TTC for first baby thread !

[PeonyPatch]

Hello - I thought I’d start a TTC thread specifically for those of us who are trying for our first babies. I’ve joined other threads before but find it difficult connecting to others who may already have babies as I think ttc for your first is a whole other ball game as no other children and first time.

Any others? 🩷

I agree - the TWW is killing me. I was pretty calm for the first couple of weeks, but now I’ve ovulated I just NEED to know!

We DTD pretty much every day of my fertile week, so feeling pretty hopeful this month.

I think I’m 3 days post ovulation, so trying to wait till next weekend to test (that will make me 8/9 days post ovulation. I’ve bought early response tests that say they work up to 6 days before your period. So I think it would be ok to test this weekend?

Roughly what day is everyone else testing? Surely none of us are sane us to be waiting till our periods are late 😂🙈

@SunshineRose12 we're pretty much at the same stage. The not knowing is just the worst. The only times I feel normal are between my period and ovulation as at least I KNOW I can't be pregnant yet! I'm going to try and hold out testing until Saturday.

Hi everyone, hope you don't mind if I join :) I've just turned 35, on cycle 8 after coming off the pill for 16 years - TTC our first. Been doing ovulation tests and have been getting a consistent peak around 13/14 days for the last 7 cycles (cycles seemed to settle quickly coming off the pill which I was surprised at). I've not been testing and just waiting for AF to turn up which she inevitably does. Currently on 8DPO and dreading the usual disappointment so thought I'd come here so it feels a bit less lonely! Wishing you all love and luck x

Welcome, lovely to have you!

I think your cycles are in line with @GladDenimGoose and me. We’ve both been trying for a few months and are currently loosing our minds over the TWW - so you’re in good company 😂

@GladDenimGoose I’m also going to test on Saturday I think. I’ve had some tiny light pink spotting tonight - trying not to get my hopes up that it could be implantation bleeding 😳

@SunshineRose12 @GladDenimGoose The TTW is awful isn't it - all my PMS symptoms seem to be aligned with pregnancy ones as well that doesn't help. Things like funny smells, sore boobs, tired - seems to get my hopes up.

Have you been testing most months? I'm wondering if I should but I like to hold onto the hope as long as I can which is a bit daft x

It's not daft I am the same. I get those who like to test early but I like to wait as long as possible, because as long as I don't know, there is still a chance.

Welcome to the tww woes @OliveParrot! I flip and flop about testing early - some months I have, others I haven't. My cycles are on the shorter side so I usually expect my period around 11/12 dpo anyway. Sometimes a test helps me stop thinking about it for the day, even if it's negative.

I'm the same with the short cycles, also normally get my period 11-12 DPO, so I suppose not as long a wait at least!

Turns out I won’t need to test, my period came today 😭. This cycle has only been 25 days. I’ve never had such a short cycle, so really don’t know what’s going on. Had a bit of a cry this morning, which I think was because I just wasn’t expecting to see my period so soon. This journey is really hard, isn’t it!

Sending you a massive virtual hug @SunshineRose12 - this is a really hard and weird thing to be going through. Can you do something nice as a little treat tonight? Lovely hot bath/glass of wine/long walk somewhere peaceful/blasting your favourite music really really loud - whatever works for you? Take care and try not to dwell too much on it (which is easier said than done I know!) - sending you all the very best for next month.

AF not due til next Weds for me - I haven’t tested yet but just feel like I’m out again this month so I’ve spent my day off doing the RSPB big garden birdwatch (proud bird nerd here lol) and going to plan a nice day out with my husband tomorrow to keep busy.

@SunshineRose12 I'm so sorry - so cruel of AF to surprise you like that. At least you don't need to wait so long before you can try again. It's happened to me before as well - a few months ago I had a 22 day cycle which shook me a little but I've been straight back to normal since then. I think it's just one of those things - try not to worry (easier said than done I know!)

@SunshineRose12 hope you are okay, really horrible when AF turns up :( Mine came over this weekend too. Not sure I have much advice other than maybe to something nice as a distraction - we've decided to go out for dinner tonight x

@OliveParrot @SunshineRose12 I'm joining the 'maybe next month' club - my period arrived early today 😔

What I thought was my period coming on yesterday turned out to be a small amount of spotting which has now stopped. I've never spotted before. So obviously I'm now losing my mind a bit. I've done an easy @ home test but it's negative...

@GladDenimGoose how many days early are you? I learnt recently that most tests that say 5/6days early are actually counting back from your “missed period” which is the day after it’s due. The leaflet also tells you the accuracy each day and it’s only 70-90% until I think 3 or 4 days before then.

If my obsessive learning about how pregnancy tests doesn’t make it obvious, I still haven’t taken. This is our sixth month so I’ve started doing LH testing to see when I’m ovulating and we’ve booked a private fertility check to hopefully put our minds at ease.

I'm 12dpo on cd25 and my cycles are usually between 23 and 25 days - so I was expecting AF today! I know the e@h tests aren't as sensitive so I have some frer test arriving tomorrow. This is my 6th cycle too and this month was the first time I used lh tests to track ovulation. I've also had some pulling type sensations on the left side of my abdomen for the last few days.

What will they test for at the fertility check? We've considered doing similar if we're not lucky this month

AF arrived this morning with a vengeance 😔

Sorry to hear AF has arrived this morning ☹️

For the check, they’re going to do a blood test to see my AMH levels and an internal ultrasound to look at well everything plus semen analysis for my husband.

I had a full blood screen in late 2024 vis a postal service because a relative was diagnosed with a hereditary hormonal issue which came back fine. They recommend testing again though because it’s been over a year!

Thanks everyone for the kind messages - it’s really appreciated ❤️

@GladDenimGoose sorry to hear AF has arrived. It really sounded like it was going to be your month.

Gosh, between the lot of us, it’s not been a lucky month 😞

We’ve also started taking about having some tests done as we’ve now hit the 6 months of ‘really trying’ (i.e timing cycles, sex every other day of the fertile window etc). Would be good to know how others get on with these. I’ve heard that they need to test at certain times in your cycle, and I’m worried that my cycle isn’t regular enough to pin point the right dates for the tests.

Hoping next month is luckier for us! Sorry @GladDenimGoose that AF turned up. @rrrrrreatt I was thinking about maybe getting tests too. Do you know if they test progesterone? Starting to wonder if my cycle being on the short side and short periods could maybe be an issue for implantation (luteal phase tends to be 10/11 days and period only 2 days). Although I have read it's still normal range but can't help be paranoid these days

Hi everyone!
I’m 27 and currently cycle 14 TTC baby #1. Cycles regular and blood tests/scans normal.
currently around 13 DPO, AF due in 3 days- some light spotting and mild cramping.
Struggling with the mental load of it all- feels like it will never happen!

Hi @ForNewReader welcome :) It's really tough, hopefully we can help each other get through! That's great news your scans are normal x

I’m back again. Had what was supposed to be a 9+3 scan this morning but looked like it stopped developing 2 weeks ago and no heart beat. 💔. I expect we’re going to try again as soon as the miscarriage has happened and my cycle comes back

Oh @cobalt123 I truly am so sorry 😞