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.

Ooh please can I join.

I’m 28 and will be trying for baby number 2 in January. DD is 15 months but it took us 12 months to fall pregnant with her so we didn’t want to wait too long to start again. I really hope it doesn’t take as long this time!

I need to order some OPK’s and dig out my thermometer. I got a bit obsessed with it last time, at one point I was even tracking my resting heart rate!

In my last pregnancy I was sorting my horse every day (stopped riding at 12 weeks cause of sickness), walking the dog 5km a day and then Pilates twice a week. It kept my core strong and I think is the reason I bounced back so quickly from my emergency c section. I did a 6km walk 5 days after my c section which looking back now is just madness.

Id also recommend seeing a physio every few weeks once your bump pops out, my body changed massively and I got really sore.

Hi all! I'd love to join, if thats ok? I am preparing to conceive in early 2023 and am excit3d and nervous! I have taken my implant out to get my body ready too 🥰 xxx

O and:

Age:35
TTC: baby no.2
Starting: May 2023

Xxx

Hi happy feet! I don't think my company offer enhanced maternity pay, so will have to save difference annoyingly before i start trying! 😫 xx

Yay another may 2023 trier! And for a 2nd! 🥰 anything you are doing to prepare? I have no idea what vitamins etc to take as my first was an accident over 10 years ago and everything has changed so much😱 xxx

The maternity pay is something that troubles me. At my current firm (been there nearly 10 years) they only have statutory maternity pay and over the years ive seen multiple women go on maternity leave and be treated like pariahs! So I don't want to TTC while there.
So I had to give 4 months notice to leave there and starting a new job in Jan. This one looks to only be statutory also (I can't outright ask for if they have enhanced and suspect they would say if they did have it), however the new job is more supportive of women and pays more, so I can save the difference for maternity pay because of statutory maternity and know I won't be treated badly upon return.
This is why I have to wait until May to TTC, because of the probation. I feel bad about only being there a short while also when I do tell them (hopefully) that I'm expecting.
So I feel bad about that for the new firm and upset I have to save all that money too (I'm the higher earner) when it could be statutory also. Sucks. When is the right time though? Time is ticking on and I'm doing the best I can with the situation, but morally feel bad. 😔 xxxx

Hello!
i get married in 2 weeks! EEEEEEK!

i have officially changed my ‘flo’ appt to trying to conceive :) I came off the pill a few months ago as it really didn’t agree with me.

we can’t wait! I’m 28 and my partner is 41 he has 2 children both of whom are adopted so I think he is a tad excited to have one of his ‘own’.

im due to ovulate in 6 days so we’re gonna start cuddling ;) every other day today! I’m already taking folic acid. Any other tips?

good luck everyone <3

Aww congratulations! Exciting! I got married two weeks ago too 😊 xxx

I conceived DC1 two weeks after we got married! Good luck

This would be AMAZING! It’s hard not to get your hopes up isn’t it….. x

Congratulations! Hope you had an amazing day x

Yes we did! Thank you so much! Xx

Hey everyone and welcome!

It’s such a busy lead up to Christmas. Trying to be present rather than feeling excited for next year- but it’s hard! We’re going to a festive light trail tomorrow evening with extended family, we’ve been for several years consecutively now and I can’t help but think how lovely next year may be. Especially seeing families tomorrow evening (as weird as that might sound) it always makes me broodier still! I really can’t wait, but the excitement is mixed with fear that I’ll have problems getting / staying pregnant.
I’m not even 25 yet so I know I’m young but prior to going on the pill I had really heavy periods, I’m hoping contraception hasn’t masked anything sinister. Nobody in my immediate or extended family has had issues.
I saw it takes the average couple a year to conceive! But then have also read lots on here where people have managed it first try. It’s just such a lottery, isn’t it?

Welcome everyone!

@happyfeet5 yes it’s starting feel very real! I know logically it can take ages but I keep thinking what if we’re in the lucky few it happens straightaway!

I’ve just been invited to a hen party in Feb and I’m already thinking how I might have to hide that I’m not drinking!

Christmas is definitely making me broodier!

@Mushroo glad you relate to this! Hmm, could you be on ‘antibiotics’?!

@happyfeet5 its going to hard as I ALWAYS drink (that sounds like I have a problem, i just drink when socialising haha!)

I think in my group of friends antibiotics is just code for pregnant. I might see if I can nurse a glass for the whole evening / order my own ‘gin’ and tonics that are just tonics. So tricky!

How long are you cycles? Mine are long (30 - 32 days so each month is going to draggggg)

@Mushroo I see! That’s tricky then. Maybe stop drinking in January. Dry January, and you’ve chosen to extend it for health and you now eat chocolate or do something else instead. Haha. Yes I’d get a non alcoholic drink in a gin glass. Easy to put a few berries in it nobody will be the wiser. Mine’s 28 days exactly at last check! Coming off the pill second week in December.

@happyfeet5 @Mushroo antibiotics are definitely code for pregnant especially if you are a big drinker.

My friends knew I was pregnant at 7 weeks because I turned down a drink at a party- it was 10am 🤣. At 24 they may not have the wherewithal to keep 🤐 but by your late 20s/30s people understand how delicate and precarious pregnancy can be so leave you to lie until your reveal.

I didn't tell most friends I was pregnant until I was 18 weeks but everyone I saw the moment I got my BFP knew because I wasn't drinking.

Does anyone know if I’m supposed to tell my GP I’m trying? Given it’s so hard to get an appointment seems a bit of a hassle, but if I’m supposed to I will.

Also (getting ahead of myself here) if I get a positive test what do I do? Make a GP appointment?

In london you don't need to tell your GP you are trying. There's nothing they would do unless you struggled to conceive after a certain timeframe.

When you hopefully get your BFP you either self refer to the hospital you hope to have your antenatal care with or depending on where you are in the country your GP might. Note, unless you have specific issues eg recurrent miscarriage or an ivf pregnancy you probably won't see/speak to a midwife until 10-12 weeks for your booking in appointment and scan. That was my experience at least.

@TrudyProud thank you! I’d been going round in circles on the NHS website, nice to hear from someone with actual experience :)

@Mushroo I filled in a form on my local hospital's website. They then got in touch with me to arrange booking in appointment.

I had the same panic. I rang my doctors and asked what do I do!

@buckingmad thank you! Glad it’s not just me, feels like it should be obvious!

Hi everyone! It’s lovely reading all your messages. I feel in shock that I can join in - we will be TTC no.1 in January. I got my mirena out last November as I knew I have PCOS and wanted to give myself a year to do everything I could to get a regular cycle back before launching into TTC. I’ve got a regular cycle now for the first time in my life - almost normal at around 38-40 days. I went a year without a period once. Anyway all of this means I never thought we’d have a shot naturally- so “starting” never meant much! So it’s come as a bit of a shock stupidly that it’s 5 weeks to January and we could actually get pregnant naturally! So excited for everyone!