The Official TTC Thread!

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

MP, this is true re: you and I! I think I read somewhere while riding the LTTTC crazy train that once you get a true positive opk you should stop testing because that first one was what mattered. That would fall in line with AMC's theory too. I'm not sure, that's part of why I had to temp in addition to opks. I'm too much of a control freak/data driven person not to!

I also read that some women will O after their last positive OPK, not their first. I thought this was really interesting. If this is true, it means those women are probably missing that little eggie because they don't test until the OPKs are negative. Another thing cleared up by temping.

 

[tammy77]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Oh how interesting! So glad I temped, even though it didn't get us pregnant in the end. That's not due to charting though and it DID help me to establish a pattern of when I'd ovulate so the IUI was perfectly timed.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

All I can say is good luck ladies. I can't believe how much I've learned TTC!

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Well guys, I've done a bit of reading on the milk production hormone, Prolactin and how it inhibits ovulation. I have a feeling it might be the reason for my short LH surge or lack of ovulation, maybe? It is probably effecting our chances to get pregnant. Luckily I am weaning & getting regular AF, so I'm hopeful. Apparently you can have your prolactin levels checked. I might just do that...

Quoted from the Fertility Authority: "Prolactin is a hormone that plays a role in fertility by inhibiting follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the hormones that trigger ovulation and allow eggs to develop and mature. Prolactin (also called luteotropic hormone) is also associated with the production of breast milk. It is unclear what role prolactin plays in men, but it is clearly linked to infertility.

A prolactin test measures the amount of the hormone prolactin in your blood.
High prolactin levels inhibit secretion of FSH. Therefore, if your prolactin levels are high, your ovulation may be suppressed. This is why women who are breastfeeding (and thus have high levels of prolactin) usually don’t become pregnant."

I really would love for baby 1 & 2 to be spaced closely so that they will have a lovely bond. If we were to get pregnant this month they would be approx 2.5 yrs apart. That is if I were to carry full term. Fingers crossed!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Ello, I tend to think you did ovulate, otherwise, I don't think your LH would have been high enough to be detected by the digi. To put your mind at ease, however, you might want to call your doctor about cycle day 21 testing to confirm whether you ovulated. You might talk to her about any other blood work he/she might think advisable at the moment. Some doctors might order the CD21 testing without an office visit, so maybe that would be a very low invasive way to approach your concerns.

I do really really hope that all of this worry is for nothing and you are on your way to a BFP this month! Time will tell . . .

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Ello, I agree with LV. I think you're ovulating since you're getting AF on a regular basis. OH, and I know a lot of gals who have gotten pregnant while BFing

 

[coda72]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I'm learning a lot from reading this discussion! I had no idea that the process of TTC is so complicated! But then, up until recently, I didn't care about TTC, so I never educated myself about it. If my luteal phase is pretty consistent as it seems it is in each woman,(not varying by more than a day) is there a blood test I can get to find out exactly how long my luteal phase is? Wouldn't that make it easier to conceive knowing how long the time is between ovulation and when AF starts?

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I'm learning a lot from reading this discussion! I had no idea that the process of TTC is so complicated! But then, up until recently, I didn't care about TTC, so I never educated myself about it. If my luteal phase is pretty consistent as it seems it is in each woman,(not varying by more than a day) is there a blood test I can get to find out exactly how long my luteal phase is? Wouldn't that make it easier to conceive knowing how long the time is between ovulation and when AF starts?

The only way to know the length of your LP is to know exactly when you O. You can get a blood test to confirm ovulation but that is done after ovulation and you need to know when you ovulate in order to do that. But I don't think knowing your LP would help you conceive. For example, I have the standard 14 day LP (one time it was randomly 12 days, but otherwise it's always 14). This month, I felt ovulation on CD13. AF came 14 days later. Looking back, I know I ovulated on CD13 and can confirm that the O pains I felt were actual O pains. Most months, cycle is closer to 30 days. So I would O on CD 16 and then AF comes 14 days later. The key to timing conception is knowing when you O. The most valuable thing about knowing your LP length is knowing whether AF is late or not. You often hear women say they were late but really they just O'd late that cycle. Because if you KNOW your LP is 14 days and day 15 shows up with no AF, chances are you are pregnant.

Now, if you could see the future and know when AF was going to arrive, you could count back the days of your LP and THEN you would know when to time conception.

Hopefully that all makes sense!

 

[monkeyprincess]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Coda, no, there is no blood test that I'm aware of that tells you how long your luteal phase (LP) is. However, it really is not that hard to at least get a good estimate of your LP if you use ovulation tests (OPKs). That way you would know that you should ovulate about 12-36 hours after you get a positive OPK, and then you can count the days until you get your AF to figure out your LP. Another reason I recommend OPKs is because while it is good to know your LP, it is far more important to track ovulation, and as was mentioned earlier, your ovulation date can vary month to month. Knowing the length of your LP can only help you figure out when you ovulated in hindsight. Honestly, if you are interested in all of this, you really should take a look at Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Even if you decide you don't want to monitor, it is really interesting to understand how the whole process works.

Ha - looks like amc just explained better than I did!

 

[coda72]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Thanks amc and MP. While I was a Biology major in college, I realize now that there were some gaps in my education! I am going to try the OPKs next month, but as far as charting my body temperature, that will be more of a challenge. I have a late night schedule, and I don't sleep well as it is, so it will be hard for me to take my temperature at the same time every day. And truthfully, while I want a baby, I don't know to what measures I will go in TTC. I'm already of the mindset that if it happens naturally great, if not that's fine too.

 

[aviastar]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Well, I hate to interrupt all this edjamucating, but ello did ask for funny stories...

At least this will be funny some day, even if it's not right this second. I don't get poison ivy; I've never had it despite living in the woods and doing lots of yard work and owning dogs who run through brush. My mother and DH do get it, terribly, and I can go exactly where they go and never catch a single little red bump. Can you see where the story is going?

I was weeding in the yard on Monday night, came in and washed my hands, and then hopped in the shower. After the shower, we enjoyed a little Bd-ing, and went to bed.

Tuesday morning I have weird bumps that look like insect bites on my arms and wrists; by Tuesday evening they are bigger and itchier. My Wednesday morning, there are more, and they are angry looking. Off to the Dr. I go who says, 'Looks like some mystery poison plant, you need prednisone. So there's absolutely no chance you could be pregnant, right?'

Uhhhh, yes, actually, there IS a chance I could be pregnant and I won't know for another week. Ok, no oral steroids for me, then. It's all down to prednisone topical cream. And here's a scrip for the oral stuff, too, cause I think you'll need it by the time you have a period next week and know for sure if you are/are not pregnant. Great.

Wednesday evening, DH says, nope it's definitely poison ivy, cause I have it too. And sure enough he has poison ivy popping up in the shape of my hand on his chest. And remember what we did after my shower on Monday night? Yup, I gave my husband poison ivy all over his groin.

Apparently, I got such a powerful splatter of the wax when I ripped the plant up (and to be fair, I went back and checked and I still can't find anything the looks like normal poison ivy in that area- it was a sneaky one) that it burned me upon initial impact- that's why I though they were bug bites and the residue lasted through a hand scrubbing and a shower AND infected two people. Head to toe; I now have it on my stomach, face, mouth (!), hands...

It's a good thing we already hit O this month, cause there is no more BD-ing in the Avia household for a while!

And now, back to your regularly scheduled ovulation discussion...

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Avia, that's both hilarious and sad! I hope you are all feeling better soon! You should have asked the doc for a pregnancy blood test...maybe it's a bit early but in a few more days it wouldn't be

 

[aviastar]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I did ask if it was too early for a blood test and it was. By the time it's not too early I'll be out of town. Hosting a baby shower and seeing relatives I haven't seen in 15 years. Awesome.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Thanks Loves Vintage, that is incredibly sweet of you. I am so hopeful for you as well. Just know that I have your back girlfriend!
I feel so silly sulking as a second time mom. I feel so bad complaining when there are other members that have not had the oportunity to be a mommy yet. Hang in there ladies, having a child is one of the greatests joys of life. There is no greater love than the love you have for your child. I used to think life was great but boy oh boy just wait...ha ha, life will be so exciting and meaningful. I guess that is why I'm so excited for no.2! The wait and your journey, no matter how you conceive, is so worth it. I'm holding all my thumbs and toes for you all. Thank you for your support!

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

amc80, I want to be one of those gals so badly! Ha ha!

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

amc80, can you explain to me how to go about taking my temperature? Do I just take my temp every morning with a thermometer? I have a Braun ear thermometer that I use on my baby (OR) do I need something more specific? Where do you guys get the charts, from TCOYF? Do I have to pay for the charts (premium charting)?

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Aviastar, cracking myself laughing at your story. You bad woman, you!!! Ha ha! I hope you guys feel better soon. I can't believe you actually passed it to your DH! I had no idea poison ivy was that contagious.

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

amc80, can you explain to me how to go about taking my temperature? Do I just take my temp every morning with a thermometer? I have a Braun ear thermometer that I use on my baby (OR) do I need something more specific? Where do you guys get the charts, from TCOYF? Do I have to pay for the charts (premium charting)?

Sure! Step one- go get a digital basal thermometer. It should be about $10. You need the basal thermometer because it goes to the hundredth degree, not just the tenth.

Step 2- sign up for fertility friend. It's free. There is even an app.

Step 3 - Temp! Every morning when you wake up, before you move, talk, cough, etc., take your temp. It's helpful if you put it on your bedside table so you can minimize movement. Enter your temp into FF (Fertility Friend) or whatever you decide to use. You can chart by hand, but why? Now, here's where it gets tricky. You need to temp at around the same time every day. Some women are more sensitive to this than other. For me it just doesn't matter much. Theoretically, the later in the morning you temp the higher it will be naturally, so temping at different times can throw things off. You also need to make sure you've had a good chunk of sleep. I'm not sure what the threshold is, but I'd guess 3-4 hours (someone can chime in here).

Step 4- Sit back and watch the trend. So, now you're temping every day, inputting your temps...what now? What you are looking for is a temp shift that indicates ovulation. I'm a bit rusty on the technical details but a shift is defined as a temperature that is .2 degrees higher than your previous 5(?) temps that remains high for over 3 days.

After a few cycles you will get really good at seeing patterns and knowing what's going on. My temp always drops (96.8 almost every cycle) the day or two before it spikes. And you will learn the length of your luteal phase. It probably sounds like a lot of work but really it is maybe a 60 second commitment. A lot of thermometers store the last read temperature and flash it the next time you turn it on. So if you wake up, temp, and go back to sleep you can check what the temp is when you wake up for good. Then just open up the FF app on your phone, input, done.

 

[aviastar]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I use Fertility Friends, too cause a) it's free and b) it calculates O date and gives you a crosshairs when it has enough information to do so. I think it's a pattern of higher temps for at least three days that are so many degrees, or tenths of degrees, higher than the previous days. At least, I can spot my temp spike the day it happens, but FF waits till I have 3 high temps to give me the crosshairs. And I agree amc, I think TCOYF says a minimum of 3 hours sleep at one stretch to be accurate. My sleep was all sorts of uneven this past month and the temps reflected that, but the spike was still pretty clear, so it's all good.

I'm only two months into charting, but the patterns become clear very quickly. My temp spike threshold seems to be 98 degrees; as soon as I get a temp over 98 I know that's my spike. And I happened to have a digital thermometer that measured to hundredths already, but it wasn't marked as a basal body- so it's the measurement not the label that's important.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Thanks amc80 & aviastar! You guys are wonderful. I hope all the TTC ladies have a great weekend and return with good news.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi guys,
I'm approx 8days DPO and I feel nauseous. I read somewhere that some woman experienced nausea during implemtation. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part? I'll keep you guys posted...

 

[amc80]

Hi guys,
I'm approx 8days DPO and I feel nauseous. I read somewhere that some woman experienced nausea during implemtation. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part? I'll keep you guys posted...

Good luck! The only thing I had was horrible heartburn starting at 8dpo. For my BFP at 9dpo.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi I just did a test and so far negative. I may be 7 or 8 DPO. Do you count the day of O. as 1DPO or the next day?
I read somewhere that you can get nauseous with the progesterone surge that occurs after ovulation. It has nothing to do with implemtation however some women who happens to be pregnant experienced nauseousness during the progesterone surge.

 

[amc80]

Hi I just did a test and so far negative. I may be 7 or 8 DPO. Do you count the day of O. as 1DPO or the next day?
I read somewhere that you can get nauseous with the progesterone surge that occurs after ovulation. It has nothing to do with implemtation however some women who happens to be pregnant experienced nauseousness during the progesterone surge.

O day is day zero. So the day after is 1DPO. Fingers crossed!

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Thanks so much, confirmed then that I am 7DPO if O. was on Aug 26th.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi again, Mrs crazy & obsessed over here, I have EWCM on 7DPO. Weird. Is this a good or bad sign? I thought you only get EWCM before O. Should I take a OPK? Weird.

 

[amc80]

Hi again, Mrs crazy & obsessed over here, I have EWCM on 7DPO. Weird. Is this a good or bad sign? I thought you only get EWCM before O. Should I take a OPK? Weird.

Is it true stretchy EWCM or is it more creamy? You can take an opk if you want, won't hurt. It's also common to get it towards the end of your LP right before AF (because it's the first layer that sheds before you bleed) but it seems a bit early for that. Unless your LP is like 9 days.

 

[ello]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi it's stretchy. Strangely the first time I notice true EW this month. It was the same thing last cycle, I got the noticeable EWCM after O last month but I thought it was my imagination. I really hope it's not the beginning of the end.
Fingers crossed. I will take an OPK just for giggles...

 

[coda72]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Avia-that's a funny story! Hopefully you get a BFP out of all that!

Ello-sorry I have no insight for you, I'm having wacky cycles myself.

Ok, so today would be CD17, and AF isn't due for about 4-5 more days (at a minimum). But then I started bleeding, WTH?!? I've never had a cycle this short, and I never have spotting or bleeding in between periods, so I have no idea what's going on.
With all the knowledge that everyone has on this board, does anyone have any idea what could be happening?

 

[aviastar]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Coda, just some spotting or a full on period?

Spotting can be related to implantation, but not always. A full on period is probably an anomaly cycle.