

enjoy your wine and hopefully you will feel more positive tomorrow xxx

Welcome @Jilly1988 sounds like you need the support on here. So sorry you've had a shit day, do allow yourself to wallow in it a bit, otherwise it will just wallop you from nowhere. Have you looked into your luteal phase? It seems like it could be a bit short? I've been trying for 20 months now and I had a short luteal that my acupuncturist has lengthened (no idea how) to 14-15 days. Apparently you need it for implantation. I think theres a herb as well that can do it but tons of other ladies on here much more knowledgeable than me about these things.

@Seafrontsky not sure if this is right but maybe the Angus Cactus thing?

Waaaaah we didn't manage to BD today (CD13). Too hot! So now only managed CD10,11 And 12 because I got a peak on CD11.

Not very SMEP! Fingers crossed for tomorrow but does anyone else think about it in hours and tend to BD in the day rather than night?

This is a lesson not to over do it in a month because just makes the next month harder (unless you just BD all the time anyway!)

CD6 tomorrow and a chance to use my new (from eBay) clear blue fertility monitor. I’ve booked in from cd8 to dtd in my DHs calendar

@GiraffeInScarf how are you getting on?

@Jilly1988 I've actually been thinking about getting a dog if I'm not successful this month, what dog do you have?

@serialplanner I think you've got yourself covered anyway will you do the one for luck tomorrow instead then? I always think SMEP is a guide but life will sometimes get in the way especially if we end up doing it a few months, try not to stress about it... fingers crossed this is your month xx

@SmileyT thank you so much - fingers crossed! I think it was you that reminded me before that you have to remember it's your relationship too.

Will try for today🙏🏽🙏🏽

P.s don't give up! Dogs are fab but it's a baby you want. My older sister considered this same decision but managed to have my niece via IVF (she was much older- 43 when she gave birth and she had just left it really late to try) the true hearts desire x

@Jilly1988 sorry you’ve been feeling down, I was the same last cycle and the SMEP has helped me feel more positive, calmer and in control(ish), hopefully it will do the same for you too! We have a dog as well who likes to paw at our door when we BD 😂😅

Just done my 3 days in a row and we’re knackered 😂 looking forward to having a day break. Fingers crossed this one sticks and I managed to distract myself in the TWW!

Thanks @serialplanner "dont give up!" Message I will take from today!

Dogs are great but take it from me puppies and babies at the same time are haaaaarrrd work! We got our sheepdog 3 months before I got pregnant and was so tired and had to manage all his naughtiness. He's great now though so maybe there is something in it!

Am cd7 and had spotting today which is unusual for me. I've been doing castor oil packs to try to deal with any issues from my csection so maybe its that.

Hi ladies,

Hope everyone's feeling okay? Hi to anyone new who is joining the fun this cycle!

@SmileyT, completely agree, the second week of the TWW is the worst. To be honest, I've got my seeds but been so busy this past week I've only managed them once. The past couple of cycles I have gone straight from low to peak as well and was concerned if that may have been causing issues or not but haven't been able to figure anything out yet.

@TTCgee any news on the temps?

@serialplanner so pleased you got a peak earlier this week, your days should have covered it! At least this cycle you know you've had your peak and now you can DTD at your leisure when you fancy it!

CD7 here so the fun starts tomorrow as OH is working late tonight - he actually marks it on a board at work to say he has to leave at a decent time every two days, I have no idea what he says if his colleagues ask!! xx

Hey newbies! Nice to have you on the thread 🥰

@SmileyT I'm considering getting a second dog if all else fails! Haha... maybe I'll turn the spare room into a dog sanctuary instead!

@cherrychatter it's confusing me to be honest :-( it dipped down before LH surge which was 2 days ago now but is now only back up to the temp it was pre ovulation rather than going higher? So no idea there really! I'll post a pic in a second xxx

Here's the pic @cherrychatter

Any thoughts anyone on why it might not be rising up like it should? Xx

@TTCgee I'm no expert on temping as only trying it for the second cycle but I think you need to leave it for a few days & it'll put a cover line in for you. I think mine appeared after about 3 days. Xx

Thanks @cherrychatter hopefully it will rise up over the next few days and I'll get a cover line! Xxx

Hey ladies, hope everyone is feeling good - I definitely won't swap a dog but could do with some extra cuddles at certain points through my cycle. Feel like I might give up with CB after this cycle as it's really doing nothing for me 😂 it's funny because I would like this cycle to be 28day cycle which means getting my peak tomorrow but on the flip side wishing my peak was here already xx

@Seafrontsky thanks for the welcome. I have wondered about my luteal phase. It was actually 12 days but the last two cycles it’s been 13 days. I have heard a few thing about acupuncture and I think I’m going to give it a try when things start to get back to normal.

@KeishaV glad we are not the only ones with a needy dog during DTD 😂

@SmileyT we have a cockapoo. He is only 18 months and helping me so much through this experience. Though I definitely treat him like a baby 🙈 @TTCgee I have had the exact same thought 😂

How long should the luteal phase be? Mines always pretty much bang on 13 days!

Mine was more like 11/12 but now its 14/15. I think (though I'm no expert) you need 12+ days of high BBT ideally. Also implantation can happen up to 11/12 DPO so my understanding is 14+ is ideal but 13 should be long enough too I'd have thought @TTCgee

I’m doing good thank you ladies, I’m calling it reassuringly queasy! wishing away the next few weeks until our scan, can’t really settle until then. Bit lost not doing BBT/OPKs/tracking every day 😂

@TTCgee 13 is good! Plenty of time for implantation. Mine was 16 and felt like forever 😫 I think your luteal phase stays constant, it’s the first half that varies but once you ovulate the rest is fixed.
@cherrychatter glad that DP has his priorities right! Don’t forget ice cream to go with the seeds... chilling out matters too 😋
@serialplanner I think you’re well covered regardless, time to relax and enjoy the heat!
@SmileyT how are you feeling for this cycle? Can’t believe you’re about to start the TWW again, really hope it’s your lucky one 😊
@VP91x When are you planning to test? I feel like you’ve had the longest wait ever, I keep on looking out for your news!
@Jilly1988 @KeishaV @SweetShop2020 @Swest30 welcome and good luck to you all 😊

Thank you GiraffeInScarf, it was great to follow your journey on here and gives me hope that SMEP will work

Hey @GiraffeInScarf glad you're feeling okay in spite of the queasiness.

I'm CD30/DPO 9 and testing tomorrow! It's been a bloody long month. A bit in the dark of when AF may be due as cycles have been irregular post-MC, last cycle was 31 days which means due on this Saturday but who knows unless I have a super short LP now🤔

Xx

Thank for the reassurance @Giraffe and @cherrychatter🤗🤗

Great news @GiraffeInScarf queasy is a good sign! Glad you're doing well.

Good luck tomorrow @VP91x crossing everything for you

Good luck today @VP91x

And thanks @GiraffeInScarf 🥰🥰

I'm actually quite worried I'm not even ovulating now as my BBT chart doesn't detect any ovulation (my temps stay pretty much the same throughout) and I never get EWCM either so I'm tempted to just ask the GP at this point :-(

Good luck to everyone else! 🥰