Preconception planning - anyone want to join?

[sunflowersaremyfav93]

Hello!

I've been reading loads on the importance of pre-conception nutrition and preparing your body. Some say 3 months before and I've seen some that say 6 months before.

I find myself trawling through threads on Mumsnet but wondered if there were any ladies planning to start TTC in the next few months and wanted a forum to chat about ways to prepare / excitement of it all etc.

I often find myself going on to my bf and mum and they're like ok ok! 😂

@KittyT30 I was the devil on pills! They gave me migraines plus made my mood horribly depressing and aggressive. I struggled a lot until i found that out.

@KittyT30 when I came off the pill it took me 3 months to regulate and even longer after the implant was removed.

I am feeling really impatient this week......I have lots of things going on in life atm (Weight loss/buying a house/wanting a baby) and I want them all to happen now. I think I might start doing mindfulness and meditation to help distract my brain before I go mad!
The hellish period is over so at least I don't have to deal with that anymore.

@butterfly5291 sorry to hear about your cyst and fingers crossed your referral comes through quickly and it all gets sorted asap.

@JamesZebra sorry about your period from hell but I’m glad it’s over!

@KittyT30 fingers crossed your cycle regulates soon! Mine seems to be regular I’m just not sure if I’m ovulating - all the signs would suggest I am but I reckon I ovulated yesterday, not today as my app says (tracked CM in the days leading up and had some slight cramping which could have been ovulation cramps, hard to tell as never had them before!)

I’ve been eating lots of SOS food (from The Impatient Woman’s Guide) this week (some salmon, lots of leafy green veg like spinach and kale and also had some avocados and walnuts). I also only had one small glass of wine at the pub last night when normally I would have had more. It’s my birthday this weekend though so I’ll be eating more unhealthily and drinking alcohol, but I guess 1 weekend won’t hurt!

Following as will start TTC in October . Getting preconception folic acid tomorrow xxx

@butterfly5291 so sorry to hear about your cyst I can’t believe they only just mentioned it! So awful. Hope you are okay.

@JamesZebra I have had that impatient feeling this week too!!

@Lollipop87 happy birthday for the weekend :)

Happy birthday for Sunday @Lollipop87!

I'm so confused, all! I have been testing using strip OPKs as well as the ClearBlues and yesterday got a peak on the ClearBlue and what I had took to be a positive on the strip OPK - the line was, to my eye, about as dark as the control. I tested again on the strips later in the day (ClearBlue gives you a peak for two days after your first reading, regardless of your actual hormone levels) and the line was a lot lighter, so assumed I was done. I've just tested again now to check that levels were dropping and have had a blazing positive (pic attached), much stronger than yesterday. So - were yesterday's test wrong? Did I misread the OPK? Was the ClearBlue incorrect? Or have I had two peaks?

So glad I'm trying to figure this out now and not in October when it actually counts!

Thanks for all the nice messages. I've got an appointment with neurologist next Saturday so hopefully get some answers then.

@Lollipop87 happy birthday for the weekend... hopefully your last one child free!

@queenatom was yesterday your first peak on CB? Maybe your urine was more dilated for the second opk? Getting such strong OPKs is a good sign. Make sure you're logging it all in an app xx

@letsmakethishappen check it had 400mg the first lot I got only had half what I needed :) and I had to buy more!

@queenatom I agree I reckon you had drunk more so it was a bit watered down!

@Lollipop87 I need to get more of the SOS diet in my life, I'm usually so good about getting 5 a day in, I don't like fish but I get everything else in. I'm due on in a few days and have been a nightmare this week eating loads of sugary/white food. I'm making myself feel bad and telling myself that it's going to effect fertility. So stupid!! Happy birthday to you!! Make a birthday wish! 💫
I'm also going to the pub tonight, will try and stick to one drink!

@butterfly5291 Sorry to hear about that, crazy that the docs were sooo casual about it? But great that it's been noticed now before TTC and if they're not worried then that's a good thing.

I'm so confused about OPKs. We've moved TTC one month earlier after my whining about how I sit can't wait and how my bf doesn't realise it doesn't happen with the one and only time you have unprotected sex.

Does anyone feel they get even more broody/impatient near their periods? I'm literally looking at baby clothes online and thinking about names when I'm not working...I need to get a grip.

I also have a few questions (sorry if I've missed these earlier on)

Does anyone have any thoughts about travelling when pregnant? Do we know when the latest time we can fly while pregnant is?

Also how is everyone getting on with weight loss? Week before period I am a bloated and hungry pig 😂 I need to get myself prepared for next week, when I eat crap so does my bf and I really think of he lost a bit of weight it would help us? They say dads weight is just as important? Do you guys have any views?

Sorry I've literally rambled and rambled here!!
Happy Friday all xx

Hi everyone! Can I join? Planning to start TTC in the New Year, delaying for a few more months to avoid the winter Covid months as I am in an at-risk group and also would want DH to be able to attend scans etc. (first time TTC).

Excited but v impatient! Loads of great advice on this thread. Will go back to the start and read through the whole thing later on today, I'm sure I'll come back with lots of questions!

My prep probably doesn't add anything new to the convo:
Get fitter and healthier, lose a small amount of weight (9lbs)
Start taking folic acid and vitamin D
Start to cut down on caffeine and alcohol
Get coil removed, start tracking using Natural Cycles (recommended to me by several friends who fell pregnant using it!)
Improve core strength and do some pelvic floor exercises

It's nice to have a thread like this where I can talk about these things without feeling like a crazy over-planner ;)

Thanks @wrensandrobins and @butterfly5291maybe that's it, I did try not to drink too much though! Took another one this afternoon and it is still a strong positive. Hopefully the temps will confirm ovulation - I've had no rise as yet.

@queenatom after reading loads of threads, I don't think the strips are hugely accurate. As predicted, my temp has stayed high today and both my apps have now moved my ovulation to Tuesday instead of Saturday, which I kinda figured! And I have heard some people have a strong positive on the strip for a couple of days, while some less. But so confusing as using OPKs they say don't drink too much water, but then they say drink plenty of water for CM. I think we are lucky as we have a few months before TTC so best to keep tracking monthly till we see a pattern.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 men are a little oblivious to how TTC works don't you think? my OH is exactly the same. I think from what I know that you can travel until your 3rd trimester? I certainly wouldn't want to travel past this as I can imagine it being quite uncomfortable.

I have had the last 2 weeks off plan and so my weight has gone back up a couple of lbs. Finding it really hard to stay motivated at the moment, but have managed 3 runs this week and planning on going for a walk after work. Need to get my head back into the game next week. I cant stop eating and I think me and OH have eaten half a jar of roasted peanuts as well as a full bag of broken twix bars!

My birthdays next Friday so I'm going to allow myself next weekend off plan, but otherwise, back on it....from Monday! lol.

@sunflowersaremyfav93

I'm with you with being a bit off track! I have had a break from the diet this week and also gained a couple of pounds but have no excuses now so just need to get back on it

Well I have a couple of Lindt balls that I need to eat to save myself from later 🤣

Thanks for all the birthday messages 😊 I’ve been pretty good this week (mainly because I know I’m going to have a cake and booze-filled weekend!) I’ve forced myself to get up early to do a HIIT workout every morning (and I am NOT a morning person!) and have stuck to my WW plan except for the one glass of wine and packet of crisps. Not going to think about it from 5 o’clock today though as we’re having some drinks with our neighbours and getting an Indian takeaway, so will also be back on it on Monday!

@letsmakethishappen hi and welcome! There are lots of us starting TTC from Sept/Oct and everyone’s really lovely with lots of good advice so definitely a good thread to be on 😊

@butterfly5291 glad you’ve got a neurology appointment and fingers crossed you get some answers! 🤞🏼

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I’ve been feeling sooo inpatient recently and am wanting more and more to start TTC in September instead of October! I decided to outline my points to DH at lunchtime, which are:

1. It gives us an extra cycle before Christmas and I would loooove to be pg by Christmas!
2. If we’re lucky enough to catch first cycle then hopefully our 12 week scan would be just before Christmas festivities kick off (COVID dependent!) so will be able to tell people rather than have people suspicious of why I’m not drinking
3. Hopefully any 1st trimester morning sickness would be out of the way by Christmas!
4. We have a LOT of July birthdays among friends and family (both our birthdays also being in July) so I would love to at least try to TTC for a June due date! 😂 Unfortunately we then had a bit of an argument, mainly because I feel like he always gets his way and I feel like I have no control over our fertility journey as he seems to be making all the decisions. We then talked some more and it came out that he’s still worried about a few months ago when he had some blood in his semen, but had antibiotics and it went, but because it was the second time it happened he’s been referred to a urologist (which I’d completely forgotten about as there’s been so much else going on!) So he’s going to chase up the referral next week and agreed that as long as he can get checked out before September and everything’s fine then we can discuss it again. I know it’s maybe silly to push so much for 1 month’s difference and we might not even fall that cycle, but the way I see it is that if we don’t try then we definitely won’t get pregnant but if we do then there’s a 30% chance we will! And what if that would be our lucky cycle and then we have to wait months just because we didn’t try. He was then really sweet because I keep saying “if we can have children” and he was like “no, when” and even talked about being in the delivery room which he’s never really said out loud before. Sorry that was long! With regards to flying, I read you can fly up to 28 weeks without needing a doctor’s note and then I think it’s up to 32 with a doctor’s note.

Hi @Lagirl20 and welcome! Oh you’re in the right place, we’re all crazy planners too! 😂 It’s so nice to have people to talk to who are also in this impatiently waiting phase. I was thinking wow how nice that we’re all such planners and then I thought, well that’s because all the non-planning type of people wouldn’t be joining message boards until they’re actually pregnant 😂

Hello all. Been good on my diet this week bar Wednesday when it was hubby's birthday. Now doing VLCD as I actually find them easier to stick too. Hope it all comes off quickly.

Agreed with DH last night that next week I am gonna book a doctor's appointment the start of Sept to get my Coil out to give it a couple of months to rest before we can start trying. Still have no idea if we are gonna bother trying to prevent for the first month as still have no idea what husband's SA in Sept will be like! Prob won't bother and if something happens it happens. we deff wouldn't know if I was pregnant til after his work probation ends so it's probably fine.

Still looking for houses though and I just can't find anything I like. I am very very fickle.

@Lagirl20 Welcome
I would start looking into getting your coil removed, some places are still not seeing people unless emergency and others wi have long wait list. I needed a specialist gynaecologist appointment to get mine out.
Then you can start tracking for a few months before you try in Jan.
You pay for natural cycles I think....you could just get a bbt and track using one of many apps.
I'm using femometer and tracking using their OPKs with plan to use my sister's CB fertility monitor next month. I'm actively TTC now though. The CB stuff is way more expensive so better to get a good idea of your cycle first.

@CookieMonster3001 - yes, true. At the moment I'm not hugely concerned with exactly when ovulation has happened - I just want to know that it is actually happening!

@Lollipop87 Glad it was a productive conversation, even if it did involve a bit of an argument. Hopefully everything goes smoothly with your DH's referral.

Hi @lagirl20 welcome to our thread, it’s honestly been such a help for me trying to unscramble all the crazy thoughts I have about TTC. I’ll have to look up natural cycles I’m clueless about it all but we’re starting in six months and feel like I should understand my ovulation dates now.

@cookiemonster3001 Oh yeah they really are, my OH has no solid reason to think he has strong swimmers considering he’s never got anybody pregnant before but here he is telling me we’ll be fine, which I hope we will, but we can’t base that on his idea of having strong swimmers haha. Interesting re the travel, online it says up to 37 weeks? Seems crazy to me and I wouldn’t want to fly that late in my pregnancy either.

@wrensansrobins 😂😂 we’ll start again on Monday!

@lollipop87 I know exactly what you mean, a month does actually make such a difference and how lovely would it be to tell you’re friends and family at Christmas!!! Really good that after the argument he opened up though, really sweet he was talking about the other details too about delivery room and stuff. My bf keeps saying we don’t need to always talk about it because he wants it to be exciting when it happens. Fingers crossed all comes back good for your husband and you can’t start sooner, how exciting, that’s just a month away pretty much!! So jealous!!

Just found the below wording on the NHS website, what do you guys think about it? I really don't want to delay TTC because I doubt we'll fall staight away?

It's usually safe to fly while you're pregnant and it shouldn't harm your baby if pregnancy is straightforward.
Most airlines will not let you fly after week 37 of pregnancy, or week 32 if you're pregnant with twins or more babies.
What to do before you fly?
If you're planning on travelling by plane, you should discuss it with your midwife or GP first.
Some women try to avoid travelling in the first 12-15 weeks of pregnancy, because exhaustion and nausea tend to be worse at this early stage.
Before you book your tickets, check with your airline and insurance company that they will allow you to travel while pregnant. After you get to 28 weeks, most airlines require a letter from your midwife or GP confirming:
• that you're in good health
• that you have a normal pregnancy
• the expected date of delivery
Be aware that your GP may charge you for the letter.
Some airlines may require medical clearance if:
• your delivery date is less than 4 weeks after your departure date
• complications are expected in your delivery
This may involve your GP or midwife filling in a form, or an assessment by the airline staff.
Check with your airline, as the restrictions can vary.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 thank you, it’s nice to talk to someone who understands and yes it was lovely when he opened up to me but I just don’t think the same absolute need is there in most men like it is in women so they don’t understand why we’re so impatient or why we worry about it! With regards to flying, I personally don’t think I’d be comfortable flying past 7 or so months pregnant just in case I went into early labour, the 37 weeks sounds very late! It depends where you’re going but some countries you might not be covered, I guess you could claim back through insurance but probably wouldn’t be straightforward! When are you due to fly?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 @Lollipop87 I guess the other thing to consider when planning travel is where you are actually going and whether you'd be comfortable if you ended up giving birth there and having to travel back with a very young baby. A close friend of mine missed my wedding for that reason - whilst she theoretically could have travelled down, if she had gone into labour whilst there she'd have been away from the hospital she'd been planning to give birth in, trying to find emergency care for DD1, and then faced with a minimum 2 week wait before she could fly back (earliest her airline would allow a baby), and the cost of accommodation and changed flights for that time. And that's assuming a straightforward birth and baby!

Hi guys

What are you all doing to prepare your skin? When I had my silicone implants put I had to do at least 6 months of massaging my breasts gently every day during shower and then using either Bio Oil or any mum's anti stretch marks lotion.

I've now started doing the same with my belly as my skin is prone to strecth marks. I might do it for the breasts as well. Skincare is never a waste and if I get pregnant soon I won't even have much time to prepare. So starting asap... Bio oil on the breasts and belly.

What have you guys been doing? Do you have any other suggestions?

@stepmumSW5 haven’t even thought about skin / stretch marks until you’ve just mentioned it! I don’t think my skin is that prone to stretch marks and my mum and sister both didn’t get any so fingers crossed we just have stretchy skin! I’ll do bio oil once I’m actually pregnant but probably not before