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! 😂

July* not June which I also realised is this month. Holy smokes.

@CookieMonster3001 I don't think your age is a problem at all, I've seen loads of threads where women fell pregnant in their late thirties and early forties which is brilliant! Did you say you'd spoken to your GP? I recommend reading Luisa Zissmans maybe baby blog as well, there are a lot of positive stories on her highlights section called 'TTC Babies'

I'm one of those people for sure 😂, since I was like 18 I just couldn't wait to be a Mum, so now I'm like I want it to happen ASAP. I'd be trying now but my boyfriend wants us to start next year (eyeroll) haha!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 ill defo check that blog out!! Sounds interesting.
I have my smear test due in August so will speak to the nurse then! I got until then to think of questions to ask to make the most of the appointment haha!
Some websites recommend a full check up but my sister didnt really bother so I guess I will just see what they suggest!

Oh gosh a full check up? I'll let you know how my call with the GP goes tomorrow, it's all very exciting though isn't it 🥰🥰

Omg me too please. I've been taking the preconception vitamins by seven seas to try and prepare but not sure what else (if anything) I should be doing!

We're in the process of buying our first house so we're waiting until it all goes through before trying so it feels indefinite at the moment even though it could be so soon!

I'd like to join! We won't be trying for a few months yet but want to drop the rest of the baby-weight from DC1 and sort my pelvic floor out. I gained quite a lot with DC1 so need to shed! Also starting to track my BBT again but it's difficult with a bfing baby still.

@Marsupialsss @OneStepOneStumble woohoo more people!

How have you found the seven seas vitamins? I read that pregnacare can mess with cycles so wasn't sure what I wanted to take and have just stuck with folic and Vit D for the time being.

Good luck with your house too! Seems sensible to wait for that to all go through and then hopefully when you're so occupied with getting it all nice to live in you fall pregnant! My mum keeps telling me that next year when we sell our house I'll fall straight away?! 😂

Things I've done so far or will do to prep:

• Cut out caffeine, not vital but felt like it couldn't be positive
• eating loads more fruit and veg
• taking folic and Vit d
• don't really drink much anyway but only have a glass here or there now
• a few ladies on this thread have mentioned getting BMI down and that's def on my list I think my BMI is only like 26 or something atm so losing a few pounds would be good
• I read good things about conceive plus

I find ovulating prediction kits really confusing but think I want to start tracking so I know how accurate my app is. But I think DTD every other day is going to be our plan of action.

Oh and I want my boyfriend to take some kind of supplement too.

I sound crazy don't I 😂

@Marsupialsss

I'd like to join! We won't be trying for a few months yet but want to drop the rest of the baby-weight from DC1 and sort my pelvic floor out. I gained quite a lot with DC1 so need to shed! Also starting to track my BBT again but it's difficult with a bfing baby still.

Forgot to ask - how did you find TTC with baby #1?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 they've been okay as far as I can tell! I decided to get these having read reviews of the pregnacare ones and being concerned about messing with my cycle as well as I'm so regular usually! I've not noticed any changes yet but will report back if i do.

I'm hoping we'll be so busy with moving the time will go fast and we can get to TTC soon 😂 I know it's sensible to wait but it's so tempting all the same!

Also I have been keeping to a good exercise routine recently which I'm hoping is helping but I'm a total caffeine fiend and probably drink too much, especially since lockdown so that's something to look at for sure!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I was really lucky and fell pregnant first cycle. I prepared a lot though, so taking folic acid and vitamin d, exercising, eating well and tracking my cycles so we had a good idea of when I was ovulating. Or it was all just a fluke 😂
I think trying to be as healthy as possible is good though regardless of if it means you fall pregnant quickly. My cycles are all over the place now, think it's because I'm still breastfeeding so not sure if that will hinder things.

I want to join!!

I'm getting my Mirena coil out tomorrow hopefully, although the strings are missing so it might be a difficult procedure and chance I'll have to go to a specialist clinic which isn't even open due to Covid!

I'm due to get married at the end of December but with everything being so uncertain we thought we'd start the process of TTC now.

I'm 33 and have endometriosis, although had laparoscopy two years ago to remove endo tissue so hoping not to encounter any issues.

My GP has said not to start testing for when I'm ovulating as it will just make me more anxious but I'm literally going to have no clue when anything might happen. So I think I'll get some cheap tests just to check I even ovulate! I've only been off hormonal contraception for a few months in 18 years!

She did say it was really important to start taking folic acid though so I've been taking pregnacare pre conception vitamins for two weeks.
@OneStepOneStumble what reviews had you read?

We're keeping ours plans quiet from friends and family for now so be great to be able to share thoughts and worries with people ☺️

Look forward to chatting to you all soon xx

Can I join too! Planning to start trying in December, just trying to prepare by losing some weight and have started taking folic acid at the advice of my doctor, going to use barrier methods from September!

I'm so excited and a bit of me wants to just start now but it would be good to be a bit healthier in both body and bank balance!

@butterfly5291 there were some on here and some amazon reviews saying their cycle become more irregular having used pregnacare so I got a bit scared off them! I've no personal experience though and there were plenty more reviews saying they were absolutely fine so see how you get on with them!

Can I join in please.

I have 2 teenagers already from a previous relationship but I am aching for another. I am 32 and DP is 40. About a year ago we decided to see what happens and stopped using contraception.......nothing happened but he works nights and there has been a lot going on in life so it's not really surprising.

We decided we might need to do a bit of prep work before we start seriously trying so we are both on a diet. I need to lose quite a bit of weight realistically and I have bought OPK's so I can track my ovulation and see if my app is actually correct. Going to also start taking vitamins that some of you have mentioned.
DP is very relaxed about it.....very much if it happens it happens but I am desperate and aware he is a bit older so I think we need to get a move on.

I don't get OPK's so if anyone has any tips or ways to help me understand I would be very interested. I have read a lot about SMEP and also Pre seed so I am thinking of using those when we go back to trying again.

Ooh yes @onestepstumble I need to up the excersise that’s a really good point! I’m going to look up the seven seas in that case! Thank you! I know what you mean I really wish we were TTC now but OH wants to wait till news and tbf I want a certain amount saved for mat leave, I know they say you’re never ready for a baby but that would just be one less thing to worry about.

@marsupialsss ah wow that’s amazing and makes me feel like all this prep could mean we’re lucky first time round?! Oh yeah they say that breastfeeding messes it up don’t they? Did you use OPKs to track ovulation?

Hi @butterfly5291 good luck for tomorrow, do they say it takes a while to regulate after having the coil out, I don’t know much about it. Ah fingers crossed you fall soon! Yeah I fear if I start checking ovulation when we actually start TTC I’ll become super anxious. We’ve told our mums and a few friends we’re going to start next year but I don’t really want to talk to them about it in this much detail, I think the more I kind of let on how much I want it the more pressure I feel, if that makes sense?

Hi @muddyjenni - yes the more the merrier !! 🥰 it’s so exciting isn’t it!! Yeah I really need to lose a few pounds as well, finding it hard working from home! Are you going to take any other prenatal vits?

Aw @jameszebra I know what you mean when you say aching for it, I see people announce their pregnancies and of course I’m thrilled for them and we haven’t even started yet but I just can’t wait for it to be me. Sounds like you’ve got good plans in place though! The OPKs really confuse me so please share any insight, are you going to use the ones that show the flashing face or the ones you pee on and then the line comes up? I read a bit about SMEP as well, is it basically just having loads of sex? And yes I read sooo many good things about pre seed and conceive plus so def going to use that when we start.

Xxx

Oh my, I just looked up SMEP - that's very regimented! I think I'm going to have to try just seeing what happens for the first 6 months because trying to plan with OPKs and marking DTD on calendars will make me (even more) obsessive!

Following with interest though for if we get to that stage

I bought the cheap ones off Amazon to start off with. You can get about 30 for £4 which I thought was ok to curb my curiosity.

I am also worried that I am not ovulating at all, I had an ectopic pregnancy about 10 years ago and had to have my tube removed so I know that is going to already put me at a disadvantage and I am worried that the remaining tube is blocked. Basically I worry a lot!

I need to focus on losing weight but the OPKs are a good distraction, Mine arrive tomorrow hopefully.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 thank you, I'm feeling a bit anxious about it... luckily my appointment is first thing. Been told to take pain relief before I go....never a good indication 😬
I don't think I've ever had regular cycles due to my endo. I had a cyst in my left ovary at the beginning of the year so was worried I had pcos too but apparently my hormone levels were fine.

I think you've got to find what works best for you, I know I'm more anxious when I'm not sure about something. Least if I know I can plan. But I know other people prefer not to know and just hope for the best. I had told myself I wouldn't get too excited...yet here I am worrying already with you guys 😂

@onesteponestumble I know what you mean, it’s so easy to become obsessive isn’t it! I’ll have to look up SMEP, I don’t know loads about it.

@JamesZebra if it makes you feel better at all my Boyfriends mum was telling me she had an ectopic pregnancy and had a tube removed as well but then had my bf and his sister after, so that’s a nice story. 🥰 Let me know how you get on with the OPKs please, would be good to hear how you find them!

@butterfly5291 ooh bless you, that doesn’t sound pleasant! Brilliant that your hormone levels were fine! Haha I’m the exact same if I know all options and I know how to prepare for things I feel like I’ve done all I can, I’m thinking all do all the prep I can now so I can relax and enjoy it all when we start trying because I do want it to be fun at least 😂

Just got back from the surgery. The Dr couldn't find the strings or coil at all😭
She's given me a referral letter for a gynaecologist and luckily I have Bupa health care through work so hopefully should get an appointment soon. I might need an operation to get it out though.
I knew this was a possibility but still really disappointed 🥺

@butterfly5291 ahh so sorry to hear that. I am a bit worried about mine too. I know there are strings there but they are very very short (my gyn actually cut them really short). Who has she recommended?

@Bells3032 I wouldn't worry about strings being short. They use a little device to get it out anyway, just easier if there are strings.
Bupa have actually got me an appointment with the gynaecologist tomorrow morning!!

@butterfly5291 great news!

Are you in London. Who are you seeing. I am debating going to my GP or back to the gyn who put it in?