SMEP - anyone giving this a try this month and want to join me?

[Mum2DD89]

New to mumsnet 🙋‍♀️ and I've seen loads of threads where everyone is so lovely and supportive so thought I'd post. This is our 4th cycle ttc #2, 1st cycle giving SMEP a try as I've seen so many success stories. With our first, we got so lucky and ended up pregnant on our first month trying so this waiting is a bit of a shock, although I know out 1st was the exception not the norm! Would love to hear any success stories, or any other ladies that want to compare notes this month x

@fsr111 I’m sorry you got a BFN it’s so disheartening when you get blank tests - onto the next cycle and new chances ✨✨

@NatGee its not over until AF comes however I was in the same position as you, I just knew! So I’m sorry that you think Af is coming, it’s very disappointing 😩💕
I’ve just realised I can check my RHR with my Apple Watch, so I’ll be doing it this cycle - any pointers?

sending you both baby dust for the next cycle ✨✨🤞

@NSx think we did CD 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and ovulated CD 12

@NatGee I just had nausea but wasn't all the time and never actually sick so hoping it's similar this time round. I'll probably tell my mum
soon as will make her day to have another grandchild

Ahh ok, im debating wether doing the 101 DTDs SMEP says - or Just doing the days before and inc ovulation 😂 wish I knew the secret x

AF arrived this morning, disappointed despite all the signs telling me it was coming, but at least I can move on now. Keeping my fingers crossed for you @NatGee 🤞

@fsr111 I’m really sorry AF arrived. Treat yourself to something lovely today

@allgoodthings84 ha I'm pretty sure I said the same a few times: not out, until af is here

Speaking of which @fsr111 really sorry the wicked witch has returned grrrr hate her but it's a sign of a new chance. New cycle new hopes let's do this!

@NSx I plotted my heart rate against my bbt and it was curious to see that they trended almost equally. I have a fit bit and wear it religiously

So bbt came crashing down today to coverline level. Am cramping quite a bit today and the sore boobs have gone (only lasted one day) I'm not testing ladies as I am loathe to waste the one frer I've got on what looks like is imminent af
Onto a new cycle 🤞🏽😁

@NatGee it’s so easy to say to others isn’t it but I think we know ourselves when AF is definitely coming. That’s why I’ve been using RHR instead of bbt as I can’t bbt but like to know I’ve ovulated. Of course I don’t know for 100% but along with the light ovulation pains and end of EWCM I think it’s a good indication I do ovulate

@fsr111 and @NatGee really sorry that's so rubbish. Hope you're both feeling okay.

@EdinburghGirl1 very glad to hear you're doing well!

@NSx I can't do SMEP this month as I'm away and so actually this month might not work for me at all as I might not be with my partner on the right days. However, in SMEP, there's only a 25% chance on each cycle even if you follow it perfectly apparently. I'll do what I can this month and restart it next month. If it's stressful though, I reckon focus it just before you expect to get a positive opk, then the day of, the day after, and then a bonus day. Just because sometimes the actual ovulation can be a couple days after the opk picks up on the surge, and then the egg lives for 24 hours

@allgoodthings84 yeah I'm gonna stop saying it. Easy to be positive when you're only a couple of cycles in. Going into my 4th now and beginning to feel the weight of it. Unrealistic I know but honestly thought I'd be easy. Not enjoying the not know if itll all even work out? Anyway, rant over

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thanks, we're gearing up for the next round. You'll find me eating cake and feeling sorry for myself today

Oh and by the way I'm spotting so definitely definitely out. Bbt and rhr have both been on the money

@NatGee, definitely at the eating everything and feeling sorry for myself stage today too, it doesn't help that AF makes me feel like crying anyway! It's like a double whammy! Hope you're ok lovely,

How's everyone who is SMEP-ing going? What days are you all on?

@fsr111 that’s how I feel about AF too! It’s bad enough we aren’t pregnant we also have to put up with AF which is just bloody miserable at the best of times. Apart from having a baby the biggest positive of pregnancy is no AF! I loved having no AF when I was pregnant with my daughter.

I think I’m on 1DPO. I peaked Friday night before bed so depends if I ovulated yesterday or today but think it would have been yesterday as EWCM went, I had ovulation pains in the night Friday night which I get not long before ovulation and my RHR went up yesterday which it always does day after peak OPK then up another 2bpm today which happens day after. If I don’t get pregnant this cycle then I’ll know which day I ovulated by what day I start spotting and AF arriving

I’ve worked out though that last cycle and this cycle has been/will be 24 days. 2 cycles before was 25 days (one in between was covid cycle so more than a week longer!). I’m hoping the next 2 cycles are a day or two longer or first day of AF will be my birthday! Yuck! Unless that’s my bfp cycle although be nice if it happens before then of course

Hi ladies, I am trying to take a more relaxed approach to ttc, so I haven't been on much the last few days. I am just sad that I lost my last early pregnancy and haven't conceived since.

@fsr111 I am so sorry that AF arrived and I hope that this cycle will be a lucky one for you ✨

@NatGee did you test? I hope AF stays away and you get a BFP when you test.

@NSx how are you doing? Are you approaching ovulation yet? I am CD 11 and my opks are negative. I am on my 3rd flashing ☺. We dtd CD 6, 9 and we are going to do it again tomorrow, once my opks are still low.

@allgoodthings84 welcome to the TWW 😊 I hope AF stays away and especially that it doesn't come on your birthday. Wouldn't it be amazing to get a BFP on your birthday ✨

Hello all, hope everyone's doing ok. It was CD6 for me yesterday, so we dtd last night as it was our first opportunity in two weeks 🤣 we're planning on next dtd on CD9, then CD11 will probably be the start of dtd every day as it's the weekend, plus on CD14, and then CD 16 onwards because that's my birthday treat/our anniversary weekend away 😬😅 But if the CB opks tell us then we'll have to do it CD15 as well 😵‍💫🤣 so if we don't catch the egg this first month of trying SMEP I shall be peeved to say the least 🤨😅

Also, those that use the CB digital opks, how's best to use them? I've only used the premom app ones before.

@Aurora81 it really takes an emotional toll doesn’t it. I’m not hopeful this month as we didn’t dtd predicted ovulation day as at wedding or the day after (yesterday) as partner was too tired. We did peak day and the day before so there’s a chance but not hopeful as I don’t know for definite which day I ovulated just thinking Saturday as was day after peak and I have a few ovulation pains late Friday night and my resting heart rate shot up saturday

@LucyFraser1981 good luck! I hope you catch this cycle

@allgoodthings84 oh good luck to you too, it sounds like you're still in with a chance with your timings, so fingers crossed 🤞💗

@LucyFraser1981 definitely a chance but I’m not very hopeful. Time will tell though 😊

@allgoodthings84 welcome to the tww, nice and early in the month. did you have a nice time at the wedding?

@LucyFraser1981 you have got your cycle all planned out, love it! I use the CB OPKs, the purple one, but only used it once, last cycle. What I did was to begin using the strips in the afternoon once the CB starts flashing. I never use the app because frankly it's rubbish. to be honest I think its best to use the CB in the afternoon or late morning because apparently lh surges in the morning and it takes time for it to travel to your urine. I heard one person say it on youtube and a book I am reading said the same but i didnt believe it, after last cycle i think its right.

@Aurora81 Aurora81 I'm going to follow your lead and take a step back from obsessing over ttc. It can really become all consuming. I didn't test - AF arrived yesterday. I'm glad not to have wasted an frer. You're CD11 - how lovely to be at that stage when you can actually do something haha good luck, happy bding :)

Ladies I bought some preseed for this cycle and COQ10 + omega 3 to take in addition to my prenatal vitamins. I am also making an appointment for more in depth checks - i'll probably ask for a laparoscopy to rule endo/pcos out

Any experience doing such investigations? What should I be asking?

It was a lovely wedding thank you 😊. I’m hot hopeful this cycle at all because hardly dtd so the 2ww won’t drag as it usually does. I’ve got an appointment Thursday with the GP to discuss my spotting before AF issues and see if they will do some tests. I know they won’t necessarily do loads as I have a child but I’m hoping some blood tests at least

@NatGee forgot to tag you in above. Do you have endo or pcos symptoms?

@allgoodthings84 good luck with your appointment fx you never know though, if you get someone understanding they may send you to do tests other than bloodwork. will you ask?

@allgoodthings84 no. But i read you can have it without symptoms.

@NatGee ohh I'm all about the planning and the organising, opposite of my OH 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 but he's so easy going he just goes along with me and calls me management 😁
Yeah I'd also read it was better to test for LH mid afternoon, so I'm unsure why the CB wants to start off with testing FMU 🤔 unless it's because it also measures estrogen?

@NatGee to be honest I have no idea what’s even available so was going to see what happens at the beginning and keep asking for more help if needed. I’m on cycle 4 so there might not even be an issue but the spotting worries me