7 months ttc (cont of 6 months ttc)

[Twinkletoes85]

Hi ladies,

Following on from our 6 months ttc thread, for anyone wanting to join in it’s just a group of us who have gone past the 6/7 month mark ttc looking to chat and support each other. All welcome 😊

@Annny27 Its definitely a tricky one! I read yesterday that 10 mins should be enough time before going to the loo, but I'm going to up that to 20 just in case. And then drink TONNES of water and get all of it through to ward off any future UTIs. This is honestly a bit of a military operation!

@Twinkletoes85 - I use a bbt thermometer I bought on Amazon for about £6.99 I believe? It must be a 2 decimal place thermometer as the changes can be very minimal and you might not pick it up with just single. I know my temps certainly change by minimal amounts that would be missed otherwise.

I also use the Flo app to track everything as it is very concise and includes a bbt chart.

With regards to Grapefruit, I wonder if a Honey Pomelo would offer the same nutrients? It is between a grapefruit and orange I would say, so not as bitter and more tolerable.

@Hoping41 honestly that cracked me up too and was waiting to see if one of you noticed it too 😂😂 I also worry about my ewcm and whether what I have is enough? But I use Conceive Plus lubricant as well to help so don't think it is much of an issue. My biggest concern is that my libido is high around ovulation but afterwards it plummets and I'm not in the mood to carry on. Anyone else experience this???

@gypsywater I feel your pain as I am prone to them too. This month, I actually used my menstrual cup after dtd so it didn't... cough... fall out 😂 and it meant I could go to the toilet straight away then lay down afterwards. I leave it in for 6 hours roughly if anyone is interested. Apparently it is good if there are minor issues with sperm like slightly lower count.

I also take supplements but they contain the folic acid, iron and vitamin D. Is there anything else I should be taking? DH has his supplements as well but not as good at taking them.

Is there any science in laying down afterwards? I almost never do! Should I start?

@MrsCOR I've just got some pregnacare delivered so I've revised my supplements because I was taking folic acid, a multivitamin and vitamin d separately before hand. Now I'm just going to be taking pregnacare, omega 3 fish oil, l-carnitine and green tea extract (both for my PCOS). I've ordered some evening primrose oil capsules too but I'll do some reading before I start taking them.

My castor oil pack stuff came this morning too so going to try that when the time is right!

@swifty2 I think its just to make sure most of the sperm separates from the semen and makes it through the cervix but apparently it isn't essential.
I just get a lot of leakage afterwards so I like to make sure the spemr have had their fair chance haha

@MrsCOR I also find that I am more up
for it around OV and then cba much afterwards... maybe it’s from DTD so regimented during the FW that does it? I still make sure to do it though before AF so OH doesn’t feel like a machine!

@Swifty2 I have read somewhere that lying down can make a small difference but up to 15 mins is fine. I will try and find the article but the difference in women conceiving wasn’t massive

@MrsCOR thank you, mine is two decimal places so hopefully it correct!

Yes with regards to libido, it's partly how I know I'm ov I get really up for up just about all the time then once I've gone over the peak it crashes off and don't really want it again. Then about af time it comes back.

Do you recommend a menstrual cup? I've been looking at them for a while but I don't know if my flow is heavy enough to bother

I'm the same re libido!
Have you guys seen Hormone Horoscope (stupid name) - it's an app that is quite interesting for understanding various highs and lows throughout cycle. I ignore the predicted ovulation day part on that but do generally find it very accurate and interesting!

My temp changed by 0.5 after ovulation so I was still able to see the pattern. I'm doing it again for this month and will hopefully not have to do it again!

Speaking of ewcm, I just noticed some. I'm only cd5 its seems way too early I normally dont ovulate until day 18 to 20. Very strange

Thanks @annny27 @dsc1! I'll bear it in mind. Since we've both been working from home during lockdown we have been dtd at lunchtime and have found it really fun! Previously we dtd either after work or before bed and we were both too tired to make a huge amount of effort! Changing up the "routine" might help with those OHs who feel like a 'machine'

@Swifty2 - I think the main thing is to not let it all fall out straight away and give most sperm cells the chance to get up in there! 15 minutes is probably okay but often get distracted and end up lying there for 45 minutes! I barely get to eat fish as DH won't touch it so I think I should consider taking a supplement at least. Also love the idea to dtd at different times in the day! We are always first thing in the morning or before bed. Hopefully some mid-day baby dancing will help in the tww!

@Twinkletoes85 - I would never go back to "normal" products like tampons and pads. My menstrual cup has been amazing and whilst it took a few cycles to get the hang of it, I have been using it for years now. Genuinely love it and I'm not particularly heavy either. It's actually for that reason that I use it because I leave mine in for 12 hours so only have to change it twice a day! I also found that using other products were wasteful on light days. I've saved so much money too - dread to think how much I would have spent on sanitary products otherwise!!! I have the Mooncup, you can buy it in Boots now! But check out other brands as all cups are slightly different!

@gypsywater - haven't seen that app but I will certainly have a look now!!

I have had slight cramping today but no pink CM yet which is the first sign AF is on her way. I really keep hoping that maybe I could still be pregnant but deep down I think I know I'm not.

@MrsCOR sorry to hear No line and the feeling AF is on the way. I was sat in class this morning and felt these cramps hit me, and the sluggishness, and the mood swings, that I get right before my AF. I too expect mine tomorrow or the day after 🙁 let me know how you get on x

@chasingmyrainbow I hate when you start to get your usual symptoms just before AF. In some ways it is worse than seeing the witch herself!

Cramping has eased off actually and haven't had more since this morning. Also no pink CM yet. I keep holding onto hope that maybe I am pregnant but will get a late bfp. Anything is possible right? You can implant up to 12dpo so potentially can't even get a faint line until 14dpo at least! Also had another bloody nose last night - more than before actually - and my stuffy nose hasn't shifted either! So irritating!!!

@MrsCOR don't want to excite you but I had my first ever bloody nose in my life at 13dpo the month I conceived (sadly miscarried) so it can deffo be a sign!

@MrsCOR thank you for the advice, I've considered them but was hoping I wouldn't need period stuff for too long! But I'm almost through the stash I had from before the depo so I'll have a proper look

@Annny27 - I've honestly never had blood like this in my nose before. It isn't trickling out, only when I blow my nose. But then I have a stuffy nose and blowing it might have caused it.

@Twinkletoes85 - no problem! Yep I'd like to not need it anymore... preferably soon!!!

Hi everyone! It’s been a busy day I see on here. Just been catching up!
@MrsCOR I use a menstrual cup too and am a total convert. I love mine! Been using it for about 2 years I think and have never looked back. It used to bother me that so many products had bleach and other rubbish in them. There are obviously way more organic products now to choose from but I’m now so happy with my cup (and the money I save!) that I’ll never go back.

A few people were talking about libido. I have to say that this TTC business has really affected mine. I am definitely up for it in the lead up to OV, from just after AF finishes, but then it completely dies during the 2WW until just before AF. In this book I read though, Period Power (it’s great, by the way, If anyone interested in reading!) the author says it is quite normal, so I’m not too worried about it. But I definitely can’t wait to not have to think about it for a while!
I had my ultrasound and blood tests today - feeling productive!
Sorry to all of you who’ve got AF on the way or just arrived. Am thinking about you and sending lots of positive vibes. Fingers crossed this new cycle is ours for the taking!! Xx

Can I ask you ladies, have any of you experienced cramps after af is over? I finished properly yesterday and still have cramping today with lower back pain? Nothing too severe more of a dull ache but concerned that it may be something more sinister?

I use a cup to keep the sperm in but I don’t think I could get my head around it for AF. I think it would just gross me out reaching in and getting it 🙈 plus I have a tendency to spill/drop the whole thing 😂 when it’s just some sperm it’s no big deal but I have visions of me dropping period everywhere 😂
Plus I also feel very aware of it when it’s in there!
I actually wanted to try it but the whole sperm catching scenario has put me off lol

Also I tried eating pineapple and drinking grapefruit juice last cycle and definitely noticed more ewcm, as someone mentioned before how much is enough? It's hard to word it but should it be actually discharged from body or is just feeling more 'slippery' down there good enough lol

@aokbaby I dont think I've ever had cramps after af, hope you're feeling better soon. I would notice ewcm on the tissue when I wipe and I would notice it for 4 or 5 days before ovulation

@fifol thanks for replying, yea I'm the same in regards to ewcm.
Not sure what the cramping is about, maybe I just thought af was gone, had a small bit of brown spotting today, it's all guess work

@jessmcg - I feel exactly the same! I switched over because I was so worried about toxic shock syndrome! Plus all the bleaching and I hated taking out tampons towards the end of my period.

@Nat4392 - honestly it really isn't that bad! I would advise taking it out in the shower to begin with. That really helped me learn to not spill it!

@Aokbaby - no my cramps go away as af does. Not so sure if it is normal or not as I don't experience it - have you searched online?

@MrsCOR yea searched online and endometriosis keeps coming up. I really hope it isn't, I wouldn't say I've any other symptoms of it other than the mild cramping after af. Don't even know if the doctors would do anything at the minute if I call them?

@Aokbaby How bad are the cramps? If they’re mild, it might just be a funny cycle. When did AF finish for you?

@jessmcg finished up on Saturday, had some spotting today, only once when I wiped, very light pink and some brown discharge in pants (sorry if tmi) hopefully just strange cycle 🤞