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.

I am saying hello 👋🏻 on this thread although lots of you are already either getting your BFPs or are TTC!
@WolfMother326 I don’t have a short cycle but we are also planning to TTC in the spring, more specifically after my April period. Feels like ages away!

Feeling a little frustrated as I don’t think I am ovulating this cycle 🙁 took a test this afternoon which indicated high fertility but still wasn’t quite as dark as the control line so no peak. Took another just now and the line was much more faint. Can LH drop in a couple of hours? I couldn’t have missed my peak it as I have done so much testing. The picture is of the darkest one I got this afternoon, could this be a peak? Doesn’t seem dark enough to me. What a rollercoaster 😂

@fleur89 can I ask when did you start testing? Was it because you had symptoms or just testing and hoping?xx

@Lindsey02

With my first, I just had a gut feeling. It was our first month trying (I tracked ovulation) and I just felt a bit different inside. Sore boobs and bloating, that's about it early on. I felt this way 4 days before implantation. I tested for 4 days and each looked negative, on the 5th day I had implantation bleeding and a faint line then began to appear. Symptoms ramped up quickly after that. Cramping, crazy bloating, swollen breasts, sense of smell, constipation, mild nausea, etc. My temperature and pulse were higher than normal and this continued. I estimate I was around 2 weeks 4 days when I first felt symptoms (from lmp)

I found out I am pregnant with #2 yesterday. I estimate I was 3 weeks + 2 days when I found out (lmp, although I never had one 😂). We haven't actively been TTC as I've had no period since I fell pregnant with DD1 (almost 11mo), I am still breastfeeding. I assumed I wasn't ovulating. This week I had light cramping, bloating and yesterday some spotting. I assumed it was pms and my first period postnatal.

However the spotting soon disappeared and again I had a gut feeling to take a test. It showed faint positive so I bought a digital to confirm. Current symptoms are pulling / cramping sensations, bloating, feeling hot at night (didn't have this last time), higher temperature, etc. My breasts are not swollen this time, maybe because I'm breastfeeding.

@CinderRosie it does feel far away!! But it will come quickly for us.

@Summer022 this looks normal to me. I had very similar results the month I got pregnant with my first. The cheap strips are helpful but often the lines aren't as dark (I used them too).

Wow @fleur89 congratulations! So is your first very tiny? Maybe I'm reading that wrong. Are you feeling OK about being pregnant again?

@WolfMother326 my daughter is turning 11 months on Wednesday. We planned to start casually trying when I got my period back and I was expecting this to happen between 12 months and 15 months post-DD1. A bit earlier than expected but DD1 sleeps through the night now (recent thing) and that's reassuring me.

If all goes well they will be around 19 months apart, and it'd be two school years as DD1 was born March 2022 and this little one would be October 2023 🙏

@fleur89 that's great! I read it wrong, I thought you were saying your last period was 11 months ago, so you had a 2 month old. A 19 month age gap will be lovely 😍

Can I ask how soon do you start doing the hcg strips? I have a 30 day cycle

@DanisEndo we might need a new thread soon!

so AF arrived on CD32 everyone, very heavy (as I thought it would be after coming off contraception). It started Friday evening, was extremely heavy on Saturday and yesterday, but the colour has gone brown now so I’ve technically had a 2-3 day proper period. Usually my periods were 5-6 days long before coming off contraception, would you be worried in my situation? Don’t know what could cause a short, heavy AF

@Lindsey02 personally, I just wait until a missed period to test. Otherwise I think you can drive yourself crazy constantly testing. It depends how sensitive the strips are. But probably 12DPO if you do want to start testing?

@happyfeet5 i wouldn’t be worried at all - probably just your body adjusting.

Hey ladies, can I join?
I’ve been around on this board since autumn 2021 and sadly still here. I have two DS (5 and 8), no issues conceiving, made friends with some amazing women here on a thread when ttc #2 who I meet up with occasionally and chat to everyday.

started TTC for #3 in October 2021 and still going. Currently on cycle 19 I think, although didn’t ttc last cycle and not this cycle due to my sisters wedding in Rhodes in October. I had a ruptured ectopic in July 2020 and lost a tube.

have had some fertility tests last year, possibly not ovulating regularly. Enquiring to go private now, not for IVF but for more tests and some specialist support.
cant wait for this cycle to be over so we can start ttc again. I’m CD5 and have 26 day cycles. Back at the gym to improve fitness and trying to lose some weight

I’m out this month, ladies 😥AF arrived yesterday. I knew it was unlikely that I’d get a BFP in my first month of trying (especially with my age and PCOS) but couldn’t help hoping… Can’t wait for AF to be gone so that I can try again! 🙏

When should I count the first day of my period? The first two days there is only blood when I wipe but it gets heavier on day three. Does anybody else get this?

I was also wondering whether anybody else has a very short luteal phase? I’m worrying about mine as it was only 10 days between ovulation (the solid smiley) and light bleeding starting… Really hope someone can reassure me! 😣

@bethhop85 sorry AF has arrived. It is so disappointing, but you’re in a new cycle and new start. I have a 12 day luteal phase, used to be 11. Do you take supplements? Vitamin b6 and vitamin C are known to naturally lengthen the LP

So sorry AF has arrived @bethhop85 . Even when we try not to get our hopes up, it's disappointing ❤

Have you had you thyroid checked? I had an LP of 8 days when I got pregnant with my first, and found out I had an underactive thyroid when I was pregnant. I did catch on with my short LP, but it took a little while.

@bethhop85 I get light spotting before AF too and I count CD1 as the first day of fresh red blood with cramps.
I'm sorry to hear AF is here for you. How old are you if you don't mind me asking, is your username a clue? If so I'm around the same - I'm 37 in the summer.

Hi @bethhop85 sorry to hear that. It’s disappointing the first month of trying especially!!

I have a sort luteal phase - also 10 days (I count the first day as the first bit of bleeding). I got pregnant after 5 months but it ended in a missed miscarriage. No doctors were concerned about a 10 day LP though when I asked at the hospital.
I am taking Solgar B50 complex and 1000mg of Vitamin C to try and lengthen it though. I’m also having acupuncture but she isn’t worried about the LP.

This is my first month trying after MC and weirdly I’m 13DPO with no AF. Had a negative pregnancy test yesterday, haven’t tested again. So I’m wondering if it’s the vitamins or the acupuncture!? Hoping AF turns up or I get a BFP. But think it’ll probably be the first one.

@CinderRosie , haha well spotted! Yes, I’m 37 and am trying for my first… 🙏

I’m annoyed at me and DH - I think we DTD not enough!

I think I ovulated yesterday, but we only DTD Saturday evening and this morning. I know there’s still a chance but just wish we had done it on Sunday evening - Monday. I don’t even know why we didn’t.

So frustrating!

@bethhop85 i get spotting too and do the same as @CinderRosie and take the first day of ‘proper’ blood as day one.

Thanks so much for the advice, @Hopefulhoney6 ! Really sorry to hear about your MM but keeping everything crossed for you getting a BFP this month. Even if you get AF though, it looks like you’ll have made great progress with your luteal phase!

I’m definitely going to try increasing my vitamin c like you suggest. I’m taking Pregnacare vitamins but the vit c level is nowhere near as high.

How did you find an acupuncturist? And does it hurt?! I’ve seen good reports on MN from other women who’ve tried it and I’m considering giving it a go…

Yes I take Pregnacare but also those two vitamins on top. I just buy from Amazon (the Solgar brand).

Im in London so I looked at ACT Acupuncture website. And then also this one: www.acupuncture-fertility.org and found someone where the times worked for me.

it doesn’t hurt…. But it’s a weird one thinking about the needles being in you. I’ve done it three times now and relaxed more each time.

good luck!

@bethhop85 the message above was for you!

Please help I took a clear blue 4 days pre period , said negative but when i opened it showed this ?

Since we're close to this one filling up (thanks for the heads up @happyfeet5 ) new thread started! :) www.mumsnet.com/talk/conception/4732428-preparing-and-ttc-in-2023-thread-2?reply=123529263

Hey ladies just wondering if anyone has any experience with chemicals? This was my first cycle ttc, I had a lot of symptoms and I didn't test early I waited to test on the day AF was due and it was BFN AF has been two days late she arrived today and is really very heavy, I haven't had this before, just reading and wondering could it have been a chemical?