Is there anything you wish you’d known before you started TTC for the first time?

[TryingToBeHappy92]

Anything really?

That the first month I'd be convinced I was pregnant, I wasn't 😂 I hadn't realised it can often take many months and the symptom spotting is exhausting in the two week wait.

Honestly? That it would be a long time till we got a baby. And that a positive test is just the start. Sorry if that’s a downer.

I agree with the above about symptom spotting - hard as it is you need to relax and put it out if your mind as much as possible

That ovulation is a very small window of the month and it can move around (ovulation tests are overpriced but were worth it for me)

That it’s best to try every other day in your fertile window - every day can make it more stressful/feel like a chore

That 1/4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, it’s often forgotten how high that is statistically because it’s generally not an event people widely share

That it's not always a quick or easy process. Everything I was taught growing up was all about preventing getting pregnant, no one prepared me for the fact I'd still be trying years later, with multiple miscarriages under my belt.

Also that the experience is different for everyone, don't judge your experience or expectations against anyone else's.

For balance to my previous post, we ttc DC2 in one cycle and I spent several weeks thinking we’d made a terrible mistake 😂

All turned out brilliantly, he’s incredible. But it’s shit if it takes ages and surprisingly shocking if it doesn’t.

I would have enjoyed my lovely flat stomach, non sagging boobs and intact pelvic floor a bit more.

Not to compare your journey to others.

When cycle tracking, day 1 of period is first FULL day. So if you start bleeding at lunchtime one day, you should class the next day as day 1 of period.

So I was 1 day out every single cycle ttc for allll those years.

Coming at this from a different angle. Be on the same page as husband in terms of raising children (discipline, education etc); and in terms of rehiring the work force /being a SAHM/finances after the child is here, and nursery/childminder/Granparents/SAHM, and joint finances.

• there's a small window when you can actually get pregnant
• it comes with a whole load of new acronyms
• it can take a lot longer than you think
• you didn't know anything about your cycle, now you know everything
• the two week wait is an age and it seems like a BFP is the goal but then you get it and a whole load more waiting and worrying begins
• that even after 42 weeks it was still a shock when I was holding an actual baby 😅
• that your body is incredible and it's a proper miracle any babies are actually born

Love this

I wish I'd known about clearblue digital ovulation tests.

Pinpointing when ovulation happens is tricky, but can be crucial if you don't have the perfect average cycle. Possibly could have saved me a whole lot of heartache if I'd found out sooner that I'm a late ovulate-r!

These are all really good to read. Thank you.

To try not to get too obsessed with TTC too soon…. I remember being constantly told to relax and getting so frustrated by it, but turned out it was the best advice! It took me 8 months to conceive (I know that isn’t long at all and I was lucky). At first I couldn’t stop comparing myself to friends who only tried for a month or two and I put so much pressure on myself and my partner. Eventually I binned the ovulation tests, stopped feeling guilty if I had a couple of glasses of wine and my partner and I decided to just dtd every couple of days or so throughout the month rather than obsessing over ovulation tests or specific dates, and it was then that I conceived! Everyone is different though, so I guess just working out what is the least stressful approach that works for you and partner….good luck!!