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.

leopard I am taking folic acid currently which is the essential one. Will be moving onto pregnacare conception soon and getting DH onto the mens version as we need his sperm nice and strong as they are at a disadvantage due to the vasectomy.

@Hopingforno2in2023 These are the two we used last time - excellent! We were at peak health and fitness when we conceived baby #1 so we really need to make the effort for #2 as well 🤣

@happyfeet5 I feel like that's totally natural. It's a big deal! I'll say it hasn't affected our relationship negatively, it's just brought us together even more - we're a proper team! But we always agreed to do everything 50/50. We've stayed sharing a bed, he helped in the night despite working etc. Doesn't work for everyone but did for us. Honestly it's the most incredible experience - grueling for the first 6 months and hard after that too, but so worthwhile. I had a traumatic birth (still recovering physically to be honest) and my son has never really slept (we still co-sleep) but I'm so in love. I'm definitely not the same person, it humbles you! I think my body didn't feel like my own until my son stopped drinking breastmilk! Xx

Ha same leopard! When we TTC DS I was young, slim and so fit. Now I am heading for middle age and overweight. Nothing I can do about my age but I will be a healthy weight by March!

@Mushroo that is so annoying! Hope you’re enjoying family time nonetheless! One month isn’t a big deal I guess in the grand scheme of things

@Hopingforno2in2023 very true! Thank you. DP already does most of the housework to be fair, I do much less but then every so often I do a huge blitz of the place ha ha. I feel very lucky as read lots of threads on here where men think it’s not their job to clean! We spread it evenly between us on the whole.

@LeopardLover that’s so lovely and reassuring! I bet it’s really exciting for you thinking of a sibling for him, and you’ve all the benefit of your experience this time round so you somewhat know what to expect! How old is your DS now? I’m sure you’ve mentioned somewhere but it gets lost within all the hundreds of comments.

@Hopingforno2in2023 how old were you TTC your first DS?

I think I’m younger than most on here!

I was 26 happy so not really young but my body felt much younger than it does now 😂

@happyfeet5 how old are you? I'm 27 and would be the first of my friends to have a child so feel quite young comparatively

@Hopingforno2in2023 that’s young by a lot of people’s standards these days isn’t it!
@Firsttimetrying2022 22 and 24 with birthdays next year so would be a year older of course when baby arrives. So, by many standards, extremely young! We have our ducks in a row (home, stable jobs, planning marriage). It would not be everyone’s cup of tea to do things in this order but it suits us. Our parents were both considerably older having us and it shouldn’t have a big impact but it does, as we would rather both sets of grandparents not be in their late 70s etc when DC are tiny.

Yes it is considered young nowadays happy especially as in our case DH was only 24 and people don’t expect men to be ready that young. It was right for us though.

Hi 👋🏻

I’m 31 and plan to properly start our 1st TTC journey in April. Would have started it from October this year but our honeymoon in the Caribbean got pushed back to Jan 2023 and I also started a new job in Dec. With potential Zika risk (not as much of an issue as it was circa 2016) husband and I have decided to take NHS advice and wait the 3 months to start TTC.

We’ve both started preparing with vitamins etc. I came off the pill in October and have following one withdrawal bleed from stopping pill had my ‘true’ period at the start of the month and hoping my cycle becomes more regular now (never had issues before but who knows!).

Its great to find such a supportive and informative community here. ☺️

First time posting! We are hoping to start in January 23 for #1. Implant taken out in October and hoping my body has adjusted. After years of periods all over the shop, I have a normal cycle. Just wondering if anyone has any tips? Or even navigating family members who always offer a drink at social things, MIL is extra cray cray at the moment and I think even if I deny a drink (trying to stop drinking now Christmas is done) she’s going to pipe up asking if I’m pregnant.

@Hopingforno2in2023 Hahaha! I really have 3/4 months to sort myself out!

@happyfeet5 I'm not sure how he'll handle the whole sibling thing as he's a right little character but it will be really lovely I think (I hope). We also won't need to buy anything new because we spent a fortune the first time round and I've kept his wardrobe in pristine condition 😉 He's 20 months so I want to try around his 2nd birthday! A 3 year age gap would be dreamy but happy to wait a bit longer - I expected it to take 1-2 years last time so it was a pleasant surprise! I think it's really great you're ready to start TTC at your age, it look us a lot longer to sort ourselves out! ❤️

@CatLadyH That sounds sensible and really exciting. I love that lots of us will be starting in a few months time. Plenty of time to prepare!

@madeofcodes My top tip is to use OPKs (ovulation predictor kits) so you know when you've ovulated and can time things. Lots of people think they know when they ovulate, so spend a few months without them - then realise they'd been getting their timings wrong. I will say they don't work for everyone though. I always claim to be on a serious no-sugar / alcohol /caffeine health kick to sort my health out so that's why I won't touch a sip! To be fair I do get really strict while prepping anyway because I need to 🤣xx

@DanisEndo hope you are ok? Are you able to do an updated list as so many have joined? If you are swamped I am happy to do one :)

@madeofcodes I am planning on telling people I am doing dry January, because we had a lot of drinks at Christmas, and I also plan on doing very very little in way of socialising lol!

Hello everyone! After a mad few days over Christmas I got a positive ovulation stick yesterday. We managed to DTD yesterday, but won’t be able to again until tomorrow. So hopefully I am more the 72 hour end of the scale for how long after my LH surge I ovulate. Then we will have had two “goes” - so I might already be in my first ever TWW - I don’t know. I’ve had two very late nights and been quite ill and didn’t get round to doing my temp so I won’t be able to pinpoint an ovulation date. Exciting though!

@CRbear fingers crossed for you! Good luck in your first TWE

*TWW

I'm predicting to ovulate today or tomorrow. We DTD yesterday and Thursday and will do today, tomorrow and Monday so fingers crossed this will be our month

That’s a far better hit rate than us @Firsttimetrying2022 !! Everything crossed for you.

What a lovely thread! It feels so reassuring to share similar experiences with people in the same boat as you, especially when you haven’t shared it with loved ones yet.

So, here we go:
Age: 32
TTC: No.1

I too have been off the pill for a while & have PCOS. We started trying last month (Nov 2022) after a whirlwind of a couple of years! I’m trying to get my head around the ovulation app whilst also not getting too consumed & it impacting negatively.

I’ve been taking the MyOva supplements (MyoPlus) for a few months now which have definitely had a positive effect. They contain inositol, folate & chromium.

I love listening to podcasts & reading lots of articles/info around the above. So any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

The Christmas diet has been very indulgent so I’m looking forward to returning to my routine, eating healthier again & exercising.

I look forward to following this thread & reading about everyone’s experiences. Wishing you all the luck 🍀

Good luck bear and first! Can’t wait until we start seeing BFPs.

@CRbear yay!! Fingers crossed for you lovely

@SJ2 welcome!

Happy New Year!

@CRbear @Firsttimetrying2022 Good luck to you both!

@SJ2 Welcome! I'm really looking forward to starting 2023 off right too. And I love a good podcast and I'm interested in any recommendations!

Thanks! I'm just taking Sainsbury’s own pregnancy vitamins! Got everything you need in there! I do admit I struggle to take them though as the tablets are so large! Any recommendations on easy to take ones?!

Happy new year ladies may 2023 be our year!