Cycle Day 1 - SMEP method?

[MummyStevensToBe]

Hi Mummies-to-be! Is anyone at a similar stage in their cycle and going to try the SMEP method this time? Would love to share the highs and lows of the journey together!

This is our second cycle, TTC baby #1, but first cycle I’m pretty sure we DTD around the wrong time / missed my ovulation day. Thought SMEP could give us a better chance!

I felt really lost with the clear blue ones tbh @MummyStevensToBe - maybe increasing to 2 a day? Or maybe try not FMU?
I’ve had peak reading this morning, as it’s dropped back down this evening - but will test again tomorrow and see how it goes. Feel really excited this month! Not sure why!

@MummyStevensToBe thank you, I am 9dpo now so 10dpo in the morning and I know I could test at this point but I'm terrified to do so in case it's not worked this month! x

Got fingers crossed for you @siaa!

I’ve got static smiley on cb test this morning, so hoping we can dtd tonight, tomorrow and maybe Wednesday… does that sound about right? If it’s peak this morning will this everyone too late??

Random question for everyone… I’ve got spotting today. Don’t think I’ve had it around ovulation before. Is this a good sign??? Trying not to read anything into it, but there’s been spotting only when I go to the toilet.

@mrsS21 this hasn't happened to me but I've read it can be normal as hormones change around ovulation.

I thought my LH peak was about to come but my test today was really faint. So confused! Anyone want to have a look at my lines and give an opinion? I know the 3rd test down is quite dark but it definitely wasn't as dark as the control line :/

@mrsS21 that sounds like you’d have all the days covered to give yourself the best possible chance :) I haven’t personally had ovulation bleeding before but I’ve read on here that it can be normal.

@ExPatHereForAChat were those taken once a day? I would say the third one down was your peak - sometimes those are as dark as my lines get but I know that I’ve ovulated. Maybe the peak was a bit later/earlier in that day and you just missed it hence why the test isn’t as dark as you’d expect. Did you DTD around that day?

@Moonshine160 Yes, these were all once a day except the morning I got the darker colour I did another test that evening, which was a little lighter.
I do wonder if I missed the peak. We DTD the day of the darkest test and the next day so hopefully caught the egg!
I'm going to keep testing in case it was some weird mini surge and my real peak is coming later.
I normally use the Clear Blue smiley face tests but didn't want to spend the money this time. Regretting that now!

@mrsS21 that sounds right to me! Think they say 3 days on the trot and then skip a day then go again the next day.

Tested this morning and it was negative, knew I should've just held on until 14dpo because now I'll be so tempted to test every day or twice daily to see if a line appears!!

@mrsS21 got my peak yesterday, so we’ll be together in our TWW

! I covered two days before my static, my static day and the day after, do you think that’s enough? I’m going to continue OPKs for another week and DTD every other day, because I’m not convinced this was my peak, as had static on CB but not on IC, so I’m not 100 sure!

Hey everyone!

Sorry been super unresponsive over the weekend. Hope you're all doing ok? Sounds like some of you have had your peak which is so exciting - I'm glad that we can do the TWW together as well!

@siaa oh my goodness the temptation to test must be huge! Don't worry about the recent one - it's still too early - but keep us posted with how you get on!

@Peonies94 @ExPatHereForAChat and @mrsS21 you sound like you've covered all bases - keeping everything crossed for you 🤞 @mrsS21 I certainly don't think the spotting is anything to be worried about - it might be ovulation bleeding, which is good!

I'm still on flashing smilies 🙄 (@Peonies94 it's reassuring to hear that you had 11! Although I'm SO impatient 😂). My BBT dropped slightly today (which apparently happens before ovulation?) and that app is predicting ovulation at the end of this week. I hope that's right, because I don't think we DTD enough this weekend.

Love this thread - I really look forward to hearing all of your updates 💕

@MummyStevensToBe it’s so hard when you get so many flashy isn’t it, but as long as you haven’t had your peak yet, don’t panic! I had only 2 flashes this week, so really took me by surprise, so I hadn’t been DTD much either! It is hard, is it your first month using the CB ? I found the second month I had much less flashing, so not sure if coincidence or because it’s getting use to my levels 🤷‍♀️! Hopefully you’ll be getting yours soon! I hated waiting too, and googled it so much!

@ExPatHereForAChat thank you :) I think I’d say your 3rd from top test would be your peak, looks darkest to me. But I’ve not used those tests myself.

@Moonshine160 I’m hoping so. We haven’t managed to dtd last night, hoping tonight and maybe tomorrow. A bit disappointed, but I also don’t want to nag - when did it become like a chore for dtd?!? I feel excited and I think he just feels pressure.

@Peonies94 whoop! Testing buddies! Got everything crossed for our bfp’s this month!!🤞🏻

@MummyStevensToBe sounds like you’re right before O if your temp has dropped…though I’m only going on what I’ve heard, as I don’t temp myself!

@siaa I’m sorry you’ve had a bfn today, maybe wait a few days and try again - what cycle day are you on?

As I’m just going by Flo this cycle, I should be ovulate tomorrow.

I’ve been having weird fluttery feelings on my right side since yesterday, plus EWCM so I think the timings of Flo are correct!

I think we’ve covered all bases as we’ve done Friday, Sunday and yesterday, but will DTD again too.

If I O tomorrow, does that mean we also need to DTD again tomorrow then Friday? Poor husband didn’t realise it’d be such a marathon 😂🤦🏽‍♀️

@mrsS21 I know, so exciting!! I’m not holding out much hope, but I am really wishing!!

Yep @Firsttimetrier that’s right - ideally day of O and day after if you can. We’re definitely dtd tonight but will see if I can convince him for tomorrow 😆 we dtd Thursday, Saturday and then tonight, so hoping we’ve done enough.
Roll on 10 days time @Peonies94

@mrsS21 I know, the countdown is on!

We’ve next week booked off, so hoping lots of family time helps take my mind off it!

@mrsS21 ahh that’s lovely! Yea hopefully that’ll help! I’m dreading 5DPO onwards, at that point I get a little crazy, though I’ve tried to calm myself after last month! 😂

Can I ask your opinions - I honestly don’t know if we have the stamina to go again tomorrow but we will give it our best shot. If we can’t, do you think we’ve done enough? I’m worried we really need DTD tomorrow but don’t want to put pressure on us.

That looks really great to be honest- you’ve covered a lot of your fertile week!

@Peonies94 I know I have been symptom spotting like crazy before. Hoping that the testing this month means I can relax a little. We know we’ve targeted my ovulation, so just a waiting game now 🤞🏻😊

@Firsttimetrier looks fine to me! They say the most important days are the 3 leading up to ovulation and you’ve covered all of them! I know how you feel though, I only had 2 flashy smiles so I didn’t cover the day before positive, and wished I had! But I covered positive day, and the day after, so hoping that’s enough! Just would have preferred to have more waiting, if you know what I mean 😂

@Peonies94 yes! I wish there was more time between the days and a few additional peak days would be great 😂. We’ve gone from twice a week to 3 days in a row, so bit of a jump.

I’ve woken up with ovulation pain this morning, so hoping we’ve done enough as DH is actually out tonight and I’m back home late, so don’t think we’ll manage to DTD anyway.

@Firsttimetrier ahh I know! Before ttc, we did very little, possibly once every 2 weeks, so we don’t know what’s hit us 😂! Yes that should be fine, you got a few days in before, so should be all sorted!

In the words of DH “I’ve sent them all to the club, now we hope that they’re ready to meet and party” 😂

I’m going to try and hold out testing until the 21st but those internet cheapies are always too tempting!

When are you all testing?

Hahaha that’s ace @Firsttimetrier love that!

Fingers crossed for us all! Let’s hope it’s a great party this month 😆