Anyone else in the early stages of their TTC journey for baby #1?

[Ivylilac]

Hi everyone,

We’re early into our TTC journey and are currently on cycle number 2 for our first baby. I’ve also never been pregnant before.

I’m currently on day 14 of my cycle but my cycles are around 25-27 days on average, so my Flo app predicted I’d ovulate on day 12 based off symptoms of ovulation from previous months which have been quite consistent. We dtd on day 7,8,10 and 11 and haven’t been able to do it again since due to clashing work schedules, mega long days and then being exhausted in our free time as a result, so I have no idea if we’ve done enough this cycle.

Either way, it would be nice to chat to others in the same boat who are also only just starting their TTC journey! :) I told myself this cycle I wouldn’t count down the days or symptom spot like I did last cycle, but it’s hard not to already!

Static smiley this morning! We DTD last night and also the night before, but I’m not sure if we’ll be able to today, so hopefully we’ve done enough so far! Will try for today, but if not then Friday. I didn’t bother testing last night as I really thought I’d have another flashing smiley this morning, so for all I know my LH surge could’ve started yesterday at some point. It’s a learning curve for next cycle if this one isn’t successful to test twice daily!

Yay a static for you - exciting! Seems like you’ve got it pretty well covered with the past 2 night!
Another flashing for me for the 6th day! What is going on!? My easy@homes are only .47 too so rising but still low.
we DTD last night so will have to try tonight too incase static tomorrow x

Keep going with it, I think some women can get a flashing smiley for 10 days if I remember the instructions correctly!

I am thinking of undergoing some fertility accupuncture, only really because it sounds quite relaxing and might be a bit of a 'stress-reliever'. My progesterone is very low and that can be caused by chronic stress, so trying to come up with ways to reduce this naturally! If anyone else has tried it I'd love to hear what you thought!

Great you got the static @Ivylilac. That ties in with your timings on your app doesn’t it?

I’ve heard good things from a friend who has acupuncture when she was doing ivf @tiutinkerbell. Is there somewhere near you that offers it? Out of interest how do you know you have low progesterone - have you had tests? I have a shortish luteal phase (usually 11 days) so it’s something I wonder if I should test.

It does yeah! Do you think it’s alright if we don’t DTD today having done it yesterday and the day before? We’ll try if we can but today’s schedules might not match up so well. I don’t know if skipping today and trying tomorrow instead is just as effective. It’s so mentally draining each month trying to know if we’ve done enough!

@tiutinkerbell I’ve not had fertility acupuncture, but I’ve found acupuncture generally has helped me with all sorts over the years, so worth a shot!

Yes I do have somewhere close by that offers it - however it can add up cost wise so I am never sure whether to try it or not. With all the supplements etc it adds up doesn't it - but I guess it won't do any harm.

I always suspected my progesterone was a little low as I have very short luteal phases - like 6 days max. So I usually ovulate on Day 20 (2 days from now actually) and then would get my period around day 25/27. I went to have some testing done this month and they have come back to me confirming it is very low and thus my chances of conception are very low and chances of miscarriage are very high if I did end up conceiving at all - full of good news these doctors!

Skipping today should be totally fine. Doing it yesterday and the day before means there’s likely still a good chance, and every other day is generally considered enough (or so I've read!). It’s so hard not to overthink whether we’ve “done enough” each cycle, but you’ve covered your bases well.

Thanks for the acupuncture recommendation too — I guess it couldn’t hurt to give it a go!

@tiutinkerbell Yeah you’re right, I need to stop overthinking. I’ve got it in my head that we need to DTD literally just before I ovulate but realistically I have no idea what time that’s going to be. It could’ve already happened!

Yeah definitely try it if you find a good one in your area, it worked wonders for me on all kinds of health issues and injuries. I only saw mine once a month when I would go to her unless I had a particularly troublesome problem, so you could start with that?

Ah so sorry to hear of this @tiutinkerbell. Are you taking any medication or planning anything to help lengthen your luteal phase? Fingers crossed for you.

Also with you on cost of supplements and tests are also bloody expensive! I need to look at cheaper ovulation tests.

It’s so hard to be on scheduled sex! We didn’t DTD as much as ideal for this cycle. But a lot of what I’ve read suggests every other day is good. It’s not achievable to stick to a plan to do it more as life gets in the way. And I think it’s good not to put too much pressure on yourselves.

Yeah I agree. Also I have to keep reminding myself that so many couples get pregnant without any of this planning at all, so clearly having sex sporadically, like a lot of people do, does work! It just feels like you have to hit a window when you’re actively planning around your ovulation, but I’m going to stop worrying about it and work on the basis it is what it is!

100%! Lots of couples don’t test for ovulation, plan for DTD etc. I think if we’re not successful in a few cycles I might need to be more relaxed and just plan to stop planning it so much - for my own sanity!

@Ivylilac yay to the static!! And you will be absolutely fine if you miss today. To be honest I’ve read that it can be better to skip days as it’s good for the guy. Not sure how etc. but you will be fine if you miss today. Every other day in the fertile window is more than sufficient. Fingers crossed for this cycle!! 🤞🏻

AF arrived today and I’m so relieved. But the cramps are really bad today. I only usually suffer for a few hours in the morning but they have been constant today! Hoping it’s just a one off because of the delay/stress etc.

I think I’m going to start taking Coq10 supplements and possibly baby aspirin but need to look into that a little more.
I really want to try the acupuncture but I’m not sure of anywhere local to me that offers it. Not reputable anyway.

Yeah I think I’ll do the same to be honest, as I don’t want to keep losing months like this where my mind is just totally consumed by it all.

Yeah I’ve read that too actually, I’ll wait and see.

Stress definitely makes pain worse. Sorry to hear it’s been a bad to start to AF, but at least she’s arrived now and you can get ready to enter a new cycle!

Hope the cramps feel better soon @SilverDrive. It’s probably stress - looking after yourself.

How is everyone getting on? Anyone officially in the TWW? I think I'm still a couple of days from ovulation as haven't had any signs of it yet.

Curious about the Coq10 and baby aspirin - what does this help with? I started taking proceive vitamins recently and have been having B12 injections and folinic acid for about six months (for my own health, unrelated to TTC) as both b12 and folate were low last year.

I’m going to class myself as in the TWW from tomorrow, as my static smiley appeared on Wednesday, so that’s probably about right.

I’d like to know more about those two. I’m only taking vitamin D, folic acid and omega 3 at the moment, but I don’t know if I should take vitamin C too? Seem to have read mixed things on it. Is anyone else taking this?

Thanks ❤️ I’m taking progesterone supplements from about 1–2 days after I ovulate until my period comes, plus the usual vitamins — honestly feel like I’m nearly rattling at this stage with how many I’m taking!

I didn’t BBT track enough to really know but based on the amount of EWCM I’m going to guess I’m ovulating todayish. That matches with the generic ovulating calculators since this is CD13 for me so now I’ll try not to immediately fall into the testing countdown but…we shall see. On the brightside more BDing to look forward to tonight!

@SilverDrive we’re here for you whenever you do decide to test. Good for you for waiting until you’re ready though. We think so much about testing early but waiting or choosing not to can take just as much dedication. Either way I hope the cramps subside and you feel better soon!

I’m about 9DPO so definitely in the TWW. Feel completely normal so far and have a feeling this isn’t my month.

As for supplements I’m taking an all in one from Ovum which has a lot of the recommended - C, B12, B6, D, CoQ10 etc. I also take Omega 3 and Magnesium.

Different supplements are meant to help with egg health, cycle/hormonal balance etc. So depends what you want to target/if you have any known issues. CoQ10 specially is meant to help with egg and sperm health.

Good luck to those in the 2ww!

I am feeling a bit rubbish about this month now. Don’t know if it’s because of the chemical last month. This is only month 4 of trying (3 of OPK/s), but I’m feeling a bit deflated. Need to snap out of it 🤦‍♀️

We really tried last month and the sex got mundane but was great to see a second line, even though it ended in a chemical. Bit worried about how I’ll cope mentally if I have another few chemicals along the way.

I’ve come off all the vitamins too because my cycles were getting longer and longer on them! Probably not the thing to do but hey ho.

It’s completely normal to feel discouraged after experiencing a chemical, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to snap out of it. You’re allowed to feel what you need to, to move forward. ❤️