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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

First time ttc and I have a couple of questions...

15 replies

Leanbh2010 · 22/04/2009 23:10

Did anyone else go and see their GP prior to conceiving to get advice, checks etc or did you all just get on with ttc? I just came off the pill and DH and are going to try for a baby but I'm not sure if I need to see a GP - will they just tell me to get lost and come back when I'm actually pregnant?

I'm 31 and should be low-risk as I have no complications such as thyroid, diabetes or endometriosis problems (luckily, I know) but just wondered whether a visit to the GP is standard. I searched the forum but nobody else seems to have visited their GP unless they had complications with conceiving.

Also, did anyone use ovulation predictor kits and were they any use? I don't know how regular my cycle will be as I was quite irregular before I started the pill.

Feeling a bit nervous about all of this - I'm keen to have children but I just wish I could avoid the whole pregnancy, labour, breastfeeding, part of it all!! Oh, to be a man...

OP posts:

myredcardigan · 22/04/2009 23:22

Hiya! I didn't see the GP beforehand and to be honest I'm not sure you need to unless you have an existing medical condition in which case I would definitely recommend it.

Are you taking folic acid? That's really the most important supplement. It's important to start it now in order to build up a store. Pregnacare is a good one and contains a good balance for TTC and pregnancy. It's important only to take supplements specifically designed for pregnanct women as they do not contain vitA which can be dangerous in pregnancy. Pregnacare can be difficult to take esp if you get morning sickness in which case folic acid can be bought on its own in a much smaller form.

Good luck!

FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 23:26

I did see the gp but only because I'd been a bit anaemic beforehand and wanted to check I was ok before conceiving. She just told me to take pronatal supplements and then, yes, basically shoo-ed me away til I got pregnant - and even then they only see you once you're about 10wks pregnant for a booking in appt (or they did back then - 8 yrs ago now).
Make sure you take the folic acid and eat plenty of folic acid-rich foods - leafy greens, cereals (grape nuts are particularly good), fortified breads etc.
Steer clear of too much vitamin A, as myredcardigan said - so don't go eating tons of liver and bacon!
Good luck!

myredcardigan · 22/04/2009 23:29

Oh, with regards the OV kits, I haven't used them but then I can usually tell when I'm ovulating. I have a friend who used the pee on the stick ones and she found them really effective.

I made sure I made love from day 10 to day 14 but I had a 28day cycle so adjust accordingly. caught with my son on day 14 so OV day and my daughters around day 11 or 12. So the sperm/sex theory worked in my case

FrankMustard · 22/04/2009 23:31

Me too - got pregnant with my 4 in line with ovulation, so it's definitely worth knowing when you're ovulating for maximum success....but don't make it a chore, just go with the flow and incorporate it into your usual love life or else it might become a duty rather than a pleasure!

beanieb · 22/04/2009 23:33

Hiya

I went to the GP. I asked to be tested for Chlamydia and chatted about the ins and outs.

If you are irregular it could be that you may need investigating - blood tests for example.

My advice is go and lie, tell them you have been trying for a year if you think you can get away with it. That way if it does take longer than a year you can be immediately referred.

Original poster

Leanbh2010 · 22/04/2009 23:51

Thanks for all your helpful replies! By the sounds of it, I probably don't need to go see a GP unless there are any hitches but if I get any problems with ovulating / menstrual cycle, I'll think about it.

Thanks also for the tips re folic acid - I wasn't aware of the Vitamin A issues. Will need to read up a bit more on nutrition actually as it's something I hadn't factored in to prepare for before I'm pregnant. I hate liver though so glad to know I can legitimately avoid eating that for the foreseeable future!

Well, wish me luck! Still kind of in denial about the enormity of it all (including how enormous I'll actually be at some stage ) but this site is great for getting realistic information and stories from all of you who've been through it already

OP posts:

Ozziegirly · 29/04/2009 08:51

I mentioned at a Dr appt about something else that I was planning on coming off the pill, so she gave me a leaflet with info on things like taking folic acid and cutting down on booze etc.

I also had a full blood test to check iron, blood group plus my immunity to chicken pox, measles, mumps and rubella.

I wasn't immune to mumps or chicken pox (despite having had both as a child) and had a low immunity to measles so I have been vaccinated with MMR and varicella pre pregnancy.

We had some time spare as weren't quite ready to start trying (as I had recently started a new job).

I now have 17 days of the pill left and then am officially ttc!

puffylovett · 29/04/2009 08:55

I went to get full bloods done with particular focus to check if had antibodies to rubella. Always a good idea to check beforehand ! as it can be dangerous to a foetus.

Ozziegirly · 29/04/2009 10:28

It only took a day or so for the results to come back and I had MMR with no side effects at all.

They suggest leaving 3 months between vaccination and conception though.

Plus it was nice being given a clean bill of health before I start.

VivClicquot · 30/04/2009 12:05

Hi,

This is my first ever post on Mumsnet so please be gentle with me!

I've just recently come off the pill, as am getting married in November and DP and I want to start TTC around then - however, we've kind of decided that we'll leave things between now and then to chance, and if I fall pregnant before the wedding, then that's no big deal. (eek!)

So, I went to see my GP last week, partly because I wanted to seek general pre-conception advice, but also to double check the situation re. any jabs I may need for our honeymoon. I also asked about whether I needed to be tested for chlamydia etc, and was given the response,

"Are you healthy?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any symptoms?"
"No."
"Have you been shagging around?"
"No."
"Well, stop worrying then!"

...which I thought was a wonderfully cavalier-approach to sexual health from a GP whose surgery is in the middle of my city's gay village

Like LeanBH, I'm quite excited but also quite nervous - in an ideal world, we'll conceive on honeymoon, but in the meantime, I figure we may as well start as we mean to go on!

Neeko · 30/04/2009 13:10

My surgery run a pre-conception clinic taken by the midwife. She took blood to test for rubella/ chicken pox etc and discussed the basics like diet and folic acid with me. (This was almost 4 years ago before I had DD) I think it's worth even asking for an appt with the practice nurse for a gerenaral "yes, you're healthy so go and get on with it!" Good luck!

Kentishwoman · 30/04/2009 13:50

I went to the GP before I started TTC and she clearly thought I was a bit mad. She did give me a test for immunity to something or other (I think it must have been rubella), but I suspect that was more to get rid of me than anything else!!

If you're the kind of person who likes feeling in control (which I am), then you can do symptothermal charting, where you take your temp and record your cervical mucus and various other things each day, to give you an idea of when you ovulate. I really liked doing that because I'd been on the pill for 14 years and had absolutely no idea what my natural cycle was like, or really any notion of the process of ovulation and conception. If you fancy doing it, there's a really good site called FertilityFriend.com that will get you started.

Also, don't forget your partner's role in all this. If you want to give yourself the best chance of conceiving, then it's a good idea for him to have a healthy diet and cut down on his alcohol intake as well. And if you want to read more about nutrition for you, then the Food Standards Agency has quite a good website (eatwell.gov.uk I think) which has some pretty sensible information.

Good luck!!

heverhoney1 · 30/04/2009 14:29

There is a lovely first timers thread on here which may be a bit of support too. We have a range of people on there from those who are just starting out, those who have been trying for a little while right through to a couple of babies who are due around now - I am increadibly lucky to be 1 who is due around now. We have all been through the panic and uncertenty of taking those first few steps and everyone is willing to share!

The thread is first time ttc - part 3 (I think thats where we are now) I dont know how to link but will bump the thread to the top of the page for you.

ABetaDad · 30/04/2009 14:39

In my experience, GPs are not really interested unless you have already been TTC for a year.

Maybe go and ask about folic acid supplements and other general advice on any particular health issue you have and also make sure you and DH cut down on alcohol, eat healthily, do some excercise, lose weight if either of you are overweight.

Agree with FrankMustard make it a part of your love life and do not make it a duty or get anxious about.

MrsMopple · 30/04/2009 15:58

I conceived my ds 3rd month of trying and used a Calista ovulation thing - it's like a tiny microsope and you have to look at your saliva every day, because around ovulation it dries in a fern pattern (amazing what the human body does without you ever knowing!).

That said, we have been ttc number 2 since Jan 07 and all the temperature charting and weeing on sticks and calista etc haven't helped us this time around, so ultimately there's a lot of luck involved too, but like Kentishwoman said, it's nice to feel as if you have a bit of an insight into how your body is working.

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