The Official TTC Thread!

[AllieLuv83]

Date: 5/2/2010 1:03:30 PM
Author: Bella_mezzo
Thanks Kunzite!!! I have those IC tests and will use them this month (not really hoping for anything too much though)

and definitely next month, but I was wondering how the line displays. So, now know


I''m 10 dpo tomorrow, maybe I''ll try one just for ''fun'' then

Lanie you are so funny with the cost benefit analysis I might try those smiley face OPKs, just b/c it''s nice to get a smiley face


Q for LV and all other pre-seed people. DH and I like things um ''natural'' in the lube department. Does preseed feel ''squishy/slimy'' and/or is there a good amount to use so it''s not really evident when BDing? I bought it but am scared to use it

P.S> Kunzite-what is this lovely new stone in your avatar It''s grape-a-liscious

I thought that pre-seed felt more natural than any other lube we tried. A little went a long way. Putting in the recommended amount resulted in the "Hotdog in the Hallway" phenomenon.

As for the smiley OPT...again I highly recommend. There is something so cheery about seeing that little smiley it puts you right in the mood to jump on your man!

 

[modernsparkler]

This is a very exciting month! Here''s to hoping the success continues!

A little bit of background and I was hoping you all could answer some questions for me! Ironically, I am a family practice doc and for whatever reason, I find that few people show up for pre-conception visits, so I don''t get to do much education on this topic and as the first of my friends to think about jumping into this process, I am lacking some real world experience! DH and I have gone back and forth about when to start TTC. I will be done with my intern year in 2 months (woo hoo) and I have been told by many that residency is a relatively good time to have a baby (good maternity leave benefits, supportive colleagues, etc) . My load will get lighter as time goes on so I think it would be doable. I know this is not the place to go into the details about timing, this is the place for trying to get pregnant so back to that...

A few questions... since I would appreciate your opinions!
-For those of you on birth control, how long before you stopped taking it did your cycles get back to "normal.". How soon did you start using OPK''s?
-Do OPK''s lead to more success vs just doing the BD say every other day?
-What is preseed supposed to do to help in the process?

TIA!

 

[CatLuver]

Thanks Kunzite for the picture - that will give me hope if I get a super faint line on my internet tests. Did you have any symptoms?

LV, thanks for the thoughts. I''m also interested if you had any symptoms or were expecting it at all.

modern - welcome. To answer your questions, my cycles went back to normal right away, but I''m not sure if I ovulated right away because I didn''t temp or anything. After 2 months off BC, we started trying, and the 2nd month trying I started using OPKs.
Hard to say whether OPKs lead to more success. My OB told us just to do it every other day from day 10 to day 20, but I wasn''t comfortable with that ambiguity, since it seems possible to pinpoint for more targeted BDing. For example, since I ovulate on day 14, BDing on day 10 probably wouldn''t help much, and BDing on 16, 18 and 20 would just be wasted efforts. I figured since it''s theoretically possible to maximize your chances by BDing on O-2, O-1 and O, why not try. But everyone has their own viewpoint.
Preseed helps provide lube if you don''t have enough, which tends to be in an issue (at least for me) when we''re BDing multiple days in a row and we can''t just quit because it starts to hurt.
Good luck! And don''t worry about talking about timing or other issues...we discuss all kinds of things besides the mechanics of TTC!

 

[Laila619]

Preseed...

Bella Mezzo, I really liked Preseed. It''s definitely a wet and slippery sensation though. I used a bit less than the recommended amount.

modernsparkler, Preseed is a sperm friendly lube, so it won''t kill any swimmers. Also, some people use it if they lack CM. Supposedly it has nutrients in it that actually help sperm.

 

[modernsparkler]

Thanks Catluver. That makes sense. I am a bit type A... but I also don''t want to spend a lot of $ on OPK''s too early if my cycle is off. Not sure what the past 11 years of being on birth control and trying NOT to get pregnant will do to my system. Hopefully not much

 

[Kunzite]

Allie - OMG! Hot dog in the hallway!!! I''m dying over here. That is so freaking funny but true!! One time I accidentally used too much and I totally know what you mean. Ladies, start out with a small amount!

modernsparkler - Welcome! It''s funny that you say you''re an FP but don''t have a lot of background. I remember telling my GP that we were going to start trying and he didn''t have much to say and looked confused when I told him I was charting. It all makes sense! Do you plan to chart or just use OPKs? If you''re going to chart I would skip the OPKs until you''re actually trying.

CatLuver - Hi girl! Nope, no symptoms. I''m glad the picture helped. Just know that if you can barely see the line it''s not in your head!!

 

[Ryan Claire]

LV, Kunzite, and Plantationcat - CONGRATULATION! It's so great to check in and see so much good news. Thrilled for you ladies!

LV - I LOVE that this was your month off - hope it's sinking in!! Your hubby is a doll and you guys have every right to be cautiously optimistic. I hope you enjoy this time even with your past experience.

Bella - thanks so much for the sweet response. I am cheering for you too and I hope we both will be graduating to the preggo thread soon. Until then though, I am glad you are here.

Catluver - thanks for the message! LOTS of dust your way. When are you gonna test?

Laila - appreciate your thoughts. I have been checked for PCOS and the doctors don't believe I have it. They think it's just a hormonal imbalance due to birth control... We'll see.

Miscka - thanks for the hugs! Sorry about AF's evil visit. Hope you are feeling better.

Lanie - thanks forthe empathy... my acupuncturist did say to give it at least 3 months to work, so that is the time frame I am thinking about. I know it could take longer, but hopefully it won't.

DC - appreciate your thoughts and hugs. Can't wait for Costa Rica! Love your hubby's enthusiam

brightlight - happy you chimed in... thanks for the recommendation. Sadly I have tried it... only for a month, but no change. Good luck with the temping. I hope you are trying not to get too sucked into the "should be" trap!

Plantationcatt - congrats again!!! Thanks for your sweet thoughts... we all need a little perspective sometime.

Smurfy - welcome. no one is 100% ready for parenthood but you know when you are ready enough. I hope your stay is short.

Modernsparker - welcome to you too! Good luck to you and your hubby. As for your questions, I am an example of worst case scenario... going 9months post BC with no natural period or ovulation but it seems like the average would be about 3 months. Were you regular before BC? Cause that is a huge factor. If you know when you Ovulate, you can start using OPKs a few days before hand... There are charts that come with the OPKs that are more specific. OPKs also help with confirming O and timing intercourse but I am not sure it's more or less successful than just BDing every other day. It is peace of mind though. Preseed can help with lubrication and serves as a medium for the sperm to get to where they need to go. It mimics CF in that respect. Lots to learn!!!


Good luck ladies and again SUPER CONGRATS to the new mommas to be!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Thank you ryan, I hope my stay is short as well!

 

[modernsparkler]

Laila- thanks for the preseed info

Kunzite- you are so right. I LOVE maternal and child health and have many of my own pregnant patients now. However, so far I have yet to get much education regarding how to help people get pregnant. Usually I am doing the opposite! Hopefully through learning this for my own experience I can be a better help to my patients. I think I am going to try charting first.

Ryan- I was unfortunately pretty irregular before I started BC.... not great, but that was a LONG time ago and I was a teenager so I am not even sure how well I kept track then.

 

[swimmer]

LV! YES! YAY! woot woot woot!

Wondering if last month''s protocol kicked things into a perfect natural state? how fabulous! Oh I am just over the moon to hear your good news! Great timing, you will still by comfy when it is hot and a new bebe in the spring!
Perfection! love the way you dropped the bomb too!

 

[Miscka]

WOW!!! I am so excited for LV, Kunzite, and PC!!!!!!!! MANY sticky vibes your ways ladies, could not be happier for you!!!!!!!!

Modern-welcome! I don''t use OPKs (yet) but I think preseed is just a sperm friendly lube. I have heard conflicting info on this, so I could be wrong, but since KY etc is bad for sperm, those who like to use lube can use preseed during TTC.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Allie-You are killing me with the "hotdog in the hallway" ROTFLMAO

Welcome Smurfy and modern sparkler.

Preseed is a sperm friendly lubricant, but it seems many ladies (even those with lots of natural lube and CF) have had success getting pregnant the month they used preseed (also the instead cups hold the sperm by your cervix so there''s a better chance more will make the big trek--I haven''t got the nerve to try them yet I''m still trying to get brave enough for the pre-seed.

OPKS are really helpful if you are trying to time BDing and don''t have the time, stamina, or inclination to just go every other day from like CD8-CD20. Also it''s great to have confirmation that there''s a good chance you are ovulating, and it''s nice to have some info on the general time frame of ovulation.

 

[Miscka]

Can someone remind me about how Instead cups are used? Do you insert it right after BDing?

 

[Bella_mezzo]

Hi Micksa-Yep, so I hear. YOU just stick it in way up there right after BD and leave it in for a while.

 

[noelwr]

Bella - we really like pre-seed. it feels very natural. DH said he couldn't even tell it was there. we also (still) use the conception friendly lube from CVS (though I couldn't find it at any CVS in FL). it is water-based and also not sticky, and we like it better than anything else so we still use it.

modernsparkler - I was on the pill for 10 years. I got pregnant 2 months after I stopped. we didn't use OPKs or any charting, and were BDing about every other day. unfortunately, that one ended in a miscarriage. this time around I also got pregnant 2nd month of TTC, with OPKs and BDing every day during the fertile window. if you have pretty normal cycles and don't want to stress yourself, I think you can probably skip the OPKs for the first few months. regarding preseed, it's supposed to keep the sperm alive longer inside you so that it has more of a chance to swim where it needs to go.

go Team Smurfy!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 5/2/2010 4:42:55 PM
Author: noelwr

go Team Smurfy!

I honestly am just thrilled that we are in the position we are. A while ago we just started coming up to bat and taking a swing at our debt(ccs and what not) and knockin them all out of the ballpark in one big swoop. Then after I lost my job I was soooo fortunate to find one in just one week! One that has lots of room for advancement as well Life is just very good for us right now, couldn''t be happier! (ok a tropical vacation would be nice but i live in colorado so who am i to complain lol, plus we are going to fl this summer for a company training thing and dh is allowed to come along as well so that will be pretty fun, and the company pays for everyone to go on a vacation together each year and this year was cancun, im pumped to find out what next year will be...ok im done blabbing, sorry lol)

 

[AllieLuv83]

Date: 5/2/2010 3:46:53 PM
Author: Bella_mezzo



Preseed is a sperm friendly lubricant, but it seems many ladies (even those with lots of natural lube and CF) have had success getting pregnant the month they used preseed (also the instead cups hold the sperm by your cervix so there's a better chance more will make the big trek--I haven't got the nerve to try them yet I'm still trying to get brave enough for the pre-seed.

OPKS are really helpful if you are trying to time BDing and don't have the time, stamina, or inclination to just go every other day from like CD8-CD20. Also it's great to have confirmation that there's a good chance you are ovulating, and it's nice to have some info on the general time frame of ovulation.

I will bravely admit that after the January month that you and I thought we were pregnant Bella I pulled out all the stops. OPT, instead cups and pre-seed. We actually didn't end up using the preseed. I upped my water intake and my EWCF was vary abundant. I did try the instead cups or as my friend and I call them "Da Cuppppz" they are intimidating looking and I definitely slid them in while DH was in the bathroom cleaning up. I had to be sneaky...I kind of thought he would freak out if he saw them! They were not at all uncomfortable. Once you get them far enough up there and feel it tuck behind the pelvic bone there is NO LEAK. I mean none! When I finally took it out after about 2 hours there was basically nothing left so I assumed all the swimmers made their way up. I sing "Da Cupppz" praises if not for their fertility uses but for their no more messy cleanup use. But they don't refer to them the "Poor man's IUI" for nothing.

I am also glad some of you ladies share my sentiments about the Hotdog in the Hallway so I know I am not the only one. I started off with using just 1/4 of the recommended amount and it was plenty for us. You can always start with less and add a bit more if necessary.

And we are definitely not the 12 nights in a row kind of people. I liked that we could narrow down the frame and just go for it. I feel like we would lose stamina after day 5. OPT's were especially useful for me. I used them in conjunction with temping and checking CF.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I have a question about exercising. I''ve been doing 30 day shred and have read that you shouldn''t do any "extreme" working out while ttc....do you think this would fall under that because after im done each day completely pooped it out, it sure does feel extreme lol or do you think this is ok?

 

[AllieLuv83]

No I would not call the 30 day shred as extreme working out. I would call running 10 miles a day, doing something like rock climbing or even maybe spinning as more high impact working out.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

oh geez then im definitely ok lol i am NOT climbing any mountains anytime soon lol

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/2/2010 1:51:21 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved
I just wanted to say that now we have our finances and lives in order and are officially ttc, please don''t flame me

We are really excited about this so I hope that I can share in the excitement with you ladies as well, i am officially on prenatal vitamins

Wow....that''s news. Good luck Smurfy and Mr. Smurf...

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/1/2010 8:00:29 PM
Author: Loves Vintage
Kunzite and plantationcatt, Congratulations!!!!

Bella and Catluver, Thanks for asking about me! I had a nice relaxing month, lurked every day, popped in to congratulate all the bfps, but felt better about taking some time away.


********************


So, this was my month off - no fertility drugs. I loved the time away from my RE''s office too. No blood work, aside from my visit there on CD3. I continued with acupuncture, though. I had a massage, manicure and pedicure today, which was a nice treat.


Oh, and what else? Hmmm. I took a test when I got home . . . and, I can hardly believe it, but . . .


I''M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!

OMG Congrats LV!!! So happy for you, H&H 9 Mo!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Thanks HH, I saw you posted and I was like omigod she''s going to yell at me!! I really appreciate the good luck vibes

 

[Laila619]

Why would anyone yell at you?! Good luck TTC!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/2/2010 7:31:29 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved
Thanks HH, I saw you posted and I was like omigod she''s going to yell at me!! I really appreciate the good luck vibes

<- Abrupt, outspoken, sarcastic and usually pretty harsh, but not an evil person.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[AllieLuv83]

Date: 5/2/2010 7:42:51 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Date: 5/2/2010 7:31:29 PM

Author: Smurfyimproved

Thanks HH, I saw you posted and I was like omigod she''s going to yell at me!! I really appreciate the good luck vibes

<- Abrupt, outspoken, sarcastic and usually pretty harsh, but not an evil person.


I wish you the best of luck.

Not EVIL? Whaaaat? Are you sure?

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Oh hh I don''t think you are evil at all! tax collectors, yes, but you, no (if anyone on here is a tax collector, i kid i kid i just was maybe expecting some tough love is all

Bd-ing starts tonight as I started ovulating today

should be a fun night...plus we''re having homemade french fries with dinner

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Wow and Yippeee, ladies!!!

Congratulations to Kunzite.... a baby''s on the way!!!!

I love your new icon!!! I adore purple.... And shiny stone form makes it all the better. What are you gonna do with that beauty? Enjoy your pregnancy, girl!!!

Plantantion

.... WHOOOO HOOO!!!! I had a feeling the other day your time had come. And I was right! Yay!!! So excited for you. I do hope you plan to keep us updated with how things are going.... And I pray you''re feeling much better today. How did you tell your hubs?

Vintage!!!!! Shut your mouth!!! So wonderful!!! Congratulations, friend. I''m so excited for you and will certainly be thinking of you and baby often. I''m sure wonderful things are to come, LV. Thank you for sharing your story like you did... You''ve been a great poster here. Come back and check on us from time to time. It''s good to hear from our graduates.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 5/2/2010 7:52:50 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved
Oh hh I don't think you are evil at all! tax collectors, yes, but you, no (if anyone on here is a tax collector, i kid i kid i just was maybe expecting some tough love is all


Bd-ing starts tonight as I started ovulating today

should be a fun night...plus we're having homemade french fries with dinner

You know, you're an adult. We've given all the advice to be given in the past. We know nothing we say will change your mind. If you really think you're ready, then really, who are we to judge when you're ready or not? If you think you have everything where it needs to be for you to start a family, then go for it.

Here are things that stressed me out before getting pregnant.

Check your health insurance coverage. It's rare, but some ins plans have maternity care as a separate rider that you have to sign up for specifically.

How long have you been at your new job? Remember that you need to be at you job for a minimum of 12 months when you leave work for maternity leave to be eligible for FMLA. FMLA is different than "maternity leave" offered by a company. FMLA is a federal policy that provides job protection for 12 weeks following the birth or adoption of a child. It says your company (if there are more than 50 employees) must hold your job or a comparable job/salary for you for 12 weeks.

They also have to continue to pay their share of your benefits. Some companies (like mine) expect you to continue to pay your share of bennies each week and a lot of companies don't pay for maternity leave so you have to use a mix of sick and vacation time to be payed and then supplement with money from short term disability.

So if your company offers it, sign up for short term dis ASAP. Some STD policies require that you carry the policy for 12 months prior to delivering. It's well worth the very small amount you'll pay in for premiums.

Make sure your prenatals have the required folic acid in them.

 

[brightlight]

Congrats PC, Kunzite, and LV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All these BFPs make me want to POAS!