First month TTC

[Pixiedust018]

Hi ladies,

I’m new to this and would really appreciate your help. This is my first month TTC. I’m currently on CD4 so still middle of my period. Just wondering what helped you all conceive in your first month of trying and any tips you have. I have clearblue OPK ready and have been tracking my cycles for a which vary from 27-34 day cycles with 2 random 45 day cycles one of them being my last cycle.

Anyone else TTC this month?

Thanks in advance x

@RedDarwazeh OMG! Congratulations - this has really cheered me up on a grey morning. Let us know how you tell OH! So pleased for you - and this thread is proving pretty lucky so far - hopefully many more to come :)

@PositiveParrot

So I’ve scrolled back through the whole group and that’s two wonderful announcements! *@PineappleSun* *@RadDarwazeh* ♥️ Finally getting the hang of how this site works! 😂

If anyone has any time could or would someone explain to me the ovulation kits, how they work etc? And any other tips would be amazing.

What a great, supportive bunch of women!

@PositiveParrot

With the caveat this is just from reading rather than direct experience as I am only in first cycle myself so the practicalities might be v different!

Essentially OPKs give you some info about when you might ovulate, usually my measuring levels of LH in your pee. They help you time DTD best around ovulation. There's two main types of OPKs - standard ones, generally pretty cheap in big pack from Amazon and I believe they have a control line and you get a 'positive' when the other line comes up as dark or darker then the control line. Some people use an app to 'read' photos of the lines. Something like Femometer.

And then there's 'digital' ones which show a symbol - most common Clearblue where they have things like flashing smiley face for 'high' fertility and static smiley for 'peak' fertility (i.e. the fairly short period just before you ovulate when you are most fertile). Generally they recommend you DTD as much as you can (well...) on high and peak fertility days.

I'm finding it interesting, but I genuinely don't think I'll keep it up. Am doing the CB Advanced ones which are far too expensive, and I find it a faff to have to go faff around in the bathroom with first morning pee when I'd rather be cuddling in bed! But I'm hoping that they will help me work out more about my cycle and then I can drop them.

Thank you so so much everyone. I'll be sticking around for more bfp announcements. Baby dust to you all 💕
I feel really excited. Also really scared! But hoping it'll stick and I'll be ok.

Made a pinboard for DH to see later. "everything's cuter in miniature. Baby arriving September 2021"

@RadDarwazeh huge congratulations 🎉 👶🏼

@Aubyone
Thank you so much! That clears things up a lot more... I may just order some to see IF I am even ovulating and then will have a better understanding of what the heck is going on.
In my ignorance (despite being well into my 30’s) I just kind of assumed you did the sexing and then babies happened 😂 I’m feeling like there’s a whole wealth of knowledge out there that I know nothing about!

@Hallie91glad it’s not just me 😂

[quote PositiveParrot]@Aubyone
Thank you so much! That clears things up a lot more... I may just order some to see IF I am even ovulating and then will have a better understanding of what the heck is going on.
In my ignorance (despite being well into my 30’s) I just kind of assumed you did the sexing and then babies happened 😂 I’m feeling like there’s a whole wealth of knowledge out there that I know nothing about![/quote]
@PositiveParrot
Same and because of that I thought maybe I couldn't have kids 😅 then I joined MN and have a whole new insight

@PositiveParrot - I know for some people its too much, but if you did want to read a good (and humorous) book about it, I've enjoyed 'The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant' - Jean Twenge. She basically says, look if you are an 'Impatient Woman' by nature (which I absolutely am), then you mayaswell know these things that might help speed it up - but then also adds in lots of humour and a whole chapter about staying sane in the TWW and looking after your stress levels, if it's all too much. I enjoyed it - but I am a very very impatient woman...Part of reason I've taken up gardening is an attempt to slow down and appreciate the natural speed of things!

@RadDarwazeh absolutely amazing news, congratulations 🥰

@Kittysw hahah I wonder if there’s such thing as ‘chill month’ when TTC, all we can do is try eh 😂

@RadDarwazeh congratulations!!!! So happy for you!! The pinboard sounds so cute!

@Aubyone I read that too. Definitely taught me a lot and made me a bit nervous of taking the "chilled" approach (in a good way)

Who is still left to test this week? I've lost track!

@FieldView AF is due on Thursday for me, but my ‘usual’ AF date would be the 28th so I’m going to hold off until then I think, if I can 😂 I’ve had a few symptoms but they can easily be pms. I don’t really have any symptoms anymore though apart from sudden waves of nausea & sore boobs on & off.

How have you been feeling?

@FieldView I’ve already tested 10DPO. BFN but not giving up hope.
I knew I shouldn’t have ordered the tests early I couldn’t help myself.
Going to test again Friday if AF hasn’t arrived.
Symptom wise, I’ve got back pains I usually get the day before AF but had the for days now. Also been waking up in the middle of the night which isn’t like me at all, with night sweats! Very odd.

How are you ?

Ooh good luck @shannonl26! I'm keeping everything crossed!

@Eaststreet you're not out of the game yet! 10DPO is still quite early - a BFN could yet be overturned with a BFP!

I'm ok thanks. I had a hectic day yesterday which took my mind off the arrival of AF, but a quieter day today and I'm a bit fed up that it's here 🤦🏻‍♀️ Pesky hormones!

Hopefully it'll be a little haphazard this month with the opk and I know a bit more of what to expect. I'm classing cycle 1 as a practice run 😂

@Eaststreet definitely no need to give up hope yet. Fingers crossed for your BFP!

@FieldView thank you. Here’s to the next cycle now that what is most definitely the practice run, is out the way 😀

Can’t wait to see some more BFPs. I’ve never been so invested in a thread before 😂

@RadDarwazeh HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!! 👏

I can also announce my BFF had a beautifully healthy baby girl in the early hours of this morning.

(And AF arrived yesterday evening so onto another cycle!)

Fingers crossed for more BFP in the coming days/weeks.

@Aubyone same. I dish out some pretty level headed, sound, practical advice to others and then absolute refuse to take it myself and expect to do everything quickly and perfectly 😂 The book sounds awesome. Thank you

Huge congratulations @RadDarwazeh. That's two already, hopefully this is a lucky thread.

Unfortunately I'm out this month AF arrived this morning in full force. I'm kinda relieved the TWW is over and it's a fresh month ahead. Although I'm interested in the symptoms I was feeling as they were so abnormal for me god only knows what that was all about. Hoping this nausea passes now AF has arrived though.

Good luck @shannonl26 I'm excited for you.
@Eaststreet Yeh 10DPO is still early and you're not out until AF arrives.

Looking forward to seeing everyone else testing :)

@RadDarwazeh huge congratulations!! You must be so happy!!

@Kittysw sorry to hear about af! But hopefully next month! How long are your cycles?

@Annabelle0852 that such lovely news!

I’m due af on Friday but I think it could be due up to the next Wednesday as I’ve only had one cycle after the pill so my plan is test next Friday. Anyone recommend a test that’s realisable?

@Kittysw sorry to hear about AF, I’m expecting mine any day now too in all honesty, but thank you ☺️

@Grace185 nothing beats a frer if you ask me!

@shannonl26 ah great thanks :) hope af doesn’t show for us both!

Hi all please can I ask some advice?
I did ovulation test this morning and it said I was peak ..
My app told me to do another 4 hours later so I have done and it has gone back down to high (both attached) does this mean I've missed my opportunity?

@Grace185 thank you, here’s hoping! I know the digital tests are always nicer but are a lot less sensitive so I’d deffo stick with a frer, I’ve never read any horror stories about that brand.

@DizSquiz from what I can grasp your peak fluctuates, so once you’ve had a positive test you ovulate upto 36 hours later.

@shannonl26 I ordered some Clear Blue yesterday but might get some FRER in too just to be prepared haha

@shannonl26 af will probably come before any of that anyway 🙄

@DizSquiz Shannon is right, your actual ovulation should occur 24-36 hours after your LH surge peak right now is probably the best time. Remember though that sperm can hang around for up to 5 days so it might already be there waiting for the egg to make its debut.