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

@Aims1991 Well - we decided on the 30th Dec to start trying, but I had just ovulated (I had seen ewcm a couple of days before) -we gave it a go anyway but I was pretty sure I was at the end of my fertile window so it was kind of a trial run! Sure enough AF came on Sunday. So this new cycle is our first real go. Though it seems like it's been the longest month ever knowing we had just missed our chance last cycle to then wait for this next one! The weeks seem to be dragging!!

@Wondergirl1111 fingers crossed for you this month. We only started properly trying end November December. So I've had two cycles fingers crossed for third one lucky

@ttcSam haha I had done the same taking a break from the threads - it keeps you sane at certain points but at other points you know you have to give it a rest lol!

No worries about AF - I knew last month we had missed the fertile window so it was just fun really! This is our first month ttc with an actual chance - though come back to me next month if I get my AF and I perhaps won't be so chipper! Trying not to put too much pressure on this cycle but I'm really hopeful - even though my app says even on peak fertility day there is only 30% chance of conception - that sounds so low!

Taken from a parenting website: "Implantation bleeding, cramps, tiredness, high temperature are a few signs that occur 5-6 days after the sperm fertilizes the egg. Some women even notice breast tenderness and mood swings as early signs and symptoms."

• so 5DPO for your spotting doesn't sound too soon according to this?! Any other symptoms? Not that their absence means you won't be pregnant remember!

Sounds positive to me! Have you taken a test yet? (I know the experts will say too early lol but it must be tempting!) xxx

@Aims1991 3rd time lucky sounds rather perfect!
I guess half of it for the first couple of cycles is figuring out how it all works, and also figuring out how your own body works too! Fingers crossed for you next month too - what day of your new cycle are you on now? x

@Wondergirl1111 my periods have been pretty irregular since coming off the pill. Over the last year my cycle has been anything from 30 days to 3 months but thankfully it’s starting to settle down to around 35 - 40. So annoying! Anyone else have random cycles?

My periods are normally fairly light but this was unusually light and slightly earlier than I was expecting. I really don’t know what to make of it so I’ve just started using OPK again and hopefully I’ll see a spike in the next couple of weeks. Thankfully I’ve just been using cheapies from Amazon and don’t have the same annoyance as everyone else with their smiley faces. I much prefer being able to see the rise over a couple of days to plan ahead.

@Aims1991 I really hope we all get the BFP in Feb!

@Wondergirl1111 day 7, I have a high sex drive so DTD a lot is normal for me🙈 when's best to start checking when I'm ovulating?

@Jenn101 what do you think on this - what day did you ovulate last cycle?

Has anyone read about the SMEP - Sperm meets egg plan - lots of people say it works.....

sorry just typed out a whole message about ovulation and cycle days and it deleted!

I'd say if you're on CD7 to start testing now or just start BD'ing @Aims1991 (which sounds like you're prob doing anyway GET YOURS GIRL!) - my OPK kit says to start testing day7/8 if you are on a 28 day cycle in order to get base level LH so that over the next week you see the spike - as on average you're meant to ovulate around day 14 - but I'm pretty sure i ovulated earlier around day CD9 last month as I got EWCM on CD7! So if I followed my app I would have totally missed it!

@Jenn101 what do you think on this - what day did you ovulate last cycle?

@Wondergirl1111 yes 3 solid smileys in 2 weeks... I only did the strip tests with the last one which confirmed a peak. I'm really frustrated with it and actually a bit upset today over it. Think I'll just consider myself out this month as my cycle just isn't making sense

@Wondergirl1111 I ovulate usually between day 18 - 25 but I start testing around day 10 just so I can capture a spike if I have a shorter cycle. Think I may go through a lot of OPK! 🙈

@Aims1991 I’ve been tracking my ovulation for a few months now since I’ve been so irregular and I read that sometimes it’s normal to have a couple of spikes if your body doesn’t realise an egg the first time round. Basically it’s your body correcting itself and ovulation happens on the second spike. Please don’t take my word on it tho as I only googled it when it happened to me last month.

*release

Hi @Jenn101. I came off the pill a few years ago and I think after a withdrawal bleed I didn’t have a period for about 3 months, and then irregular. My hair fell out too. Took about a year to get back to Some sort of normality.

@Wondergirl1111 really excited to see how you get on this month. Got my fingers crossed for you. I think it’s far too early to test yet I’m going to try and wait until the week. I have one early test ready to go and then 4 of the normal ones but got about a week until they’re worth taking I think. Trying to avoid buying a load of the early ones when it’s not needed, and can just wait a few days but so tempting !!

[quote Jenn101]@Wondergirl1111 I ovulate usually between day 18 - 25 but I start testing around day 10 just so I can capture a spike if I have a shorter cycle. Think I may go through a lot of OPK! 🙈

@Aims1991 I’ve been tracking my ovulation for a few months now since I’ve been so irregular and I read that sometimes it’s normal to have a couple of spikes if your body doesn’t realise an egg the first time round. Basically it’s your body correcting itself and ovulation happens on the second spike. Please don’t take my word on it tho as I only googled it when it happened to me last month.[/quote]
@Fifi1086 - interesting what @Jenn101 says here to @Aims1991 about having a couple of spikes with OPK!

It must be so frustrating to be measuring and having conflicting information when it's meant to make it easier to track, not harder! But just remember it's only a measuring tool - all we can really do is DTD, whatever the sticks say and I'm sure if you have been DTD each time it spikes you must be covered!! If not exhausted lol! Sending hugs xxx

@ttcSam You are so organised and so disciplined!!! I am in awe and will try and take a leaf out of your book in a few weeks myself! But super excited to see what happens with your tests when it's time to take them - will you keep us updated? xxx

@Wondergirl1111 exactly! I got a little obsessive tracking ever last detail of my cycle, I’m trying to take a step back and DTD every couple of days. After all this should be the fun part! 😉

How's everyone doing?
My cycle-sister's it's nearly time! I'm super excited to try properly this month (but equally trying not to put too much pressure on it all.. gah!). And ladies who are waiting for AF/BFP - how's it going?

So question - I feel a little scared to ask, but does anyone else go up and down feeling at certain points like you're really excited about it all and then at other points like you're excited but also a little apprehensive about the responsibility and how much life will change? I think it goes up and down with my cycle - a little like sex drive! Trying not to pay too much attention to it but just being mindful of it being there. Ultimately I think if not now when, and I'll be so saddened if I couldn't have children - I know this is something I definitely want, but I guess anything new and slightly unknown is a little scary!

Wondered if anyone felt the same?xx

It's been so nice seeing lots of BFPs on here this week! It's my first month off the mini pill and my cycle is a bit all over the place, I've had 3 peaks, cd12, 16 and 21. I'm now on cd24 and i had a lot of ov symptoms with the last one so I'm hoping that was it! I've also had ewcm since cd2, is it normal to get it after ovulation too?

@Wondergirl1111 oh I completely relate. I’m absolutely petrified but I know it’s the right time. It’s so hugely life changing, I worry about losing my identity, not being able to commit to my job as much. Don’t get me started, but yes completely feel the same.

I also don’t think I have it in me to do this over and over again if it takes a long time but I suppose the months just fly, you knuckle down and get on with it.

I took a early test this morning it was negative but I am only about 7 dpo so definitely too early and not out of hope yet !

How long is it until DTD starts? Have you got some OPKs ready?

@Fifi1086 I definitely had some ewcm after ovulation. I had a smiley face on an opk and then had ewcm over 48 hours after, so let’s hope we are normal because I was confused !

@ttcSam that's reassuring as I'm basically in a permanent state of confusion these days 😂😂 and I meant 2dpo not cd2 🙄 I'm just glad work is so busy at the minute because I've had to restart the tww 3 times 😂

@Wondergirl1111

1 million percent! I actually ache for a baby and know it’s the right time...but often find myself already missing things we won’t be able to do. I think it’s harder with lockdown as well, my husband and I have a brilliant local pub and often will go on a Friday or Saturday evening with friends and get rather merry. The thought that the last time we did that may have been the last trip responsibility free is a scary thought. So no, you’re not alone AT ALL.

I’m on CD 11 here, got some ewcm and OPKs starting to get stronger (still way off positive though). NC app predicts ovulation on Monday but as this is only my second more regulated cycle post pill we’ve DTD last night and today and will do fri/sat/sun.

I don’t know about you guys but we’re really conflicted as to whether we should tackle this hard and fast ( no pun intended 🤪) or be more relaxed. I know I can’t keep on OPK/temp/DTD lots for a long time, it will make me so uptight but equally am not the most ‘chill’ person so the thought of just “ not not trying” feels like it isn’t realistic.

What about you guys?! Sorry for the long post! I’ve not told anybody we’re TTC so this is my only outlet!

@ElizabethP141 I have been thinking the same. We dtd far too much this cycle not realising how difficult (if that’s the right word) it’s be and I’ve decided we will be reducing to every other day around the fertile window next cycle. I think I might keep up the opks for another month or two just to see if ovulation day is always similar and then stop them too. I haven’t tracked temp at all, I know I would become obsessive with that and the kits seem quite expensive? Such a delicate balance between being/feeling informed and it becoming all consuming.
I really thought I’d be more chill than this, but once you decide you want to go for it, you just want it to happen!

@ttcSam

Agree with everything you said! It is hard (again no pun intended 🤪) me and my husband have your average sex drive I’d say but both have stressful jobs and it’s not natural to have to dtd even if you don’t feel like it is it?! I’m worried it was cause friction as we both want a baby so much but ultimately it’s the woman saying we need to do it as we know the times to!

I think that’s really sensible about OPKs and I think I’ll do the same myself once I know my cycle well. To be fair, temping is the least stressful part. I thought it would be really annoying as there’s lots out there about it needing to be same time etc. I joined Natural Cycles when I came off the pill to get to know my cycle and take my temp the second I wake up, but not at the same time daily. NC have said my temps are really good with little variation and it’s really obvious when ovulation has happened which is interesting to see. My thermometer was £10.

100%, I said to my husband let’s just be zen about it, it will take a while, we mustn’t stress. Here I am, second (so far!) regulated cycle and I’m already impatient 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

@Wondergirl1111 I definitely feel the same. I mentioned it on here before but I’m constantly yo/yo’ing on whether now is the right time or not. I worry about how much life will change, worry about work and going on holiday care free! But I say all this and then on the other hand I’m on CD20 and OPKs show no sign of ovulation and no EWCM. I can’t help worrying I’m not going to ovulate and that makes me want this more. I just feel like I go round in circles of wanting a baby and then worrying about what I’m giving up! I know I might sound crazy but I feel like I can’t be the only one right?! 😂

@ElizabethP141 @ttcSam omg I agree with you both re. DTD!

We're BDing everyday and it's tiring! and I'm not sure when I'm OVing - OPKs haven't arrive and 3 apps are giving me diff dates.

So we've got to keep going at least every other day for a bit longer as I'm only cd13 😂 definitely cutting it down next cycle if this doesn't work!!

Does it sound right that I'm estimated to OV tomorrow on CD14?