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.

Tried to zoom in

I can definitely see it @LisaJor22 !

thanks girls I have bought a digital that I will do later. I’m 12 dpo so thought I was out all negative until now x

Keep us updated!

I can definitely see a line! Would try later again as well! X

I can see it now. Fingers crossed for you

@Foreverhope82 what was the outcome?

Does anyone care too much about the month baby is born? I’ve asked this before but thought it would be fun to ask again given we’ve so many new joiners! On other threads I’ve seen people deliberately skipping certain months, ie autumn months so they don’t have a summer baby and vice versa.

@happyfeet5 I’d be happy with any time of year but one reason I’d like it to happen quickly is that I love the idea of a winter baby - a couple of cosy month’s hibernating then it feels like it would be easier getting out of the house without too much faff or expense in the spring and summer when they’re a little bigger. Do you have a preference?

I can definitely see it too! Fingers crossed.

It's interesting the timing thing - I think DP definitely has a preference (he's an August birthday and has always hated it being summer) but I'm much less fussed.

@LisaJor22 i see it too!

@happyfeet5 in an ideal world I want to avoid August (and maybe January).

That’s kind of our logic to starting now, in that if I’m not pregnant until November, at that point I won’t care if I have an august baby!

January wise it’s just so their birthday wouldn’t be a depressing time of year - I don’t care strongly enough that we would stop TTC.

My perfect time would be a March baby - not too young or old in the school year, sleepless nights whilst it’s getting lighter but not boiling hot, definitely be on Mat leave over summer so lots of garden time. Overall though, I’ll take what I get!

I love hearing different opinions though, as everyone has different views on it!

I have tried 2 cheap Asda tests and both have faint positives too.
will hang off a few days and hope they become darker!😊

Theoretically I'd avoid ttc April to avoid a Christmas baby. But I imagine when it actually comes to that time and I have been trying for a few months I don't think I'd be willing to give up a month!

I'm starting ttc in Oct, if it doesn't happen in first 2 cycles, I'll take December off and just enjoy Christmas without worrying about staying in tip top health for a couple of weeks then start again January.

@123ROLO @happyfeet5 I'd absolutely love a Christmas baby. Feels such a perfect present but given we won't be TTC until March/April we'd have to go 2 for 2 with a BFP cycle #1. 🤞

DD is an April baby. I'm happy she's middle of the school year but now we're contending with Easter holidays birthdays. Also May/June was so hot I found dressing her appropriately for sleeping/naps so stressful. Now I think being a newborn in the winter and more robust in the summer months would be nice. That being said a healthy baby is my priority over any birthdate!

Loving seeing all these BFPs it's making me want to start TTC ASAP. Just need to be patient for the magical 12 months PP due to my c-section

I’d like to avoid an august baby as our first is august. My siblings birthday is a day after mine and whilst I didn’t really mind sharing parties etc, if I can avoid that for my children then great. Would like to avoid Christmas for the same kind of reason.

@TrudyProud its so nice seeing BFPs isn’t it. It is making me extra broody too but I’m trying to remember patience is key haha. Did you have an EMCS with DD or was it elective, may I ask? 😊

@123ROLO I know what you mean!

@BatildaB I completely agree! And feel the same

@Mushroo hmm I know what you mean about January. March seems very ideal for all those reasons, not too dreary and depressing.

I started reading ‘it starts with the egg’ today as something practical to do and because I’m a bit of a nerd so the scientific aspect appealed and reminded me of my A levels!

it’s really interesting but so far focusses on the problems plastics / toxins can have when TTC. Essentially so far it says that heating food in plastic can cause the plastic to leak into your system, which can harm fertility.

I’ve heard a bit about plastic exposure in general via Reddit but never really took it seriously. A simple change is to replace the Tupperware with glass containers and ditch my plastic coffee keep cup.

OTOH I’m worried I’m becoming obsessive. Has anyone made any lifestyle changes other than vitamins?

Im still eating normally for me, which is reasonably healthy but definitely some takeaways, and I’m still having caffeine and definitely not made the switch to organic food or anything. What is everyone else doing?

@happyfeet5 it was logged as ES but basically my hind waters had broken 3 days prior and despite a day long oxytocin induction I wasn't dilated. I was contracting but not feeling any pain/discomfort. They offered to manually break my fore waters in an attempt to move it along but I had friends who'd agreed to that and ended up with EMCS and time in nicu so I declined and asked for a gentle CS. Was amazing. Was home in 24 hrs (I was ready to leave that day but protocol was 24hrs min ideally 48hrs) and had a really easy recovery with no scar.

I was advised that despite this to wait min 12 months (ideally 18) before TTC because any sooner risks MC or premature birth.

Ha, telling my dd birth story suddenly feels very outing 😬

I think we’ll try and avoid a December birthday, my birthday is in December and I hate it! It’s so difficult to have a birthday celebration as everyone is busy with Christmas activities.

@Mushroo I’ve been trying to avoid heating food in plastic at home, but when I’m taking food to work etc I don’t worry too much. So just that, healthy eating, exercise and vitamins for me!

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year and congratulations to the positives!!

Can I join please?

I'm 33, TTC number 2 this year... hopefully.

Number 1 was a little while in the making! :)

I have endometriosis and an extremely short LP (8 days), which I'm hoping might be longer this time round. I've only just started ovulating after DC1, so TTC from now really!

Ohh I’d love to join this thread!

TTC
November 2023
Age 32
Baby no 2

Currently on a healthy eating and exercise regime to get into better shape.

Welcome to the new ladies!
@happyfeet5 we were wanting, in an ideal world, a November baby. My DS is late Oct and I absolutely loved having him that time of year, so we thought to try for Nov (I’m also Nov and love it). However, I completely forgot we were planning on going away (in the U.K.) as my mum has a special birthday in Oct. She is single, so want to make the effort for her, so have decided to push TTC back and start in mid-late April as I want to enjoy the time away without being too big (if I was PG). Which now means a potential Jan baby 🙈 The dreaded Jan! But, on the other hand, I think it would be nice for us all to have something to look forward to after Christmas, like we do with my DH birthday, it hasn’t really bothered him. I suppose we could push back another month and try for a Feb baby but I don’t want to keep putting off!
DD is an April baby. It was a lovely time of year, but I definitely preferred Autumn 🍂

So my health anxiety is already kicking in! - Does anyone know if there are any risks of flying in early pregnancy? I'm just booking some work trips (after having barely flown for a decade I suddenly need to twice in one year..) and just realised that by then I'll be well into TTC.. I thought I was being paranoid even thinking there might be risks, but had a google and this NHS site says that "Flying during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may be considered risky as miscarriage is more common during this early stage." Very vague! Obviously I don't want to not make plans to do the travelling as I may not be pregnant anyway, but this is making me anxious already!

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/pregnant-travellers

@BatildaB I don’t think there are any risks attributed to flying - more that some people choose not to travel because of the general risk of miscarriage in the first trimester. It’s perfectly safe though - unless you’re flying everyday when I think there’s a small radiation risk.

I also don’t think you can fly after a certain point because airlines basically don’t want to risk you going into labour on a flight!

On a practical level, just make sure the travel insurance covers everything. I also personally wouldn’t travel anywhere too remote with a lack of proper hospital facilities.

@Mushroo only you can know if you are becoming too obsessive. But I wouldn’t worry about the plastic too much…. The book I read said BPA free plastic (which all of my Tupperware seems to be!!).

@BatildaB there is no known risk of flying causing miscarriage. It probably just means if you had a miscarriage whilst you’re travelling / away it could be quite traumatic. Having had a miscarriage in December, however, I just don’t think you can put your life on hold and I would go ahead with the travel. I’m going skiing with work in a few weeks and will just have to see what happens…!