Newbie TTC 2021 club!

[Wondergirl1111]

Hi girls - looking for a little crew to share the ttc journey with - we are newbies this year - decided on Jan 31st to start trying after 12 years together! but had literally just missed my ovulation day for that cycle, so even though we had some fun over NY we are properly starting next cycle around the end of the month - just have to wait to finish this cycle now, and I've never wanted a period to come so quickly haha!

So - any cycle sisters out there who will be trying with me on or around end of Jan? I'm Cd21 right now.

And feel free to share stories and ages!

I'm 34 and have been off the pill for about 2 years now - we don't really use protection just pull out lol and never had a scare so I'm a little worried we could have a bit of a long journey. Although my mum conceived me first time trying so I'm praying it's in the genetics lol!

Not sure about you but I'm already getting obsessed which seems to be pretty normal lol but it would be good to have some pals to talk to rather than my cat or my husband, who I think I could quite quickly freak out if he knew just how many mum'snet threads I've read!

Also... What are you most looking forward to being pregnant?
Xx

Hello @ElizabethP141! Before I knew it it was midnight!! 🤣 I am already so intrigued by whats going on inside me now that my actual hormones have been unleashed! It such a strange time, feels like such a massive decision to start trying and I just want to tell friends/ family ,but I don't actually want anyone to know we are TTC, so it's good to be able to come here!

@Aubyone how does temp tracking work?

I am fairly new to consciously ttc and feel like any extra help or advice can only be a good thing!

Hi @IndaFlowers, essentially the idea is that most women have a noticeable rise in their Basal Body Temperature (BBT - ie taken first thing in the morning after at least 3 hours sleep before you do anything) the day after they ovulate. So the idea is if you take it every day and put it on a chart or app (lots of ppl on here seem to sue FertilityFriend) then you can pinpoint your ovulation. OPKs indicate your LH surge and tell you that you're body is getting ready to ovulate but apparently you can't know for sure that you have ovulated unless you get a temp shift. I've attached my FF chart to see what I mean - so OPK suggested CD16 was o-day, temps suggest it was actually CD17.

I've been doing it this month (first month TTC) because I had convinced myself I wasn't actually ovulating (came off pill in Dec) but have to confess its been both reassuring and super informative but also a bit of a faff - you really have to take your temp at the same time each day, so have had to have the thermometer (need one that shows 2 decimal places - I got a cheap one on amazon by femometer) on bedside table and do it as soon as I wake, and it would be really hard if I had irregular wake ups/kids waking me up etc!

It's absolutely not for everyone, but I am going to carry on if this is not my month as I love a good chart! Hope that's a little helpful - the fertility friend email sign up us great, they email you a 'lesson' every few days until you've got the hang of it.

Ah sorry I should also explain that the bluey purply line is my temp, the orange is my resting heart rate which I already measured on my fit bit.
Yes, I am obsessed 😂

@Aubyone thats so interesting! Like @neom87 I am completely fascinated atm by all the information thats out there and the different methods.

I may start trying from next cycle if this one isn't successful

Hi new ladies! Can’t wait to see this thread get some BFPs I am wishing you that baby dust!

Is anyone else 5DPO and symptom spotting? I wasn’t intentionally as I’m due AF Feb 11th, I’d have really liked to wait until I miss it to test as I’m sometimes 28 days sometimes 30 cycle so I don’t want to get excited yet ... but my boobs are wildly sore and veiny?! Ive been trying to ignore them but I’m struggling now. 🤣

Promised myself I wouldn’t do this! Doh!

@lottieb92

Hi new ladies! Can’t wait to see this thread get some BFPs I am wishing you that baby dust!

Is anyone else 5DPO and symptom spotting? I wasn’t intentionally as I’m due AF Feb 11th, I’d have really liked to wait until I miss it to test as I’m sometimes 28 days sometimes 30 cycle so I don’t want to get excited yet ... but my boobs are wildly sore and veiny?! Ive been trying to ignore them but I’m struggling now. 🤣

Promised myself I wouldn’t do this! Doh!

@lottieb92 6 DPO here. And yes!! I was kind of wondering about 1 or 2 things and then I came to this forum and now I'm reading into every little thing.

I had a tiny spot of blood after peeing (tmi sorry) 2 days ago and have been told this could be a good thing. CM is slightly abnormal and having some cramping this morning. Serious urge to test haha! But going to hold off as long as I can (if I can).

I keep saying I'm not going to get my hopes up and mostly I'm doing OK, but I have moments where the best case scenario plays out right from getting a BFP the whole way through and the excitement is real!

@IndaFlowers yes that does all sound good!!

Let’s hold on together! we can do this. I didn’t really get the all excitement with my first 5 years ago! I was young and it was a surprise and mostly shock / worry!
So I’m really looking forward to that moment too and I’d just love for the line to be undeniable, holding off is my best chance! It will be here before we know it. 🤩

@Aubyone opk actually tells you when you get your LH surge and you don't ovulate until 24-36 hours after that so that means they coincide with your bbt 😊

@lottieb92 @IndaFlowers I think I'm 2DPO, AF due 13th I think so this the the dreaded/excitable tww right? I think we managed to DTD 4 times in my fw. I don't really know what symptoms to look out for 😂 so I'm definitely with you on not getting my hopes up, when it's the first time ttc properly. Sending calm vibes and keeping fingers crossed for everyone

Hey @rosamay48 sounds like you are indeed in the TWW!
People say don’t try to spot symptoms- but I think it worth nothing on a diary anything you think out of the ordinary :) I’m trying to remember they are similar to AF symptoms sometimes. So got to remain positive and levelheaded! Hardwork!

Best of luck:). Keep us updated!

Noting in the diary * oopsie!

@rosamay48 yes tww is upon us.

Alot of what I have read is very conflicting about time frames, when to test etc. But most people on MN seem to be singing the same tune so im taking info from here as more reliable.

Dreaded/exciting is absolutely the way to put it. I feel like im on a rollercoaster!

Hey everyone! How is everyone doing today?

Just wondered if anyone has any advice on when to start tracking OPK. My test instructions say to start from CD14 based on my typical cycle length of 30 days. I have a feeling I probably ovulated on CD14 last month though as I had a lot of spotting (even needed a pad) which I'm guessing was ovulation bleeding, and loads of EWCM. So it seems way too late to start testing on CD14?

I reckon I might start testing in the next few days or so just to get an idea with it being our first proper cycle of TTC. Any advice really appreciated ☺️ thank you!

@HaresHoping I start a week after my period stops. I have irregular periods and my cycles are a lot longer than normal so I feel like I'm going through so many tests 😂

8DPO today! So far I've stopped myself from testing 😱 I had very mild cramping yesterday and a weird stretching/ stitch like cramping on my lower right side... no spotting though so not sure if this was anything or I'm just symptom spotting 🙈 not really had any other symptoms though! Although I don't feel that hunger that I normally do leading up to my period! Very the opposite 🤢

How's everyone doing ?

@FirstimeTTC tell me about it! My cycles are irregular after coming off the pill so going to though OPKs like no ones business! I’m 7dpo!! I think anyway, chart a little all over the place this month. So glad someone else is at the same point, I’ve feeling all sorts but I’m sure I’m just symptom spotting. Odd sensation in my stomach, tender and ‘pulley’. Some sharp twinges really low stomach and a little tender down there coming and going too. Really tired and one boob (only one!) is sore 😂 I’m sure it’s symptom spotting but fingers crossed it’s not and fingers crossed for BFP for you too!

@HaresHoping I’m the same, start about a week after period ends, sometimes a couple days before :) I haven’t consistently found ovulation with OPKs yet, still a newbie, but have had early ovulation so want to catch it early.

@ElizabethP141 and @FirstimeTTC we're in pretty much the same place - I'm 7 DPO. No symptoms really other than a sharp cramp when lying in bed this morning but I think that was just cos I really needed a wee and was being too lazy to get up! have to confess I tested this morning on a cheapie - partly cos I've never seriously done a pregnancy test in my life (except for occasional scares in my early 20s but then I absolutely always used the idiot proof digi ones) so I was kinda curious what it would look like. The cheapo strips are so tiny. I actually quite enjoyed it, blazing negative but because it would be virtually impossible for it to be positive at this stage, no negative feelings. Think I'm just gonna do it every day now this week just to avoid the 'am I, aren't I, should I take a test' mindfuckery.

I can't believe how slowly time goes though - I'm usually super busy at work but I have literally no meetings today so it's gonna draaaaag.

Oh and @HaresHoping you defo need to start OPK way before CD14 - what's your cycle length? Many people ovulated before 14. I start OPKs on Day 8 (cycle 28-29days). Good luck, what type you gonna use?

Have an awesome week all!

So today would be 4dpo and I can't help but symptom spot!! Can't take my mind off it! All this waiting drives me insane. I've got get mild twinges and pulling in my lower stomach and right side!

Hi ladies, I'm a newbie 👋 I'm 34. Geriatric mother to be 😂 Month 1 TTC. I'm on cycle day 7 today. I'm going to start clearblue advanced OTK on day 9. Plan is to DTD every morning I get a smiley face until 2-3 days after the flashing smiley face 😅😅😅 wish me luck 🙈🤞 I've got that month 1 naive hope & am choosing to believe il be getting my BFP this time next month 😝

@HaresHoping clearblue advanced OTK says if your cycle is 30 days to start testing day 10. Mine is 29 typically so I'm starting day 9. (If it was 28 I'd start day 8 and so on). That's the guidance they give on their instructions. They say if your cycle varies to go by the shortest cycle of your last 6 cycles. Hope that helps x

@Aubyone eeek it’s exciting/interesting to have people at the same point to compare 💕

I think you might me on to something with your “anti mindfuckery daily test” 😂😂 I’ve really got ants in my pants today so might do the same! My stomach just feels different, but I just can’t put my finger on why. I’ve got mild IBS so am quite used to a rumbly crampy tummy but this just feels very different to normal - tender and twingey. I’ve also got shooty nipple pain and am peeing A LOT. And vivid dreams and watery CM. I am well aware that at only 7dpo it could all be (and probably is) symptom spotting but the not knowing is worse right? I’m fine with a BFN at the end of the month but really don’t want to convince myself it will be positive, only then to find it’s not.

How are you and how are you @FirstimeTTC and @Aims1991?

Also welcome @sack83 massive good luck!! 💕

@ElizabethP141 I've had funny stomach pains all day and couldn't eat my dinner. No idea what's wrong 🙄

Oh bless you all! Thanks so much to everyone for your advice. I was sure it seemed wrong so I'm glad you've given me some sensible guidance! I'm using the Femometer OPKs mainly because I'm using that app already with my thermometer so made sense. My cycle is 30 days so think I'll start testing CD9/10. Currently on CD6 so will start this week, eeek!

My temperature randomly dropped a fair bit this morning and my FF app is telling me it's not normal... however think it might have been that I had a slightly restless sleep last night due to new job starting today. Hoping will go back to normal tomorrow!

Really got my fingers crossed for everyone on the TWW that your symptoms are the sign of a BFP! 🤞🏻💕

@ElizabethP141 well all of that sounds very promising! I've really not got any symptoms to spot atm, but still super early so who knows.

I feel like a right fertility nerd now, the amount I've read this month. Feel like I could go and teach a level biology class now - I wonder if all my mama friends (haven't got that many, one or two, still just about clinging on to my 20s) know all this stuff - isn't it sooo weird to not talk about it - like, in time/if I could see them properly I probs would talk to some close friends about it but atm there's no way I wanna talk as it might take aaaaaages. Have you guys told anyone you are TTC?

@HaresHoping eeeek good luck with the OPKs!

@Aubyone I completely get that. No we haven’t told anyone for the same reason, it might take ages and I couldn’t put up with people asking. I’ve thought a couple of times I’d probably drop it into conversation if I was sat with a friend, but doing it via text/phone call some how just seems more dramatic 😂