TTC April/May 2021 - Sperm meets Egg Plan "SMEP"

[spttc]

Hi ladies Has anyone tried the sperm meets egg plan? I downloaded the free ebook earlier on amazon & Im going to give it a go this coming month! Anyone want to join? 💁🏻‍♀️ I'm month 4 ttc.

@spttc that's so awesome!! You must be on some premium level insurance

And so jealous acupuncture is covered too 😂😂 have you found someone for that yet?

@Elsbeth1 haha it’s not too comfy. But anything is worth a try. I can’t seem to remember what I did with my 1st child.

The 2ww wait is the hardest. I think last month I was imagining symptoms. Not sure 🤔 sometimes you felt like the boobs hurt but I prob just prodded them too hard lol

@Elsbeth1 nah not really, it's not that good. But grand, I'm glad I have it. Duno where you are based but I'm in Ireland. It's VHI one plan family I think it's called. It's about €1100 a year I think. The length of time Iv had it Iv basically already paid whatever they're gona give me back now 🤣🙄 I really only got it so I can go private for maternity care if I want to, I didn't realize the fertility benefits were so good. All kinds of stuff on there. The acupuncture you get €40 per session for 5 sessions I think it is. The place I looked at that's approved by VHI is €60 per session so it's €20. I'll take it! 👍🤩

@Poppet2021 aww how old is your first child? Was it quite quick to conceive first time round?

Yeah last month I was convinced I was pregnant probably because I've never paid attention to pre period symptoms before
And because all my friends all got pregnant like literally the first time they DTD so I was like there's no way I'm not pregnant 😂
What a slap in the face 😂😂😂

@spttc Oo Ireland I've never been before but I recently discovered Dunnes and I've brought loads of home stuff from there 😂😂😂

Omg your insurance scheme looks amazing I want to try all the things 😂and it covers you after you have a baby too baby massage 😂
That's so good you can go private for maternity! Are you going to do like water birth or hypno birth I defo would if I could afford it 😂
40 is a lot! That's 67% off! Mine is costing £65 per session but I think I'm just going to do one unless it's like super amazing for some reason

I'm in UK I can get free Bupa health insurance through work which is around £1000 but you have to pay tax on it which is 40% so £400
I have no idea if this covers maternity or fertility stuff though I mean I kind of doubt it if its through work 😂

@Elsbeth1 hahaha yeah I meant the grapefruit juice 😂😂😂 wasn't sure if I should just have it first half of cycle or continue even after ovulation.

I'm into 3rd day of high OPKs with clear blue, ordered some more in case tomorrow is still only high and I run out. Yeah we started cycle day 7 because I've had ovulation as early as cycle day 10 before so can be passed before I know it!

I hope your acupuncture goes well. I tried hypnotherapy last month, two sessions to remove any stress and anxiety - didn't give me a BFP but I'm keeping up with the at home session I can do on my phone. I've also tried reflexology, I like to feel like I'm trying something new but it can be costly!! Acupuncture was my next! Even if it just makes me feel more relaxed mentally! X

@HJen22 @Elsbeth1 I'm going to have to give in and get the grapefruit juice 😂😂😂 is there a particular amount you drink? have u noticed a difference? Has anyone here taken evening primrose oil up to ovulation before? (Just as an FYI for anyone reading you can only take it from CD1-ovulation and then stop as it's not good in pregnancy)

@spttc worth a try isn't it! I might even get some pineapple, I'm willing to do anything at this stage! I just have 150ml as per the serving on the back, no idea if I should be having more or not?!

That's great you get such good health insurance! I have Bupa through work in Scotland but I've checked and nothing for fertility sadly 😔

I am willing however to pay for private tests if it speeds things up, I am going to ask when we have our first appointment in June! X

Welcome @HJen22 👋

@Elsbeth1 how was acupuncture? That's okay no need to say sorry! I was still super early and too early to test really!

@Poppet2021 I'm now 9DPO so early still

Okay ladies thoughts. Just been for a wee and seen that I'm spotting. It doesn't look red it's a bit browny (sorry if TMI) and I kind of have cramps but little twinges. Could this be implantation bleeding? It seems too early to be AF, but then I just don't know as I'm cycle day 29 and I could just be having a short luteal phase this month 🤨

@spttc thanks for the info on grapefruit juice I didn't realise it was bad in pregnancy. So that's good to know!

How is every getting on with DTD?!

@charja100 sorry no I mean evening primrose oil is!! Grapefruit juice is grand!

@Poppet2021 how long are your cycles usually? I have no idea about implantation, I see it a lot on these threads and it goes one of 2 ways. Time will tell I suppose 🤞🤞🤞🤞

@charja100 you're on TWW too aren't you 🤞🤞

Everyone else is just DTD like there's no tomorrow right? 🤣😂

@charja100 Acupuncture was pretty good she specialises in fertility she said so she gave me loads of tips like how to check CM to see if you're ovulating (should be able to stretch it between your fingers without it breaking), take magnesium if you're stressed as its a nerve relaxer, trust clear blue over temp taking she said as temperature is subject to loads of different elements, and she said most women only ovulate 10/11 times a year

She said there's no point doing acupuncture once a month as they work on different things every week according to your cycle (so first half of the cycle she'll focus on stimulating something, something else during ovulation and then after making sure your body is nice and fluffy for the egg and sperm or something)

The acupuncture itself is kind of boring I thought - she stuck like 12 pins into me around my body which took about 5 mins and is how you would imagine a tiny pin entering your skin would feel like and then its just 30 mins of lying there..

Other than that she said she was confident I'd get preggo soon based on what I told her (regular cycles, good heavy/light period days, no spotting, generally no period symptoms) and that stress was basically the only thing holding me back which she said acupuncture could help with but I would kind of rather take up reflexology if its just stress related

And she also stuck these metal balls on to my ears which I can press if I get stressed 😂

@spttc thank goodness for the correction! Ha

@Elsbeth1 omg that sounds like such a worthwhile session. I def need some of those balls on my ears! I'm constantly stressed at the moment! TTC and trying to make our wedding happens is not ideal!

So are you going to carry on with the acupuncture? If so how often do you think you will go? Would you maybe do reflexology instead? I'm so tempted to explore these both!

@HJen22 I want to try hypnotherapy how is it? Reflexology / massages do really relax me but not for long I feel - does hypnotherapy carry forward for a few days?

@spttc I drink amount 500ml a day but haven't seen any difference but I mean I only started 3 days ago and I think you're supposed to notice the difference when you're ovulating?

@charja100 I'm not sure about implantation too :( but kind of sounds like it from what I've read on mumsnet?

@charja100 haha I should have asked what they're called and just stick them all around my body 😂😂😂

Omg when are you getting married! Love weddings!

I don't think I'll carry on for now to be honest but will probably take it up on a more serious note down the line say at like the 6 months line

She said you need to be going every week or there's no point of it really
It's pretty spenny (£260/month if weekly sessions) when there's nothing physical to show for it really

I tried reflexology last month and really liked it so would be more happy to pay for that
And I felt more relaxed after reflexology than I did after acupuncture

@Elsbeth1 that sounds interesting! I'm sure my sister said the same thing though, got left in a room with loads of needles sticking out that she could see which freaked her out 😂

Hypnotherapy was interesting, I had to speak about all sorts and let go of things I'd maybe not really dealt with, like deaths, break ups etc. I came out feeling great and had loads of little at home things to do like get in the wrong side of bed, sit at a different seat at the table etc, and she had a mp3 20minute confidence thing I do. I was super positive and then AF came and I had my usual breakdown! Standard 🙈 but I'm doing the mp3 every few days. Reflexology for some reason I didn't feel like I could properly switch off. I'm trying a book called The Magic this month which is all about gratitude. Where there's a wacky thing to do, I'm there!

@charja100 hello and thank you! How are you coping with the TWW? I've read lots talk about implantation bleeding and am always on the lookout! How long are your cycles usually? I hope it leads to a BFP for you!🤞🏻

@Elsbeth1 😂😂😂😂 hahaha that really ticked me.

I'm getting married June 29th, postponed from last year. Only stressful thing is we're getting married in Greece. So we don't really know what the hell is going on 😫🤦🏼‍♀️

I definitely want to try reflexology I think I'd really like it!

Hey ladies.
Sorry for not replying!!!
Got so much on at the moment.

@Elsbeth1 - my child is 5. Took 2 months to conceive (I think!)

@spttc - think my cycles vary between 28-30 days. Last month I start period exactly 2 weeks after ovulation day.

@charja100 - how are youuu??

Hope everyone is good xx

haha @HJen22 the acupuncturist was in the room with me the whole time otherwise I would have just gone to get my phone I was so bored

Damn hypnotherapy sounds like some serious shiz well done for opening up like that! Did you go specifically for TTC stress?
I mean AF arriving would cause a breakdown for anyone 😂Its good you were positive during the rest of the month though I feel that's when it counts :)

Omg I fell asleep during reflexology I kept waking myself up because I was snoring so loudly 😂😂
I fall asleep when I get massages too and I'm always like jeez I basically missed the whole massage 😂

Have you tried sound baths? I did them a few times during lunchtime when I worked from the office (can't find any near by my home) and it was soo relaxing
I would fall into a seriously deep sleep for the 30 minute session or whatever it was and it would feel like the best 5 hour sleep I ever had and I'd feel sooo refreshed!

Basically I'm up for a sleep any time I fell asleep on my first date with my husband too 😂😂😂

@charja100 I found them they're called ear seeds 😂😂😂
Oh noo hopefully you'll get some good news soon about the travel situation!
A wedding in Greece sounds lovely!!

@Poppet2021 don't worry about replying if you're busy
Hope you're doing ok though!

@Elsbeth1 haha I'd have been the same! Good to try all these new things though! Shame they always seem to cost so much! But worth it if they work!

Yeah I went specifically for TCC, a friends friend went and fell pregnant right after, so I was hopeful! Yeah it was quite emotional, who knew you could cry with your eyes shut! I feel like I try not to stress but it's a lot easier said than done. During FW I'm super positive but the last week of the TWW I just feel awful cos I know AF is coming. This is cycle 15 so it's been a lot. But I'm keeping positive this month! Last night was day 3 of BD and my clear blue OPK is still flashing smiley so I've said to my bf I want to do it every day until Sunday 😂🤞🏻 we've never done it this much but it's the last month before our appointment so why not!

Hahaha falling asleep means super relaxed then! I go through phases of meditating and have fallen asleep through that! How funny you fell asleep at your first date 😂

I haven't tried sound baths, they sound interesting! I'll need to have a google! What cycle day are you on now?

@charja100 how are you? Any symptoms or signs? And how exciting congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Can imagine that's a bit stressful at the best of times let alone with what's going on in the world, hopefully some good news re travel plans ASAP! I'm sure there's an announcement tomorrow but im Scotland so not sure it's for us! X

CD 1 for me today. AF arrived with awful pains in the night. Ever since I had surgery on my cervix I've had the worst period pain 😫. Told my OH and he's really excited we get to DTD like rabbits again for another month. On to cycle 2 and doing the SMEP!

@charja100 oh I'm so sorry AF had arrived for you 😞 and that it's brought with it lots of pain! That sucks! Look after yourself today, chocolate, bath, wine, whatever will make you feel better 🥰 and once AF is done there's a whole new cycle and another chance to try! That's not good, maybe speak to the doctor if it's been bad since surgery? X

@spttc it's tests for you today isn't it? I hope they go well, are they doing bloods? And how did your partner get on with his SA?