Pre-conception, planning and trying!

[sunflowersaremyfav93]

Third thread here we go...

@CookieMonster3001
@lollipop87
@bells3032
@thenewmrsM
@curiosity101
@AMS19
@butterfly5291
@clouless
@gems05
@HeyDW96
@kittyT30
@Pebbleinthesand

I've started a new thread for us, tag people I've missed.

💘

Hi everyone,
I have had a read of the thread and realised that I am on the exact same cycle as @wrensandrobins and @Curiosity101. Thank goodness because I am so out of the game I couldn't work out when my test date would be.

We had a sneaky one this month just outside of the fertile window so if that doesn't miraculously take we are trying for number 2 starting with the fertile week 14/12. Baby number 1 has her first birthday on 13/12 which maybe makes it fate?
Hopefully we will all catch first time and have the dream of a September baby (teacher here so trying to maximise mat leave)
Good luck to everyone

@Soexciting 😄 What are the chances! I'm extra excited for this coming cycle then. It'll be interesting to see who holds their nerve and who gives in and tests early 🤣🤣🤣

Oh wow! How weird! It will definitely be an interesting month!!

@Curiosity101 omg amazing that you're back to your pre-pregnancy weight! You just be feeling so good!!!
Omg Christmas is so soon 😂 when are doing your shopping? I just need to sort my bf out and then wrap everything up.
Ooh that sounds like a healthy breakfast. I try and have either brown flakes or a slice of wholemeal toast, we have wholemeal pasta when we have pasta and try not to eat white potatoes in the week.. I love potatoes after all this I beat fall pregnant straight away haha!!
What kind of things do you have for dinner?
My weekend is going well, I've just cleaned my house and kept the puppy occupied haha! Just counting down the days till we're TTC to be honest.

Hey ladies hope everyone is well 😊

So after my weird month last month where I may not have ovulated at all (apparently it is common for this to happen to us all on the odd occasion) I headed into my first cycle of officially TTC 😃 and my Premom and FF apps have both now confirmed Ov on Thursday past (CD 12) so I am in my first TWW!

Trying not to get too excited as I know the chances are really low that we will catch first cycle, but I am feeling good that we have made the most of our chances, DTD every day this week except Tues which means we caught the day before and day of Ov so pleased about that!

I'm a bit annoyed with the CB fertility monitor though. The first month I used it it was great and identified peak days which lined up with all the other signs. Last month just a bunch of high days but no peak (but I might not have Ov'd so fair enough), this month I know I had an LH surge because the cheap strips showed it on Weds and Premom confirmed that as peak, plus temps have also risen, but no peak on the monitor! Which for the price is disappointing. Thank goodness I was also using the cheap strips or might have missed the surge.

Anyway now it's let's see how long before I crack and POAS 😄 anyone else?

@sunflowersaremyfav93 No idea... we're probably going to end up doing most of our Christmas shopping online I reckon. Although with lockdown finishing next week maybe we'll venture out, not sure yet.

Haha, I'm impressed you're being so strict. I really hope my thyroid antibodies are similar when I get my next private test. If they're much higher then it hints at me being gluten intolerant So I'll have to consider cutting it out of my diet as well.

Dinner wise, we have all sorts of stuff. In the past few weeks, it's been things like Bolognese, Cottage pie, Chilli, Fish and Chips (from the freezer), vegetable pasta bake, creamy chicken and bacon pasta. Normally we have a takeaway once a week. When we were being strict on the Fast800 diet it was lots of high fat, high protein meals with no carbs.

How's Archie getting on? I bet he's already changed loads in the past week or two?

@TheNewMrsW Eugh, that is annoying about the CB monitor. I agree that when you pay all that money you do just expect it to work! Good job you had the back-ups.

Haha, when do you plan to test? I'm fully intending to be good and not POAS until 10DPO in my first cycle... I'm going to tell DH when that is so that he doesn't let me have a HPT before then

Hoping someone can help me understand my lh levels! I tested randomly last month and the first time I tested I got a peak on CD20 I then tested a little after then to see it decrease. This month I've been testing since CD14 and the levels seem to be pretty low and not increasing much or decreasing last tested today CD17. I'm not too sure what I should be seeing but would I be wanting to see it higher than that now to be getting my peak at CD20 again? We're not trying this month waiting for next month but trying to get my head around my cycle! I've attached photos of the first time I tested last month and then the tests I've done this month so far!

@MayDay27 I'm very new to this myself so may not be too much use/ others may know a lot better than me but I tend to reach my peak on OPK's on day 14/15 I'm currently on day 10 and still showing as very low. That's quite normal for me and it normally starts to build around day 12. Everyone may be different but i don't think it's abnormal to see low readings 5/6 days out. As I said, I'm pretty new to this myself so others may have some more experience/ know more information so will keep my eye out for replies on this too! 😊

@sunflowersaremyfav93 wow I'm so impressed at your diet/ discipline! Nutrition is something that really interests me and I've read so many books on it and fertility. Hoping it pays off but time will tell!! Do you follow healthyeatingdr on insta? If not, she has free nutrition guides for TTC will all sorts of examples of fertility friendly foods and daily recommendations. I would really recommend it! I have my stuck on my fridge 😂

@TTCWC2 that's good to know thank you! I'll keep testing and hopefully see it increase soon! I wasn't sure if it was a gradual increase and so by now I should already see it darker or whether it's only a day or so run up to the peak that you see a change!

@MayDay27 I 100% agree with @TTCWC2. Mine often go from practically stark white to completely positive in 12-24 hours. I've attached one of my recent cycles that shows it. I normally predict when I will ovulate based on EWCM as I consistently get a peak OPK 3-4 days after first seeing EWCM. Then I reckon I normally ovulate around 12 hours after the peak reading. You'll get used to what's normal for you after tracking for a few cycles.

@Curiosity101 LOL I think I will probs manage to hold out until 10DPO but can't see me holding out until AF is due/late! We shall soon see 😂

@Curiosity101 that's great to see thank you! I don't know what I was expecting but I think I was feeling I should be seeing it gradually get darker each day over a week or so and so when it wasn't getting darker and still quite light I wasn't sure if this meant I wasn't going to ovulate as soon as I thought! It's great to be able to have people to talk to on here to answer my questions thank you!

@TheNewMrsW When is 10DPO for you? Next Sunday? Hopefully you've got a busy work week to help pass the time? I was going through the list of foods you aren't allowed to eat whilst pregnant. Sushi and goats cheese are the only two I struggled without last time. I found out you can eat Sushi so long as it's previously been frozen (so intend to stock up on Iceland sushi platters). But I may have to try and take any opportunity to eat goats cheese over the next few weeks

Is there anything you want to do/eat off of the pregnancy ban list?

@MayDay27 Happy to help!

@curiosity101 I did all of mine online as well to be honest I just got it all out of the way and it’s easier to shop around for better prices and deal that way too. Doesn’t Christmas just end up being so expensive!!
I’m trying really hard but today I had two glasses of Prosecco and, again, stupidly feel like I’ve done something terrible but I mean everything in moderation is fine. I never used to eat loads of fruit or veg I could go weeks without either (how bad) so I’m making up for all those years I ate beige food.
That’s the sale kind of stuff we eat as well, we try to eat a lot of chicken and veg but it gets a bit boring. Pasta once a week and lately it’s been takeaway once a week too.
He’s getting on so well!! He’s just the best thing! All the tiredness and saying ‘wee wee’ or ‘poo poo’ a thousand times a day is so worth it. He’s a lovely little pup. It’s like what I imagine it’s like having a baby.. I don’t have any time to myself unless he’s asleep.

@ttcwc2 I’m glad you ladies see it’s as impressive because I’m like am I doing enough?? Maybe I’m too hard on myself. Last time I weighed myself was week before last and I was 10:11 and I’m 5ft4 so it’s not terrible I could def lose a few pounds which if my aim. I’ll look that page up on insta, I follow loads of fertility nutrition people on insta and find all the stuff sooo useful!! Do you stick to the guide?

@mayday I tracked ovulation in Sep and have decided to do it again this week.. according to my app my fertile day is Tuesday but I had the same as you I was thinking oh god the levels are so low I’m
Not even ovulating and then bam I had the peak... image attached

Hi again, fell off the first thread have a new job but need to wait a little before TTC so I could at least get maternity pay (though there's been at least on time we didn't use protection)

I have had one period 82 days ago and DD is now 2, no idea what's going on, I did LH tests and found some highs and at least one peak but don't temp so can't confirm anything I've taken pregnancy tests at random to check but negative too so I'm just in limbo

@sunflowersaremyfav93 Please don't beat yourself up about the Prosecco. How much harm could a couple of glasses realistically do before a placenta forms?

And that's so nice to hear about Archie. Although I feel a bit cheated seeing a picture of OPKs when I was ready for a puppy picture . I really really want a dog in the future. I'm slowly working on convincing DH, he's gone from absolutely not to 'maybe'. It only took 10+ years so maybe in another decade or so. Currently, I live vicariously through other people's dogs where possible!

Also... we're basically the same height and weight! My pre-pregnancy weight was 10:11 and I'm 5'3". I'm aiming for 10:7 now and my second target is 10 stone exactly. In some ways I hope not to reach 10 stone as it will take 5-6 weeks and there's Christmas and hopefully a BFP before then. But I do hope to hit 10:7 as that's only 2 weeks away if I stick with it.

@Curiosity101 It sounds like you're doing so well on the weight loss! I admire anyone who can do it so much, I find it so hard myself.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 I think you're making all the right decisions and should give yourself more credit! Im learning that TTC is so hard in the way you believe you can always do more but the reality is, any positive change you make is helping! Give yourself the credit 😊 On the whole I do try and stick to the 'plan' we tend to eat salmon 2/3 times a week for the omega and I try and add seeds and nuts to my porridge every morning. Some areas of it I find hard but on the whole, I just try my best to make healthy choices 90% of the time. That said, not a day goes by that I don't eat chocolate! I'm really struggling with cutting back on the caffeine. I'm a bit coffee lover so 200mg is a real struggle. Think I'm going to have to invest in some decent decaf!!

@curiosity101 haha that’s so funny! I have plenty of cute pictures, here are some 🥰 he is so cute and I’ve actually got used to waking up early which is nice. I can’t imagine already having small children and then having to train him, it really is harder than I thought it would be.
You’re so right as well about the Prosecco, I never drink in the week I only ever drink when we go to my bf’s mums house tbh. It’s hard to say no.
Ooh that’s brilliant! It’s a good weight isn’t it, I think I’m just above healthy on the BMI chart but I agree.. with Xmas and everything I’ll prob out a few pounds on.

Hello @olderthanyouthink that’s interesting I wonder why that could be? Have you spoken to your doctor about it?

You’re so right @ttcwc2 I’ve made a lot of positive changes so that in itself is going to be a benefit to TTC. Ooh you sound sooo healthy! I’m going to look up the insta now as I eat my fruit bowl 😂 I’m with you on the chocolate I need something sweet during the day.
We get the Starbucks pods that go with our coffee machine so I have one normal coffee first thing when I wake up and then the rest of the day it’ll be decaf tea and decaf Starbucks pods and I honestly can’t tell the difference. I could probably cut out the one cup of normal coffee in the morning too I’m sure it’s just placebo that it wakes me up.. Archie def does that himself 😂

@TTCWC2 Thanks. I'll be honest, it is hard work. It's taken for me to have a start date for TTC before I had enough motivation to get it done.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 Puppy!!! Gosh, he really is gorgeous.

Has either of you tried fruit tea? I slowly moved away from coffee and started drinking a lot of fruit tea.

@sunflowersaremyfav93 no, last time I spoke to a gp a few months ago about my low weight and lack of periods they weren't very helpful

Oh fuck, I'm pregnant and I'm not sure how pregnant. Also we clearly don't know how to use condoms

@olderthanyouthink wow! Congratulations ❤️ how are you feeling?

freakin out! Excited but (DP is just excited and isn't appreciating my freaking, not in a mean way, he's just happy)

@olderthanyouthink Congratulations! I'm sure it was a bit of a shock! If it's been 82 days since your last period then the doctors will date you as 13-14 weeks. If you self refer to the local midwife unit then they'll book you in for your dating scan asap so you won't have too long to wait to find out how far along you are.

Hope you're feeling ok with the news. 🙂