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.

@jaxs23 massive congratulations 🎉🎉🎉❤️

hey everyone may I join in? I'm just starting cycle 12 and gonna try SMEP this month. I'm 33, ttc #1. I've not done OPKs or anything but after a year of trying, starting to branch out and try new things! Due to jobs, we have spent many key moments apart during this time, so not surprised about duration of trying.

I've totally gone through what you have all gone through : finding out so much about my body; various 'false alarms' and of course the monthly AF disappointment.

@jaxs23 congratulations! what a lovely surprise!!

Some questions for discussion.

• what have you all given up, if anything?
• where is everyone at on hot baths? they are my guilty pleasure but yesterday read maybe not such a good idea in conception. fake news?
• what are you all doing to relax as every article says I should??

Sending you aaaaaall baby dust :)

@jaxs23 congratulations! How exciting and great news for a new month.

@vp91x I'm feeling positive. It's my first month of smep - still in dtd phase but at least I feel like I've given it my all. I have my age going against me though. I joined the ttc over 40 group a couple of days ago but it was so upsetting reading about people's struggles that I had to leave it. This one and it's bfps is much better for the soul. How are you doing?

@florarenniemackintosh welcome. Apart from our age, our stories are very similar. I've also been ttc #1 for a year (with a good few missed months) and on month 1 of smep. 🤞for both of us.

I have been avoiding baths during the 2ww. I'm sure I saw it on one of the ingefleur YouTube videos about helping the egg implant. She says to keep the body warm - so get should be warm at all times - but not hot. I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make tbh

Oh and sorry for all the different messages. Once I go to type, I can't see the post anymore and I really struggle to keep all the usernames and who said what in my head!
I hope everyone has had a lovely day. I've done a little work (don't tell on me 😉) and a lot of sitting in the garden!

Welcome @Florarenniemackintosh 👋

Are you using OPKs this month? I did find them so useful, I have also been tracking BBT which can send me a bit loopy sometimes but it gives you a good pinpoint of when OV occured!

• I actually haven't given up anything whilst TTC. Unsure if it has been to my detriment. However, when lockdown started the wine was flowing. I'm back down to a couple of glasses a week now just because I got sick of it.

• I have only ever heard about the bath when you're actually PG. Never when trying to conceive actually. I know there's a saying to keep your feet warm during the TWW though.

• I have been terrible at relaxing recently as have been on furlough so routine is out the window. But, have been watching boxsets and doing up the garden/house. I enjoy doing crosswords too. (I sound so boring 😂😂)

@Hoping41 glad you are feeling good! I've had terrible period backache today so I'll be grateful when it is done and dusted!

Ah, last month was such a long stint of DTD started on CD8 and didn't ovulate until CD 21 😂 and had to do a four day stint as it fell on an 'odd' number day.

Yeah, it is hard when the group is supportive but a reminder of the struggles too. Hopefully you too will have your positive story too, ❤️

@Florarenniemackintosh welcome!

I have recently started with OPKs which felt like a whole new world. I use CB because I'm famously impatient so interpreting lines etc on cheapies isn't for me (although we'll see if I'm still saying that on a few months although fingers crossed I'm not still using them!)

I am a bad mum in advance and haven't given up much. It's still early days so again that might change. I'm not going mental with alcohol and by that I mean shots. Otherwise having prosecco and fruit cider as I would. Don't really do spirits.

Baths are a tough one! Only during TWW because if you are pregnant I think I have read enough times you shouldn't have them but then part of me thinks some people get pregnant and genuinely don't know, carry on as normal and everything is absolutely fine.

I don't think I have relaxed yet. I am consciously not symptom spotting and keeping busy. I love forums but trying not to be as obsessed with them too to be honest. Especially around testing time as when others test then I want to.

Really want to conceive before life goes back to normal because our jobs are so stressful I know we won't BD as much!

@jaxs23 CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Nice to meet you all!

@hoping41 nice to meet you, too! I know exactly what you mean. It's really nice to find a place where people are going through the same difficult journey, but being on here has also shown that some journeys have been much harder than my own. Not always possible to take in the struggles of a community on top of one's own. that is certainly my experience. Lots of luck for June!!! When is your OV day?

@VP91x great! yes I am going to try them this month :) I put it off for ages because I didn't want to get obsessive (as is my habit with many things) but after a year, I thought maybe my OV day isn't as obvious as I thought... Do you find that it varies from 14 days before AF 'rule' for 28 day cycle?

BBT, all my local pharmacies are out of thermometers (!), so have ordered online but still waiting... Is it useful information with BBT?

@VP91x I feel you pain girl! So much BD! I still get sad that we've been tricked our whole lives that it will happen just one time.

A baby is the only thing I feel like we can't have as soon as we have decided. Probably sounds spoilt but even if you want something you can save and make plans etc. I feel like we have no idea of when it will really happen. But also incredibly humble that many couples have been trying for years. It's very difficult to share and not offend x

I have been using the internet cheap ov sticks and I've previously only used them on the day my app said I would ov. The surge always matched so I thought that was it. Only after reading the smep book did I learn I won't ov until 12- 36(?) Hours after the surge. I'm wfh at the moment so I'm totally up for all the baby dancing but poor OH is exhausted. He's working more than he normally would and is finding smep very full on 😂😂😂
I am constantly amazed by how much I don't know about ttc and I've learnt so much just in the past few days from mn!
Good luck to everyone else in their fw at the moment!

@Florarenniemackintosh yeah definitely varies with the typical '14 day' thing of a 28 day cycle. I reckon more often than not it isn't on day 14. I've noticed the trick is to work out what your luteal phase is (days from ovulating till AF) and that will give you a better estimate!

BBT is really useful! Your temperature will go up the day after ovulation plus I enjoy getting the chart. I use Fertility Friend and Femometer both really good apps! I didn't get on with Flo xx

@serialplanner so much 😂 takes it out of you. Yeah definitely, you avoid trying to get pregnant for so bloody long and then suddenly it takes ages to actually get pregnant. Such a mindfuck! Xx

Ah thank you for all the OV advice everyone. Definetly something to think about : I have just always assumed it was the same day every month. Will be interesting to see if that changes with OPK, SMEP and BBT this month. Flinging everything at it !!!

Wishing you a lovely evening. We are watching Outlander, it (obvs I mean Jamie haha) has been a saviour in lockdown :D

Welcome @Florarenniemackintosh I am like you. I am 31 and have been TTC for a year now and my first month using SMEP. Definitely thought this time last year that it would take a month or two and I would be pregnant... how wrong could I be. I have been using OPK’s for most of it. Some months I would OV on day 14 and other cycles it would be day 19 but as someone said the luteal cycle always stays the same. I have tried to cut down on coffee and only have it a couple of days a week instead of every day. I also did a lot of quite intense exercise and I was advised to tone it down as that could effect fertility so I’m trying to just do yoga and walking at the minute... not helping with the extra eating with being at home at the minute.

Welcome @Florarenniemackintosh ❤️ erm I've tried to cut down on alcohol and caffeine but not cut them out, I can't actually remember the last time I had a bath but I think boiling hot isn't ideal for early pregnancy from what I've read. To relax I'm doing daily fertility meditation and am tracking through every available method as strangely the more data I have the better I feel and tbh having been in the office pretty much all the way through and work being mad busy it helps the days past, although the nights are long with overthinking 😂 what day are you in your cycle? Xx

Congratulations! @jaxs23

@Florarenniemackintosh welcome! Definitely get on the tracking as it helps know everything has worked ok that month. I also do fertility massage and acupuncture (pre covid) but I'm 38 and on cycle 21 so there is more to focus the mind! Just discovered I have high TSH levels which might be causing issues so have in the last month quit caffeine, alcohol, dairy, white flour, and mostly there with quiting sugar. Also drinking 2-3 litres of water a day, doing seed cycling, positive affirmations and using preseed. Phew seems a lot when you write it down! This is my 3rd month SMEP and we are quite enjoying it.

Great everyone thank you for sharing! Such a hive of information, ideas, support and experience on here :) I'm CD5 so just getting in the zone. My period was so weirdly light and painfree this month (usually my periods are heavy and generous on the cramps) so I was like... maybe this is it? But five days later and I am under no illusions, its just my body playing tricks haha.

@Jilly1983 you and me both! Omg I have been so careful in the past and now I think ... wow why did I bother!!

@SmileyT yes, I cut down a lot too. My first cup is caffeine and then throughout the day it is just decaf. I have cut down alcohol (I'm always the driver, now!) but in lockdown, especially in the beginning that was tough. Also, I live in France so the wine is good here, hard to say no!

@Seafrontsky fertility massage sounds amazing have you found it relaxing? I know, it all adds up when you all write it down. I have heard a lot about preseed - does it just get the sperm in quicker or something?

What vitamins etc are you all taking? I have read lots of different advice, hard to know what is reliable? At the moment I'm just taking 400 of folic but then I read Vitamin D is important too?

Omg minefield!

Wishing you all a lovely Tuesday :)

@Florarenniemackintosh I'm just taking folic acid for TTC.

I take vitamin D because it's reccomended by our national health service because usually we don't get enough sun in the UK! I also take cod liver oil out of habit.

@Florarenniemackintosh I'm a psycho and take probably way more than I need but currently, folic acid, vit D, vit E, calc flour, l'arginine, calcium, B complex and omega 3 - I just watched a YouTube video and went mad on amazon but most people are good with a simple folic acid tablet. And yes bet there is some good wine over there... hard not to have a glass with dinner 🍷 x

Thank you everyone for the congratulations.
I am 13 dpo today. Tested on dpo 10 and 11 and got faint lines.
I did fertility massage and yoga.

Hi , hope you all don’t mind me joining in . I’m 37 and just started trying for a baby , my last period ended Saturday so tryed few times since , I’m long way off mark I know but I do suffer mental health issues this is why Iv always put it off . I have to take medication to function. And to stop ocd and anxiety obviously my concern is worrying the hell out of me taking meds whilst pregnant , I have asked numerous specialists I just feel il
Cause something to happen 😞anyone else take meds ? Or can try and reassure me I’m doing the right thing x

I'm moody like AF is on her way in a weeks time- boooo! Has anyone read that moodiness is a sign of early pregnancy? I think I'm 7DPO and yes I know I promised not to symptom spot but I made it to day 7 so that's good right?😂

@Sergiomel08 I'm really sorry but I don't so I am not sure. Hopefully someone on here has or it might be worth starting your own thread. Would be great for you to talk to people who have the same experience. I don't about you but I always find it reassuring to know I'm not the only one. 🤞🏽🙏🏽

@serialplanner I read some people said they had AF symptoms like moodiness. Would you usually get moody a week before? Definitely wouldn’t rule this month out yet. You did do well. I’m usually great the first week and then it hits 8 or 9 dpo and I turn crazy

@Jilly1988 I do normally get moody around now😫 we'll see.

Oh right 😂 the perfect time for me to turn crazy. I need the weekend to roll around so I can be distracted.

How is everyone else feeling?