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

@Nats7504 😂😂 mine is also a sex pest, he's not used to me jumping on him day and night and said he is feeling the pressure to perform 😂 I was like, feel the pressure another day I'M OVULATING! 😂

@Fifi1086 hahahaha 🤣 I’ve been sneakily using ovulation stick and pregnancy sticks so he doesn’t know. He gets ahead of himself and thinks it will happen first time as he has ‘super sperm’ 🙄 I’m
like of course you have love. I’ve got about 7 hidden in my pj drawer. I feel like a secret alcoholics but with sticks 🤣 XX

@Nats7504 laughed out loud at that 😂😂 I think if we have no luck this month I won't be telling him a thing next month, he will just think I want him for his body - bless

Just catching up! We haven’t discussed that we are TTC with any of our friends or family so it’s really nice to be able to share things and read your stories too . Can’t wait to see how all of your journeys go.

@GrapefruitGin love the name by the way! I’ve not told anyone we were even thinking about having a baby apart from my mum who sadly passed away in November. I don’t want the sympathetic stares or ‘it will happen soon’ if it takes a while.

@Nats7504 so sorry for your loss How lovely you were able to have that conversation with her, I’m sure it meant the world. Absolutely, I feel as though once you’ve said it out loud that’s when you really start to feel the pressure.

@Wondergirl1111 to be honest, I bought load of cheapo pregnancy and ovulations tests on eBay as I was spending a fortune the first few months on individual tests. My OH was calling me the test addict, I was taking multiple tests even though I already knew the result, ugh! Perhaps I should invest in something better as that’s probably contributing to no success yet.

Has anyone forked out on the clearblue fertility monitor? I’ve heard great things but it’s a lot of money.

@GrapefruitGin ahhh It's hard as you don't wanna be wasting your time on cheapies, or your money on expensive ones! Part of me laughs at myself for spending any money on something that technically should be free! I think I'm gonna stick with cheapies and supplement with a few more expensive clear blue ones for next cycle - so I can go mad with the cheapies and double check with expensive ones! But not the digital one just yet.. come back to me in a few months lol!

@Nats7504 I'm so sorry for your loss. My mother in law just got diagnosed with cancer and it kind of gave us the kick up the arse to start and remember that life is precious - it's a horrible thing but good to remember to live our lives and not procrastinate I guess!

So I'm very interested to hear everyone's thoughts on what @StressyLady brought up - have you guys told anyone outside of your relationship that you are trying? I told my sister we were thinking about it this year at some point but not that we had made the decision to actually try, Another friend asked and i said maybe this year...
I want to share with my sister but not my friends really - which is difficult when they ask! (I'm one of the last ones to have a baby). But I don't want extra pressure on what's already quite emotional! What do you guys think?
Also - will you tell anyone when you get your BFP before the 12 weeks?
x

@Wondergirl1111 you’re right, I need to do the same with the testing. Go mad with the cheapies and keep the good stuff hidden away somewhere for special occasions!

Hmmm I haven’t told anyone although I’ve been asked plenty of times, I always shrug it off and say ahh maybe, it’ll happen when it happens! I’m the master of playing it cool on the outside whilst having internal freak outs that it isn’t happening haha.

I’ve used the CB sticks which are about £17 for 10, they were good in the sense they gave you a smily face when you had a surge, I ovulated a day after that test. The cheaper ones give me anxiety as I over analyse lines 🙈 are they there or have I seeing things?!

Mum had cancer, it’s a horrible disease. It’s unforgiving and in my eyes I have no idea why there is no cure!!!!

@Wondergirl1111 @GrapefruitGin

I used to cringe when people asked about if we're trying... now I just hate it! Part of me wants to give them some sassy reply about how we're trying and it hasn't happened yet just to shut them up and make them feel bad. But instead I smile and shrug it off just with a 'not yet, just enjoying being us two'.

I'm super close to my mum and sister and would love to have them to talk to but even without them meaning to, they'll be too inquisitive and I'll feel too much pressure.

Evening all. Completely resonate with your comments about not telling family/friends but wanting to talk about TTC with someone!
I am on cycle day 11, 5 days of negative ovulation tests but DTD every day. I think my cycle is about on average 26 days, but has varied between 24 and 30 for the past 12 months.
Didn't have a clue about how to go about this but hopefully if I keep DTD every day for the next 4/5 days then hopefully that's about right? The amount of hours i've spent learning about the cycle is ridiculous. Embarrassing that it has took until nearly 30 to get to learn this stuff!

p.s. does anyone have a link to the acronyms used on here? I've picked a few up but not a clue about some!

@ttcSam every night? Jesus, I salute you and your foof! 🙌 Saying that, you’ve got a good chance of conceiving as you won’t miss ovulation which I’ve come to realise is like a winning lottery ticket! Fast forward a few unsuccessful months and I’m following suit and banging the shit out of him every night 🤣 xx

@ttcSam Welcome! I know - why don't they teach this in school? They are so afraid we'd get pregnant? I think it's so amazing to learn about tge incredible female body!

I am no expert on the acronyms but I know BFN and BFP - BIG FAT POSITIVE/NEGATIVE tests. ewcm - egg white cervical mucus.
Anyone know what OPK stands for - i know it's ovulation test but specifically? Oh and AF - period - but what are the a and f for?
xx

@Nats7504 I don't know how there isn't a cure either. It's the absolute devil of diseases. So sorry. You're so right, I hate the lines too.. Just tell me, am I or aren't I?! Now isn't the time for line games!

@ttcSam I feel the same, I feel like I need to go back to school and have the 'how babies are made' lesson all over again Kidding of course.... kind of. Oh and I have to google basically every acronym too.

OPK - Ovulation prediction kit, thank you google

@Wondergirl1111 I think I know this one! Aunt Flow?!

Between us, we’ve so got this!

@Nats7504 oh tell me about it, it has only been two days and I'm done for a while. Once Wednesday hits i'll be giving it a rest until the next cycle!
God yes, it really is unbelievable that this has been happening for 15 years and I've had absolutely no idea. I've been Googling cervical mucus and discharge which is something I never thought would be in my search history ...

@Wondergirl1111 I know, although it turns out it isn't as easy as I thought to get pregnant!

I have seen a few people say that they know the day they have ovulated.. how on earth do they know this?
Also, I am taking these ovulation tests which are looking for a spike in LH. Am I correct that that spikes JUST before ovulation?

@Wondergirl1111 I think you ovulate 24-36hrs post LH surge. Body temperature can also provide an indication. Definitely track your own ovulation as opposed to relying on the app predictions which can be off!

@ttcSam I know right? Spent my life being careful and it seems you need a degree to fall pregnant!

I used the CB ovulation sticks, I got a smiley face to show ovulation was close. I actually thought that meant I had already ovulated but that’s me being naive. I then took one the next day and got nothing which meant that the surge had reduced ready for ovulation. I started getting cramps, like period pains for about a day. I thought something was wrong so I googled (like I said, how did I get to 36?!) and they said that’s ovulation pain. I’ve done this throughout my whole life and until you’re looking for signs they go unnoticed!

@ttcSam - this webpage helped me with the acronyms: www.whattoexpect.com/getting-pregnant/ttc-acronyms/

@Nats7504333 @Rosie333 thank you both. That is really useful. Yes, I was trusting the apps and have been using Flo for the best 18 months to track my period religiously with the intention it would be spot on when I got to this point, but it seems not, so wish I had paid more attention to body changes and logged them in previous months now, but oh well - hoping I might get lucky this month as I shouldn't be too far off! Not sure if the ovulation sticks are worth the money though in future if i'm not successful this month? Although I haven't had a smiley face yet so might just be being negative. I am also struggling to hold wee in for anywhere near 4 hours before going, and when I nearly manage I forget and go anyway!
If you are using OPK what time of day are you using them? I know it says to do it at the same time everyday (i've been doing them late afternoon) but I think I might switch to the morning from tomorrow.

@Rosie333 have you bought something to allow you manage your body temp?

I only used them once a day but apparently you should, or so I’ve ready, a few times a day as you only have the peak for a small period of time. I had a smiley face at 6pm and took another at 12pm the next day and zilch. I’m probably not the best person to ask as I’ve only tried to make sense of it all this month. Maybe the other ladies have more experience on what’s normal and stuff x

Opk - of course! When you realise and acronym you feel so stupid lol! But you're right @GrapefruitGin together we've got this!!!

So - just catching up - I thought I had learn everything but actually i could do with understanding the Lh surge better - so your LH surges just before ovulation? Then you ovulate a day later and the egg lives for 24-36 hours? Is that right? So when you see the LH surge you gotta DTD (Do the deed) pronto? Is that right?

Xx

@Nats7504 I've also read that the surge can be over in 12 hours so you could miss it! Which makes sense with your testing results! Well done for catching it! Such a tiny window especially if you have a busy life lol!