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

@Wondergirl1111 I keep hearing people say about vivid dreams, something about progesterone making loads of blood swarm to your brain or something!

@ze123 - there are ladies who manage to pick something up at 8DPO but from my reading on here and reddit, it's very rare and many people test negative days 8-10/11ish DPO and still go on to get a positive so since its quite a pricey one, I would hold off using a CB until later on if you can! Having just tested myself silly, and it messing with my head, I'm currently feeling quite evangelical about people waiting to test if they can! (while also knowing if your brain is like mine, that's really hard).

So hoping to see some BFPs here now in next week or so!

I will test one more time tomorrow just for closure, but my temps, HR and string of BFNs, and no symptoms now make me pretty convinced it's not my month, and I'm practically salivating at the red wine I'm gonna drink on Sat if that's the case!

@Aubyone thank you!
I am 99.9% sure I won’t need to test this month, I already know AF is most likely around the corner! I just want it to arrive so I can get on!
I feel the same, it plays with your head so much! Wishing you all the best x

Oh wow @ElizabethP141 that really is frustrating - do you have a sense of your previous cycles/length/ovulation patterns or first time charting it all? Any chance you can share your NC chart? I've ended up looking at so many charts these last few weeks on FF (fertility friend, the one I am using) that I'd be interested in seeing if I agree with NC o date!

Either way sounds like you have covered your bases which is the main thing! Just possibly going to have mentally extended the TWW for you eurgh I feel for you on that!

Xxx

@Ze123 I read an article, which annoyingly I now can’t find, that said testing at 8dpo only picked up something like 25% of BFPs, steadily rising 10% or so each day after that! I only found that out after testing so def save yourself the nervous tummy if you can 😂

@Aubyone I totally get that relieved feeling, I had that last month for sure. It’s only my 3rd cycle off the pill so don’t really have a sense of what’s normal for me yet. Had a 38 day anovulatory cycle to start, then a 20 day cycle where O was found on CD8. I still think that the bleed I had to start my second cycle wasn’t actually a period and was some kind of body reset if that’s possible. This cycle I was shocked that I may of actually O on CD15 and how “normal” that was but really did have all the signs. You can see the rise after CD15 on here, then a dip then a big rise. I put all negative LH tests into the app because never actually found my peak, just very very close one evening and next morning, but have obvs put no OPKs in for this Ov as didn’t think I needed to 😂

Yes exactly that’s what I’m trying to think about but that is whats killing me, extended TWW eurgh! I’m still puzzled about the symptoms I was having, although perhaps my body tried a few times to O and they were the result 🤔

@ElizabethP141 hmm, it's the low temps on CD18 and 19 that throw it, isn't it - seeing that, I think NC is probably right and you've possibly o-d CD22 - just goes to show how important temping is for catching the right days (unless you are one of those awe inspiring couples that do manage to just keep having sex every other day throughout the whole month - kinda jealous of those who are, but I just couldn't do it!).

Think it's totally normal to have wacky long and weird cycles in months after the pill so I'm sure they will settle down soon! Defo keep temping and OPKing!

@Aubyone yes it is those pesky low temps 😂 and alas I do think it’s probably right, just very confusing given I had so much EWCM and what I thought was ov pain around CD15 then def not as much EWCM on CD22. And no, we’re def not one of those awe inspiring couples, how does anyone have time or want to for that matter? 😂

@ElizabethP141 I've definitely read, like you mentioned, that sometimes body's can 'gear up' for ovulation and not do it, and then go again!

Oh gosh, I mean if we were still 22 and at University we'd have been allll over it, but it's been quite a novelty for us having sex any other day than Fri-Sun this month. DH has just heavily implied (well, actually asked 😂) if we can this evening and I was like 'what? Today? Midweek and two days before my period?!' although we'll see, I might be in the mood later now I'm no longer ripping apart pregnancy tests and Googling symptoms.

Quick update from me, AF has definitely arrived. 2 days early, leaving me with just a 10 day luteal phase this month. I'm only on my 2nd natural cycle post pill, but had a very standard cycle last month, with 12 day luteal phase, so a bit disappointed to have such a short one but maybe it will get longer the further past the pull I go. Is it terrible that my first thought was WINE This evening

On to TTC cycle 2 for me!

@Ze123 I have also woken up feeling very periody today!! Definitely some cramping going on, which I normally experience about 5-7 days before AF arrives. AF due in 4 days if my cycle is the same as last month (was hoping it would get a little longer as its only 22 days). I'll be gutted if she comes early as my cycle will be even shorter and then I worry I may not be ovulating at all...😩
How stressful is it being a women?? Hopefully I'm wrong and just ate too much 🤣
Have a good day everyone x

I am due the same day as you!
It’s so annoying isn’t it! I have read that some women do have period like cramps before getting a positive test! But I don’t think that is the case for me right now! I also feel quite nauseous today!
Good luck with yours! Let’s hope she doesn’t arrive anytime soon preferably for the next 9 months! xx

@Aubyone sorry to hear about AF :(

I'm due on Sunday but this morning had the smallest bit of spotting (started off yellowy CM, went to the toilet again to check and had the smallest amount when I wiped) sorry TMI 😂
had some very very mild cramping but it seems to have stopped 🤨 not going to get my hopes up for implantation so am waiting for AF to arrive properly!

How is everyone doing this eve? I'm just plodding along with my first OPKs now, both the tests I've done over past two days have been low so far but feel relieved to have got started with it. Hoping will have an increase over the weekend with the LH levels and a peak next week at some stage. Will be interesting to see how it goes! Hope you're all okay today 💕

@HaresHoping what CD are you? I'm CD11 :) this is now my second cycle trying but not using OPKs yet... but super interested in how people are finding them (thanks everyone for talking about them!) Last cycle I got so stressed and ended up being a 48 day cycle!!! Trying to avoid that this time... but we'll see.

Hey ladies
I'm the same @StressyLady not using opks yet but prob will so like reading how everyone's getting on with them, they sound like a minefield 🙈
Cycle day 19 for me, still got ridiculous period cramps and moods but still no AF, hoping she holds out until at least cd21 so I've got some consistency 🤞easier said that done not getting stressed, but here's to trying 🤣

Hey @StressyLady I'm CD10 ☺️ so just behind you! Oh bless you your last cycle sounds stressful. I know there are lots of other ladies who have long cycles and some threads about that if you find you need specific advice. Let's hope we both get our BFP in a timely fashion this month! It's my first cycle TTC so trying to keep a level head but can't help hoping.

@KM11 ah I have everything crossed for you that the symptoms are pregnancy and not AF! She is a witch haha. OPKs are so confusing aren't they! I've heard some amazing things but also some people don't get on with them at all - think it's like anything and depends on the individual. I'm reserving judgement for now but getting on ok so far.

Hi guys! So glad you're chatting on here... I'm cd20 very close to you @km11 - do you usually have short cycles and so expecting af soon? So you know how many dpo you are?

I've got a 27/28 day cycle so af due in about 10 days - I'm 6 dpo now and symptom spotting like CRAZY!!!! I've been having slight cramps for a few days now - small back pains too but could easily all just be in my head!
I've been praying for implantation bleeding all day simply because I know that can happen from today... Nothing though obviously. Read that only 75% of bfp experience it so no symptoms are just as likely forms bfp as symptoms but you just wanna see them so bad!!!

So @hareshoping and @stressylady good luck with your opks! I tried them for the first time last month and they worked really well for me! I think the key is to start them early as the instructions state rather than when you think your ov day is immenent. It does a good job of giving you your four/five most fertile days! It Gave me peace of mind we weren't trying in vein! Anyway - will see in 10 days time If it works or not lol!

I have an early detected test which supposedly bsays I can test on the 9th (10dpo with af due on 14th feb).... Would you guys do it??

I so want to be one of those women like my mum who just 'voila!' BFP first time ttc! Part of me knows I'm not that lucky though lol! Xxxx

Also meant to say ... Seems as though if you have a regular cycle opks seem to be quite straight forward - but longer cycles they seem to often get confused - especially if you perhaps prepare hormonewise for ovulation, but it doesn't happen and then your body tries again - resulting in two peaks - the test tells you to stop testing once you get your peak fertility but longer cycles could potentially miss a second go at ovulation if you follow that rule... Xxxx

Hi everyone!!

Good luck with OPKs ladies, I haven’t found my peak over the last three cycles with them but I’ve definitely seen it ramp up then ack down so they’ve been useful to narrow the window :)

I’m CD26 here, but not completely sure when ov was. I thought I was CD15 due to OPKs and EWCM but no significant temp rise so NC app says CD22 where I had no EWCM but a temp rise 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m thinking it probably was the latter but I’m going to test over the weekend to be sure! It’s when AF would have arrived so want to rule it out. If not, I’m 4dpo and part of the Valentine’s Day AF club!

@Wondergirl1111

I think this would have happened to me this month!! On for a 35 day cycle and I thought I had Ov CD15 as had all the symptoms and nearly peak OPKs (thought I’d missed peak in the night). Luckily by pure chance, we DTD ov-2 so not out though🤞🤞

Not out @ElizabethP141!!!! Not out until the fat lady (af) sings!
FX for valentine's BFPs for us rather than valentine's AFs!

Opks are good if you don't give them too much importance I guess - they are a guide to use alongside everything else! Sorry they were a bit all over the place for you but at least you had all bases covered!

Question - do you bbt track with natural cycles? I use it too and NC actually moved my ovulation day back after it calculated my temp tracking which I thought was cool x

@Wondergirl1111 yeah since coming off the pill in November been a bit all over the place, had a 33 day cycle, then a 26, then a 22 and this month I'm on CD 20 now and definitely expecting AF either tomorrow or Sunday. I've kind of made peace with it and am desperate to start again 🙈 only tracking ovulation by apps and CM, gonna stick to that again this next cycle and if still no BFP I'll give it a go. Really want to get to the stage where a test is an option, although I know a BFN would be so disappointing. I'm 35 so no spring chicken and already in the 'geriatric mother' catagory, I just hope this happens sooner rather than later 🤞 (I 100% feel like I'm still in my 20s if that counts 🤣).

Hope the waiting isn't too bad and your cramps/backache are a goodsign. A valentines baby would be so nice, got everything crossed that AF stays away for you 😁

So I'm now 9dpo and I'm dying to test!! But I know it'll be a bfn! I've had some cramps and weird sensations in my stomach so no idea! Never normally get it this early before AF but I think last month I did! I was in work early this morning so managed to forget to test and will try wait to Monday and try an early one. Anyone else ready to test

Sorry about all your confusion @ElizabethP141 - how frustrating for you. Hope you get the results you want, crossing my fingers that you get a BFP on that test!

Thanks for that info @Wondergirl1111 - you are the fount of all knowledge honestly! Eek exciting that you've got your first test but my god I bet it's shouting at you from the cupboard 😂 def try to hold out until the 9th... I will be checking in to see how you get on! I use BBT as well with Femometer and I'm liking having both sides of the fence covered.

Eek @Aims1991 that's so exciting... could well be pregnancy symptoms or AF, that's the annoying thing 🙄 really hope it's a positive for you! Let us know how you get on.

@HaresHoping yeah could be a symptom for both! I'm just trying not to build my hopes up! Keeping thinking defo not this month but who know

@Aims1991 I'm 7dpo so just behind you - you're so disciplined not testing this morning! Do you think you'll test Tomo?
And another question - your cramps / weird sensations - what do they feel like? I swear I've been having some too! Would be great to compare notes! I feel like I'm imagining them xx