Preparing to TTC in 2022

[WingingIt09]

DH has agreed to starting to TTC baby #3 in April/May. We already have a 2 daughters (age 4 and 2). I'm so excited to start trying! I think it's going to be a long wait until we can start actively trying!

Starting to think about things to do to help prepare my body. I'm currently on the progesterone only pill so thinking of when to stop it. I have 5 days left in this packet and then one packet left after that in my current prescription. Don't know whether to stop when I finishes this packet or at the end of Jan after my next packet. Any experiences of how long it takes cycle to regulate after the pill?

I need to try and eat healthier as I've been so bad recently with Christmas but I'm a healthy weight so not too worried there. Also ordered some TTC vitamins which I remember from previous pregnancies is good to take 3 months before TTC.

Anything else I could do? Is there anyone else who will be starting to try later in the year and so excited that you're already on here 🙈?

Hey guys - hope this is the right place to post . Been (badly) TTC for a while - not half heartedly, but not really 100% - new year new us!

Anyway, this month is the most convinced of all symptoms I was getting - mainly just felt different, uncomfortable from bloating - as I'm typing I suddenly can't think of anything else - but I def was more convinced than usual. I came on, on the day I was due on (13 DPO), at first I had the usual hope it was implantation bleeding, but then the next day it was heavy like a real period. Now - completely nothing. So was only on for 1 day. I did a pregnancy test today (15 dpo) and it's negative.

I did test positive for covid yesterday - so wondering if anyone has had covid and it had similar affect on their periods?

Thank you!

I would start taking folic acid as soon as possible Endo. Taking it for a year before conceiving is associated with a significantly reduced risk of premature birth. Basically take it for as long as you can before TTC as it will only do good :)

@Vasectomyreversalhopeful I didnt realise that, thank you for the advice!

Do you have any recommendation of brands? I've heard pregnacare can cause variation to cycles which i could really do without (cycles already vary between 22 and 42 days)

Welcome to the over planners club @DanisEndo
I have some weight to lose too so have restarted my diet 😒

At the moment I am just taking bog standard supermarket folic acid. Once this pot has finished I will switch to pregnacare as that is what I took last time and I had no issues. I think the crucial ones are Folic Acid and Vit D both of which you can get in supermarket own brands. Am getting DH on Wellman conception this time due to the vasectomy. Didn't bother last time.

Thanks @Dreamingof3 , my membership to the club isn't limited to TTC unfortunately ahah :')

@Vasectomyreversalhopeful thanks thats so helpful I'll have a look when i do the shop this weekend! Im assuming theres no better time to start than the present for DP as well? It's so much rarer you hear of the mens conception vitamins I havent got the foggiest whats in them!

Weird things like Q10 Endo I am just following the advice of the vasectomy reversal clinic. I don't think many men take conception vitamins so don't worry :)

@Vasectomyreversalhopeful we'll take any tip we can get so thank you!

I feel a bit mad think about all this now, when in reality i know 6 months will fly by. Just feel like I'm going to jinx it and for whatever reason it wont happen and TTC will be delayed. Is that completely irrational?

@DanisEndo no not irrational at all... or if it is I'm completely irrational too! I have no reason to suspect we will have trouble conceiving. I have had 3 planned pregnancies all conceived first month trying and 1 unplanned pregnancy on the coil... so we are apparently very lucky and conceive quickly. Yet I'm still irrationally worried that this time it'll take ages or that if we do fall pregnant I'll miscarry (that one not so irrational as I've miscarried 2/4 pregnancies).

Welcome @Springblooms08 & @DanisEndo

@bighev I think it's probably more because I had my first at 24, I've aged an additional 10 years as a result of single parenting 2 kids and putting myself through uni! Plus most people I know did start younger, perhaps not as young as I did.

@Vasectomyreversalhopeful great news, good to have a definite date in the diary.

I'm not really obsessing at the moment, however I went through a phase and I have drawn up a couple of budget scenarios and a list of things I would need to buy before the birth and things that could wait until afterwards which means we could use some of a savings account we can't access for another 12 months.
Although I think if we weren't moving I might have started to buy bargains in preparation!

Re names, when we made the decision we would ttc this year (I had previously not wanted to have more children) we went through a phase of looking at names, both seriously and in jest - there's even apps which show you matches. Unfortunately we do not agree on any names, but I am not worried as although I had a list of names for my dc their actual names weren't on the lists at all.

@DanisEndo I took pregnacare and seven seas previously with no issue, this time I have chosen proceive for both DP and I starting 3 months before for DP as I believe that the process for making sperm is 2-3 months. I've been taking a generic womens vitamin including folic acid for a while now.

Lots of us seem to have those fears of what if it isn't plain sailing so I am going to say it's completely natural.

I've also had an early miscarriage and a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks in the past so those are no doubt in the back of my mind.

Hi all

I've not had chance to catch up fully with the thread yet but had a very embarrasing morning when I popped over to my parents today!

My father said he wanted to give me advice and how I wasn't going to like it.... I was like riiiiight? And then he followed up by saying how we really should start for a family if we haven't already because of my age and we need to crack on! I am 31, am I really that old? Argh.

To say I was mortified was an understatement. I have never expressed my desire or plans really to my parents so I think he was fishing a little. I see the funny side but has anyone else had this kind of pressure?? Or had similar comments from friends/family?

@Summerbreeze111 definitely not old! In my experience I am unusual amongst my friends for having kids when I did... I was 25 when DD1 was born, 27 for DD2 and turn 30 this month so will probably be 31 when baby#3 makes an appearance. Most of my friends are just starting to have their first babies now at 29/30 or are getting married now and planning them in the next couple of years for their early 30s.

@Jennifer89 @Summerbreeze111 I'm also joining the club for starting TTC in the spring/summer this year! Just started taking my folic acid supplements and still need to negotiate with DH about whether or not we go to St Lucia in April - I don't want to go anymore because of the Zika risk and it would mean we would have to wait until July to start trying (which he is totally fine with and I am not keen on as I'd like to get started earlier 🤣)

@bighev

I'd be interested to know which apps people are using? I used natural cycles to track when I conceived my daughter but it's expensive. Ive just switched to Flo to try it out. Any other recommendations?

I'm using Ovia which seems to be pretty good and is free. I have a fairly regular cycle and have been tracking my symptoms since I came off the pill a few years ago and got the copper coil instead. So it's quite easy to put all the symptoms in at key times of the month.

Hi can I join this group please, I’m 34 with a 3 year old and wanting to try for a second. Last year my husband said our house was too small for anymore children and working from home and so we’ve now moved to a 4 bed house and bam my biological clock has gone off again. In the same dramatic fashion when I decided to try for number 1! It’s strange really as all my nct group have been eager for their second and have now had them or are pregnant when I’ve been nowhere near ready until now.
I would like an autumn term baby, so ready to start trying now, however we have a big family holiday planned at the end of June and I really don’t want to be hot, fat and sober for that if I can avoid it. Plus the hassle of 3rd trimester on a plane, but my head and heart are conflicting…
To make matters worse I am in my first official ovulation window according to my app and my husband has caught covid! Therefore we’re isolating from each other while I care for my daughter so there’s definitely no baby dancing this month!

@Summerbreeze111 yep.. Get this from time to time. Last weekend my Dad's girlfriend was sewing a cute blanket and I said how it would be nice for baby nursery. Then my Dad says maybe she can save it for when you have a baby after a talk about me not getting any younger and children being a blessing etc . Grandparents hey..

@HippeePrincess wow that is such an achievement, must have been such a monumental juggling act being a single mum to two kids while studying. Well done! I see what you mean about feeling older. Was trying to also reassure you that plenty of mums have kids in their mid and late 30s. You're still on the young side where I live.

@Jennifer89 I got married in August and my MIL has already made a baby blanket, u couldn't believe it when she said!

I think it's completely normal to worry about things like this isn't it. I've had no trouble conceiving previously. 2 surpise contraception pregnancies (first sadly ended in miscarriage at 12 weeks) and we tried for our second for 4/5 months but only by not using any contraception so I'm hoping by actively trying this time it'll be as quick 🤞

We're always talking about names and can't agree on many..I definitely think it's harder when you have sibling names they need to go with!

I'm ordering some ovulation tests today...does anyone have recommendations?

I've been recommended the femometer app by a friend as it tracks your cycles and you can upload tests and it'll tell you if they're positive

I can't wait to start seeing everyone getting their positives 😍

@Dreamingof3 I used the onestep ones off Amazon when trying for my second. They were cheap and I had no problems with them. I ordered 50 for about £8 off Amazon.

I agree it's definitely harder when you're trying to match sibling names too. We already have a girls name as we had a shortlist of 2 for DD2 and have always said we'd name baby #3 the name we didn't use. No idea on boys names but don't think we'll need one!

Thank you @WingingIt09 will get some ordered!

I have absolutely no boys names I love, but like you I think we'd have another girl so it doesn't matter 🤣

I have seen 2 pregnancy announcements from friends in my outer circle this morning!

Is it just me or does anyone else feel a pang of jealousy and question their choices of waiting a little longer even though they have completely valid reasons?

More over why do I even feel that way? Yuck at me. I am going to go with the fear of the unknown scared that it will never happe to us maybe!

Hello!
We are going to start actively trying this year too. I want to lose weight first, so we don't have a set date, I just have a goal weight lol.

At the moment we're NTNP, if it happens it happens. I'd be pretty chuffed, but I think he's a bit scared!

@Summerbreeze111 I get it too. Even though I'm happy with when we want to try I definitely get a bit jealous! I think it shows I definitely want another though!

@Gizzy93 will this be your first? Even on my third I think I'll still panic a bit if/when I get that positive 🤣 also want to lose weight first which is another reason we aren't actively trying just yet, although if it happens it happens

@Summerbreeze111 I completely get that. I'm lucky that no-one in my inner circle is TTC yet (that I know of ofc) and no announcements yet, but further a field its like every person I've ever crossed paths with is expecting and it breaks my heart every time. Its so complex because i feel bad/jealous when i see the announcement. then i feel bad because i felt bad. then i try and fake being super happy for them (because deep down i am right?). then i feel even worse that it feels forced.

@Gizzy93 welcome and join the crew! I have 3st to loose in total and we're aiming to start in summer/autumn of this year.

Im signing back up to the gym and going to aim to do three classes a week and already do one open water swim a week so just keep that up, then cook whole, colourful food, fresh. so not a 'diet' just less processed and variety. I want these changes to be things i can maintain.