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! 😂

@bells3031 I know what you mean, I am trying really hard to convince OH that we should go out and enjoy ourselves now as a couple because big holidays and meals out won't be the same so its scaring knowing that will all change! But I suppose it will change in a good way. We can still do those things, itll just be different! I am really hoping me and OH can go on a little holiday before I get pregnant. I can still go when I am but we like to drink and eat! And it wont be the same, especially because he will use the excuse of having to drink for me. Not fun! I had a dream that I had opks stuck to my hands and I couldnt get them off haha

@lollipop87 I know what you mean, my older sister was the same. She was never really that into having children, but she is an amazing mother! Sometimes I think thats what puts pressure on me. What if I can't live up to her standards!! Makes me very nervous. Not enough to put me off though ahah. With the full fat dairy supposed to be good for fertility. That scares me! Ive not had full fat anything in a long time lol. I really need to get that book!! Wonder if there is an online version I can read (not on kindle - i dont have one!)

@gwenr my diet is far from amazing, but I am just trying to make some healthier choices. I firmly believe its easier to do if you do small things slowly then trying to overhaul your entire diet. My first step was to get onto decaf, and cut back on so many sugary treats

@mrsm21 how exciting welcome to the group! I think quite a few of us are tracking BBT and OPKS. I am doing both at the moment to I can figure out my cycles.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I am so sorry you had to hear that comment, I cant imagine it felt good especially when you and your OH are looking forward to TTC, but try to remember that as long as you are happy with the decision thats all that matters! I know the feeling sometimes, I come from an Indian background and family members really dont consider how some things sound before saying it, but I think sometimes it can just be their mannerisms. Just try to brush it off. From what my sister tells me, when you are pregnant you get all sorts of unsolicited comments and advice and she has said you need to grow a thick skin to deal with it sometimes.

@thenewmrsw welcome to the group, sounds like you have a great plan in place!

On some positive news, I had my telephone consultation with the dr this morning about the lump in my nipple and got called in for an appointment. She checked me over and she has no concerns! She said its just my milk ducts, sometimes they can feel different. Then she said.... are you sure your not pregnant. I almost shouted I WISH!!! So thats one weight lifted! Just need to wait for my smear test results to come through, which I am less concerned about and then I can relax! Less than 70 days till the BDing commences! Woot woot!

Thanks for all the advice. I've gone back to eating more fruit and veg, I think I need to stop obsessing over what I'm eating. And will have to limit the tea when we start ttc although I need to practice my convincing lie as when I visit family they drink way too much tea.
I'm not going to get any books just yet as I'm a worrier and I think I need to chill about everything. I'll be back in here when I have more news.

Hello!

Bit late but please can I join? Otherwise I think I might drive my OH mad!

We were always planning to start ttc late this year/ early next year based around various family holidays and weddings, which have all had to be postponed. Now I am having my implant removed in a fortnight and we are just going to see what happens! Eek! However, the holidays/ weddings are still going ahead next year so I feel like we will be playing a game of Russian roulette- do we want a baby on that trip?/ do I want to be pregnant on that trip? /will I be stressed if I'm not pregnant on that trip?! Arghh!

Haha- my head feels like it might explode at times so it is nice to hear that I am not alone!
At the moment I am thinking I should start the painful process of weening myself off tea...

Been reading my way through the thread and now copies of “The Bible” and Expecting Better are winging their way to me from Amazon

Hi @Clouless and welcome! That is one of the massive benefits I find from here, having people to talk to about this because the men just think we’re all crazy 😂

@TheNewMrsW hope you’ve been enjoying reading through the messages, there must be pages and pages now! Enjoy the books, I’ve read “the bible” but not the other one so think I might order it soon

Hi girls, experiencing my first symptoms of pregnancy at (4 weeks and 2 days) pregnant. My smell has definitely increased and I have this weird pulse thing going on in my belly at night. Very annoying when trying to sleep.

Started listening to the podcast birth stories with clemmie hopper. Highly recommend.

@cookiemonster you make such a good point, I’m sure the comment from my mum is nothing compared to what the older members of the family will think/say when I’m actually pregnant, it’ll be do this this, don’t do that .. the joys! So pleased that the lump is nothing sinister, did she say if breast feeding at some point would effect it?

@gwenR I need to do the same, I find myself obsessing over the food I eat sometimes, I always make sure I get 5 a day in, I just got home from being at my mums today and I didn’t fancy any fruit but I’ve just made myself eat an apple and grapes (apparently 16 counts as one portion so now I’m counting out the grapes) apparently eating well decreases miscarriage by 69% but another lady in the thread here said her baby got through two morning after pills, a condom, no pre nutrients and boots meal deals so I must remember not to be too hard on myself I’d I don’t want 16 sodding grapes haha!!

@clouless my head feels like it’s going to explode daily haha... I know what you mean about the weddings and trips, we’re starting TTC in Feb and I’m bridesmaid in May so I’m hoping so a sweet little hint of a bump by then....even got the bridesmaid dress in a size up with the aim to have it taken in awe I gain a few pounds. The size 12 fitted perfectly and there was no room for anything else. Are you taking any vitamins at the moment, thought about what you want to take?

Ooh what’s the other book? @thenewmrsM?

@kittyt30 wow! I didn’t realise the symptoms came on so early on, how exciting, will you be finding out the sex when the time comes?

So in other news - period now two days late as of tomorrow and my boobs just hurt and feel huge I honestly would be thinking I’m pregnant if this was in 5 months time!! I also have my call with the gynaecologist tomorrow about my uterus fingers crossed I get the private referral!!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 nope she said its quite common. I did almost burst into tears when she said it was fine, but then felt a little silly that it was something normal. She made me feel better though by telling me it was the right thing to do!

2 morning after pills and a condom? that baby was determined!!! Just goes to show we put so much pressure on ourselves, when as long as we are sensible, I am sure we will be fine! Eating a bag of tangy toms as I type this out! haha

Hope your telephone call goes well tomorrow!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Not taking any vitamins yet although I've just found sound Vitamin D at the back of a cupboard! When I spoke to a nurse, she recommended Pregnacare after I have my implant out but I've read on here that I could start taking my folic acid before that? Might go and pick some up this week!
Hope everyone's ok 😊

@CookieMonster3001 I forgot to say I’m glad your lump was nothing serious! 😊 That 70 days will fly by, I haven’t been doing a countdown but just counted on my calendar and it’s only like 42 days until my BD’ing starts!! Which feels like nothing, so excited but also now it’s getting closer it feels very real and I’m a bit nervous!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 the 16 sodding grapes made me laugh 😂 Has AF arrived yet? I’ve had tender boobs and more CM than usual this week so would be thinking I was pregnant if we hadn’t been using condoms! How did your call with the gynaecologist go?

@Clouless yes I don’t think you have to wait until you’ve stopped contraception to take folic acid, in fact Tommy’s website says to take it 2 months before stopping contraception and they don’t differentiate between hormonal contraception / condoms. You can pick it up cheaply either online or your local supermarket, mine was only about £1.50 from Tesco.

My doctor told me start taking it 6 months before trying to conceive Haha I bet if we asked them all we would get multiple different answers. You need the 400mg stuff I was taking a multivitamin with it in but it was only 200mg, I found another female health vitamin with enough in :)

@CookieMonster3001 Good news on the lump - glad it was nothing serious!

@sunflowersaremyfav93 Good luck with your call tomorrow!

AF is here so Cycle 1 is officially done and dusted. Another short one for me - only 22 days with a 9 day luteal phase. Trying not to get too frustrated as know it’s early days after coming off contraception and this is exactly why we weren’t going to start trying properly until October. Consoling myself with wine and chocolate like a full blown stereotype.

@cookiemonster what a relief! I know I think it’s good for us to be eating well and taking vits though.. it makes me feel like I’m doing something to make it easier at least.

@lollipop87 haha honestly every time I’m doing veg for dinner or making myself fruit I google what counts as one serving, I didn’t know two satsumas counts as one serving. So had the call this morning, wasn’t much help tbh he wants me to have an ultrasound and to take it from there. I’ve had all this before though so not sure why they need to scan me again.
AF still not here, I’m 2 days late according to the app, my boobs feel so heavy and I have the period cramps, so weird isn’t it? I can’t get my hopes up because we’ve been using condoms too 😂 do you feel like you’ll be coming on soon?

Hope everyone's doing alright. I'm still playing the waiting game with first proper AF since having my coil out almost a month and a half ago but I've been eating everything in sight for the past 2 days when I'm normally really healthy which I used to do before having the coil years ago so hopefully that means it'll make an appearance soon and I can start to get an idea of what's going on.

I'm now 25 days from my strange 1 day period 2 weeks after the coil was removed so I think the time line fits for me being due on soon.

Hey ladies,

Hope it's okay to add a message to this thread - as @Clouless said, I'm going to end up driving my OH mad otherwise!!

I stopped the pill earlier this month so now waiting for my first proper AF in 13 years(!) before starting to TTC. I'm hoping this will come next week as I had my withdrawal bleed as normal, but completely appreciate this is wishful thinking and it may take a while to get to a regular cycle, if ever!

I've started taking folic acid, but not sure whether I should be swapping these for a proper pre-natal vitamin?

Hope everyone's alright - any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated! :)

@sunflowersaremyfav93 LOL comparing counting grapes for my bulldozer baby

@CookieMonster3001 yes, she is determined... glad you lump is nothing to worry about

I had cramps on Saturday, felt like a period (or early labour) for maybe an hour and then it went and nothing happened, again!!! Ffs.

@wrensandrobins you’re probably right 😂 If you even look around the internet there’s so much info, most of it conflicting! In a way maybe it was easier for our mums, at least they just followed what their doctor / midwife / 1 book said!

@queenatom hope you enjoyed your wine and choc, mine started to get into a pattern by my 3rd cycle so hopefully yours will start to lengthen out.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 sorry I can’t remember what the issue is with your uterus, please can you remind me? No I’m not due on until next week so don’t think it’s AF, think maybe it’s just my cycles getting back to normal and getting normal luteal phase symptoms as my friend said she gets tender boobs in the second half of her cycle. I know what you mean, there’s always the small hope that maybe we’re in the 1-3% (not actually sure what it is!) of people who the condom doesn’t work for!

@Pebbleinthesand all good thanks, that sounds like a definite sign! Will be good to get to know your cycles, I’ve actually found it quite interesting! Couldn’t have cared less when I was a teenager but it kind of makes a difference when you actually want to become pregnant!

@RBCoxie hi and welcome! I came off the pill in May and we’re starting TTC in October. My first cycle was quite short but by my 3rd cycle they’d settled into a nice 27 day pattern. Are you starting TTC straight after your first period? Very exciting!! I did some research around vitamins / supplements and there’s lots of different advice but the main official guidelines just seem to recommend folic acid and vitamin D. So I’m taking those and have got some pregnacare (the ones for when you’re actually pregnant) to take once I’ve hopefully got my BFP. I just kind of thought otherwise I might end up spending loads of money if it takes a while! So trying to eat more fruit and veg although I am finding I’m craving more “bad” food at certain points in my cycle now I’m off the pill.

@Pebbleinthesand I got my coil out on 4th July and didn't get my period until 6th Aug so 34 days later. It did feel like a really long time but we had started trying that month so I was waiting to see if I was pregnant too! Hopefully you get it soon. When are you starting to TTC?

@butterfly5291 and @Pebbleinthesand did you start trying before your first period? i am having mine out on Tuesday. I've heard things about not trying in the first month (though given my husband's low fertility i doubt we'll try and prevent anything). So hoping to get going in October once we have fingers crossed bought our new house!!

@RBCoxie welcome!!!! From lolling about on here i've seen a lot of negatives about the preconception vitamins like seven seas and pregnacare and how they can wreak havoc with your hormones. I looked at the NHS website it said folic acid and vitamin d so got a combination of those from boots for a fraction of the cost of pregnacare. I'm also taking iron supplements but I have always been very anaemic anyway

Hi guys...

I was lurking in the background on this topic to prepare myself for TTC
So I'm 35yrs, had implant removed 11th aug, thinking to wait to actually get a cycle ready to start AF/opk tracking but nevertheless to start prenatal vitamins. Prepare myself, trying to cut down alcohol, eat better.
We have just moved out of the in-laws into a rental cos we've been there long enough (15mths) and decided we will begin ttc

Now we have dtd a few times over the last 10days and I don't know wtf going on cos I haven't had a cycle yet but I've been having some cramps that feels like AF but nothing's appeared yet.

Just on the off chance to do a hcg strip test and am I being dumb or does this look positive?

@butterfly5291 I had mine out on the 14th July so about 43 days ago now . Are you TTC now then?

We were NTNP but since I've booked my laser eye surgery we're now using condoms until after then so hopefully be able to start TTC at the beginning of October. I doubt I would already be pregnant because I have no idea when I would have even ovulated but if I have come on by the 1st Sept I might take a test, just to be sure.

@gems05 looks very positive to me. congrats

[quote Bells3032]@gems05 looks very positive to me. congrats[/quote]
Ok so not dumb...
Well I think that's thrown all my prep out the window considering I bought bulk pre natals on boots special offer or the opk kit.... I may have to offer these to anybody on here.
Not to mention my OH will be disappointed in the "trying" dept
So I guess I'll be getting an expensive pregnancy test later today

@gems05 you're still meant to take the prenatals up to 12 weeks.

feel bad for your OH then. although I have heard that pregnancy hormones can make your sex drive go nuts so i am sure he will enjoy that

Congratulations @gem05 looks very positive. You'll have to let us know how the more expensive test goes later.
It's so exciting that some of us are actually pregnant already after messaging on here for so long.