SMEP-ing our way to a BFP 🍁🍂🐿️🍂🍁

[Aurora81]

Our SMEP plans continue.... The old thread is almost full, so I started a new thread so we can continue on SMEP-ing to a BFP ✨☺️✨

@allgoodthings84 ahh I see that makes sense. Did you test after your peak yesterday morning? If so what was the number? And what was todays? Do you still notice fertile CM?

Wish it was easier to see what was going on in there!!! I reckon keep the appointment for now since you did get a peak, and you can always change it if you get a second peak?

@pixiecircle here’s my tests. I think I properly peaked in the day yesterday when at work. So I have caught a peak but it wouldn’t have been my highest. I’ve never had a second surge before (I test for 4 days after ovulation) and AF always arrives 13dpo (or 14 days after peak) but my RHR usually goes up day of ovulation but didn’t today but to be fair it only goes up by 1bmp that day (more after) and my RHR has been all over the place since before my last AF (it kept going up right until AF day and took ages to drop fully when it always starts dropping 2 days before AF) so I can’t rely on it at moment.

I have a bad feeling I’m not going to get a very good result on my bloods. I know I’m regular etc but something isn’t right

Yesterday evening one probably lower than last nights because it was only a 2 hour hold from drinking water and going to toilet

This mornings was definitely lighter than yesterday mornings so definitely been a peak I just don’t think I’ve ovulated quite yet. I guess the test I do later at 5pm will give more clues if it’s lower than yesterdays.

@allgoodthings84 Hmm I was wondering if you maybe tried to ovulate but didn’t, but I think that’s a def positive CD13! But also it’s hard to confirm without temps.

Apparently the first positive, not the peak, is what’s important (for normal OPKs, advanced/digital are different) — this article is really good at explaining it. So it’s very likely you’ll ovulate today, if not yesterday.

I’ve never been able to rely on RHR… my charts were always so different!! Have you tried temping?

@pixiecircle I think I definitely peaked yesterday and the night before wasn’t quite positive the test line was definitely lighter than the control. I guess I’ll know if it was a proper peak if the one I do around 5pm is lighter than yesterdays and keeps getting lighter. Yesterday mornings was definitely a bit darker than the control line but I know that wouldn’t have been my highest reading if I had been able to do more a few hours later.

My CM doesn’t start to dry up until day or so after ovulation so can’t go by that quite yet

temping won’t work with me as I’m a light sleeper and wake constantly in the night and wake at different times. If I set an alarm to wake same time then it would wake my daughter and she would come straight into my room so no chance to temp anyway.

I just don’t know whether to keep my bloods as is or change to the next day because if I don’t ovulate until tomorrow then the test will be 5dpo. It shouldn’t be so hard 😂

@allgoodthings84 the only time I had two peaks while ttc, I got pregnant. Hopefully it's a positive thing 🤞 I'm not sure if it's body releasing two eggs, or just late ovulation, but I got a positive test at 8dpo from the first peak date so 🤷‍♀️

I'm currently 2-3 days late. But I had two batches of ewcm this month so I think my body struggled to ovulate this month or ovulated late. We didn't even have sex at the right time, so I'm just waiting for it to arrive...

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I don’t think I’ll get 2 peaks as it went up and then down it just seems a longer surge than I usually have. I think it looks more like others I see now 😂 mine is usually low to peak and back low all within 24 hours so it’s taken me by surprise a bit and not sure if it means I’m not ovulating today. If you got a positive test 8dpo does that mean your first peak would have been the one that pushed ovulation. Fingers crossed you did dtd at the right time and are pregnant! Will you test?

@pixiecircle that article was really interesting. Looks like ovulation will be today then as my first positive was yesterday morning as the one I took this morning wasn’t positive just high. I’ll keep on testing to make sure it goes back down and we will dtd tonight and every other day until it’s dropped right back down I think.

Sadly, came on my period today. I didn’t follow SMEP to the T, so will try again next month. I just wish I didn't get period pains. It's hard enough getting AF when you're so convinced all the symptoms prior were a sign of pregnancy. I wish AF could just come and go in peace. Anyone feels like this?

@allgoodthings84 I was using digital opks so not a measurable peak as per yours. But the 'peak' lasted a week or so. And two lots of fertile cm. The 8dpo was after the first peak yes

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 do you think you ovulated after the first peak? The second lot of EWCM would have been too early for a positive I imagine?

@allgoodthings84 yes I think I must have done, because 8dpo is very early to test anyway. Maybe I ovulated twice that month, I'm not sure. I was sure it was a really funky cycle though, maybe anovulatory, and so counted myself out. Only tested because I was having a really big weekend

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 my cycles have been so simple until now 😂 I imagine it’s probably fine and peaked yesterday with ovulation today but I’m just worried that I don’t ovulate even though there’s no reason for me to think that

@Iwillstayhopeful - I totally feel like this! My periods are so painful, it feels like a kick in the teeth! Sorry AF arrived for you, hope the pain doesn't last for too long

I know right! Thank you for your kind words. I've taken today off. Currently in bed with my hot water bottle and Ovri stomach pads x

I’m so sorry I missed your post @Iwillstayhopeful. I feel exactly the same. Once I’ve had a child I’ll happily never have a period again. I hate it. Not only is it like “yea you’re not pregnant but gave this horror too”

Have not gave. I hope this new cycle is the one for you

I need to take a bloody chill pill 😂 they obviously aren’t positive anymore so as it was positive yesterday and not this evening I’m guessing that ovulation is today. I have felt some very very slight cramping today but not like I do sometimes. Some cycles I get ovulation pain and some I don’t. I don’t mind when I do as it tells me it’s happened/about to happen. I think I relied too heavy before on my resting heart rate so now it’s gone all weird the last few weeks (either me or my Fitbit) I’m panicking that I don’t ovulate. I’m still suspicious that I had a CP last cycle

@allgoodthings84 yes I wish our bodies gave clear signs like ovulation pain every month… I actually had ovulation bleeding for the first time last cycle!!

It’s so strange when you’re normally regular and then you get that wonky cycle… our bodies can be such trolls!! But its good you’re doing bloods for this cycle, you’ll know for sure whether you ovulated or not!

Have you looked into a Tempdrop? They are bit pricey but I love the peace of mind that I definitely ovulated… it’s a wearable thing and has a clever algorithm that knows when you’re awake and you can wake up whenever you want.

@Iwillstayhopeful sorry AF has arrived, and I feel you… the pain can be so awful. Hope you’ve had an easy and gentle day today x

@pixiecircle it’s probably not even a wonky cycle I’m just worrying as want to get the day for my bloods right as don’t want to get it wrong and get a low reading because of it which will panic me that I not ovulating even if it was just bad timing etc. AF always starts properly 14 days after the positive OPK so a 12 day LP but I always start (very light barely there) spotting from 10dpo. This is why I want the tests as I’m worried about progesterone. My ovulation day varies from CD12-CD15 (from CM and OPKs) so this cycle fits in that I’m just being silly and every little thing is worrying me because I’m so scared of these blood test results as getting the right day. I’m so so scared there’s something wrong with me and we won’t be able to have a baby

@pixiecircle is that like a skin temperature thing? I’ve got the new Fitbit versa 4 coming tomorrow which tracks skin temperature. I’m not sure if my Fitbit is being dodgy as it around 4 years old now and is missing a lot of my steps. I wear it 24/7 apart from when showering or charging and use it a lot so I don’t like the thought it’s not working properly so I can’t wait to get my new one tomorrow

@pixiecircle what was the ovulation bleeding like? I know it’s normal most of the time but not had it yet. I know it could happen though

@allgoodthings84 For me it was just a tiny speck of pink. I hadn’t ever had it before, so def not most of time for me!

It’s a wearable thermometer that you sleep with kinda under your armpit, and it tracks your temp over night and has an algorithm that adjusts for the times you’re awake. I’m not sure if the Fitbit is sensitive enough to measure basal body temperature, but could be worth asking them. So nice to have that to look forward to tomorrow and distract from TTC — even if for just a moment!!

@pixiecircle ah yea the Fitbit won’t track bbt but apparently is meant to help track menstrual cycle. It won’t be precise but nothing is. Studies say even bbt is only around 50% accurate for telling which day ovulation was or around there. I think you’re right when you said CM is a good indicator if you have enough if it to be able to tell. I’m still a bit wet inside but it’s no longer EWCM and is a bit sticky feeling and not much of it so think I have ovulated (if I do ovulate)

@pixiecircle I’m just exited to have a new toy to play with. I can afford the tempdrop now as I’ve just bought this but I’m hoping my tests will tell me a bit more. I went into the doctors today and can now see all my results on the app. So much quicker than ringing up and being on hold for 45 minutes and that’s if you even get to go on hold, often there’s too many trying to call for that even 😂 🤦‍♀️ even if the results are all normal I can have another consultation with the gp (once my partner has his sperm
analysis) to be referred to a fertility clinic. If I didn’t spot I wouldn’t be worried yet as only on cycle 5 but I do spot so am worried.