Preparing to TTC in 2023

[DanisEndo]

Hi,

I'm part of a lovely thread which was started in 2021 for those planning to start TTC in 2022 and it was such a supportive group! we've now seen lots of positives and given each other a lot of support and tips through ups and downs.

I'm now 'pausing' TTC until after my wedding in 2023 and thought it'd be nice to start up a similar thread to see if there is anyone else now prepping and getting excited for next year!

On the last thread everyone introduced themself by saying their age, what they're trying for and when they plan on starting - I'll then keep a list up to date and post so everyone can easily see others who are at the same stage as them!

I'll go first:

Age: 27
TTC no: 1
Starting: Sep 23

Between now and then I'm going to be taking folic acid, try and loose some lbs to get closer to a healthy BMI, save some money in a baby pot and enjoy some 'baby free' activities (i.e., wine, gin, sushi and surfing!). I have endometriosis and PCOS so going to try and get my periods more regular and pain management via diet.

@CRbear thank you. I think I'll do the same. I have the copper coil so should be immediately able to conceive, but I want it out way in advance just in case there are any complications, such as infections and injury from having it removed so I 3 months ahead of when we start trying should be enough. And I'll start the prep such as vitamins, lifestyle changes in the NY.

...r.e the time of year baby is born. If all goes to plan and I conceive quickly (around Oct/ nov/ dec) I should have a late summer/early autumn baby. I would probably rather not have a Christmas baby but I don't care enough to actively prevent it

Started using OPKs today - ready for the new year. Hoping to bring a bit more structure and control to the process by testing and tracking

@Firsttimetrying2022 that’s what I like about tracking and testing the control we have and it certainly helps knowing what is going on inside us! I had my peak yesterday and temp rose today so looks like I’m not 1dpo into that dreaded TWW happy it’s over Xmas as means I will easily keep distracted

Hi all,
Jumping on this thread :)

Age: 34 (35 soon….)
TTC: 1 (after one MMC so far)
Trying: as soon as AF returns after MMC

Started trying in May 2022 - it took 10 months for my AF to return after the pill. So those on the pill - if you want to TTC in 2023 I would recommend coming off now to start tracking cycles (we used condoms and pull out method).

I got pregnant in October after 5 cycles of trying, but sadly had an early scan at 7 weeks and it was an MMC. I had to wait three weeks for surgery under general anaesthetic to remove the embryo etc. that was two weeks ago so now I’m just waiting for AF to return to try again.

I’m excited about trying again, but the sex and tracking and waiting does get tiring. So I would say absolutely DO NOT change future plans for a baby. I found when I was pregnant, I just said I wasn’t drinking and people got the hint and didn’t ask (maybe as I’m older no one goes “ooo are you pregnant” anymore). Didn’t even tell anyone we were TTC. However, once we had the MC we told everyone anyway as you really need a support network.

hopefully that’s useful advice and doesn’t sound too negative :) hope everyone gets their BFP this year!!

Yeah it's nice to be reassured that something is happening inside of us. Hope your TWW goes quickly and you get good news at the end of it!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas? I am getting v excited now it is almost 2023!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Me and my fiance had a drunken conversation on Christmas night about how this may be the last Christmas spent this way for a while (pissed as farts basically). As hopefully I'll be preggers next Christmas!

I actually felt a but sad (not about the lack of drinking) but more about the potential change in tradition. I absolutely love Christmas as it is with my close family (all adults) and even though it will a completely different kind of fun with children and I'm looking forward to it and kind of mourning that it'll never be the same - anyone else get this or just me ?😂

This was my first Christmas as a mum. Last year I was 22 weeks pregnant with DD.

It was different not drinking all day but wouldn't change it for the world. DD crawled for the first time on Xmas eve . On Xmas day she crawled to her presents and we caught this and her tearing off the wrapping paper on video. It was priceless.

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to join this thread - I joined a thread in 2020 when I was TTC my son (now 20 months) and most of us are still in a Facebook group together, it's been such a great support.

Age: 37
TTC: #2
Starting: April/May (probably)

Similar to you @WolfMother326 I had a traumatic birth, so I haven't really started thinking about TTC until now. I'm really keen to get back to the gym and sort my diet out before TTC #2. I'm very much aware secondary fertility is a thing, so although ideally I'd wait until Summer, I might just crack on once my son is 2 as who knows how long it'll take! 😊

I will probably order the concoction I used last time to conceive - Pregnacare Conception, Conceive Plus, Calc Fluor (for implantation) and some OPKs! I was using BBT last time (which totally works) but I got a bit obsessive so I'm trying to be a little more chill this time. Lovely to meet you all!

Welcome leopard. It is 7 years now since I joined my first MN TTC group and we are still in a Facebook group together sharing so much with each other.

Hi there

We are planning to ttc around April/may. I am 30 and this will be baby 1. I came off the pill last Sept as we were originally going to start in Jan. I got a big dream new job which I couldn't turn down. It begins in feb so I want to settle in and make sure I'd be there a year before mat leave.

My cycle went back to fairly regular 29 day cycles quite quickly although short 3 day periods and on the lighter side.
Small twist...
A few weeks ago our confirm split. It was the day after I finished my period so we decided to risk it. I'm using premom app to track and it said outside fertile window.
I am now 5 days late on my next period 😱. i also have bad cramping and have been very emotional. I am going to test later today when I get home (at relatives for Xmas and trying to ignore what might be going on). I am not sure what we will do if I am positive. I have been crying thinking about it. It is the absolute worst timing with this job and I have been drinking fairly heavily and doing a lot of intense non- pregnancy friendly gym exercises at HIIT classes.
Absolute nightmare! But tricky as in many ways we are just about ready for a child.

If it isn't that I'm pregnant, it's then the worry of why my cycle has become irregular and what the cramps are.

@SweetLion it will be ok if you are pregnant! Your job will understand. You'll still be able to start and work there for a good period of time. They legally can't change their offer, and when something similar happened to me with my first everyone was very understanding. Just don't say anything to them until you're 3 or 4 months along, that's normal anyhow. You'll probably be with that job much longer than your leave period and it won't matter in the end! Also the drinking doesn't really matter, it happens to so many people who didn't realise they were pregnant.

@LeopardLover we are in a very similar position! I'm a little older but we are also going to wait until April to start trying because we've got some things we want to achieve at the start of the year, like finishing getting settled in our new home and also I am finishing a book and know how sick I was last time around so will use Jan- Apr to make some progress. Also, like you I want to get in a bit better shape! I'm both eager to start and pretty nervous.

Hi everyone. I’ve been TTC since August when I came off the combined pill. However decided to have a break from tracking and hoping to try again properly in January 2033

Age: 25
TTC no: 1
Start date: January 2023

My cycles have been long and irregular since coming off the pill (48 days and currently CD75) and from when I tracked I ovulated around CD37. I have had bloods done at the doctors and all came back clear but really concerned and I still have no sign of AF. I thought PCOS but not sure if bloods would have picked this up? Any advice would be great!

I am also taking fertility plus ovulation and fertility supplements and hoping cycles will clear up.

Any advice or positive stories would be nice! Looking forward to sharing this journey with you all 😀

Can I join please. Mc in August 7 weeks....took a break for 2 cycles to recover. Started TTC 2 cycles ago no luck at all. Yet I literally fell pregnant the first time on my honeymoon first week of trying unfortunately lost that bubba. Maybe you ladies can give me so advice how to calm the ### down this month as all anyone keeps telling me is to relax , it will happen.

Hey everyone and welcome

@SweetLion I wouldn’t worry too much! As PP says you won’t need to disclose till you’re as late as 4/5 months if you don’t want to!

I’m in a conundrum. Off the pill now currently having withdrawal bleed so first normal period should be circa 24th Jan, I’ve had a break from taking the pill before and cycles returned extremely fast and were 28/29 days each time, so hopefully that means it will be straightforward. We’re planning on using condoms until then, but, I have wondered if for the sake of a month and since the fertile window in reality is fairly short, we could just track my ovulation. If it happened now it would not be a huge problem but we’ve just got a busy January and I’d rather have a period first, if that makes sense.
Excited!

Thanks @happyfeet5 and @WolfMother326 annoyingly as my job is in education the summer holidays mean I would only be there a very short time in a senior role. It really would look awful. But I will have to live with the consequences. We will see! I am off home to test now 😫.

It is funny how we worry so much about fertility and then also can panic so quickly when timing is not right. It is hard to navigate it all.

I imagine it's just my cycle playing up as it's quite soon since I stopped the pill and I have been stressed and unwell this month taking all sorts of medications etc.

I’m out for this month I think! TMI but I just had the best EWCM I’ve ever had in my life. It was textbook, I took a picture I was so impressed but we’ve got family here for the next few days and won’t be able to DTD! My body is cursing me 😂

So I’ll be end of Jan I think when we properly start.

Did a test and it was negative 😅 bug relief for now but also a tiny but sad as I thought it would've been a slight fertility miracle and worried why my period has not shown up.

@Hopingforno2in2023 Thank you! Wow, 7 years - that's so lovely.

@SweetLion Congratulations on landing a great job! If you did fall pregnant soon, like the others said, I'd just keep quiet until 4 months. They might be really lovely about it! And a few of my friends have discovered they were pregnant after a big night out - all had perfectly healthy babies. Sometimes my period is late if I'm stressed out about it.

@WolfMother326 Oh that sounds like a plan! How exciting you are writing a book - one of my NCT friends wrote her book when we were all postpartum. She was writing and I was barely getting dressed 🤣 so impressive. We stopped sorting our house out when our son came along is I am doubly impressed 😉

@Ella31 So sorry for your loss 😔 Easier said than done to relax. It took me 3 months to fall pregnant with my son, but I thought even that was quite quick - it will happen for you!

@happyfeet5 Why not then! That is exciting 😊

@Mushroo@MushrooSince having my son my CM is about 10x more haha. So I'm looking forward to a clear signal when we're ready! It's a shame the timing isn't right for you!

@AROSE9 I can't really offer any advice but it took my periods a few months to settle down after my period returned - so hopefully you just need a little more time!

Hi! TTC for 3 years, a couple of early miscarriages but 2023 is the year of focusing on loosing a couple of pounds and really focusing on having a miracle! Especially now the wedding stress is out of that as we finally wed in June 22.

I have very irregular periods but the last year they have become more regular thankfully.

my husband and I started taking conceive plus tablets last week and yesterday I noticed I was spotting, which I took as a good sign for ovulation. But today I’m having cramps and have a lot more than spotting but not enough to warrant a period, has anyone tried conceive plus and could shed some light on similar experiences? Not sure whether to continue them or stop. (Note, I had a period 17th-21st December) I did also take an ovulation test today and was negative.

age:27
TTC our first

Well I have gone past official ovulation and we did BD at the right time I think. My temps confirmed O happened but they seemed low to rise now 6 dpo and they have risen today to what they normally are in my LP but it makes me not feel very confident about this cycle. As I’m 40 I’m concerned about progesterone amongst other things.

I have an appointment with the GP on 11th Jan so hoping they send me for blood-work to check it all out!

I thought been in the dreaded TWW would be easier over Xmas and new year because we would be busy turns out I was wrong it’s still dreaded 😂

Welcome Gallo. I am so sorry for your losses and I really hope that 2023 is your year!

I just ordered the Baby Mad thermometer to do my BBT as that is what I used last time.

Just found out today that my sister in law is pregnant with their second after only two months of trying which has been hard to hear ... obviously happy for them but hard since we've been trying since august

@Firsttimetrying2022 I know the feeling. We have been trying for the same time and feels like it's so easy for everyone else. My friend has just got pregnant after 1 cycle!

It's important to know that everyone is different and it can take longer for others and that is normal. I am in the same boat and fingers crossed it happens for you soon.

Hugs First but try and remember that the average is 4-6 months and up to a year is completely normal