TTC Cycle 5-What else should I do?

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Just looking for some advice from those who have been there. I'm ttc #2 and on to TTC cycle 5 (though really it's been 8 months as we had 3 months off due to work trips and illness). As I get closer to the six month mark, I keep thinking I should try to do something else to improve our chances. So far I've tried the Clearblue fertility monitor and pre-seed. Then I tried just not using the monitor to focus less on cycles and be more relaxed but that didn't work either. I do know it takes time but my partner ideally wants three children and I have a family history of early menopause (like as early as 37) so don't want to wait to hear "Well, if you'd done X a year ago it would've been fine." I'm not really worried at this point as I know it's still early stages, but do want to be proactive and do my part on things.

Am I missing anything obvious besides BBT tracking (avoiding this for now as I found it a nightmare when I tried before with my first)?

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet, prenatal vitamins and omega 3 fish oil, gentle exercise, DTD every other day around ovulation, trying to relax... I'm sure that you're doing all of the above already!

Raspberry leaf tea, maca powder, iron rich food is also meant to help.

Alternative/holistic therapies such as womb and fertility massage, castor oil packs, reflexology, accupuncture... I've even heard of someone getting pregnant following regular reiki treatments.

Have you spoken to your GP? They may be able to refer you for fertility tests

Someone on here once recommended The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant which could give some ideas. I assume you're avoiding ibuprofen? I've tried pink grapefruit juice but i don't know if it was that which did it for us really. How old are you and your other half?

@Porridgeaddiction , Yes, been doing all of the above. I may try the tea or some of the other easy things to start with. I did talk with GP and because of my family history they ordered a couple tests, one to check my hormone levels and one scan to check my ovaries--all normal. I have thought about just sucking it up and charting but that honestly got me super stressed when trying for dd1 and I also don't want to worry myself prematurely as I do know these things can also just take time.

@Lottle , I will check the book out, thank you! Yes, I always avoid ibuprofen now and only take paracetamol if necessary. I'm 35 and dh is 41.

I've been there, took us a year for our second pregnancy and I think I tried everything! My suggestion would be to read the book 'it starts with the egg' and get on the recommended supplements. I know what you mean about charting but might be worth doing one or two months to make sure you're actually ovulating and when that is happening. If it all makes sense in line with what you thought you could stop, it definitely is stressful. Good luck!

@kmbegs , I will check it out. For now I'm just going with every other day from cd10-18 as that covers my fertile period even with variation in cycles. I am seriously considering the Ovusense Ovucore to track BBT in a less stressful way, but my current phone is too old to work with their app so I'm going to try charting old school with a regular BBT thermometer and if it gets too stressful just stop.

Will definitely give the book a read. I think besides me dh could probably benefit from supplements too as lately he's not been taking any vitamins recently and it can't hurt, right?

@kmbegs I bought it, start reading today 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Good luck. I'd go and see your doctor if things don't work this cycle x

We fell the month DH reduced alcohol more drastically and took some wellman vitamins more religiously. Obviously not sure if that was what made the difference. Good luck

Things I did the month I got pregnant were: pre-seed (a lot of it, didn’t use enough the previous month I don’t think), did the legs in the air thing afterwards, we did the sperm meets egg method while using the clear blue and cheap easy at home ovulation tests, we did ‘it’ every day from flashing smiley til 2 dpo. I feel like if that egg was to be released at any given time that cycle, we were covered! 😂 I‘be just came off my pill to try again but going to try and be more chilled this time (as I put a bbt thermometer in my basket) 🙄 I like data and it makes me feel more in control even if I can’t do anything with it!

@Goodnewsday that is exactly what I'm doing, verbatim. I hope this is our month too 🤞🏽🙏🏽 how far in are you ?

@NatGee I have literally just came off my pill to try for our second. He is only 13 months so I’m still a bit on the fence as to whether it’s too soon but also trying to factor in it maybe not happening instantly and you’re then pregnant for 9 months so he’ll be 2 at least. We won’t try this month, il wait until my first proper period after coming off the pill then start in October probably. I said the last time though that if I was pregnant at Christmas again I’d want to be at least 12 weeks as it was a nightmare to hide not drinking etc but there’s a reason why not for every possible month so 😂

@Goodnewsday I've heard said that we are never ready for a child. Imagine a second 😅 in all seriousness, its an incredibly personal decision to make and yes perhaps you need to get back to feeling your old self again first. And quite rightly it may not work as quickly!
Curious about having to hide not drinking during the festivities. I imagine that it's because you wouldn't tell people if you fell?

Hi, just wanted to join in a thread. I'm new to mumsnet 👋
I'm TTC #1 and on cycle 3. I was due today but not started yet but I did get a negative test on Tuesday so I think I'm out this cycle.
I was 6 days late last cycle and every day was so hard because I was getting negative tests but not started my period either!!🤦🏼‍♀️
Never thought TTC would be this mentally hard and every cycle is disappointing. 😞 Don't know how I'll feel the longer it doesn't happen.
It's nice to know I'm not alone though.