Ho ho ho! We all want Santa to come (with loads of BFPs)! It's the December thread 🎅🌲🎁

[Squiff70]

I don't know. Not even a week into November and sadly some are out for this month.

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas and you're definitely on Santa's NAUGHTY list, this is the one for you. Not a December bus but a December SLEIGH!

So go Dasher, go Dancer, go Prancer and Vixen! We don't want you to bring us those toys. Please stuff our stockings full of BFP joy!

Still pretty early though..I'm feeling full of energy today so not too hopeful either

@AmberRH1993 also I have line eyes I'm looking at those tests and swear I can see vvf lines

@jazmine38 I don't think so.. Here is them after 30 mins... Maybe there's a little hint but that could be just evap

@AmberRH1993, how many DPO are you? If you're 6 days to go before AF it might honestly be too early. If you have a 14 day luteal phase, that'd mean you're only 8DPO...

@Shortmamashortcycles I don't really understand luteal phase - I thought I ovulated on 4th December CD8 as I got my strongest opk but then also had EWCM on 12th December CD16 but a very faint opk so I'm not 100% certain where I'm at anymore 😂 maybe a stupid question but what is luteal phase?

Ah ok - so the luteal phase is the part of your cycle from ovulation to menstruation. It's the bit that covers any potential implantation of a fertilised egg.

Crucially, it's not as variable as the first half of your cycle (i.e. the bit from period to ovulation). Your ovulation date may shift a bit, but your luteal phase stays fairly regular, changing by max a day or so from cycle to cycle (unless there's a hormonal imbalance or something).

That means if you ovulated earlier than you expected, you'll probably get AF earlier too, because your luteal phase remains the same. And vice versa, if one month you ovulate late, then AF will be "late" even if you haven't conceived.

Most women have a luteal phase of around 12-14 days, so if you ovulated on cd8-10, and you're now on cd21, that means AF is actually due basically now, and also that you're about 11-13DPO which means any pregnancy test will be pretty accurate.

But if you ovulated later then you're still in with a chance. Hope that makes sense!

Oops sorry @AmberRH1993, meant to tag you above! 🤦‍♀️

@Shortmamashortcycles yes that does make sense - no idea how I'm gone through life not knowing this 😂

They say that when coming off the pill, you can ovulate pretty much right away following a natural period but doesn't mean you can get pregnant so this cycle is a bit of a stab in the dark. Once AF arrives (if she does) then it will help me to calibrate and understand my cycle a little better and know what to expect for next cycle.

If I go off cm, on cd8-10 I didn't have much ewcm but that's when I got my darkest opk (but not darker than the test line) however on CD16 I had loads and loads of EWCM. Following CD16 I've had lots of cramping and backache pretty much everyday so if I were to guess, id say I probably ovulated around CD16 pushing back my expected AF due date to 28th December.

Correct me if I'm wrong here 😂

@AmberRH1993, if it's your first cycle off the pill then all things are possible! One option is that your body tried to ovulate twice or maybe you had an anovulatory cycle... frustratingly it's hard to say, love. It's very annoying to be stuck in ttc limbo, I know, but try to trust your body - it'll sort itself out soon, either with a BFP or AF and, if the latter, your next cycle will probably be much easier to track. ❤❤

@Shortmamashortcycles thanks so much for your advice - it's been a great help ❤️ only time will tell I suppose 👍

@Shortmamashortcycles that was a cracking description of the luteal phase!

@AmberRH1993 until three months ago I didn't know what the luteal phase was either

@AmberRH1993

Waiting is SO HARD. But yes, it will all sort itself out with time. Grrr...

Just realised I was a bit misleading on one point - when I said, "maybe your body tried to ovulate twice," I meant maybe it tried once, didn't happen, then tried again. To be clear... you only ovulate once per cycle (but you can release more than one egg when you ovulate.) Yes I have looked this all up, yes I probably did have better things to do with my time... 🤣

@Shortmamashortcycles you definitely know your stuff though - I'm very impressed! This is why I love these threads because you get to know things that make the process much easier.

@Shortmamashortcycles 👏🏻👏🏻 Mega explanation- v much enjoyed that. Xx

OMG @Digby86 that is A LINE! Huge congratulations!!

@EmeraldSpo if it was implantation bleeding I think HCG starts production from that point on, so it would take 3-5 days to get a positive test depending on sensitivity/how quickly your body gets up to speed. Good luck, and try not to drive yourself demented (easier said than done).

@jazmine38 yay to being covid safe(er) :)

@AmberRH1993 sorry, hate being the downer, but my LH tests look like that all cycle long unless i'm ovulating, and then it is a huge dark first line. Trying not to read into things in the first cycle post birth control is such a test. My body went into hyperdrive, I had every symptom possible (which I didn't when actually pregnant), but then AF arrived. Also as a warning, my AF was so light first cycle I thought it was implantation, bodies can be so cruel. Try to relax a little, and trust in your body... do as I say, not as I do :).

@Shortmamashortcycles I see a backup career waiting for you as a fertility expert, that is one good description!

also @AmberRH1993 you aren't out until the AF arrives, and it is entirely possible to get BFP your first cycle, plenty of people do. So fingers crossed for you!! Sorry I realise that my post above was a little negative nancy due to my own first cycle experiences, and everyone is different x

@madeleine85

also *@AmberRH1993* you aren't out until the AF arrives, and it is entirely possible to get BFP your first cycle, plenty of people do. So fingers crossed for you!! Sorry I realise that my post above was a little negative nancy due to my own first cycle experiences, and everyone is different x

@madeleine85 no not at all! I'm a little aprahensive conceiving in my first cycle anyways because with my son, the first cycle off the pill I got a bfp that ended in a chemical pregnancy - the cycle after we feel pregnant with him. Id rather allow my body to adjust fully and take longer ttc than do the chemical again - it was all very confusing. Thank you for your support, its better to realistic in this process as that way you know what to expect 😊

@AmberRH1993 I would say it's more than likely too early. I too tested that early several times because you do heart of people getting BFPs at 8DPO but I think it's quite rare. Fingers crossed for you, hang in there ❤️

@madeleine85 that's interesting - thank you! Had it in my head that IB would be a positive very quickly, so that's relaxed me a bit. Very tmi but I'm not putting it past myself having cut myself shaving and now thinking I've had implantation bleeding the past 3/4 days 🥴 I don't recall having it with my previous 3 pregnancies

@EmeraldSpo lol the things that we do. It really could be either. Last month I tried to check cervical positioning and i'm pretty sure caused irritation/bleeding, so now trying to keep my hands to myself. Clearly I am not a dr and will get that wrong even if I do check. I didn't get IB with my DD either, but my sister had 2 real periods with hers. Bodies are so different/unpredictable and I wish there were a user manual!

Booster done and they were so lovely and reassuring about it while ttc!

I had a bfn today so starting to lose hope but af due between Monday and Thursday as my cycle is really irregular so not completely out yet!

@madeleine85 @HRHXO thank you so much!! I’m totally buzzing, though waiting for it to sink in.

@AmberRH1993 for sure! No squinting, wiggling it around under different lights required this time round…

@Squiff70 I’m so sorry - I totally missed that you have fallen pregnant this month too!!!! Huge congratulations - that’s wonderful news! How are you feeling? And do you know how far along you are?

@Decaffe So sorry to hear about your frustrations. I feel that way too. I feel as though every cycle so far has been messed up for one reason or another! Last month I ovulated later than expected and missed the most fertile days (EWCM played some tricks on me). This month I'm sure I either have ovulated or am due to ovulate earlier than predicted and hubby is currently away 🤦🏻‍♀️ Sat here with lashings of EWCM and no ability to BD 🥴

Hope you can still take some time to enjoy Christmas and not let it get you down. You never know, your cycle may change again and you'll ovulate later as you originally hoped.

I've never been on any form of birth control so assumed my regular cycles would mean a fairly regular ovulation. I've learnt a lot these last 4 months 😅

I'm out - AF has decided to turn up 2 days early 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Shortmamashortcycles sorry to hear you've tested positive for covid. Hope you don't feel too rotten 😢

@Decaffe oh no that must be so frustrating 😔

@Digby86 congratulations!! Definitely a BFP 🎉

Good luck to those who are still to test. Everything crossed for yous 🤞🏻❤️

Hi all,
Hoping I can join? Hope you are all well. I'm new to all this trying to catch up on thread and all the different acronyms! I'm TTC no 1 and this will be my first cycle currently on CD2. Last month I started testing using BBT, clear blue digital and easyathome. Is there anything else any of you recommend? We have preseed for BD not sure when to start BD, last month peak was around CD17. DP is off work over Christmas holidays so worked out perfectly for time together :)

Thank you 😊 @BH1926

Did a CB digital this morning to be sure… looks like it’s a definite 😬😱😍