Preparing and TTC in 2023 - Thread 2

[DanisEndo]

Thread no 2 as thread 1 was so close to getting full!

As a reminder this is a positive support thread for anyone preparing and planning to start TTC in 2023 💖

If you join start by introducing yourself with your age. what no. you're trying for and when you plan on starting plus any goals you might have before then! for example:

@DanisEndo
Age 27
TTC No.1
Starting Sep 23
I want to:

• loose some weight (would like to get down to a healthy BMI by exercising and doing all home cooking, nothing to major or restrictive)
• do some decorating around the house
• get married (1st September woooo!)
• change job / company

I have endometriosis and PCOS, 2 surgeries down and hoping I'll still be all clear by the time we get to trying.

Theres a long list of us now so bare with me updating it as we go 😅

Good luck everyone!!!

Hey
My partner & i are planning to try from mid sept ish
Started folic acid..
Want to get a little weight off

@Minnierose11 good luck!! fertility friend says it’s still possible to do it if you work different patterns: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/BBT-and-shift-work.html

if not the doctor should be able to do progesterone tests to see if you’re ovulating :) be warned they might ask you to just try for a little longer though, so might also be worth trying a different brand of OPKs

Thank you!

I find that so frustrating, that women are told to wait ... I don't think it's fair at all. Because if there is a problem, there is a problem, and waiting it out isn't going to resolve itself. My friend did cheekily advise me to say I've been testing/trying for 6 months to get my foot in the door quicker, rather than waste another 3-4 months of waiting. But hopeful that I'll start to see something happening soon!

Paid for our meds today, pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t more :)

Morning all! How is everyone getting on? Do you have any update @Hopingforno2in2023 😊?

I’m well thanks leopard how are you? Have been v busy this week having a new kitchen installed.

No news from me, 10 days until I start my meds!

Hi everyone!

@Minnierose11 i do the same as @Hopefulhoney6 - I have extremely erratic temps but you can definitely still see ovulation and I find it really worthwhile. I get up any time from 05:45 to 08:00. Example below.

getting close @Hopingforno2in2023 ! We are also having a new kitchen installed. The distraction is good.

5DPO here and mentally I’m doing the best I have since we started TTC. I decided this month that the only thing I would actively focus on was keeping my stress levels, and therefore cortisol levels, low. It’s a bit woo but I just focused on being a calm environment that would welcome a pregnancy and low and behold after 2x52 day cycles, I ovulated much earlier and am on track for a 40 day-er. Slightly odd ovulation- my LH didn’t get as high as usual and my temps are slightly lower than normal but hey. However my husband is away so we only had sex on O-2 or maybe O-3 and are likely out. Im surprised at how okay I feel- the break is quite good. Having the ball rolling for the referral must be helping too.

Hoping everyone else is having a good month too!

Just checking back in on the thread, hope everyone is doing well and feeling good about things!

@LeopardLover how’s it all going with you?

@CRbear that’s interesting about the stress levels – I don’t think it’s at all woo, it makes so much sense that our bodies would want to bring babies into a safe environment, and that fertility is one of the first things to be affected under stress. Great when you can see a measurable impact of doing something so quickly that might otherwise feel a bit vague though!

We officially were taking a month off last month, but there was a small chance it could have happened – I had quite a few drinks and then had Covid with a fever for days, and then suddenly got worried that I might be pregnant with all that, after months of healthy living, so was quite relieved to get my period this cycle! I know it probably would have been fine, but I think I would have had 9 months of hypochondria. Might take another cycle off trying as there’s a lot of external stresses on us both right now. Although with a birthday looming I’m also feeling a bit old and impatient!

@Hopefulhoney6 @CRbear thankfully this month I finally found my peak! And my BBT confirmed it really glad I started BBT tracking because my peak wasn't as high as others I've seen and I almost wouldn't of believed I had if it wasn't for the confirmation of temp rising.
Although now im just a little worried that im ovulating quiet soon after AF. 8 days after this month.. does that seem to short? Xxxxx

@Minnierose11 that’s good news!!

I may be misunderstanding the app but it looks to me like it thinks you ovulated on day 13?? (Second bottom row of numbers) rather than day 8?

You need to count from the first day of AF, not the last. Is that what you’re doing? So AF starting is day 1. Then day 13 to ovulate would be more normal.

I hope your new kitchen is going well CR!

I agree that it looks like you ov day 13 Minnie which is absolutely fine.

the spotting I get 3-4 days before my period has arrived 5 days early. Will call the clinic in the morning and give them the heads up that the dates are likely to change.

Thank you @Hopefulhoney6 - I did do some googling after and soon realised that, silly me!
I'm now 7DPO, I had a slight dip in temp yesterday which was odd and had what felt like the start to AF. But, today it rose again slightly but still feel crampy and a heaviness down below, and I can't stop going toilet. But no signs of period - which I'm thankful for. Hoping it'll stay away for at least another few days else I'll have a short luteal stage which is then another problem!
I've attached my graph again for reference.

Also, Has anyone on here tried soy Inso? I was reading a thread on baby centre last night and it seemed really positive! Xxx

@Hopingforno2in2023 How exciting, those days will fly by! 💜 I found my new kitchen a lot 😂 what theme did you pick? Good idea to call the clinic to check dates.

@CRbear Glad you're feeling positive and so glad you managed to reduce your stress. O-2 is great!! Wow another kitchen. What colours have you gone for?

@BatildaB Oh lovely to hear from you! A month off sounds perfect, and I would've been the same 😂 so maybe this cycle is a blessing! Makes sense to skip another month if needs be but hope things aren't too stressful for you! ❤️

@Minnierose11 Your chart is looking good 😍 I hope your temperature stays high!

So a bit of an update from me, I got my BFP on Sunday (after a questionable squinter on Saturday)! I'm very cautious so just seeing how things go for now 😊 trying to stay relaxed and positive!

@LeopardLover Oh wow! Congratulations!! 🥰
How long have you been trying? And is this baby#1?
Very exciting for you!!

And I'm hoping it does.. I've just had 2 days of what feels like period pains though.. so I'm thinking it's coming. I'm more concerned that it means a short luteal phase than I am it meaning not being pregnant (as I'm relatively new to the game and figuring out my cycles).
What does it mean if temp starts to fall? That AF is coming?

@Minnierose11 Thank you 💜 this will be #2! I have a 2 year old. We've been really lucky, this is my second proper cycle (using OPKs) although I've been taking vitamins since January and getting ready (& I've been on here since then) 😅.

Yes, when your BBT drops it normally means AF is coming. My pregnancy sign was cramping, although more bubbly cramping. Noticeably different to period cramps! How long is your luteal phase? X

congratulations @LeopardLover

@Minnierose11 I had 'period' cramps with both my pregnancies. They were my typical 'AF is about to start' cramps. To the extent I really thought I was out. And then AF didn't show and I got my BFP.. so everything crossed for you!

@xTinkerbell Thank you!! 💜

@LeopardLover well I'm currently on CD21, 8DPO. And for the last 3 days I've been having period like symptoms but it hasn't come.... YET. I'm really hoping that is doesn't for atleast another 2days, which would make my luteal phase 10 days. But it may well be here by the end of today! Meaning it would be just 8 days...

Can I ask what supplements you've taken? I started taking maca root and inositol/folic acid last month, as May I didn't ovulate at all. (Stopped my birth control at the start of May, didn't ovulate until June 27th) And had read that it was meant to help and it seems as though it did... I've ordered myself some 1000mg vitamin C as I've read a lot about that being helpful for luteal phases and lengthening them.... but it's a minefield out there 😅

@SnookyPook that's interesting to hear!! I mean, I wish it was that, but I have a gut feeling it sadly is just my period coming xxxx

@LeopardLover @SnookyPook I should probably add. I don't usually get period symptoms this early on, I normally get pretty bad period pains the day I start my period and feel pretty crap! But this has been since Monday.. and they don't feel quiet like period pains, it's like a weird fullness and dull ache in my lower abdomen, and I weirdly feel constantly moist (hate that word haha) down below which I keep thinking is bleeding (sorry tmi) but nothing... and no obvious CM ether and I can't stop urinating. I go and about 20 minutes late I feel the need to go again and can! No pain or anything when urinating. So odd... I did only BD 3 days before ovulation this month as husband was away for work so I don't think it's likely I'm pregnant!

Congratulations Leopard!

Congrats @LeopardLover I remember you from this thread a few months ago!

Congratulations @LeopardLover , how lovely!

@Hopingforno2in2023 @CinderRosie @BatildaB Thanks all 😊🥰

@Minnierose11 How are you getting on? Please update us! I've heard good things about Maca root! I took Pregnacare, Ubiquinol (100mg), and Omega 3 (Inessa Advanced). X

@LeopardLover Morning!
Well I'm now 11DPO and no period yet, the period like pains I was having on 7/8DPO eased off by day 9. But, I've woken this morning feeling very much like AF is arriving today! But, I'm ok with that, because at least my luteal stage is longer than 10days, just!
I've ordered myself some high strength vitamin c too, as I've done some research and have read that's pretty useful for lengthening your luteal phase.
If AF does arrive today, it means I have a 24 day cycle.
My bbt thankfully stayed above base line continuously after ovulation. So all positive signs in regards to my cycle levelling itself out.

And it seems that maca root and inositol helped in some way! Because last month I didn't ovulate and had a short 22 day cycle.