Have one month to throw everything we have at TTC, suggestions??

[TurquoiseKiss]

Due to various events happening in 2020, it would be v.convenient if DH and I managed to conceive in August, with a view to deliver between end of April and end of May 2020. If it doesn't happen on first cycle attempt, we'll shut up shop until February 2020, as from October onwards it doesn't matter when (if!) a baby comes. This will be our first try. We're under no illusions we'll be this lucky, but I wanted to ask you successful lot for any (additional to the obvious!) hints and tips?I've been off the Pill for 2.5 years, use condoms for contraception, and I use a period tracker app. Periods are regular and always have been, cycles are 27/28 days. I'm 33, he's 27. According to my app, I'll be ovulating on 1, 2, 3, 25-31 August.

So far...

On Monday I started on the Seven Seas 'Trying for a Baby' supplements, understand its best to take them in the lead up to TTC.

Thinking about getting DH on the Wellman conception supplements - anyone know if these should be started in the lead up to TTC or as soon as we start? I guess they're just a vitamin really, so no harm starting now?

Between now and August we're going to cut down on alcohol - we've got a 30th birthday party, and a wedding in Italy over the next 8 weeks, but that's it.

Thank you!

We got pregnant on the first cycle (massive shock, wasn't expecting it to be so quick, and we only dtd about 3 times) Used conceive plus, clearblue ovulation tests (I also took ovulation tests the months before we were ready to conceive to know where I was). Also was taking vitamins for a couple of months prior.

I know it is a cliche but we did everything we should for three months and nothing happened, took a break in the 4th and conceived despite not having sex on the days we were supposed to. Basically easy to say but try not to stress.

In our experience, Conceive Plus is much more effective than Pre Seed. We used Pre Seed for several cycles without success - then the month we switched to Conceive Plus, I fell pregnant with triplets! (No family history of multiples)

Folic acid

Relax
Get real

Relax

Have sex.

All you can do really.

We had sex five days in a row over my fertile period and used Preseed. Bosh.

Sorry op, but I think ttc is one of those things that does not go well with pressure. I hope it works out though.

Firstly, I think being a maid of honour with an 8-12 week old baby will be a lot harder than you think it would be (and - while mileage will vary on this - I'd a million times rather have done it at 7 or 8 months pregnant than when DS was, say, 10 weeks old, so I'm not sure about your decision that young baby will be more convenient than late pregnancy). However, I also think that putting things on hold at 33 when you know you're otherwise ready for someone else's wedding is going far beyond the call of duty.

That said... The lubes are a scam unless you already use lube - none of them actually can claim to perform better than nothing, so they're only good if nothing isn't an option for you, ie you always need lube to comfortably have sex.

Not drinking, eating well are all going to do no harm, but nothing but lots of sex and lots of luck are going to make any real difference to your chances.

Make sure you orgasm after him. The cervix 'dips' into the vagina and helps sperm to swim where they should!
www.sheknows.com/love-and-sex/articles/811826/the-cervical-dip-orgasms-trying-to-conceive/

Hi! I was really lucky and caught first time. I used the app Flo to track my cycles from jan-April just to get some idea of when to expect my period. I'd also use Home ovulation kits (cheap ones from amazon) and literally pee on one twice a day and track my positive tests on the app too. (You can buy in bulk for a fiver).

After a couple of months, I got used to my body's signals of ovulation. My second drive went through the roof and my CM changed in texture etc. So I sorta knew when I was about t ovulate. Around my fertile window we just DTD every other day and then we made sure we did it on the day I was ovulating.

But I also made sure to enjoy myself too! I think sometimes putting too much pressure on yourself and your DH / DP can seriously affect the chances of conceiving.

Enjoy the journey and do not stress if it doesn't happen - good luck! Sending baby dust your way :) xxx

Stop contraception as far in advance as poss.
Give up all alcohol and caffeine and eat very healthily, dark greens etc.
Begin prenatal vitamins
Only use lube that's pro conception
Drink a glass of grapefruit juice every day
By a clear blue fertility monitor and pee sticks. It tracks your fertility from the beginning of your cycle until the end and tells you your low/high/peak fertility days and tells you if you're pregnant.

I came off my pill and changed my diet at the end of November (but used protection for 1 month) had my natural period on the 1st Jan, used my monitor and dtd when prompted from the 12-16th of Jan and had my bfp on the 25th Jan.

Clear blue monitor was the best thing I ever spent my boots points on! I would recommend to anyone! So easy and I know lots of people who got their bfp very quickly whilst using it.

Menstrual cycle apps- record your cycle with all symptoms for as long as you can. It will really help.
OPKs - work out when you're ovulating by peeing on the stick.
BBT - take your temp every morning and record it in your app so you can see when you ovulated. Compare this to your OPK results to check theyre saying the same thing.
Have sex every other day in your fertile window - you will work this out once you have recorded all these details in your app.

Good luck!

I'd agree with what some others have said, don't put too much emphasis on when you think you might ovulate. My cycle I got pregnant I ovulated on day 10 (before that the earliest I'd ever ovulated was day 13).

You could try the sperm meets egg plan (SMEP)? You start having sex every other day from cycle day 8, then when you get a positive OPK you have sex for three days in a row, then skip a day then do it once more. Should guarantee you at least get your chance.

Tried for 7 months, lots of sex especially around ovulation (pissed on sticks), legs in air, tracked periods, went on holiday, the lot. Had a quickie one morning early September during O week, sort of given up trying- I am currently laying in hospital being induced. No rhyme or reason to it but good luck!

I'm 23 and it took me 18 months to conceive after coming off the pill (at 21 - i had been taking it for 3 years)

I wouldn't bother with ovulation sticks (I never got a positive). I'd also say ignore the app and have sex every other day from as soon as your period ends. Sounds stupid but something to consider...try not to fall out too much as as soon as we'd had a petty row, dtd would be off the cards.

I had a bit of a deadline this time (self imposed, to do with age). We tried casually for two months and then on month three we did the lot - ovulation tests, did the sperm meets egg plan (google it but basically every other day and then every day round ovulation) and I took robutussin cough medicine which is supposed to help thin cervical mucous. I got pregnant!

Yes to the clear blue monitor- that's what I used. It worked first month I used it for both DS2 and this pregnancy.

We had to try a bit harder because I was 36 and husband 45. We had been trying for about 4-5 months but I realised it wasn't so easy. We're both generally healthy. Alcohol-wise I tried to cut down but it was hard as it was the Xmas period in addition to the stress at work, so I still drank a bit, but we did manage to conceive in December :)
I remember taking the Seven Seas TTC tablets too and used the Clearblue digital ovulation test to track my fertile days. Otherwise I don't believe in any apps or temperature measuring, it's too much faff and not very accurate. We had sex every morning between Day 10 and 15 of my cycle. Female orgasm is just as important in my view so make sure you come every time, then chill in bed for about half an hour... that's how it happened for me :)

Just something to note: don't assume you're going to ovulate day around day 14 of your cycle. You could ovulate at any time.

I monitored my cycles for a whole year and worked out I ovulate around day 19-21. If I had gone with the generic days other people or books tell you, I never would have gotten pregnant! Xx

Hi all, I wanted to check back in to say we started trying at the end of July and got a BFP on 23 Aug at 13DPO Its still super early days but hoping everything goes smoothly, EDD would be first week of May I think. Not had my booking in appointment yet but its scheduled for mid-Sept.

Thanks so much for all your tips, wanted to follow up with what I used:

Started on the Seven Seas 'Trying for a Baby' supplements as mentioned in my first post - stopped taking these as I had two cycles that were 20 days long while on them. Switched to Boots own Folic Acid & Vitamin D (only £1 for 60!), Iron & Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6. No idea if they were to blame but can't help but notice that was the one big change.

DH was on the Wellman pre-conception supplements.

Bought some FertileCheck Fertility Gel but we didn't use every time.

Used the cheap OPKs from Amazon but not always in a systematic way.

All the best,
TK