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! 😂

@CookieMonster3001 the countdowns keep me sane and drive me crazy at the same time but seeing the numbers so down is so nice. I'm on 167 days now ... ages to go yet!
I hope the lump goes away, I bet that is so worrying for you! Have you read up on preseed? That's meant to be good for when you're actually trying?

Thanks @CookieMonster3001. Yes, the One Step ones! I’ve just had a look at the ones you recommended on Amazon, I like that they link to an app too. I’ll try and post a picture of the darkest test I’ve had so far, but I wouldn’t call it a positive. I did wonder if maybe my wee wasn’t concentrated enough as I drink/wee a lot (TMI, sorry!) but I’ve just done one having not been to the loo for about 2-3 hours and it’s weaker than the ones yesterday and at 11am today!

Fingers crossed for you for the lump, sorry you’ve had to wait for your consultation.

Think it’s a wise move to not google images of the CM! I’ve gone from textbook fertile (2-3 days ago) to cloudy today, so maybe I have already ovulated. Who knows!!

@CookieMonster3001 fingers crossed about the lump, hopefully it’s nothing. I’ve done a LOT of reading about CM as I just track that and don’t use OPKs. I’m definitely starting to see a pattern now I’ve had a few cycles since coming off the pill - my cycles have settled into a nice regular 27 days for my last 2 cycles with EWCM from CD9 until around CD11 or 12. So I think I ovulate around CD12-13 which is apparently normal for a cycle that’s on the shorter side. I’ve got weird pain in my abdomen this evening so wondering if it’s ovulation pain as I’ve never had it before and I’m on CD12 today.

@queenatom sorry to hear about your hip/thrush but glad your ovulation is settling into a pattern.

Some good news that has been taking my mind off waiting to TTC is that we’ve finally found a kitten! Been looking for one for a while, but there have been less available due to lockdown. Went and met him this morning and we take him home on 26th September, so excited!! So at least I’ve got a holiday in September, then getting a kitten and then TTC in October - finally starting to not feel that far away! So ironic that DH got his way in the end as he always said he wanted to wait until we’ve been married a year and my fertile window is slap bang when he’s taking me away for our anniversary weekend! We had a night in a hotel last night as the kitten lives quite far away, and I said to him it’s so annoying knowing I’m fertile and having to use a condom - felt like a wasted opportunity! He doesn’t really see it like that but I know you ladies will understand.

@Lollipop87 oh so exciting about the kitten, do you have a name for her/him? We really wanted to get a puppy a few months ago but the demand is so high so the prices have just gone through the roof. And omg yes that's very annoying having to use a condom?! Will he understand if you explain to him? Xxx

@Lollipop87 So exciting about the kitten! Do you have a name for him?

@Lollipop87 So exciting about the kitten! Do you have a name for him?

@Lollipop87 we need pictures!!

His name is Edison and here’s a photo, he’s soooo cute! @sunflowersaremyfav93 annoyingly we can’t yet because I have to have my second dose of MMR in September and then wait 4 weeks, so October it is!

Hi everyone, I gave in and done an early test. Thought I could see a very faint line on strips (thought i seeing things) then done clear blue and here is the result!!!

Pregnant

Wow! Congratulations @KittyT30 how are you feeling?

I def dont feel pregnant. I think I ovulated on 7th aug, so I'm 11 days past ovulation, 4 days before period is due. I wanted to do a surprise thing for my husband but just ran into the room and showed him🤣. That was a clear blue test, which are normally quite accurate, my sister said u cant really get a false negative. Have first response test actually coming in the post today, so must take one of them. Thinking il book in for early scan around 8 weeks. Still doesnt feel real even with the positive test.

*cant really get a false positive (not negative)

@Lollipop87 omg he is sooooo cute. I really want a puppy but the idea of a puppy and a baby at the same time sounds awful to me. trying to persuade my DH into a kitten instead (i am just a general animal lover). Maybe once we've bought our house.

@KittyT30 oh wow congrats! i think the first positive on this thread!! wishing you lots of luck and hopefully the rest of us will find it as easy! you can't get false positives and the clear blue are notoriously nonsensitive so must be strong if coming up there!

We went up this morning to town to get my DH blood tests to see if he's had any surge in FSH and LH. Fingers crossed. appointment on Thursday with the endo for the results. I am bricking it

@Lollipop87 omg possible the cutest little kitten I've seen!!!!
Ahhh sorry you did mention that but I forgot, that makes perfect sense and thankfully is just one month! You could hopefully be pregnant by Xmas how exciting!!!

Also ladies I just saw this on insta and found it realllly interesting, thought the stats were interesting. I had a really bad day yesterday and ended up eating a large shared bag of crisps and a sausage roll.., and then more crisps and then end up beating myself up about it.., I'm being silly right??

@MsQueenInTheNorth Mine look very similar to that yesterday. Mine was very weak and then super strong (not what they class as positive either) and then super weak again. I reckon I will need to test twice a day to catch it really.

@Lollipop87 omg so adorable!!! he is SO CUTE!

@KittyT30 OMG congratulations!!!

@Bells3032 keeping my fingers crossed for you.

After talking about CM yesterday, I found an interesting article on the internet: www.kindara.com/blog/the-many-faces-of-cervical-mucus which described the different types of CM and it has defo made me feel better, as I don't think mine ever really fit the usual EWCM description and have never really had that, mines always been more on the watery end. Its also quite re-assuring to know that its still possible to get pregnant without that

@KittyT30 OMG congratulations!! That’s so exciting! I’ve had friends say it doesn’t feel real until you see it on the scan, so I think it’s normal for it to feel strange like you can’t actually believe you’re pregnant.

Thanks everyone, just wish I could have him at home with me right now. Although I probably wouldn’t get any work done!

@Bells3032 fingers crossed for your appointment! And @sunflowersaremyfav93 that’s really interesting, honestly though don’t beat yourself up we all have bad days. I’ve actually put on weight because I’m trying to eat foods good for fertility which has meant switching to full fat yoghurt and eating good fats like avocado but I haven’t felt like doing any exercise especially in the heatwave! Ate a lot yesterday but just told myself tomorrow is another day, had a healthy breakfast and am going to do some exercise in my lunch break.

@CookieMonster3001 that’s really interesting, I’m glad it’s reassured you 😊

@KittyT30 omg I can't believe I missed that sorry!!! How bloody exciting!!!!!! Is this your first cycle? Tell us all your tips!'

@sunflowersaremyfav93 that's really interesting! I literally just searched for her and followed. Don't beat yourself up over one day! Just get back on track tomorrow. I find that as long as majority of the time I am healthy that's the main thing. We still need to live and enjoy life!

I just found out my usual pot of greek yoghurt that I have (flavoured) has 18g sugar in it. I nearly passed out!!! The plain version only (I say only) has 6g, so I wasn't expecting it to be that much but 18g is insane!!!

Trying really hard to cut back on sugar intake, and so I am defo not buying that again! LOL. There is 20g sugar in a mars bar, so Id much rather have that for the extra 2g then yoghurt!

@CookieMonster3001 you're right, it's not like I do it every day.. the more I read, the more I learn about how impactful nutrition is on miscarriages and health of baby etc, sounds really stupid but as obvious as it is now I really didn't realise.
I have my call with the gynaecologist next Monday about my uterus too so looking forward to getting that over with.

@CookieMonster3001 (I keep needing to look at the message, should use the notes) I can't believe that about the yoghurt!! They say to eat full fat though don't they?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 yes but plain yoghurt not flavoured as the flavour comes from the sugar. I used to eat a fat free flavoured one years ago and then found out how much sugar it had in it! Now I eat plain full fat Greek yoghurt, takes a while to get used to the plain flavour rather than like a sweet fruity flavour but once you do it’s really nice

So this was our first month TTC, last month I had just came off the pill and didnt have proper period and had 5 weeks before my first proper period. I read that ovulation happens around 14 days after period, I tested 11 days after and very faint line, then 14 days and had a positive ovulation result with the line darker. We did the deed day 12, 14,15,16 - so it was 3 days in a row before and after ovulation. We made it fun, not focusing on baby making (even if I was thinking about it, my husband was just glad for the sex) 🤣🤣🤣.. I would eat healthy enough but added more greens into diet- avocado, broccoli and peas. I think it helped I'm pretty relaxed at the min, off for Summer holidays. Back to my job as a teacher next week they say morning sickness happens around week 6, dreading it with 30 4 year olds in my class. Not going to tell work until I'm over the 12 weeks, im not permanent so its really non of their business.

@CookieMonster3001 hopefully it's something dull like a cyst. I have some lumps in my boobs and I took me ages to buck up the courage to get them checked but they were thankfully nothing (two different types of lumps, in each boob though )

I have plain yoghurt in my breakfast but with strawberries and banana on top so probably a fair bit of sugar, I wonder how much sugar if you just mashed a fruit in to plain yogurt to get a similar thing?

@KittyT30 congratulations! Those tests aren't very sensitive so defo pregnant, Yay!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 be interesting to see come much it reduces miscarriage and how good or bad you have to eat to have an effect... DD was conceived on no vitamins, a fair amount of meal deals and some ready meals and she got passed 2 morning after pills (and condoms) I cant speak for her long term health but i don't think you have to worry too much especially as your proactive enough to already be working in your health

I had my blood test, numbing cream helped but the HCA doing it didn't want to let DP (and sleeping DD) in with me but I wouldn't go in so she let them, I needed him and typically DD would up as I sat down. Results in a week, I hadn't eating very well that day do probably not great.

Also I'm almost guaranteed to be being made redundant I don't think I'll have much luck getting another job with my being part time and weird days (childcare) and I hope to be pregnant soon-ish so during probation. I'm looking at freelancing now which is kinda terrifying but if I can get work it pays way better than my job, I'd still get maternity allowance though.

@olderthanyouthink oh wow!! I love that, what a fantastic story! Also makes me feel a lot better about having some real shitty days!