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.

So I had an even darker opk today - app has decided I am ovulating tomorrow. DTD tonight and tomorrow. adding yesterday on that should cover the 3 days. I don't think we will do that last day after the 3...

@serialplanner I didnt get my positive opk until today (cd16). I felt anxious when my opks werent getting darker on cd14 but yesterday started to darken and peak today!

Thanks @HopeWish. I'm learning so much! So actually if I just followed the app I would have thought it was today and might be missing key days. All this science after being brainwashed if you had sex once when you were younger you would get pregnant!

Good luck with your plan :)

@serialplanner mine jump around. On the most part I get a positive opk on cd12 but last month for some reason it was cd16. Don't stress, it'll come

And, if I could go back and tell my younger self one thing after the last 9 months it would be, don't worry, it's not that easy to get pregnant haha! The amount of times I worried I was pregnant despite being on the pill especially if I'd had a stomach bug or something!

Thanks @Slug123 where are you at this month? How long have you been trying?

Haha yes! Although if I have a daughter not sure I will let her in on the secret lol

Welcome @Slug123 good that you've been sent for tests and there is nothing wrong I'm sure it will happen although frustrating waiting.

@GiraffeInScarf hope you managed to pin OH down in his 3hrs at home... and yes odds say there has to be some BFPs this month.

@serialplanner I had blank circle on my CB until yesterday afternoon when it went to static smile so hold in there it will come.

@Seafrontsky looks like you are the same as me and started early, I'm CD13 and have DTD 8 times already, will DTD tomorrow, have a day off and get the last one in but then I will probably have a few days off, this planning sex life is exhausting 😂

@serialplanner this is our tenth month TTC. So frustrating but yes, I wouldn't ever tell a future child of mine haha!

@SmileyT thanks for the warm welcome

We're trying so hard not to plan it but it's hard when it absolutely planned haha!

@GiraffeInScarf TWW is awful isn't it?! Be very happy for a cheerleader! Good luck with all the BD next few days!

@slug123 welcome! Sorry to hear you've been feeling down. Am also new to mumsnet and have found it helpful with spirits and so interesting finding out so much I didn't know! Cycle 19 for me (with some on off gaps) and staying positive is the tricky part. We are cycle buddies though - also on day 10, and expecting to get my peak tomorrow or the next.

@Seafrontsky good to know we're buddies we can compare notes this month haha! Have you had any tests done given how long you've been trying?

@slug123 great we can do the awful TWW together! Yes been for loads of tests, all seems fine with both me and DH. Been seeing an acupuncturist and fertility masseuse last 4-5 months and they have approached it so differently to medical docs. Sorted my luteal phase, improved scarring from my previous c section. Also I had very bad recurring thrush which is a major cause apparently and now gone. I've been told it can take years especially as I've had difficult pregnancies before the scar tissus makes it more problematic. It's been such an interesting journey! We are TTC #3 (two DD already, both very quick conceptions) I'm 38 though so getting anxious about age but still feeling positive most days!

Good you are getting checked out. Would definitely recommend complimentary medicine too. Fingers crossed it won't be much more of a wait for you.

@SmileyT Haha yes DH rather enthusiastic for SMEP! Can be exhausting yes, and tricky to keep from being a chore. I'm enjoying erotic novels to keep me in the mood!

@GiraffeInScarf decided just to temp over ovulation to check it's happened. Cant be bothered rest of the month and the thermometer is dangerously low on batteries! I've done for 6+ months so know my pattern now and trying to take a more relaxed approach during lockdown - pretending it's a holiday!

@serialplanner Haha yes so true, never had so much unprotected sex in my life! Definitely not telling my daughters that though, especially as they were both conceived first cycle!

@Seafrontsky so happy for your two DD's! My mom was 39 when she got pregnant with my little brother and had lots of issues beforehand (MC's and time TTC him) but she had no problems once she caught with him and gave birth fine and he's now a 22 year old pain in my bum haha! Got everything crossed for you!

Glad I've got someone to do the tww with, I drive myself insane with it!

Thanks for the tip on complimentary medicine too. I think we're trying to relax now until we get to the one year mark but I'll definitely consider it once we get there.

DTD every other day is fine for us and we're keeping it from feeling like a chore OK. I'm struggling to keep calm when we're only three cycles from the 12 month mark, I feel like it's inevitable now that there's a problem it's so hard to keep spirits up!

@Slug123 ah that's made me more hopeful thank you! I just think some babies make us wait longer than others. There doesn't necessarily need to be a problem. That's what makes us impatient!
Good luck next few days!

Hey ladies !

Hope everyone is doing well , I'm just entering FW so lots of BD to do !

Feeling positive this cycle ! X

So we DTD CD 5,6,8,9,10,12,13,14,15 and will have one last hurrah on CD17 (Tuesday).

Does anyone carry on doing every other day for the rest of the month just in case or leave everything to do it's thing in the TWW?

Hey @Donnat89 good luck! I'm on the last day of the 3 in a row today and absolutely knackered! As much as I love the intimacy with DH - we could both do with a break now!

Hi ladies,

Hope you've all had a good weekend. I've already got off to a bad start, DTD CD8, CD10 was yesterday but OH got kept on at work so I've not seen him yet 🤦🏼‍♀️ not too concerned as don't normally O until CD18 or much later so time to make it up!

Looks like a few of you are stating the TWW, fingers firmly crossed we get some BFP's!

Sorry to hear AF arrived @BabyDust7 this is a new cycle to start fresh x

Hi @Slug123 , welcome! Also on cycle 10! It's tough isn't it. This group is great for support though, it's nice to have some people to chat to where there's no judgement!

@SmileyT although we've not done SMEP before we tend to DTD whenever we fancy it for the rest of the month after O but not every second day as normally a bit tired by that point!!

@SmileyT this is our first month doing the SMEP plan but usually after FW is
Over we tend to just do it when we feel
Like it .

Xx

@cherrychatter @Donnat89 oh think I'd read the SMEP rules wrong, you only have to do it eod throughout if you don't get a peak. I'll enjoy the next couple weeks with no schedule then (after a few days off I think 🤣)

Exactly @SmileyT !! I'm not sure I'd manage every other day for a full month, actually making me tired thinking about it!! 😴

Evening ladies 😊

Well we mostly managed to follow SMEP... technically should have DTD today as well since positive OPK was Friday (CD 13). We did 8, 10, 12, 13 & 14 but having done 3 days in a row and between DP’s shifts I think today just wouldn’t have been fun - we’re exhausted 😂 I’m as sure as I can be that I ovulated yesterday, probably during the day and we DTD in the evening. I feel like we’ve given it our best without making it a chore, now for a long TWW...

Tried preseed on the last two, I just got the applicator bit out the way whilst DP was getting undressed so we could get on without it spoiling the moment. It’s not the most romantic, but we both liked it as a lube. And if it maybe helps then all the better.

Lovely catching up with where everyone is at, need to keep reading as a distraction now! @Donnat89 @cherrychatter @Seafrontsky @Slug123 and anyone else I missed... good luck and hope you get those positive OPK’s soon! @HopeWish @SmileyT anyone found anything that helps counting down the days? 😣

@SmileyT good going! I think more relaxed when you fancy is fine.

@cherrychatter sounds like you have a bit of wiggle room so I wouldn't worry too much!

@Donnat89 good luck!

@GiraffeInScarf ingefleur.com/ttc/surviving-and-thriving-in-your-two-week-wait I read this little blog and I'm going to try it in this TWW try stay positive and not drive myself mad but we're only on day 1. We also used preseed and not sure DP was keen so I just chucked a tad on my cervix before we started 🙈

Good luck to everyone heading towards fertile week... ❤️❤️❤️

Hi ladies!

Do you mind if I join? Currently at 1DPO and managed to stick to the SMEP this month and then some haha
Been DTD from CD6, 8, 10, 12, 13, and today (14) with a few doubles (quarantine life? Haha)
This is my first month doing SMEP with OPKs, we’ve always tried sticking to the EOD habit but this month was super on plan and good to compare with Fertility Friend’s prediction which was too early so we’ve probably missed my ovulation date the last few cycles...

I’m 28, ttc #1 and super happy to find a supportive thread with similar cycle timings! This TWW is going to be so much better with ppl to talk to 😊

Hi everyone.
Cd9 today. Was planning to follow smep plan this month but didn't get round to DTD until this morning so a day late but I can't see it being am issue as I don't ovulate until Cd14.

Can I ask is it best to stay away from alcohol when TTC?

@gingerglitter4ever there are a few of us on 1dpo so we'll help eachother through. Was you temping on FF aswell? Really hoping this is a lucky thread with loads of BFPs 🙌🏾

@Hopefulmummie yeah life sometimes gets in the way of DTD, I'm sure starting a day late isn't going to ruin anything you can just get back on track tomorrow or do eod from now. I think the drinking thing is personal choice, I've decided to cut it out this month but if I'm still trying in 6months when lockdown is over I'll probably relax that a lot 😂