Planning TTC

[ozzyteabiscuit]

Hi all,

I imagine i'm going to be a bit of a lurker for a while as I'm not TTC yet but plan to soon and I'm super excited. I want to be as prepared as possible in the hopes to conceive very quickly. Ideally I would be giving birth in winter while DP has a quieter period at work so I would get more support as he works away.

So mostly I'm after your tips on what I can do now to get prepared and things I can do to conceive as quick as possible once we start trying. Of course I know it might not be that straight forward but I'm hoping for the best.

I tracked ovulation for a while last year with OPKs just to be nosey, I have a regular cycle, near enough 28/29 days every time. According to OPK my peak was day 17/18 every time.

I'm currently trying out BBT but i'm not sure if its a waste of time, although I do get up at the same time every day near enough, I am a light sleeper and usually get up at least once if not twice a night to go to the toilet so I never know when to temp. I wake up at different times every night, if its not long before i need to get up then i'll check my temp then, if theres a few hours to go then I'll wait for my alarm. Just means its not at the exact same time but I cant really do much about it, I would like to confirm ovulation though, would just make me feel better.

When should i start prenatals? any brand recommendations? Any lifestyle changes, books, other things you recommend to do now? Things I can do when we start trying?
I cant help myself, Im just too excited!

Prenatals are meant to be started 3 months before you start TTC.
Folic acid is all you really need - but feel free to throw in Vit B complex and Vit D. If you go for a run of the mill pregnacare type prenatal do note that their levels are fairly low so you're better off getting key supplements individually or splashing out for something like proceive.
Whatever you do, avoid Vit A supplements as they can damage the baby.

How's your CM? If you find it's lacking, try 1000-2000mg of evening primrose oil daily until ovulation.

Your eggs take 3 months to mature so cutting down on alcohol, caffeine etc could be started now if you're really keen. It's not needed though, strictly speaking.

Ultimately it's all pure luck and you'll either catch quickly or not, so don't overthink it too much and it won't be your fault if you DTD when needed yet still didn't catch. The key thing is to know when you ovulate and time it well around that.

Kind regards, someone who's been TTC since Jan 2020 and wanted a Sep baby!

Also TTC since January 2020 wanting a September baby. My advice - don’t delay just crack on

Start folic acid 3 months before. I also took vitamins B and D too. I've been very lucky and got pregnant within one month both times. All you really need and folic acid and vitamin D when pregnant.
I tracked my ovulation with OPKs which I think is useful just incase your ovualation day changes. I didn't make any particular lifestyle changes. DTD before you ovulate and well as when so the sperm is there ready and waiting is my too tip.

Hi there! I am not an authority on ttc, especially naturally, but I do have some recommendations for you:

There are some vitamins that help get your body healthy, so Vitamin D, Vitamins B, folic acid are just a few. pregnacare are good.

Also, you should def read "It all starts with an Egg", it explains everything so well for both natural and ivf (that's why I read it).

Also, I listen to podcasts about fertility journeys, and how people cope with it because for some it's a long process -which I truly hope it won't be the case for you!

Also, cut down on caffeine & alcohol, adopt a healthier lifestyle, check that your BMI is okay, avoid processed foods, prefer whole grains, and last but not least, try to remain as calm as possible, and plan fun "treats" for yourself for the journey, and moments that are about taking care yourself (massage, mani-pedi, or anything else that you like).

I wish you best of luck!

Thanks for your help. The only reason I'm not starting straight away is I have 6 months of university left - finishing of a masters that's been delayed because of covid. If I did catch quickly I wouldn't want nausea and fatigue to affect my work but ideally we would have started already.

I don't drink much alcohol or caffeine already, I'm starting to exercise more, mostly because I have a lower back pain issue and trying to build some strength. bmi is healthy.

I'll definitely get 'it all starts with an egg' I like to absorb everything I can.

Good luck to you all.

I did all the prep, vitamins, lost weight etc and still took 9 months off the pill or conceive. Anything up 18 months is considered normal for under 35, so prepare yourself for not conceiving straight away. Hopefully you will conceive straight away though. Good luck.

Start of ttc to birth with me was 27 months. Had a mmc and fertility tests in that time and I had excellent fertility, as did DH. It really is luck and both times it took me 8 months to conceive.

Take folic acid and vitamin d and enjoy. It can be a very hard, emotional journey.

With regards to taking your BBT, set a cut off time where if you wake up for a wee after that time, you will take your temp first. I think mine used to be 4 or 5am when I used to temp. To get an accurate reading, it's be taken as soon as you wake before moving.

@Juno231loved your advice above!
@ozzyteabiscuit I think after 5 months TTC, I have defo realised you cannot plan a month to conceive. It has been quite a journey so far and a lot more mentally draining than I thought and I regard myself as fairly strong.

I use the CB testing system - the ones that give you flashing and static smileys and therefore a bigger window to DTD. I find this lines up with the fairly other obvious symptoms I get like egg white CM (sorry TMI) and dull ovulation pain. I fine them much better/easier than the cheapie ones but equally they are quite expensive!!

Good luck!!!!!

Im going to continue with doing bbt for a few months to see but it's fairly erratic and several hours between earliest temp and latest depending on when I wake up in the night.

I'm paying actual attention to my CM and I did notice EW CM around the days I was expecting to ovulate. I never get any ovulation pains so no signs there.

Obviously I know I can't assume to get pregnant quickly and I'm expecting it to take longer but hopeful I can conceive as quick as possible. You never know.