Anyone here TTC?

[SchnitzelVonCrummsTum]

I'm hoping to start TTC baby #4 in August. Is there an existing larger families TTC thread / group, or does anyone else fancy joining me? The groups in the Conception topic don't really seem like a good fit ...

I'm 34
3 children (4, 7 & 8)
3 miscarriages before child #1

We have just started ttc #4 and I think I've had a faint positive today. Don't want to tempt fate but also freaking out abit!

Exciting 1981trouble - would it show up on a pic?

Hi Everything - glad you found the bit about previous births as heartening as I did!
Re: when to DTD, the take home point I got was that by trying to hit the two days before ovulation, women in their mid to late thirties have just the same odds of someone in their twenties who is timing less carefully and hits 3 days before ovulation. And whoever we do it, our odds are pretty good! X

Yes it def shows, done a second and no line but it showed too early to be an evap line. My youngest ones did this for a few days before showing properly so I just need to have patience and wait😂 I'm due on today and it's cd 24 so early for testing anyway.

Ah great 1981 - feel free to share a pic if the urge takes you ( I realise that I'm a pee stick squinting addict so do feel free to ignore me too). Whispered congratulations!!

I share a iCloud with the hubby and don't want to freak him out with lots of poas photos so darent take it any!

I can see your logic there! Does he know?

Oooh welcome 1981, and congrats! How doubly shocking and exciting for you!

Another bfn but no period either today. Need to hold on until after the weekend now I think.

CD7 today, am starting to use opks because my cycle was 25days and well I have no idea about this sort of stuff but I suppose it could be as early as CD10/11 right?

@Annabelle @Brutus and @momto3cheeky you're all at similar point aren't you? How about you @poptart?

How many dpo are you now @schnitzel?

Welcome @1981trouble and good luck.

Camping has been put back by a day until Friday with that and my early AF this month, my apps are predicting I'll ovulate Thursday or Friday so hopefully I won't miss it completely as I thought I would when it was predicting sat/sun! W

Exciting 1981
everything I'm cd 20 today but only dtd once on day cd16 as dp has been away and when he got back he was too exhausted 😩 so that's all I have got to work with.
I have been feeling very crampy for the last few days but realistically I usually(well the last time I was paying attention to it when concieved ds3 4 years ago) only ovulate around cd17-18 so it was probably just ovulation pain.
I have bought some of the one step ovulation sticks and used one today and there is absolutely no second line so assume my fertile window is over.
Is it best to use the sticks with first unrine in the morning or does it not matter?

9dpo today and bfn although slightly to early to test, perhaps?

Mumof3 I would test twice per day from about day 11 depending on your usual cycle length - first thing and then about 4pm. I'd use the one step tests for this xxx

Thanks Schnitzel I ll be a bit more prepared next month.
How do you all keep the dtd bit slightly exciting and not so much of a chore?
I have to say we have never been like rabbits even before kids but since having them it's even more of an effort and especially when ttc it is tricky to keep it exciting

Mumof3 - I wish I knew! Next month I'm planning to try:

• doing it in the morning when apparently men's physiology is, um, more awake ...
• trying to make time for proper foreplay (!) focused on DH...
• avoid starting too soon and burning out (not that we did that this time - managed it twice just before ov) ... only works if you're positive when you ovulate though!
• possibly even attempting an at-home date night or something 'special' for dinner but I have no idea if that would just seem rather contrived.

I asked DH about how I could make it better / more fun for him this coming month and he replied that it wasn't necessary, but I honestly believe it is so I'm really glad that you posted this question. What ideas do you have?

I'm only on CD6 but checking in and watching you all on your 2 ww.

I don't want to be a downer on the thread, but I'm having yet another wobble on number 4. I know that I would have been delighted to get a bfp last month, so maybe there's my answer, but the thought of actually trying again and planning it are quite frightening. Sorry, you must be sick of my indecisiveness.

Schnitzel,, I read that study, thank you for posting. I was never concerned about age as most of my mum friends are 30's, 40's and 50's (teen dd's mum's) so just seems normal in my circle to have them 'later'. Also, I've done a lot of researching my family history and many women continued to have children well into their 40's (although obviously not exactly through choice, as contraception wasn't available to them). But then when I thought about ttc this time, I googled and you're right - so many alarmist articles. I think the first Google result is a Dailymail article to say that our fertility clock starts ticking at 27!

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend.

Everythingnow I'm jealous of your short cycles. My last few were 35 days, so ovulation around cd21. It makes it such a long wait.

Hi Annabelle - I don't blame you on the wobble and it's not a downer. This stuff is a huge undertaking and I actually think that the enormity of it escalates, not decreases, with the number of children we already have. Is it the 'trying' bit that makes you nervous, the thought of getting through pregnancy or the actually having a 4th child that makes you nervous? Or none of that, or all?

It's also encouraging that you know lots of mums in their 30s / 40s ... one of my closest friends is 26 and has just conceived on her first ever attempt, which is obviously brilliant for her, but has irrationally terrified me although my fertility has no relation to hers AND when I ttc at 25, that was the year I had the 3 miscarriages. I think I envy her pregnancy innocence and, as I said before, am irrational on this subject.

@Annabelle, I am having similar wobbles daily. My age, issues with my eldest, financial, the gap between them, work. But like you I'd have been delighted with a bfp. When I had the chemical last year, I was delighted albeit for a brief period even though all of the above reasons against still applied.

My cycles are usually 27 days, last month was an odd one! Probably the curse of a holiday, you know whenever you book it, no matter how well planned AF will turn up anyway

Re dtd. I love it. Obviously I try to time it well but usually (pre ttc) we would dtd 2-3 a week anyway and I'd be happy with more! I don't know how that will change the more cycles pass unsuccessfully.

I approach it that I enjoy it first after all orgasms are good I think for conception and if there's a 'positive' outcome even better!

So for a bit of fun does anyone fancy symptom spotting?
I am on cd21 but I have no idea how many dpo I am as I haven't started charting yet but ever since around ovulation I have had very strong cramps and have been very bloated which is strange as I'm on SW and have been eating very well and really not been bloated for a good while.
Also concerned that I have UTI as also needing the toilet a lot and it realistically that can not be the effect of any kind of pressure yet.
Last cycle was a 30 day one but he one before was a 22 day so I'm even been starting to get af symptoms which then would not explain ovulation signs around a week ago.
Anyway I ll be interested to ge to the bottom of this

Af arrived so I'm out for this one. Let's see what happens now.

I keep going through sheer panic but actually really wanted it the last couple of days so I need to focus on that I think.

Ah 1981, I'm so sorry!

Ah bugger 1981, sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed for the next cycle though - it looks like a few of the group are near the beginning.

Despite all the doubts I keep coming back to the psychological place where I know I would regret it in a few years if I didn't at least try to do this now.

Same schnitzel I would regret not trying.

I'm wobbling.

I don't think I want all the baby/toddler hard work that much (though the adorable and gorgeous bits would be lovely!)

However, I think our family has space for one more child. I can't stop imagining another one running about with my three!

I really took to baby wearing with my third and have 2 gorgeous baby wearing hoodies and a sling which just need to be worn again, I considered selling them but couldn't bring myself to do it. Is it wrong that that's my sole motivation currently!!

I look at my 3 and figure one more in the mix won't make much difference and will fit in fine. It's daily carnage. I do make exceptionally cute babies who charm everyone around them but my god they are hard work too because I have to contain the charm offence!

The biggest problem for me now is that we have to Dtd again this month! It's just such a faff!

Haha 1981 we are in the same boat about dtd you are right it's such a fuff 😆
I too have pretty superficial reasons and too think we make super cute babies and each day I have to stop myself from getting the old baby clothes out and just dribble on imagining a new little body in them.
I also think another baby will change the dynamics in regards to rest of dc and besides thinking they will be great with a baby also think it will also be a good life lesson to learn how to look after and at times be responsible for a child who is quite bit younger than them.
Since we made the decision I have not doubting it even tho I'm a worrier and I do strongly think it is so worth going through all the pain again do to this one last time!

I haven't parted with the last buckle carrier I used, 1981...got rid of the other ones, including the stretchy, though.....🤔

Well. Can always get more!