Success stories after ttc for over 6 months...

[Daydreamer71]

I need some reassurance 😔 I feel like cycle 7 is about to start and I never dreamed it would take us this long. I've been ready a while for a baby, over a year at least but had to wait for DH to catch up. We are both mid-20s so age on our side. I just need some reassuring success stories after ttc for 6 months? Because I'm obviously now thinking the worst... it doesn't help that I'm asked weekly if we are having kids which I find so hurtful because people just have no idea. We have chosen not to tell anyone, even close family. Although a couple of my close friends know.

It took me almost 3 years of trying, then all of a sudden it happened and I’m currently 17 weeks pg. Don’t give up. I really had given up all hope and the one month we literally weren’t paying any attention to when I was ovulating and were so busy we literally only dtd once that month and it happened. I know everyone says it but don’t put too much pressure on yourselves, it will happen just relax as much as you can and enjoy life as it is now. Good luck and enjoy x

Have you been on the conception boards? There are lots of threads on there of people supporting each other and lots of advice is shared on there. Easier said then done but try not to feel too deflated as it often takes up to a year to fall pregnant. Are you tracking ovulation?

It took me a year and a half to conceive, try to relax I know that's hard. We were both mid 20s when it happened. It is completely normal, I think (I may be wrong) average time for a healthy couple is about a year! Try to relax as pp said, because the same happened for us, I was so deflated then one month when we really weren't expecting it it happened! We are now pregnant again first time! Good luck!! X

Thanks everyone. I'm sure/hope everything's fine, it's just so hard to relaxed as you say. The maternal feelings I have are so strong that it feels unreal. I'm sure you all had the same. We are so ready, it's been just the two of us for almost 7 years and a little addition would be so perfect.

Have been tracking my cycles for almost a year, used pre-Seed the first month ttc and then this month just gone, taking seven seas for the last 6 months and DH is now taking a on-the-shelf conception vitamin. This cycle I used OPKs and got a positive on the 20th Aug.

Didn't post on the Conception board as it's 99% people conceiving therefore also waiting for their success story🙂

Oh and congrats to all on your success☺️

Taking up to a year to conceive is normal.

@cranstonmanor I know that, was just looking for some positive messages/words of encouragement 👍🏼

Try to keep things in perspective - 6 months really isn't that long. Of 100 couples aged 19 - 26 who are trying to conceive, 92 out of 100 are likely to conceive within 1 year. That means that almost than 1 in 10 won't, even if nothing is wrong! After six months there's no need to get worried (plus stress is not good if you're trying to conceive). I would leave it at least a year before you even let yourself think about getting worried. You're a great age to be trying and you've got loads of time.

I know that, was just looking for some positive messages/words of encouragement 👍🏼

Don't you find it encouraging to know that in all likelyhood you will conceive this year?

@cranstonmanor yup! Thanks for double checking though..

@RealMermaid thank you!

Try and relax. I got a bit obsessed tracking cycles, ovulation sticks etc that it all became quite stressful! After 9 months I was fed up. Gave up everything. Went on holiday and it was then when we finally got pregnant! I think being relaxed was the most important thing. So I'd just say chill out and have regular sex and it will happen eventually x

OP it took us around 8-9 months. With a chemical pregnancy after 4 months. I'm now 19 weeks pregnant and never thought it would happen. It was really, really tough for me emotionally. I was 32 when we started ttc and now I'm 33. By the time the baby will be born I will be 34.

My advice is the following:

1. Never ever ever tell ANYONE you're trying. When people ask, just tell them 'no not yet' or ' we don't want kids' or 'maybe in 3-5 years or 2-4 years'. The added stress of people KNOWING what I was dealing with, looking at my tummy, checking if I was drinking - asking if I'm 'pregnant yet', was too much for me to handle. It was too much pressure for me emotionally.

1. Tracking- once you've more or less worked out that you ovulate. Stick to the minimum for tracking and just DTD every 2-3 days throughout the cycle. Even when you think the window is over, just keep going. I think at the beginning I was so obsessed and we definitely would give up too soon. So the best advice is probably, no tracking and just DTD every 2-3 days throughout the cycle. Or use only OPKs, if you have to. Temping is so stressful. It's great to know that you're ovulating etc, but once you know, just chill out. It really helped me. Temping was the worst thing for me.

1. If you need the extra reassurance, have a few tests done- then you'll feel less anxious and know you're ok and it's just a matter of time. I had testing done at 5 months or so, just because of my age and my personality. I even had a hycosy and I got pregnant that cycle.

1. And lastly- but perhaps most importantly- DO NOT spent time on TTC forums. I know, why am I here right now ? Lol. But I really think it completely damaged my mental health, as the forums give you the impression that: no one gets pregnant, everyone miscarries, everyone has to use clomid or IUI/IVF etc. It gives you a scewed view of the world and you might start thinking there is a problem. Or once you do get pregnant, you'll be 100 percent convinced you'll miscarry. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be disrespectful and I think the forums taught me a lot too. But my head became filled with potential problems- I wish I didn't know half of the things I know about TTC and pregnancy and the things that can go wrong. My mum had barely any idea and she didn't stress half as much. Too much information isn't always the best thing.

1. Don't get discouraged, it can take a year or longer to get pregnant. Your body needs to make the right egg and we don't make 12 good eggs a year. You might make only 4 or 6 good ones a year at your age- whereas I might make 2 good ones. That's why we don't get pregnant, every egg isn't made equal and doesn't have the potential to become a baby etc. Obviously the sperm also plays a role. But it can take a few months to get the right combination of good egg and good sperm.

1. Try to distract yourself and find pleasure in things outside of TTC. It's very, very difficult to do. I think when you really want a baby, it takes over your entire being. At least it did with me. But I would try as hard as I could to find another interest. Silly stuff for me like watching silly videos on YouTube or becoming interested in handbags etc. Whatever it is that gives you joy, just try to do as much of that as you can.

Those are my two cents, when I try to have my second one- I will do it like this.

My thoughts are with you as I really understand how horrible this period of time can be and I really handled it very badly.

OP, one more thing - I wouldn't use pressed or conceive plus. I think it actually stops the sperm going where they need to go. It creates another barrier. By all means use it to facilitate entry, but don't squeeze up there. I did that and I think it prolonged things. It happened when we didn't use it.

6 years. Had semi given up and suddenly had the flash that we WERE going to nail it that month... and we did - then that thing they say about buses? 10 1/2 month age gap to my second child.

And yes, never tell people you're trying or having problems as the questions and "helpful" suggestions you'll get are ridiculous - the best we had was "are you sure you're doing it right?" (Think there was a sarcastic "you mean it doesn't go in THAT hole?" reply to that gem of wisdom)

I know it's hard but you are still well within what they consider the "average window" for your age group.
We were amazingly lucky first time and caught very fast, but second time it wasn't as easy. We were still very fortunate that after 7 months of trying we took a break as I was getting myself frustrated, I got a new job (which made me less stressed) and we tried to chill out about it. When we started again it only took a few cycles and I'm now 36 weeks.
And to be quite honest I'm one of the bloody lucky ones and I am thankful for it as I know so many people who have struggled a lot and then gone through pains of losses on top. It's unfortunately a game of luck and the more relaxed you can be the easier the journey is.
Good luck.

Took a year for me - found out I was expecting just after we had decided to stop trying for a bit as I had just been promoted!

I'm 23 and caught after 7 months of trying. We did sperm meets the egg. Worked a treat as now just over 20 weeks!

Try SMEP! X

I fell on month 7.

It was the first month I stopped doing ovulation tests (every one was negative). I stopped reading into every symptom. I put everything down to my period being due & the only reason I did a test was because I was going to try acupuncture to help & had to make sure I definitely wasn't pregnant. It was the first test I did that I wasn't hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I didn't even feel excited when I seen the line, I was more confused as I genuinely thought I couldn't be pregnant. I'm now 26 weeks.

One thing I would suggest is getting your folate & b12 levels checked. My folate was rock bottom & it causes temporary infertility until the levels are back up.