TTC Feb 2025

[sjwx]

Hi everyone, I'm on CD 7 (I think.. last month was a very weird cycle for me) and going to start ovulation testing with the easy @ home strips and use the app they have.

I've used the clear blue smiley face tests the past 3 cycles but wanted to try something different this month.. but I'm worried I'm going to read them wrong as the clear blue ones were very straightforward!

If anyone has used these strips, what time of day did you test? I've read not to use the FMU so plan to test at 6pm (due to work) until I get a line and then try and test at 12pm too..

And did you not drink/wee for 2 hours before doing the test? With clear blue I left it 4 hours but struggled!

Would be great to chat to anyone who's also hoping this will be the month🤞🏼

@Taysonic I’m in the same boat! I feel like I can’t miss a month, time is ticking away so I’m just biting the bullet and will be trying this month. You’ve summed up trying for a 2nd as well! I dunno why but in the pit of my stomach I wondered if we’d get caught with the difficulty of trying for a 2nd! Like @LuckyDuck93 said it’s only been 6 months which really isn’t that long in grand scheme but it still feels crap when you do everything and it still doesn’t happy.

aww ladies I’m gutted you’ve had temp drops but I’m really hoping it doesn’t mean the inevitable 😔
you’re not out yet though ladies! & if you’re af does arrive you’re allowed to be sad 🤍 let’s keep positive af hasn’t arrived yet so you’re still potentially pregnant! X

Welcome @0rangem0nster 🤗 I hope you bring us all some luck 🍀

Morning ladies,
My temp dropped again significantly this morning, af expected today or tomorrow, so i'll just be over here throwing a little pity party if anyone wants to join (although hoping you don't need to) 😅
Then in a couple of days ill put my big girl pants on and focus on next cycle, dont think we're going to have a break, if a xmas baby is meant to be then its meant to be I think!

My temp dropped too this morning, and expecting AF today, if not tomorrow. We can have a pity party together!

Really sorry @LuckyDuck93 - I had such high hopes for us this cycle. BUT, we go again. After eating a ton of Minstrels (Minstrels for your Menstruals... it's a thing in my house!).

Decided to take a test this morning after being sick overnight, I’m testing early so did expect it to be faint (if at all) but I’m cautiously optimistic!

@Mrsttcno1 Congratulations

@Taysonic off to the shops to buy the biggest bag of minstrels I can find! Just wish AF would get on with it now!

@Taysonic @LuckyDuck93 urgh, sorry both, that’s sucky sucky sucky.
If I were symptom spotting (who, me?) I’d comment on the fact I have had apparently a metric ton of discharge today (sorry tmi) - isn’t it supposed to dry up in the luteal phase? 🤔Boobs still 100% sore all over but they have been since 1dpo which is normal for me. I’m now 10dpo I think (I guess by when my boobs get sore because I always get 13 days of sore boobs then AF lol). Fully expecting AF on Sunday, and won’t bother testing again until Monday/Tuesday earliest if it’s late. Do you ever just feel super grumpy about this? Like, actually petulant? 🤣

@0rangem0nster oh yes, fully grumpy today, if I could stamp my feet about it I would😆
I always thought CM was supposed to dry up, but I still get quite a bit leading up to af, then none afterwards

@LuckyDuck93 find a deserted room and throw an unseen hissy fit 🤣
Yeah, it’s stupid, I always latch on to something, which inevitably turns out to be some normal part of the cycle. 🤦‍♀️

@0rangem0nster I think thats the problem though, every symptom I google "could be early pregnancy, could be af" like how is that useful?

@LuckyDuck93 I think the more I go through this, the more I learn that really, the only way to be sure is a test a week after a missed period, like it used to be 20 years ago before all these stupid early tests came out. It’s all just a marketing scam designed to make people spend more money on them 😅 And yet we fall for all this baloney every time, don’t we!

Er, in a weird turn of events after my pity party yesterday, my temp has gone back up, not by loads but still 0.3 above my baseline...no sign of af yet & due today or tomorrow..obviously writing this means it will arrive as soon as I hit post!

Eeek!!! That sounds promising...!! Keeping everything crossed for you. Hope you get your answer (and a BFP!) soon.

I am most definitely out. AF turned up last night. Had a bit of a cry in the bathroom and that's that. Onto cycle #3. I know in the grand scheme of things it's really not much of a long time to have been trying (compared to my own previous attempts especially!) so will just continue with the temping and OPKing (I found it useful) and go again.

I did take the opportunity to have a glass of fizz last night - after my mammoth week a while ago writing that post-graduate dissertation in a week... got the email yesterday to say I'd passed!

@LuckyDuck93 this is what I mean, you can’t trust any symptoms, not even the “medical” ones! I hope it means a positive for you!
I'm going nuts, I found a normal 25mlu test in the back of the cupboard and tried this morning (11dpo) and was bfn. No matter how much I try to believe it’s too early or whatever I just know I’m out, for sure. I’m always out, my body just doesn’t work any more. Grrrrr. Also last night, my partner suddenly came out with “I don’t know what the rush is anyway, I’m enjoying life now”. It made me really angry. After being quite excited and wanting to conceive, where did that come from?

Gosh, it's so tough to read what you've written, knowing I could have written the exact same thing a few years ago. Those feelings of frustration and getting angry with yourself. I used to get stuck in the rabbit hole of 'THIS IS WHAT MY BODY IS LITERALLY DESIGNED TO DO!' and getting annoyed and feeling 'faulty' or frustrated by 'failure'. It's a dangerous slippery slope though, so let's try and get you out of that thinking (whilst still recognising all the emotions that come with it!).

Maybe your partner is just trying to soften the blow a little bit? Trying to frame it positively to make it easier to deal with? Can see how it's upsetting though... not totally the same, but when I was trying without success with my ex-H, I remember us having similar conversations. He definitely wasn't as wedded to the idea of a second as I was, and didn't seem that fussed. And so I very much felt the sadness and disappointment each month was only my burden to bear? If that makes sense? Made what can be a very lonely experience anyway feel even more isolated. And I definitely resented that! And I think there was always a little part of me that doubted whether a second child with HIM was actually a good idea. I think I always knew if it happened, I'd be shouldering most of the emotional and physical responsibilities... if that makes sense?

I think partners definitely experience the whole TTC experience very differently. And the concept of having a baby is very theoretical and a bit abstract... whereas it's WAY more tangible to us. It's VERY physical. It's our bodies. It's our symptoms. Our hormones. It's a lot more immediate.

@0rangem0nster oh god, he's worded that totally wrong hasn't he, whilst he probably meant "i'm really enjoying life with you and trying to help you see that in a positive way" he's basically just let those words fall out without seeing how they will come across to someone who is a) probably hormonal b) desperately wants it. Honestly, men!!

@Taysonic sorry to hear that, hope you've treated yourself to some minstrels after that cry. Sounds like you've got a good plan for the next month though!

Who knows what it means for me, I know really a test would tell me either way, but i also dont want to deal with the disappointment again when i'd already told myself i was out this cycle, what a whirlwind.

Hello!

Can I join? 🙏 I'm currently TTC #2 with a 2.5 year old born via IVF on our first attempt 😇 We've unexplained infertility and have one embryo left, however had a natural pregnancy Dec 23 that ended in miscarriage soon after. Bittersweet as we never thought we'd conceive naturally, so have decided to give it 12 months before having to go back to IVF. I've also had a hernia op to have done so that's stalled things as we'd to avoid pregnancy 🙄
Now CD 16 and in our 2WW, feeling we've only another 2-3 shots left.
I was due to ovulate on Tues according to my app but randomly did an OPK this morning after doing none all month... would you still take this as fertile?!
It does not get easier 🤦‍♀️

@LivingonaPrayerandGin hello! I feel for you with the MC - I had one 12 months ago after no luck for ages and a further year of big fat no luck since.
With your OPK, I’d try not to set too much store by it. Women with “unusual” hormonal systems or “subfertility” are often advised that OPKs may be unreliable as their hormone levels may not fall into the category needed by the OPK to show a good result. For example, some cycles, I could have constantly “medium” lines on an OPK, and other cycles, it could be blazing positive for 35 days straight.
The only thing I’ve learned about this journey is it isn’t easy, there’s plenty of strife, but all it takes is one success and hopefully that will come to us all.

@0rangem0nster thank you! Sorry to hear you've been through the same ❤️ But that's really interesting about OPKs! Makes sense but I've never heard of it. I've been using the same app for about 10ish years I'd say, and I just find alot of the time AF comes a day ot two early or later and it's meant ovulation was out 🙄🤦‍♀️

@LivingonaPrayerandGin I've been doing a similar sort of thing with an App for about 6 years and I've figured out that the only reliable thing is that my luteal phase is 13 days - 13 days of sore boobs. So I know that the day I get sore boobs is the day after I have ovulated. Not much good for TTC but at least I know when my TWW starts! 😂
@Taysonic have you got through the whole bag of minstrels yet? I've eaten an entire Dairy Milk Caramel bar and AF hasn't even turned up (but I'm feeling crampy as I usually do a few days before so she must be on her way).

Welcome @LivingonaPrayerandGin - hoping this is a lucky thread for you and that we're all soon celebrating success. Sorry you've had a difficult time of it, really hope that there's lots ahead for you that will bring joy and light.

After a couple of days of spotting really, AF really PROPERLY arrived this morning (so counting today as Cycle Day 1). Going to whack open that packet of Minstrels with a cup of tea this evening. We had booked tickets to see a Liverpool Women's game this weekend (as a Christmas present for my partner from my son) but the game got rearranged from Sunday to tonight as it's now being shown on TV. We couldn't get to the game this evening, so we'll be watching it in the warmth of the lounge with ALL the snacks instead.

After a really busy work week, excited to take the foot off the gas this weekend and just enjoy life at a slightly slower pace!

How is the weekend shaping up for others?

@LivingonaPrayerandGin Welcome, hoping this is a lucky thread for you after all you've been through, could you do another opk today to see if is going up or down? might give you more of an idea.

@Taysonic hink today will be CD1 for me too, i've had spotting and cramps since last night, just wish it would hurry up now so i can start again. Decided we're not going to take a break this cycle, if a xmas baby is meant to be then its meant to be, I can go abroad any xmas! Got a nice relaxed weekend with my family & husband this weekend, lots of walking and fresh air so that should help to clear my head a bit ready for the next cycle. Might treat myself to minstrels tonight too! Being inside with snacks instead of out in the cold sounds great!

Well, AF just arrived in full force, two days early. 😟
That was my last go for a while, we’re going to leave it now until 2026. I need to take a break from this endless cycle of disappointment and focus on me.
Good luck everyone, I hope you get there well before I do, if I ever do. 🤞🤞🤞

@0rangem0nster sorry to hear, who knows a rest might be all you need. It's alot on your mental health sometimes so fully understand. Good luck and hopefully you'll be back with some good news soon ♥️

@LuckyDuck93 thank you. I did another OPK later that day although I know it's not as accurate but it looked alot fainter, so I'm trusting the app! I think if AF arrives this month, I'll test from CD1 just to compare... sounds like you've a lovely weekend planned! 🥰

@Taysonic that's a shame they changed the match but with the weather we've had, a night in front of the tv with minstrels sounds like a result! We're off to see Teddy swims in Manchester on Sunday night so have Monday off. I think I'm more excited about the lie in at a hotel than anything else 😂🙈 our two year olds taken to waking at 6am after being a late riser all this time.

How has the TTC journey been for everyone so far?

Morning ladies!

@LuckyDuck93 @Taysonic so sorry to read this wasn’t your month 😔 it’s so rubbish when af arrived but I’m hoping you both had a lovely weekend of relaxing and lots of minstrels!
We go again this month! Nice to know you’re both going to bite bullet and try in March as well even if it’s Xmas baby I’ve given up trying to plan now and just going to keep trying each month we can 🥰 and I’m really really hoping this is our month ladies! Lucky number 6? 🤞🏻

I’m due to ovulate this weekend and luckily Mr is back from working away just in time!

Just catching up on the other posts!
@LivingonaPrayerandGin Welcome 🥰 I’m guessing you’re in your TWW now? How many DPO are you?