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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

What's the most unexpected advice or tip that has helped you during your trying to conceive journey?

40 replies

KentishDreamer30 · 22/05/2023 13:39

Hi all, I'm 29 and have been trying to conceive for a year now. It's been an emotional journey, filled with hope and anticipation and I've spent many hours dreaming of baby names. I'm curious to know, what's the most unexpected piece of advice or unique tip you've received during your TTC journey? I'm sure your stories would provide some comfort and possibly new strategies for me and others in a similar boat.

OP posts:
lucya66 · 22/05/2023 17:02

eating Pineapple core around conception and going for a warm bath

baby dust to you:)

PlateSpinner23 · 22/05/2023 22:20

Dosing up on cough medicine (the type that loosens the gunk when you have a cough) apparently improves your cervical mucus too!! 😅

Kreftla · 22/05/2023 22:24

Taking a break. We tried for over 2yrs, took a break from ttc 4 months before Christmas with a plan to start trying again in January and just to enjoy ourselves. We started with a week off in the august (just stayed at home), got silly drunk, ate ridiculously, had a whale of a time and got pregnant that month. Oddly, I was initially disappointed as I was looking forward to a few months of fun 😂

gooseduckchicken · 22/05/2023 22:35

I spent a long time on the Internet thinking that I would solve my infertility by reading the experiences of others.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time and money self diagnosing my problems and self prescribing vitamins, supplements, and natural therapies that had zero effect.

Then I wasted more than a year with a doctor that my friend referred to me. I found him rude and patronising at our first meeting but because my friend had success with him, I stuck with him even though he wasn't treating my problem.

Finally I researched IVF clinics and found one that I liked the look of. I really warmed to my consultant. The clinic set out the process and their prices clearly. I just trusted them. From that day on, I decided to focus on their process, no second guessing, no Internet forums. I ended up really enjoying the actual IVF process because after years of aimless trying, I had a very definite structure, they told me exactly what to do and when to do it. My first IVF failed but I still trusted them. They changed my protocol for the second one and that worked.

Long story short, I hope you get your baby without needing a fertility clinic but if you do have to go down that road, find a professional that you trust and don't waste time hoping that because somebody on a forum had success with one thing or another, the same will work for you. I don't mean that to sound rude or belittling of this thread, just explaining my regrets in case it helps someone.

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 10:16

gooseduckchicken · 22/05/2023 22:35

I spent a long time on the Internet thinking that I would solve my infertility by reading the experiences of others.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time and money self diagnosing my problems and self prescribing vitamins, supplements, and natural therapies that had zero effect.

Then I wasted more than a year with a doctor that my friend referred to me. I found him rude and patronising at our first meeting but because my friend had success with him, I stuck with him even though he wasn't treating my problem.

Finally I researched IVF clinics and found one that I liked the look of. I really warmed to my consultant. The clinic set out the process and their prices clearly. I just trusted them. From that day on, I decided to focus on their process, no second guessing, no Internet forums. I ended up really enjoying the actual IVF process because after years of aimless trying, I had a very definite structure, they told me exactly what to do and when to do it. My first IVF failed but I still trusted them. They changed my protocol for the second one and that worked.

Long story short, I hope you get your baby without needing a fertility clinic but if you do have to go down that road, find a professional that you trust and don't waste time hoping that because somebody on a forum had success with one thing or another, the same will work for you. I don't mean that to sound rude or belittling of this thread, just explaining my regrets in case it helps someone.

It sounds like you went through a lot of trouble and frustration trying to solve your infertility problems. I’m glad you found a clinic that you liked and that the second IVF worked for you. Thank you for sharing your experience, its helpful I some strange way.

OP posts:
KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 10:49

I’m also considering taking a break from my thoughts of TTC and trying to be too meticulous and doing all the right things. I think it’s becoming overwhelming, and I’m overthinking, which is leading to negative thoughts. I will try to maintain a normal routine and adopt a mindset that when the time is right, I will conceive

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bedtimestories · 24/05/2023 11:12

I had reflexology. She told me my faloppion tubes were blocked, she unblocked them and I conceived.

mdh2020 · 24/05/2023 11:15

My mother told our neighbour to drink a bottle of cherry brandy and make love on top of the wardrobe. I’m not sure my neighbour took it literally but it worked.

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 12:55

mdh2020 · 24/05/2023 11:15

My mother told our neighbour to drink a bottle of cherry brandy and make love on top of the wardrobe. I’m not sure my neighbour took it literally but it worked.

Wow! That’s a very creative way to get pregnant. I’m glad it worked out for your neighbor. I hope she didn’t fall off the wardrobe!😂

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NewNormalLife · 24/05/2023 13:14

Have you tried pre-seed lube? it helped us both times and also some friends I know

NewNormalLife · 24/05/2023 13:16

I also obsessively took my temperature upon waking using a basal thermometer and added it to the fertility friend app. I know I was pregnant according to the graph on the app before I even tested.

(I'd had a miscarriage the first time so was a bit obsessive after that)

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 13:30

NewNormalLife · 24/05/2023 13:14

Have you tried pre-seed lube? it helped us both times and also some friends I know

That's interesting, because my friend asked the same question yesterday. She used it and got pregnant after her first cycle.

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SquashPenguin · 24/05/2023 13:40

bedtimestories · 24/05/2023 11:12

I had reflexology. She told me my faloppion tubes were blocked, she unblocked them and I conceived.

Your reflexologist carried out an HSG on you?

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 13:52

SquashPenguin · 24/05/2023 13:40

Your reflexologist carried out an HSG on you?

I also find this quite implausible, I am not big fan of Reflexology or acupressure

OP posts:
resipsa · 24/05/2023 13:56

I had 4 rounds of IVF. Only thing different in round 4 (produced now 7 year old) was acupuncture and listening to Sam Smith's Stay with Me on the way home 🤣.

Mummy08m · 24/05/2023 13:56

The only thing that worked for me was reaching a healthy weight. As soon as I inched into the bmi normal zone I got pregnant.

Obvs this might not be relevant to you and I'm not saying underweight/overweight women can't get pregnant obvs!! Just that I think my body knew I wasn't healthy enough yet and held off until I was. Good thing too, because I struggled so much with pgp etc etc which I think would have been way worse if my body hadn't been ready

resipsa · 24/05/2023 13:58

In fact, I told myself that if the song lasted until I got home, all would be well. Infertility (even if it's temporary) is really hard and affects your sanity. Wish you the best of luck.

Mummy08m · 24/05/2023 13:58

Ps I was the exact same age as you and tried for nearly two years. It was way too much of a coincidence for me that I finally conceived as soon as I reached normal weight. If that's relevant to you, could be worth a try

SquashPenguin · 24/05/2023 14:28

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 13:52

I also find this quite implausible, I am not big fan of Reflexology or acupressure

Implausible is a much nicer way of putting it- I was going to say it’s total bollocks 🤣

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 14:29

I agree that weight is important when trying to get pregnant. One of my close friends had trouble conceiving and couldn’t get IVF because her BMI was too high and her GP was a jerk and refused to refer her for IVF . Finally, she managed to lose weight and got pregnant without IVF. She has a lovely 2-year-old daughter. I’m glad that I’ve been keeping an eye on my own weight. My BMI is under 25 so I don’t think that is a major issue for me. 🤞😊

OP posts:
SquashPenguin · 24/05/2023 14:30

resipsa · 24/05/2023 13:56

I had 4 rounds of IVF. Only thing different in round 4 (produced now 7 year old) was acupuncture and listening to Sam Smith's Stay with Me on the way home 🤣.

I’m on ivf #4 right now. I might be very determined but I think Sam Smith songs might be a step too far for me 🤣

Wombastic · 24/05/2023 14:36
  1. rosemary under your pillow
  2. tilt your hips up after sex
  3. holding newborns
Rawrrawr1 · 24/05/2023 14:40

Like others have said I took a break, we had been ttc for 2 years, had had the initial IVF tests in the may and were told it would be another 6 months before we could start (nhs) and I think having the pressure taken off me allowed me to conceive naturally.

resipsa · 24/05/2023 14:41

@SquashPenguin Everything crossed for you. In my defence, that was back in Sam's golden era when it was all about the voice!

Mummy08m · 24/05/2023 14:45

KentishDreamer30 · 24/05/2023 14:29

I agree that weight is important when trying to get pregnant. One of my close friends had trouble conceiving and couldn’t get IVF because her BMI was too high and her GP was a jerk and refused to refer her for IVF . Finally, she managed to lose weight and got pregnant without IVF. She has a lovely 2-year-old daughter. I’m glad that I’ve been keeping an eye on my own weight. My BMI is under 25 so I don’t think that is a major issue for me. 🤞😊

I'm glad that worked for your friend and she conceived without having to do the ivf!