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.

@ViewFromTheAfternoon DP doesn’t want to track and make it a stressful thing, wants it to be natural as possible (hopefully) and whatever happens happens. I am a planner by nature but they say the more you stress the harder it can be, so his way is probably ideal for my temperament really.

My periods are still quite unpredictable so I think I’m going to DTD every other day just in case!

I started the folic acid and multivitamins etc at the beginning of October to give me three months of taking them before TTC in January.

It’s scary and exciting, isn’t it?! I haven’t told anybody as I’m not sure how easy it will be with pcos (and also because my friends either have kids already or don’t want them, so there’s nobody going through the same stage as me).

Great to have you ladies to chat with! 😊

Hi @ViewFromTheAfternoon , I’m also trying to lose some weight! It is supposed to help with pcos too. But we’ll start trying in January anyway as I don’t want to delay too much longer at my age.

What are you planning to do to help with losing weight? I’ll probably go back to calorie counting - boring but it worked in the past! Good luck 🍀

@ViewFromTheAfternoon we're going to start off just trying casually by DTD every few days/whenever we feel like it and if that proves unsuccessful after a while I'll start tracking. It's our first time so although I'm a planner I don't want it to feel clinical, it's not like there's any other times where I can enjoy DTD unprotected so going to try and make it fun! 😂 Will see how long that lasts!
I'm starting the folic acid now and we're now talking about trying once AF has gone so it's all getting very real 🙈

@marleyandme Wow so exciting! Possibly an August baby then for you?
We’re the exact same don’t want to make it clinical as I will obsess over it.
I’m very excited and can’t imagine anything better but at the same time keep wondering if this is crazy and way too soon, not the right time with cost of living etc… I go back and forth between the two! I don’t know if that’s normal!

Can I join? I joined 2021 group (under a different username) to conceive #1 and loved the camaraderie .

Backstory: Mum to gorgeous DD (6months old) who's EBF and now weaning on solids.
We were fortunate to conceive our first cycle ( I was 34 and conceived the week after our honeymoon) but I'm 36 now.
We are in the process of extending our new house and I'll be returning to work in March 2023. We plan to TTC once the extension is complete and my enhanced maternity leave package is reinstated. Hoping for 2 (or 3 ☺️) under 2 so we'll hopefully have conceived by July. Looking forward to seeing all our BFPs!

Morning all! How are we all? Welcome @TrudyProud i think you’re one of the few non first timers so all insight welcomed!

I forced myself to do an exercise class this morning for the first time in ages, as I’ve been feeling really sluggish which doesn’t help my cycle. I already feel like this month is going to be a long one! I’ve decided my goal for November is 10,000 steps a day.

@Mushroo Yeah we are going to do the same as most on here and try and be chilled about it. I just worry that in that case I may miss my ovulation dates and then keep getting BNF's every month which will get very upsetting. So I think DTD every few days is a good way around that so hopefully we won't miss the window.

@bethhop85 Yes same I think calorie counting works best for me.. when I actually stick to it, which is my problem!

@happyfeet5 omg no it's totally normal to feel that, I think everyone has those moments, I know I do. Just the other night I came home from a meal and it was only about 10:30 but I was so tired and I could hear next doors baby crying and I just thought i'm so glad I don't have to deal with that right now. I can just get into bed and go to sleep and get up tomorrow whenever I want.. do I really want to give that up? But ultimately I do know that I want this.. I have done for a few years now and I just can't wait. But I definitely have those moments of doubt every now and then

Update for the PCOS ladies.

I'm on Norethisterone to induce a period and it is incredibly unpleasant. Feels like the worst PMS symptoms all rolled into one. Will have to take these every few months as I am not getting periods.

I also have an appointment with Ross Hall (private) to see if I can get ahead of the NHS waiting lists. Even just to get an idea of what treatment will look like. It's all quite isolating and I haven't felt like I'm getting all the right info from my GP.

Trying

@Weefreetiffany No.2
@WanOvaryKenobi 30, No.1
@louloulollipop 31, No.1

TTC 2023

January
@Mushroo 31, No.1
@Almondbut 31, No.1
@bethhop85 37, No.1
@TrudyProud 36, No.2

February
@marleyandme 27, No.1
@babybrainfart 33, No.3
@winterbabyrose 27, No.2

March
@happyfeet5 No.1

June
@ViewFromTheAfternoon 29, No.1

September
@DanisEndo 27, No.1

Hey everyone, hope you all had good weekends and enjoyed some fireworks <3
Welcome to our newest joiners!!

@ViewFromTheAfternoon I'm also looking to lose some weight! gong to try and cook fresh, calorie count, and regularly do weightlifting. First weights class in ages tonight... hoping to get back into the habit this month so December is a bit easier and already in full swing by the time January comes around.

I did a bit of ovulation stick tracking when we were trying before so think I'll do that again, we werent limiting to the fertile window which kept it fun but gave me a better idea of maybe when to expect my period / if it was late otherwise i have no idea!

We're going to try and save to cover some of maternity, at the moment we're also saving for wedding and some small house reno bits, so probably wont get lots but something! Im also hoping to get a new job before we start trying again. I hate where i am and the package is so basic... if i could find somewhere with better benefits thatd be the dream!

@WanOvaryKenobi very frustrating! Sorry to hear nothisterone is so rough. Have they suggested anything in the meantime for you? I think the private consultation will at least give you some more clues.

If you haven’t already, I’d really recommend having a look at ‘healthy PCOS’ on instagram. It goes through ways you can help via lifestyle. I’ve found a lot of it to work (ish, my periods are still not perfect but I have something of a cycle for the first time ever). It helped me feel like I was doing ‘something’ which helped mentally anyway. I’ve been:

• trying to get steps In
• lifting weights
• inositol daily
• spearmint tea daily
• vitamin c, d zinc and folic acid.

all of the above took me from a four month cycle, to 32 days (albeit despite being 32 days for about 6 months, last month and this month are looking more like 37 days annoyingly!)

That’s great to hear, @Mushroo - well done! I find it so hard to stick to a PCOS-friendly diet as I have such a massive sweet tooth 😣

I had heard that spearmint tea was helpful for pcos too. I’ve just this minute bought some from Amazon! I also bought some of the cheap ovulation test strips recommended on MN (the easy@home ones) as I currently have no idea when I’m ovulating and will get through lots of them while I work it out, so don’t want to spend a lot on them. I’m planning to DTD every other day just in case but would still be good to know if / when I’m ovulating.

I have saved a little bit over the last couple of years (money that would normally have gone on expensive train season ticket) so hopefully that will help. I would just be so delighted to get a positive though even without saving as much as I’d ideally want to.

This is so exciting to hear how everyone is preparing. Will be great to start seeing some BFPs in the new year…! ✨💖

@WanOvaryKenobi so sorry to hear what you’re going through 😥PCOS can be so miserable!

I definitely agree with @Mushroo ’s suggestions. I have found taking inositol to be really helpful and also taking a much higher dose of vitamin d - so many women with pcos have deficiency if vitamin d and I wish I’d heard about it years ago! You can take up to 4000 IU each day safely (according to various research papers I’ve read). I use the Vitabiotics 4000 IU tablets and they have been great.

Sending you hugs 💗

Thanks for having me!
Good luck to all the first timers. With DD I took pregnacare preconception vitamins from April 2021 then after our wedding in July DTD unprotected. Got my BFP in August.

I used the clear blue ovulation tracking though I'm fortunate to have a regular cycle. Don't know if it's a coincidence but I'd also dropped weight ahead of my wedding so was at peak fitness. I plan on doing the same for #2 though I expect with a 1yo won't get as many opportunities to DTD 😂.

Well done on getting some fitness in @Mushroo and keep us posted on your step challenge

@Mushroo @bethhop85 is the inositol prescribed or OTC?? And maybe a stupid question but is spearmint tea different from peppermint tea??

@DanisEndo you can just order inositol online. get it from myprotein as they usually have good offers, or the one from ‘bulk’ is good.

it also has to be spearmint tea (no idea on the science behind it!). It’s impossible to find in the supermarket - I use this one: www.amazon.co.uk/Palanquins-Spearmint-Herbal-Tea-Bags/dp/B007H7OXOS/ref=asc_df_B007H7OXOS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310538443620&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2287583325393739064&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046620&hvtargid=pla-564248047655&psc=1

You can’t get inositol on prescription unfortunately. I get mine from Fertility Family - you take two sachets a day (one first thing in the morning and one just before bed) in a small amount of water. I have had great results after taking them for two months. You can also buy cheaper inositol on Amazon - most people recommend a powder version instead of a capsule as it apparently helps absorb it better.

Yes, spearmint tea is different to peppermint - it has a sweeter, smoother taste 🙂These are the ones I bought: www.amazon.co.uk/Palanquin-Spearmint-Tea-40s-Bag/dp/B09FTMW4YJ/ They are tea bags as I’m not fancy enough to manage loose leaf, haha!

We are tea twins, @Mushroo ! 😁

@bethhop85 snap!! I’m not really a herbal tea drinker but I surprisingly don’t hate it

@DanisEndo , the inositol I use is this one: www.fertilityfamily.co.uk/inofolic-alpha/

It is supposed to be helpful with PCOS symptoms even for women who aren’t yet TTC.

@

@Mushroo , glad to hear it’s not too bad! I’m not a fan of herbal tea either so good to know it’s drinkable 😁

Well, everyone’s fitness ideas are great. It makes sense to do that beforehand for however long you can. I admire your resilience in the lead up to Christmas! I want to enjoy Baileys in abundance, just in case I can’t next year!

Thanks for the inositol + tea tips @bethhop85 @Mushroo !! Defo going to get some on order :) see if I can regulate my periods over the next 10 months. I’ve been on a wedding planning frenzy this eve to distract myself…. With one born every min on in the background 😂😂