First time TTC - help please!! Any one else TTC for their first time?

[BeeR2009]

Hi everyone,

Me and my husband have made the decision to try for a baby - we had a talk last month after I thought I might be pregnant (we weren't actively trying) and after 12 years together feel that now is the right time.

I'm feeling really excited and a little nervous - I know it may take a while and I just want to be as prepared as possible and be doing as many of the right things as I can.

What do people recommend for trying to get pregnant? Is anyone else in the same boat and would like to keep in touch/progress?

I'm due to finish AF in around 2 days and due to ovulate around 28th according to my tracker app - I've got folic acid and vitamin D arriving tomorrow that I can start taking, what else can I be doing to prepare as much as possible? I know it sounds silly, but do we just start 'trying' as soon as my period is over?

Look forward to speaking to you all soon!

Thanks,

Bee x

Hey everyone ☺️ I've not posted in a while so thought I would update - I finally got my positive OPK yesterday after 20 odd OPKs 😂 Ovulation day is predicted for today on CD20! So I'll be entering the TWW tomorrow and testing around the 13th when AF is due. How's everyone else getting on? Xx

@MintGreenLife I'm literally on cd4 right now so I'm waaaay behind everyone, I'm just having fun seeing everyone else in their fw or getting ready to test

@Mrskcam well at least you're along with everyone for the ride ☺️ early on in my cycle it felt like it would take forever for the TWW to come around, but it hasn't been that bad, and that's when I've had to wait until CD20, so hopefully you want find it drags too much ☺️

@LennyAndToots I use these ones: www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-Ovaview-Sensitive-Results-Pregnancy/dp/B073ZCB454 - I've had positives on them before but I'm not sure how many dpo I was because I'd had enough of tracking with no success so I gave it up that month (so I do think there's something to be said for not tracking and just dtd every other day!) they are 10mlU which is what you want if testing early, and is the same as CB. The cheapies say you can test 6 days before your missed period too. It's good to have the CB digital to hand though if you're in any doubt over a line, and for more peace of mind!

@MintGreenLife been wondering about you - glad you're ovulating!!

@Daffodil21 I started finding it hard to keep up if I'm honest 🙈 I thought I might have ovulated about 6 days ago due to EWCM and thought maybe I just missed my peak on OPKs, but finally got a much darker line yesterday, although it was short lived as was faint the day before and back to fainter again today. How are you getting on? X

@MintGreenLife I had a similar experience last month actually - I wasn't tracking CM but I noticed some which suggested ovulation a week earlier than usual (I have average 36 day cycles). I decided not to use any opk's but that just turned my TWW into a 3WW because the early CM threw me off! I've never used anything but clear blue for ovulation sticks so not sure what happens on the line ones after ovulation (the clear blue ones just keep a smiley face on the screen for 48 hours so you could test for the next two days even if you wanted to!

I'm currently 8ish dpo and finding the TWW slow as usual. Trying to be vaguely hopeful and not too negative but 18 months down the line with no successful pregnancy is draining. Going to test early (Wednesday or thursday when due sat, depending on my night time trip to the loo!). I need to test early sometimes just to stop myself being too bloody devastated when AF arrives.

I'm excited for others to start testing though!

@Daffodil21 hmm maybe I should try the CB OPKs, my only issue is this is my second cycle off the pill, so I haven't really got to grips with how long they are yet. Think I would spend a fortune on the CB ones testing from day 10 😂 First cycle off the pill was 30 days, and now I think ovulation this month is CD20 (today) so could be a longer cycle. EWCM is confusing isn't it! I read a book that said to pay more attention to your natural signals such as CM etc than OPKs, but then if I did that I had CM 8 days before ovulation so would have got that totally wrong! I'm still learning tbh.

Will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. That makes sense with early testing. This will be my first time testing so think I'll try and wait until AF is due xx

Hi ladies do you mind if I join? First cycle ttc here! I’m 30 years old no children yet. Currently ovulating As far as CM and OPKs are telling me. We have DTD everyday for the last 4 days in preparation and will continue to safe to say husband is very happy I’m so excited but scared also! Sending you all loads of baby dust

@Riley1989 welcome! My partner was very very happy when I told him we are gonna dtd every other day this month 🤣

Thank you @Mrskcam 😂 it’s not like we had a bad sex life anyway!! Excited to be going on this ttc journey with you all ❤️

@LennyAndToots like everyone else has said its still early so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, give it a couple more days and test again :) (Easier said than done I know).

@MintGreenLife Glad you have found your surge on ovulation sticks, my friend in going through fertility issues and was told by the specialist to use CB sticks as they are the most accurate (and unfortunately the most expensive).

It is confusing to track ovulation isn't it, there is so many different signs of ovulation and the truth is none of them are full proof the only real way to know if someone is ovulating is an ultrasound, so we just have to do our best and hope for a bit of luck.

@Riley1989b Welcome and best of luck with your Journey :)

I am also excited for everyone to start testing. I am currently in the middle of my fertile window, still getting egg white mucus but ovulation day is predicted to be Tuesday then be heading into the dreaded 2WW with Period Due on 15th June.

Thank you @summertime1992 wishing you all the best also. Im not looking forward to the 2ww at all I am the most impatient person! Ive been reading a book called The impatient womans guide to getting pregnant and have found it so interesting and the author is really funny! Need to keep telling myself that I cant test until AF due on 12th June otherwise I will test and test and test!!!! xx

@MintGreenLife, glad you have ovulated. Are your cycles normally longer?

I tried charting just CM before this cycle to get used to what’s normal and found day 12-15 was when I got EWCM. This month I have no CM at all, the OPK sticks are still low, temp low and I’m on CD13 so feeling worried. I think my body is playing tricks on me now I want to conceive.

@LOG8 hard to say as I've only had one cycle since coming off the pill which was 30 days, hopefully this cycle will be a bit longer otherwise will have a short-ish luteal phase, although 10 days isn't considered to be really short I don't think.

I wouldn't worry too much, ovulation can differ month on month and you're only one day behind than when you experienced EWCM last month. Apart from one day about 6 days ago I haven't had much so used preseed just in case x

Hi ladies,

Can i join, its my first time reading and posting too. I wasnt going to to read forums, as we are also in our first month of TTC and trying to go with the flow. However its lovely to see people are in the same boat.

We got married sep 19, i came off the pill on our wedding day with a view to getting my periods back to normal or have one as i was on the pill 15yrs and track my cycle.

It also lovely when a girl you went to brownies mam shouts in the street no word of a lie congratulations on your wedding you on that folic acid yet! Lmao

So things i have done and found out whilst reading and boy its a mindfeild isnt it!

Ive taken pregnecare tablets since the wedding.
Used an app called my tracker also heard about natural cycles app meant to be good.
Ive upped my exercise to be more regular i was always consistent in my inconsistent exercise enthusiasm lol.
Ive kept an eye on temp and discharge texture.
Ive read men should wear loose boxers and cut out soy sauce.
Weve both changed to decaf tea and coffee
Also ive read a couple of articles that a mans sperm can be optimal at 5-5.30pm when he has the most available in months of March, april and may. also apparently most women ovulate between 4-7pm so 5-5.30 seems good. Sperm also good at 7-7.30am and 10pm-1pm when labido peaks. ive read a couple of studies so please dont take that as gospel find your own way.

Weve also had our honeymoon cancelled due to covid-19 so my husband is loving every otherday sex whilst life slows down at home. On ovulation week we did it every day and on the day morning and night.
Im eager to take a test and trying not to twitch at any sign like bubbles in my wee and bloating.

I would love to keep up with our journeys and see how we all get on together.
Any tips to stay sane welcome x

@Sheaintnomamyet welcome, I have never thought that sperm is better at a certain time of day so that's taught me something new!

Guys, I was just reading a thread about luteal phases and how a short one can make it hard to get pregnant ... from looking at my tracker mine is always 12 days.. that's okay right?

@Mrskcam me neither just one day i thought is there a best time.

Luetul phase on this artcle says is about 12-14days so normal indeed.
www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/luteal-phase-defect.
Sending love your way x

@Mrskcam 12 days isn't short. Implantation typically occurs between days 6-10, with the average being 8-9 so plenty of time. My cycle last month was 30 days and my ovulation (today) was CD20, so either my cycle is longer or I'll only have a 10 day luteal phase, but still long enough to allow implantation to occur so am not too worried

@Summertime1992 my period is also due on the 15th of June. According to Ovia app I can start testing in 9 days but I'm going to do my best to wait until period is late (hopefully)

Just had a bottle of strawberry Kopparburg cider in the sunshine. Feeling a little guilty but sure it won't do any harm. Was nice to relax and switch off for a bit.

Forgot to add that I'm also so excited for everyone to start testing! ☺️

Thanks @MintGreenLife that’s really reassuring. Fingers crossed for you this month. This TTC malarkey is making me so stressed it’s only been two weeks!

Welcome @Sheaintnomamyet, that’s really interesting tips you’ve found. I’ve definitely had the same exercise ethos in the past but got more active recently too which I’m hoping will help.

Welcome to everyone new. Today is ovulation day for me in our second month ttc. DTD - is it too early to test?! 😂😂 I'm excited and hopefully but know it might now happen as only come off the pill at the end of March.

Have loved catching up on posts today (we had a little Cotswold trip out today then I've been watching SpaceX and out in the garden with my space app tracking the space station then the rocket - proper geeking it!) But I've learnt a lot of new things from you. Xxx

@Peach1204 we did a walk in the Cotswolds yesterday too ☺️ Today is also my ovulation day by OH wasn't up for DTD after doing it the previous two days - think I tired him out 😂 Was a bit disappointed to start with but not fair to expect him to be up for it everyday, and hopefully we did enough by going for it the two days before ovulation. Do you think you'll wait until AF is due to test?

Thanks @LOG8 ☺️ Haha me too - has only been a couple of weeks for me also 🙈 Such a rollercoaster already!

@MintGreenLife I think the day or so leading up to ovulation are more crucial than the actual day anyway, so you should be covered! Welcome to the TWW 🙄