TTC in 2023 anyone?

[ParentsTrapped]

After a lot of back and forth we’ve decided to TTC no 3 next year!

I’ve recently changed jobs so the earliest we can try is May if I want to get enhanced maternity pay. I’m 35 now and will
be 36 by then which is a bit worrying, but I conceived DC1 and 2 easily so hoping will be ok.

Im planning to use the next 5-6 months to get as healthy as I can to give myself the best possible chances 💪🏻. Planning to reduce caffeine, exercise more, eat healthily and lose the 4kg I’ve been clinging onto since DC2 arrived, and keep up with all the vitamins. Anyone want to join me?

Bumping this - can’t believe I’m the only one!

Hi @ParentsTrapped 😄 Yes, me too, I am on another thread for TTC 2023!
I am in a very similar position to you, 33 and TTC DC number 3 from around Feb. How old are your DC? Mine are 9 and 2. We also were back and forth with the decision!
I am also going to try and lose weight/ get healthier beforehand but have more weight to lose- approx 2 stone would make me very, very happy. So maybe we will push TTC back slightly if I’m not where I want to be health wise.
Really good to talk to people in a similar position, especially when we haven’t spoken to anyone about it in the real world! X

Hello @LovelyBitOfSquirrelll! Ah I saw the other thread and looked like many trying already and even some bfps! I can’t even think about it til next May for financial reasons.

DD is 4.5 and DS just turned 2 (so 2.5 year gap). Would be looking at a 3year+ gap next time and one of the reasons we hesitated was whether the 6 year gap between DC1 and 3 would make it hard to do stuff as a family- have you found that with the gap between your two? What made you decide to go for it?

Yes ours is financial reasons too. DS gets his free hours at his nursery after he is 3 in October, so we are just aiming for around a Nov/ Dec baby, or later.

Yes the gap is tricky at times, but we have adapted so far! It’s things like the cinema/ bowling we can’t do all together as DS is just too young. They get on well and DD loves looking after her little brother when we are out. I think having the third will make things tricker but we have discussed it with DD as a possibility and she is all for it, so it’s good to have her perspective and makes us feel better about the decision. We just do things separately with DD or ask my mum to have DS so me and DH can do something with DD (very rare as mum helps with some of the childcare during the week as we both work FT).
The reason we were back and forth was due to the financial aspect more than anything. It sort of puts life “on hold” whilst we pay extortionate nursery fees. My mum already helps 2 days, and nobody else to help out, so no other choice. We can afford it, but that money we spend on fees would go towards holidays/ days out/ special things we would do as a family. We can still do things together, but nothing fancy for a few years if you get what I mean. Then also the logistical side of things- we live in a 3 bed and just moved here in March, so defo don’t want to move again. We didn’t factor in the 4th bedroom when we were looking as it wasn’t at the forefront of our minds, plus 4 beds were more expensive. We could potentially extend in the future though, so not the end of the world, just means 2 sharing for a while depending on the sex of the baby!

What about you? What were your reasons? X

I will be TTC no.1 at round about the same time May/June!

I'm not really doing much to prepare right now though. I'm more so preparing financially and trying to get our home as nice as possible because a lot wants doing to it and we are about to buy it (we currently live in it rented).

I will start taking vitamins etc in about February. Other than that I'm not too sure how else to prepare. We already eat quite healthily but I have a desk job so could definitely work on my fitness/activity levels.

Really exciting to have someone planning to try at the same time as me!

Can I join please?🙂

I'm turning 30 soon and we've decided to TTC next year after putting it off for one reason or another (many financial) for years! I know now isn't really the ideal time financially and some might think we're mad to TTC during a time when everything is so uncertain, but if I wait for ideal it'll never happen. My DH is out of work on long-term sick and isn't likely to be back in work if/when we have a baby, but I'm honestly getting past the point of caring that things aren't perfect. I've wanted a baby since I was about 18 so I just need to go for it.

We'll probably start TTC in June/July as we're planning on going on one final holiday just the two of us. I do need to lose a bit of weight before TTC too, but that should be doable by summertime.

Yeah I totally get the feeling of putting things on hold. DH feels like we are through the hardest bit of parenting now and why would we go back but I have just always wanted 3. It’s very much heart over head tbh as can think of lots of reasons why it might be a bad idea (mainly to do with time and money! We have no family nearby so pay a lot in childcare, also both work full
time).

DH is still slightly on the fence I think but in a way there’s no point forcing the issue now because we need to wait til May anyway. That’s why I want to get myself into the best possible physical shape now, throw myself into my new job and then see how I feel.

Hi ladies 👋🏽
Yes, my DH would also stick with the 2 we have, but I just don’t feel “done”, and he is happy to go with what I want to do. It is weird because I never even thought in my last pregnancy “this could be my last”, and didn’t savour every moment (even the tough ones). And looking back, why didn’t I? I find it really odd now, especially as it was our second! Whereas the next one, if and when it happens, I will truly treasure it, as cheesy as that sounds!

@hamustro yes, it does feel strange planning TTC during this weird financial crisis! I question if we are doing the right thing on a daily basis, but really can’t shake it off. One last holiday the 2 of you sounds like a great idea, any ideas where to?

@ViewFromTheAfternoon how is the buying process going? At least that will be something huge ticked off the list for when a baby arrives 🙂

Feels strange thinking that this could be the last Christmas with my 2DC, and that we could possibly have a third joining us next year!

@LovelyBitOfSquirrelll If all of our ancestors had thought about it too much most of us wouldn't be here. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway 😀If you can't shake it off then I think you're right to go for it! You've already got 2 so going into it with your eyes wide open. Do you like the gap between your two?

Hmm, I'm not sure, but nowhere long haul as I hate flying! Greece, Portugal, Turkey are all contenders. I wish I was lying on the beach in the sun now actually 😃

Yes @LovelyBitOfSquirrelll infeel the same - did not treasure my last pregnancy at all! Also dc2 was born during the pandemic and it was pretty miserable tbh. Didn’t see our families until she was 6 months old so I feel a bit cheated which probably is a factor in my decision as well. Our 2 are at such a lovely age now and Christmas is going to be really magical - think it would be even nicer with 3!

I should be joining you :) Originally joined the preparing to TTC in 2022 thread but decided to take a year break to deal with some family issues. Going ahead with it this time however as time is marching on. DH had a vasectomy after DC1 was born so it isn’t straightforward for us. We did think reversal last year but DH isn’t keen on a second operation so I think we will probably be going PESA and ICSI. We have agreed we will be contacting fertility clinics in the New Year.

I am 34 and this will be DC#2.

Hi all!
Sorry for the late join to this thread 😁
We are also planning on TTC number 1 and will be able to start from May (again due to enhanced maternity). We are going on a 3 week honeymoon to Peru in March so I think when we come back I'll need to start sorting myself out. When is best to start taking pre-conception vitamins? 🤔

Really excited to join this journey with you all!

I am! I'm currently 5DPO waiting for 9DPO to test🤞🏼

Hi, would I be able to join you?

We are hoping to start trying for our 2nd around July/August time so using the next few months to try and get as healthy as possible.

Making sure I am take my vitamins, trying to be more mindful on having healthier foods 80/20 of the time, getting enough sleep (not the easiest 🤦‍♀️) and getting yoga and meditation practices back in my routine after it's taken a backseat when 1st made their arrival. Currently breastfeeding our 1st and haven't had my period back since having her so I'm doing all I can to support them coming back so that hopefully I can get some regularity so tracking ovulation will be easier🤞

Hi, not sure if I’ve picked the right thread to post in as new here.

TTC first baby this year, 37 years old and been on the pill for 19 years! Mini pill for the last 7 of those. Took my last one yesterday.

Looking for some advice on where to start really, tracking periods, ovulation, best apps, supplements etc.

Any advice for a new start would be so greatly welcome ❤️

Come join us on our more recent thread :)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/conception/4732428-preparing-and-ttc-in-2023-thread-2?page=16&reply=124243963