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! 😂

@Bells3032 oh phew I'm glad I can continue with the prenatals. I know OH will continue to take his too, just in case. Pregnancy sex drive sounds great 😂 can't wait to see how this pans out
@Pebbleinthesand thank you - I've just ordered the digital clear blue ones off amazon. Find out for sure Friday morning then 😬

@lollipop87 So I have a septate uterus, I’m not sure how severe it is but it’s basically a funny shape and can cause miscarriages basically at any point of the pregnancy and premature birth too. But I just called my docs and asked for a private referral, I’ve got private healthcare through work and want to avoid the long waiting times for scans and appointments etc, I’ve got 22 weeks till we start baby dancing 😂 the only think that worried me was that he said with the surgery to correct the uterus there are risks like with anything but the risks are to do with damaging the uterus so not feeling great after that. Really hoping I can get the scans done and just be told that it’s not severe.

Wow congrats @gems05 so another example that we don’t need to worry about the odd glass here and there or the chocolate I ate last night 😂. Let us know when you do the expensive test.

Ahh, this makes me so excited!!!

And AF came this morning, I woke up around 2am thinking ooh I feel weird and there we were... can’t wait to get this over with then I’m one period closer to TTC woo! Going to start OPks on CD10 as well.

@Lollipop87 thanks so much! Really useful to know you've had an experience with coming off the pill and regular cycles! Fingers crossed this happens for me too as I LOVE to plan! Yes, planning on TTC after my first period - but if this doesn't arrive for a while then I'll start tracking ovulation a bit closer and just start TTC. I'd seen the same advice about folic acid and vit D so think I'm just going to stick to those two for now. VERY exciting that you're TTC October - not too long to go! Sounds like you're very prepared so hopefully you'll get your BFP very very soon!! Completely know what you mean about craving the bad food - it's making trying to be healthy so much harder!!

@Bells3032 thank you! I'd seen exactly the same things online and quite a few people saying it messed up their cycles too, so I've avoided those for conception for now. Got Folic Acid and starting the vit D today too. Thanks so much for the advice!

Thanks all, defo a relief!

@clouless I started taking folic acid as soon as I came off the pill and thats coming up to a year ago now. Defo worth taking

@lollipop87 42 days? how exciting!!!

@queenatom wine and chocolate sounds perfect to me!! Im not even on AF yet and I ate an entire share bar of gingerbread chocolate haha. Hope your cycles regulate a bit more soon but you still have some time ahead of October, they usually say it takes about 2 cycles?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I totally agree. I also had 32 grapes today... I wonder if that counts as 2 portions of fruit and veg?? Ive been absolutely obsessed with tomatos, onions and balsamic vinegar recently and have it with everything!! Bit annoying that the drs are asking for another scan when you have already had one

@pebbleinthesand sorry to hear your still waiting for AF, that must be so frustrating. Hoping it arrives soon for you.

@RBcoxie welcome! wow first AF in 13 years! Hope it isnt too awful!

@gem05 congratulation thats amazing! I think you might be our 2nd BFP now :) you will have to show us your digital when you get it! I get so excited when I see people post their pregnancy tests with the word PREGNANT

I also downloaded google ebooks and managed to download 'Impatient womans guide to getting pregnant' (finally!) and started reading it last night.

@CookieMonster3001 Wine and chocolate solves all! Yeah, this was cycle two, guessing it might take a little longer? Mostly just annoyed that, based on current cycle length, I'm going to be on AF again when we're away for DH's birthday in September - and alone at my parents in Scotland during the following fertile week!

AF arrived here this morning too. It did cross my mind how in a few months how disappointed I’d be to see her!
Booked a smear in for next week, and also a dental cleaning for the week after. Thought I might as well get all these checkups in now.

The Impatient Woman arrived today and I am whizzing through it 😃 knew most of the science already from TCOYF but the chapter on diet and supplements is useful and I like her chatty, less academic tone and humour.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 the other book was one mentioned by someone else on this thread, Expecting Better. From a quick look it’s more about actually being pregnant than TTC but I don’t think it does any harm to be informed as I think there is a lot of misinformation out there.

I also read on another thread about a book called It Starts With The Egg about improving egg quality etc which sounds interesting so will probs give that a go too esp as am mid-30s about to ttc #1!

I’ve started on FA, Vit D and CQ10 and AF should arrive next week so I will start properly charting and hopefully get a few properly charted cycles in before ttc in Jan.

Just browsing through this forum the last few days I have come across so many things I didn’t know about for fertility diet-wise - pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple, seed cycling IT’S BLOWING MY TINY MIND GUYS 🤣 I may have started an iPhone note right next to my note of baby names LOL

Also did some practice POAS for LH and decided peeing into something rather than into something is def the way to go

I think my plan could be summarised as:- Read All The Things, Eat All The Things, Drink All The Things (But Not Those Things), Take All The Things, Chart All The Things and Pee On All The Things 🤪

@gems05 welcome and hopefully congrats! How can you wait until Friday?! I’m impressed, I’m so impatient I’d be straight down to the supermarket or local chemist!

@Pebbleinthesand I know what you mean, it’s very exciting seeing some BFPs already 😊

@sunflowersaremyfav93 ah yes, I remember now! Crossing my fingers that you get your scans quickly and that it’s all ok. Also I know what you mean, I actually almost look forward to my period as it marks another month closer to TTC! I can’t decide whether to try OPKs for my last cycle before TTC to see if I’m guessing the timing of my ovulation correctly. Are they expensive?

@rbcoxie thank you 😊 You must be excited too if you’re starting after your first period. Hopefully it doesn’t take too long to show up so you can get cracking!

@cookiemonster and @CookieMonster3001

Oops last bit of message went wrong! Was meant to say @cookiemonster and @thenewmrsw I’m so glad you both got the book, let us know what you think! Thenewmrsw your plan made me laugh out loud, I love it!! 😂

I have been off the pill a month now, and have been using LH strips, I haven't had a peak although I have had lots of medium dark getting close strips- no period or bleeding. I'm using natural cycles and my temps are literally all over the place, also none of my body signs are matching, my darkest LH strip I was completely dry downstairs, and I have had egg white mucus and a completely negative strip, temps completely wrong too!

I do think that my temps are starting to look a bit more steady and less erratic now though!

I am anxious about it which is silly because we aren't going to TTC until December and that's exactly why we came off the pill in August because we knew it took time for hormones to settle.

I feel like I'm impatient for everything at the moment! Impatient for periods, impatient for a regular cycle, impatient for for TTC 🤣

@Lollipop87 @CookieMonster3001
Mostly cos I don't believe it as I've literally just got implant removed and not even had a cycle yet!
I'm psyching myself up for it to be a false positive... I'm gonna try the hcg strip again tomoz morning - making sure I follow the timings exactly
I know I'm being a downer about it but it just can't be real?!

Omgosh mamouth catch up you guys have been busy!

Firstly you were all right thanks for the reassurance last week re DTD 4 days before AF due! Arrived today (2 days late so there was a mini freak out- but here so all good) such a strange feeling as I know had it not come I would have still been over the moon but at the same time nov fits in much better with all my “over planning”

@sunflowersaremyfav93 love the idea of getting a blender :) your ‘twat’ comment made me laugh out loud hahaha!

So sorry to hear about what your mum said- couldn’t agree more with everyone else in that it’s your decision and also once you have a baby it won’t be strapped to you. You will still be able to go out alone :) also I honestly don’t think marriage changes much personally (other than your surname if you decide to change it) :)

How strange my AF came today too 2 days late and I had the same feelings- must be something in the water lol! I’m going to start opks this cycle too let me know how you get on :)

Sorry that you need to wait for a follow up and ultrasound- really hope it gets resolved quickly through the private root :) hopefully it’s not severe and won’t require any intervention :)

@CookieMonster3001 omgosh love that your OH can bring home biscuits from work! Thanks I think delaying has helped reduce the stress :) omgosh I know it’s crazy it’s nearly September!

Re your meltdown moment literally that sums up exactly how I feel. So excited to start ttc but at the same time terrified! Glad to hear others are feeling the same!

Defo know what you mean about going out and enjoying time now- I don’t know about anyone else but we have taken FULL advantage of this eat out to help out lol! I really need to get back on the diet :) we had Prague booked for sept which has been cancelled but might try and get a stay-cation in before ttc :)

So pleased to hear about your nipple being okay! I bet you are so relieved!

@Bells3032 really good news about DH blood tests :) fingers crossed the rest of the tests go well :) it’s defo good that you are having the coil out 1 sept as like you said gives it all time to settle

@KittyT30 so glad dinner was successful! Such a good idea about the wine glass :) that’s so nice that you and your OH are able to have a little secret between you :) I’ll give the Australian birth stories a listen. Omgosh I bet you can’t wait to know one or two as you are a twin!

It must feel even more real now you are experiencing symptoms bless you! Defo going to get onto these podcasts!

@ThreeTree thanks for the book recommendations :) going to give expecting better a read next :)

@queenatom sorry to hear AF arrived positive thoughts coming your way for next cycle :) it is defo still early days and I think the wine and choc are well deserved :)

@GwenR sounds like you are planning the timings right with going on holiday :) are you off anywhere nice?

@Pebbleinthesand that’s a good point about the laser eye surgery I hadn’t even thought about pregnancy affecting things like that it’s mad how many things it does affect really isn’t it!

@Lollipop87 that will be nice to get away and stay with your sister in law and lovely to share with her if you decide to :) fingers crossed for your first cycle! I’m the same re opks have avoided them until now but going to try this month before ttc just to try and get a more accurate gage on ovulation timings. Will see if they are too complicated I will stick with CM tracking!

@MrsM21 welcome :) I track my cycles with flo but haven’t started opks yet so many on here have though :) I’ve just ordered some but haven’t started yet will wait until after this AF

@TheNewMrsW welcome :) ah January that’s exciting it’s so nice to have more of a definite date isn’t it?! Congratulations on the wedding earlier this month :) sounds like you have a great plan in place for the rest of the year :) The bible is like a must have in this group haha!

@Clouless welcome :) ah how exciting that you have brought it forwards :) you are defo in the right place:) it’s nice to share in here so that OHs don’t know the level of crazy haha!

@RBCoxie welcome :) a lot of us just trying not to drive ohs mad haha!

@gems05 eek how exciting really hope this means another Positive soon:) keep us updated :)

@wrensandrobins I know what you mean about feeling anxious and impatient it’s such a strange feeling as it gets closer isn’t it!

Ah just reading through to catch up I love that we have this little group as it genuinely is like reading my own thoughts when I catch up on everyone’s comments and nice to not feel on your own :)

Hope everyone is okay :) xxx

@wrensandrobins I know how you feel but please try not to put pressure on yourself, it’s only been a month and the first month for most people is a bit all over the place. Mine settled by my 3rd cycle so try to give it time, I know easier said than done as I was super impatient too! Crossing my fingers for you that your cycles will settle quickly 😊

@gems05 I totally get what you mean about not getting your hopes up, I think a false positive is pretty rare though. Let us know!

@mackjm20 wow you had a lot to catch up on! I’ve decided to order some OPKs to try out for my next cycle, went with the ones you can use with the premom app as they had good reviews and the app reads them which will be good as I find them quite confusing just looking at ones people have posted on here!

@Lollipop87 I know literally I’ve only been off since Thursday and there were 3 new pages haha :) yea I figured it can’t harm to try for a month still hoping to not actually use them when ttc but would love to see if they match the ovulation to the app to get a rough gage :)

Weirdly after I have said November DH suddenly seems keen to start ASAP I feel like one DTD without (albeit 4 days before AF) has made him want to start ttc now haha! Because we had said September and I was nagging for this for months I think he had mentally prepared for September Xx

Morning peeps
Sorry to report a false positive yesterday as today came up with a bfn
Oh well... let's hope I get a cycle at some point so I know what I'm tracking then 👍

@wrensandrobins and anyone else who isn’t long off the pill, have you checked out the thread on advice for women who have just come off the pill? I had a nosy at it just out of curiosity (been off HBC for a couple of years) and there’s loads of advice and support on there, it looks like it’s pretty normal to take a good few cycles to get back to something like a “normal” cycle 😊

@gems05 sorry to hear that, I looked at your test from yesterday and on closer inspection it almost looked like the second line was a bit of dye stuck further down the test rather than where the second line would normally be? Only going off where the lines are on the LH tests I’ve been using which look very similar. Fingers crossed for a good next cycle and a BFP at the end of it for you!

Thanks all! I will check out thread and try to be patient :) they will settle!

This group really does help!

I am definitely telling DH that The Bible says this 😂

@gems05 sorry to hear that! Fingers crossed for next cycle :) so hard with all the tests etc so know if you are reading them accurately as I defo would have thought the same as you :)

@TheNewMrsW lmfao! That’s so funny! Let us know what DH responds with! I’ve had to stop showing my DH the bible he says and I quote it’s makes his member shrivel up’ haha!

@mackjm20 thank you, I'm not super sad about it as we've only just started ttc and kinda intend to have a bit of fun initially. As I say I've just had implant removed, no cycle yet so I've no idea what this body is doing to me?!
I have opk strips ready to start tracking... I see a lot of bbt posts too... does anybody know if a regular basal thermometer would suffice?

Fingers and toes crossed for everyone else right now xxx

@mackjm20 haha luckily for him he’s already familiar with my expectations on that front! 🤣 Lol at your DH, I am trying not to relay everything to mine so as not to freak him out but it’s really hard... I told him yesterday that he’ll have to cut down on coffee as the bible says 5 cups a day can half male fertility, poor bloke, though to be fair to him he did say well I guess I’ll have to find a good decaf!

@gems05 100 percent nice to enjoy the fun part :) hopefully your cycle will settle into a pattern soon as I’m sure that will make everything a lot easier to track. Not sure about bbt sorry :)

@TheNewMrsW haha so he should be lol! Omgosh I’m not sure I will be able to get DH to quit the coffee I feel like he would have no energy for DTD lol! Maybe I’ll have to sneaky replace with decaf as a placebo haha

Hi everyone 😊 I love this thread so much as I can definitely relate to being impatient to start TTC and it's such a relief that I'm not the only one symptom spotting and thinking about it constantly!!
I took a pregnancy test this morning just to rule out it really as I've been off the pill about 5 weeks and haven't had AF yet, just my withdrawal bleed (which I know can be very normal as it can take a while for our bodies to adjust back). I've got a family birthday coming up and wouldn't want to drink alcohol if I was pregnant so thought I'd just check. (Even though we're using condoms so it's very unlikely!!)
It's a clear blue early response one so you're supposed to get a vertical line if pregnant and nothing if you're not. I got a horizontal line so I'm assuming it's a faulty test but wondering if anyone else has had this or know anything about it?

@queenatom oh no that must be so frustrating. The weeks are the wrong way around!

@thenewmrsw I am getting through quite a bit of it too but I have to hide that I am reading it from OH otherwise he will think I am insane lol. You're plan sounds great. Do all the everything basically, haha. Surely the orgasm thing is not true. Although cant hurt to tell OH that and make him work a bit harder LOL. I did also read that about the caffiene, but my OH has 2 a day... wonder if thats OK or if he should cut that down to 1. Hes more inclined to have one decaf then cutting it out totally, although I am convinced that if I made his coffee for him, he wouldnt be able to tell.

@wrensandrobins you still have a bit of time before December, hopefully your cycles will have settled down a bit and start to make more sense. I know the feeling of impatience all too well!

@mackjm20 you are a hero catching up with all that! Used your trusty notepad? I cant respond on this chat without it now!! Glad AF has arrived and stopped your mini freak out! Its wierd I seem to do this every month now even though I know nothing has changed apart from knowing we are going to be TTCing soon lol.

I had a total melt down yesterday because I just feel like time is running out and ive not done half the stuff I wanted to this year ahead of TTC. I am due on next week so hoping the melt down is somewhat related to that and I am not completely and utterly freaking out lol

@gems05 oh no I am so sorry to hear about your false positive! fingers crossed for you for the next cycle, although they do say you are not out until AF shows up!

@amy929292 that sounds odd, ive not heard anything like that but then again I have never taken a preg test before. Might be worth checking the rest of the forums to see if anyone else has encountered it.

So I think I am fully prepared for November now. I have my stacks of OPKS (2 brands one step and easy@home), 2 packs of CB Digital ovulation tests and 3 CB pregnancy tests. First time in my life I have brought a preg test and its so surreal, cant stop looking at it! Very much starting to hit home that I could very well be pregnant in a few months and hopefully by the end of the year. OH is still so not phased about it but part of me just feels like my entire life is going to change and as excited as I am, I am so scared and kinda sad! Being in this group definately helps keep me sane though, and helps to know I am not the only crazy pre-planning TTCer out there.