Taking a break

[Roseberry22]

Has anyone had successful stories from stopping BBT and OPKs? I’ve heard loads relax and it’ll happen but that’s easier said than done.

I’m an over worrier and I’m not sure whether these are making me worse or giving me the control I need.

I’m worried if I stop all tracking and then I still don’t conceive I’ll blame myself for not carrying on tracking.

Hey, not much help I guess but I was the exact same TTC for nearly two years and I became obsessed with the OPKs and temp checking. I felt bad for stopping and was worried I’d miss the window of opportunity. It was so difficult at first but 4 months on and I do feel much better.
I found once I stopped I did still stress a little at first xx

@Roseberry22 are your cycles fairly regular? Do you manage to dtd plenty throughout your cycle? Do you notice libido increase around ovulation time? If so, I think having a break may well help you to relax and enjoy the process a bit more.

Personally I have found opks invaluable for timing things better and upping the anti around my peak days. I've never BBT but I have fallen pregnant 3 times with opks (sadly two losses) on cycles 4, 3 and 4 of TTC. So they have helped me but I can definitely see how they could become too much and get you in your head about it all too much. Not sure how much you're on here but I actually found that was affecting me for a while. I had a complete break from MN last month and did conceive (although was a CP). Trying to obsess about it all less (but still opk-ing) did me lots of good. It's all very personal isn't it, so listen to yourself and do what you need to do. Good luck xx

Thank you both for commenting!

Before TTC we were probably DTD every week sometimes more often sometimes less. That worries me as I know there’s only so long each month the egg can actually be fertilised.

My cycles are regular I usually ovulate between CD17-20 and period arrived around 12 days after. I think I will carry on with the OPKs for now as they do really help me understand when we need to be DTD. I’ll maybe ease off MN as well I find it really helpful to speak to people in the same situation but do feel I compare myself and symptom spot more when on here obsessively!

I think I'd avoid MN / other forums but keep the tracking. Comparing yourself to others is not going to help at all. The tracking could help!

I had to stop tracking as it started making me stressed and I could feel my relationship with my DH suffering as sex had become about baby making. I stopped and instead I started listening to my body and realised I get more aroused around ovulation, I saw sex related dreams etc so I used that as an indication instead and it worked.

If you find the tracking helpful to guide timings, can you stop tracking/ Mumsnet/ googling/ testing once you've confirmed ovulation? I can't help but feel that being in a state of tension (as I certainly was!) post-ovulation, waking early to catch bbt at the right time, etc etc ... doesn't help.

I've just got my bfp in the last few days after deciding to do this over the last month. Success aside (which of course could be coincidence), I was surprised at just how much better I slept and how much I was able to not think about TTC.

I think that’s probably sensible thank you all.

I’ll continue with the tracking and BBT until ovulation is confirmed and then just enjoy sleep and not worrying if my temp has dropped or if it’s high enough. By any means once ovulation is confirmed there’s not much I can do to change it!

We stopped late August a few years ago as it was getting stressful and thought we would enjoy ourselves, and start back up again in the new year. We had a couple of weeks off that month and spent it drinking cocktails and eating whatever we wanted. I got pregnant that month and it stuck!!