TTC Support

[Amethyst Rose]

Alright.... so who out there is like me and trying to concieve?

I decided to create this thread because I have discovered that ttc is a bit stressful, and I think it would be so much better to go through it with friends...the ups, the downs, the confusing things our bodies do to us....

I'm currently a member of fertilityfriend.com and I have been charting my temperature there for this last cycle... you can see it here: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/9b222

So, what's been going on with me? Well, I've been trying since the begining of May. Had a disappointment with a late period last month and that's why I decided to start temping, so I could see what my body is doing and when.

Currently I'm 10 days past ovulation (dpo) on cycle day (cd) 24 - approx 4-5 days before my period is expected. I woke up this morning with some spotting, and I'm hoping that it's implanation spotting...just have to see how that progresses.

I was planning on testing on Sunday, and if that's a negative, then again on Wednesday.

So, is there anyone else? How long have you been trying for? How's it going?

:)

[Amethyst Rose]

Anyone?

My spotting went to bright red blood, enough to need a pantyliner, with a couple of clots.

Not sure it's implantation spotting anymore....sigh....makes me sad.

[Morr]

*hugs*

We are not ttc yet, we'll be beginning early next year though (March 2007).

Well, did you have a stressful time like this concieving your first child? Maybe its just a matter of the RIGHT timing.

Dont be discouraged! You will figure it out and be pregnant in no time!

I'll be cheering for you and your husband's spermies! GOOOOO SPERMIES!! :)

You also always have my shoulder if you need to cry or vent at any point :)

*more hugs*

[HorseCrow]

A few tips.

Being a midwife, I have many a time dealt with women/men trying to conceive.
Remember that over 90% of couples will conceive within 2 years of trying.

For the both woman and man:
Diet and exercise are of utmost importance- if your diet is not healthy and you lack exercise, getting pregnant can be delayed or even impossible. I have seen MANY women get pregnant, simply by changing their diet and getting 30 min. of exercise a day. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (a minimum of 600 g a day), especially green vegetables like spinach, parsley, broccoli etc.

The diet,
For the woman:
Drink infusions (tea) made from
red clover,
nettles and
red raspberry leaves. Either together or as separate teas.
Eat plenty of alfalfa.
Get enough calcium (from parsley, watercress, and the infusions I mentioned)
and magnesium (dandelion greens, alfalfa, watercress, kelp, carrot tops and fennel).
Get enough vitamin E (wheat germ oil, watercress, alfalfa, rosehips, seaweeds).
Drink plenty of water (add a little lemon juice).
Avoid coffee, black tea, alcohol and sugar at all costs!

For the man:
Selenium 200 micrograms daily
Vit. E 1500 IU daily.
Avoid warm baths.
Wear boxers or no underwear, avoid close fitting underwear.
Drink plenty of water (add a little lemon juice).
Avoid coffee, black tea, alcohol and sugar at all costs!

And if you want to add a bit of magick:

Fertility spell:

Make a doll (woman) from straw or corn/maize leaves, binding it with red thread to hold it together. Place an acorn in its belly, symbolizing life in the womb. Bless it and place it under your bed. It will bring fertility to your love-making.

[RainInanna]

Just wanted to add that I would suggest you go on pre-natals too while TTC, that way you're covered even before you POAS.

I really feel you on the stressful bit. Just had my 2WW (2 week wait) in June and I remember wanting to POAS every single day!

The one TTC/pregnancy board I am at constantly is SheKnows. They have a whole bunch of boards for TTC with different situations at http://talk.sheknows.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2 I really like being there because there are so many women who support you and understand what you're going through.

Also, sending you baby dust! I hope you and I both have healthy babies early next year!

[Amethyst Rose]

Well, did you have a stressful time like this concieving your first child? Maybe its just a matter of the RIGHT timing.



Nope. My son was a bit of an accident.... Living in the Caribbean I couldn't get my brand of birthcontrol...so I went without for 6 months. During that time, however, I led a rather unhealthy lifestyle...drank like a fish on weekends...no exercise, beyond scuba diving twice a month. (which in itself is an effective birthcontrol - the high pressures and increased nitrogen of being deep under water causes miscarriages).

On New Years I decided I had to quit being so unhealthy and limited my alcohol to 2-3 glass of wine a week, started exercising daily and because we were short on money, we had to stop the diving. Within 2 weeks I was pregnant. :)

So... I'm not used to the trying bit.


Horsecrow: You are, of course, absolutely right. :) I think that the key for me will be the healthy lifestyle....it's what did it before, it's what'll do it again. Thanks for the reminder. *hugs*

RainInnana: I've been taking prenatal vitamins for months now, so I'm prepared on that front. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. :)


Just a bit of an update for everyone.... my temp took a plunge today, to last cycle's menstral level....so we get to try again. :)

[Morr]

Good luck!!

*sends baby sprinkles!*

[WillowsMuse]

Sorry about your temp plunge. +++++++++thoughts for this month!

We are ttc, too. I have had three miscarriages in the past year and we are cycling (IVF) one more time, then we are finished. I've injected more than my share of hormones and fortunately have born three beautiful kids. A fourth would be icing on our cake. :D So, needless to say, I'm on pins and needles for my next period so we can start...and finish. Hopefully we can go out with a bang...or at least a baby. :)

**fingers crossed for all of us TTCers**

edited to mention living children. :)

[Amethyst Rose]

No, there was no need for me to test. I had 2 days of light flow, then a day of spotting...then my usual 3 days of medium to light flow, right when I was expecting my period. So.... my guess is that something happened, but it didn't stick.

I'm convinced that this month we'll do it....third time's the charm. :)

Good luck to you :)

[DreamSpell333]

good luck to you amethyst,and zerlena! It took us 10 months to concieve hannah and Olivia was a suprise,but I had also been very active (moving like 4 states over,and we even had to switch trucks half way) I agree with horsecrow on the healthy eating. Although we didnt eat too healthy on the trip down.. This one I was eating healthy taking prenatals AND 4 mg's of folic acid. still eating healthy.. some exercise.. I really didnt expect to happen so soon. I was also charting my cycle/temps. The doll sounds like a good idea too. we did a ritual on yule to concieve hannah,and it happened that night.. i wish you lots of luck. lots of baby dust to you both!! :) :hugz:

[Broken Babydoll]

Here I am!!! I lost the link to MW in my multitude of "bookmarks"... But I'm back. :)

I know ALL about the stress of TTC. We've been trying for nearly five years.

[Amethyst Rose]

Five years.....that would be so hard for me. (Not suggesting that it's easy for you, at all). I've convinced myself that my son was so easy to concieve that I'm expecting it to happen before the fall. I have this plan, you see... I want a spring/summer baby, and I don't want any more than 4 years between kids. So...if for some reason it doesn't happen and my plan gets screwed up, I think I'd handle it very badly.

Good luck to you. :)

[Broken Babydoll]

Yeah. I told myself I wanted to have 2 children before I was 30. Well, I'll be 30 in 6+ months, so that just isn't going to happen. The first few years were really hard. Now I've come to just expect that it's not going to happen. I still have cycles where I almost start to think it might happen and then when my next cycle starts I'm terribly let down. We still see a fertility specialist.

[Sequoia]

Stressful? Maybe you're trying too hard. :)

Just falk and have fun. Let the baby come. The less stressed you are, the more fertile you'll be. Play, be happy. Romp and be free!

You'll be changing diapers before you know it.

(And good nutrition never hurts, either ;) )

[RubyRose]

We're not going to start actively trying to conceive until October 2006. I'm hoping that by October my period will have returned. It has yet to return after 3 and a half month of fully bottle feeding Xander. He's now 6 and a half months old. Ideally I'd like to have no more than a two year age gap between Xander and his younger sibling.

[Sequoia]

We're not going to start actively trying to conceive until October 2006. I'm hoping that by October my period will have returned. It has yet to return after 3 and a half month of fully bottle feeding Xander. He's now 6 and a half months old. Ideally I'd like to have no more than a two year age gap between Xander and his younger sibling.
Isn't it supposed to sometimes take up to a year before your periods return to normal?

[WillowsMuse]

Here I am!!! I lost the link to MW in my multitude of "bookmarks"... But I'm back. :)

I know ALL about the stress of TTC. We've been trying for nearly five years.


Many (((Hugs))). It took us 4.5 years and a plentitude of IVFs and IUIs to have our first (my second). I got pregnant with him when I was 30.

+++++++ thoughts to you!

[Amethyst Rose]

Well.... I should be ovulating tomorrow..... everyone keep their fingers crossed for me. And all you pregnant ladies....shake your bellies in my direction...I need baby dust. :)

[Morr]

*sprinkles baby dust!*


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SPERMIES!!!!!
GET THAT EGG!!!

[Amethyst Rose]

I'm frustrated.....

I feel ovulatory (is that a word?) today..... but my temperature chart is all screwy and suggests otherwise.... infact, fertilityfriend.com (where I do my charting) is guessing that I ovulated 3 days ago, because of my temperatures.

I dont' know what to believe.... how my body feels or my temperatures (which fluctuate as a result of hormones released during your cycle).

Sigh.... this shouldn't be stressful.... what I should do is throw my thermometer away and just leave everything up to mother nature.

[Morr]

Or... Just have lots of sex, several times in the day, every day -- Till you get a positive pregnancy test ;)

[Amethyst Rose]

LOL, you'd think that'd work, wouldn't you? I have heard, however, that doing it too often depletes the spermies. *shrug*

[Morr]

Eh, as long as you get spermies there as much as you can... plus, its fun!

[RainInanna]

Yup, they say every other day to let the little guys get replenished.

Too much for me either way

[Morr]

Well... You can still have sex for the fun of it!

[Beating_Earth]

:wave: ,
This is the link to my chart on fertilityfriend.com --->
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/Sehkmaa

I have just started charting again as my flow has only just returned this month. I was on Depo for 6+ years and went off last Nov. when hubby and I decided we were gonna start trying.
Well, it has taken this long for the demon depo to wear off enough for my period to come back.

Another GREAT forum site is http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
I am there every day. The mothers and moms to be are all wonderfully supportive and loving.

I hope to make a few friends here and am looking forward to some BFPs soon .... hopefully mine, LOL

BE :boing:

[Amethyst Rose]

Well, my body is doing crazy things.... my temps haven't indicated if I ovulated this month or not. It's looking like I'm just going to have to wait and see what happens. (And I'm praying this wasn't an anovulatory cycle). My period is due August 7th, so I'm trying my hardest to keep busy until then so I don't obsess about it.

I love fertilityfriend...love seeing what my body is doing, and watching my temps. The only problem is that I can't stop staring at my chart, trying to get it to tell me something. :lol:

My fingers are crossed for your BFP, BE. Good luck :)

[Amethyst Rose]

Okay...so ff finally decided that I did ovulate....although I think I did 2 days before it says I did.

Anyway.... now I'm confused because my temperatures for this cycle (after ovulation) have been completely flat! I even had to check to make sure my thermometer was still working - it is. I've heard that flat temperatures can be a sign of pg.... regardless, its completely different from last months temperatures, so I hope this is it.

I don't get to test until Monday-ish, though.....or rather, I could try now, but it's so early and I don't want to be disappointed.

...but I think this might be it..... *shhh* don't want to jinx it.

[RainInanna]

Psst with the early response tests you can test up to 4 days before your period is due.

Just sayin', mine showed positive at 10dpo :)

[Amethyst Rose]

Yeah....the problem is I'm not 100% sure when I ovulated....day 14 or day 16. I broke down and tried today (dpo9, if I ovulated on the 14th) but it came back negative. I think I'm gonna have to wait for Sunday before I try again. :)

[RainInanna]

Ok, crossing fingers over here!

[WillowsMuse]

:wave: ,
This is the link to my chart on fertilityfriend.com --->
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/Sehkmaa


I hope to make a few friends here and am looking forward to some BFPs soon .... hopefully mine, LOL

finger crossed for you!

[Amethyst Rose]

I've had spotting for the last two days, and a .1 degree drop in temp this morning. I'm hoping it's implantation spotting - but I hoped the same thing last cycle. I was just sooo so certain that this was it....no doubts in my mind. Even now I have a hard time convincing myself that I'm out this cycle, so we'll see. I may still test tomorrow or monday, depending on what my temp does tomorrow morning.

[Amethyst Rose]

Well.... I'm out this month. My temperature took a huge dive this morning, and I'm having my 3rd day of spotting. My period is due sometime between Monday and Wednesday.

I know I was pregnant, if only for 10 days. There is no doubt in my mind. I also know that it was the girl I want... I don't know how I know, I just had this very strong feeling. I just *knew*. Anyone else would think my crazy for saying any of this, but I think there are a few people here who can understand. :)

Sigh.... I don't know how people can do this for years on end. This'll be my 4th cycle I'm going into (I know, only 4 months), and I'm already scared that something is wrong with me, and that's why it's not working. :(

To make it even worse.... a friend of mine is also trying for her #2, right now... our periods are due around the same time. It only took her one try for them to concieve her daughter, and if it only takes one try for her this time, as well.... I'm going to be so jealous.

[Celticscryer]

*hugs* I know how tough it is, Amethyst. DH and I have been trying for about four months now, too, with no luck. One of my good friends finally got her BFP last week, after a year of trying.

If I happen to not be pregnant this cycle (I won't know until around the 18th, *sigh*), I'm seriously considering splurging on a fertility monitor. On one of the boards I belong to, the majority of the women using these get pregnant after one cycle.

[Sequoia]

Well.... I'm out this month. My temperature took a huge dive this morning, and I'm having my 3rd day of spotting. My period is due sometime between Monday and Wednesday.

I know I was pregnant, if only for 10 days. There is no doubt in my mind. I also know that it was the girl I want... I don't know how I know, I just had this very strong feeling. I just *knew*. Anyone else would think my crazy for saying any of this, but I think there are a few people here who can understand. :)

Sigh.... I don't know how people can do this for years on end. This'll be my 4th cycle I'm going into (I know, only 4 months), and I'm already scared that something is wrong with me, and that's why it's not working. :(

To make it even worse.... a friend of mine is also trying for her #2, right now... our periods are due around the same time. It only took her one try for them to concieve her daughter, and if it only takes one try for her this time, as well.... I'm going to be so jealous.
*HUGS* Honey, the worst thing you could be doing is stressing over it. Let it come. Stop trying to "plan" it. You're only focusing too much energy at the little life you're trying to create. The less you stress over it, the sooner you'll have your little girl.

Throw out your thermometer. Chuck your calendar. Just relax, love your hubby, live your life. Baby will come.

[DreamSpell333]

Well.... I'm out this month. My temperature took a huge dive this morning, and I'm having my 3rd day of spotting. My period is due sometime between Monday and Wednesday.

I know I was pregnant, if only for 10 days. There is no doubt in my mind. I also know that it was the girl I want... I don't know how I know, I just had this very strong feeling. I just *knew*. Anyone else would think my crazy for saying any of this, but I think there are a few people here who can understand. :)

Sigh.... I don't know how people can do this for years on end. This'll be my 4th cycle I'm going into (I know, only 4 months), and I'm already scared that something is wrong with me, and that's why it's not working. :(

To make it even worse.... a friend of mine is also trying for her #2, right now... our periods are due around the same time. It only took her one try for them to concieve her daughter, and if it only takes one try for her this time, as well.... I'm going to be so jealous.


im sorry that you didnt get the positive test you so badly want. Are you still just spotting? or has it gotten heavier? It's possible to have light spotting for a couple days or so.. I know what you mean about just *knowing* your pregnant,and you could have been. I really hope you get that positive result soon. Just relax and have fun. I always layed with a pillow under my butt afterwards to help those spermies reach that egg! we went a good year or better without bc,and didnt concieve Olivia until last september. i think my daughter was a year and a half when i got off.
i agree with seqoia though. dont stress over it. i know ts hard to do,but you'll get there! :hugz:

[RainInanna]

Sorry to hear this Amethyst Rose. :( Please feel free to vent here, I know how stressful and frustrating it can be. Have you considered seeing what herbs might help your fertility, or doing a ritual?

[Morr]

*hugs*

[Amethyst Rose]

Honestly... I've given up trying to understand my body. :lol: I've had spotting for 4 days now...hasn't gotten any heavier. My temperature also went back up today, so, I donno what to think anymore.

I had the 'let it happen' discussion with my hubby last night. The truth is, that I'm really not stressed about it until I learn that we have to try again. Then I'm sad for a day, stressed for two, and then I'm back to enjoying myself again. The thermometer is simply because I'm an obsessive planner, for one, and because I like knowing what my body is doing, for two.

I know that only 20% of fertilized eggs go on to make a baby....a full 50% of fertilized eggs never make it to implantation, so I know that it'll take a little work. :) Honestly, I'm not stressed or upset anymore more. We've got plenty of time, I know we do...it's just when you want something *right now* it's hard to rationalize. :)

Thanks for your support everyone, it's really appreciated.

[WillowsMuse]

{{{{{Amethyst Rose}}}}}

Hang in there, hon.

[Sequoia]

Honestly... I've given up trying to understand my body. :lol: I've had spotting for 4 days now...hasn't gotten any heavier. My temperature also went back up today, so, I donno what to think anymore.

I had the 'let it happen' discussion with my hubby last night. The truth is, that I'm really not stressed about it until I learn that we have to try again. Then I'm sad for a day, stressed for two, and then I'm back to enjoying myself again. The thermometer is simply because I'm an obsessive planner, for one, and because I like knowing what my body is doing, for two.

Thanks for your support everyone, it's really appreciated.
:hugz:


I know that only 20% of fertilized eggs go on to make a baby....a full 50% of fertilized eggs never make it to implantation, so I know that it'll take a little work. :) Honestly, I'm not stressed or upset anymore more. We've got plenty of time, I know we do...it's just when you want something *right now* it's hard to rationalize. :)
Whoah, I'd never read those statistics. Vastly different from what they teach you in sex ed. Still, it explains why I made it through my rebound relationship relatively unscathed. (I know, I know - irresponsible!)

[Athena-Nadine]

:hugz:


Whoah, I'd never read those statistics. Vastly different from what they teach you in sex ed. Still, it explains why I made it through my rebound relationship relatively unscathed. (I know, I know - irresponsible!)

Yep. You have a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant every time you have sex with no protection, and it is thought that over half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage before 6 weeks, and that most happen so early that many women never even knowthey were pregnant at all and just think they had a really heavy period that month.


Honestly... I've given up trying to understand my body. :lol: I've had spotting for 4 days now...hasn't gotten any heavier. My temperature also went back up today, so, I donno what to think anymore.

I had the 'let it happen' discussion with my hubby last night. The truth is, that I'm really not stressed about it until I learn that we have to try again. Then I'm sad for a day, stressed for two, and then I'm back to enjoying myself again. The thermometer is simply because I'm an obsessive planner, for one, and because I like knowing what my body is doing, for two.

Thanks for your support everyone, it's really appreciated.

Good on you for deciding not to worry anymore. :) I was a bit obsessive about it as well, and it was hard not to stress at times. We're going to start trying again probably around Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll be able not to freak out every month but I doubt it. :D

[Amethyst Rose]

Alrighty.... I'm on cd1 of cycle #4. If I get pregnant this month, my due date will be my hubby's birthday. :)

[DreamSpell333]

Alrighty.... I'm on cd1 of cycle #4. If I get pregnant this month, my due date will be my hubby's birthday. :)


*Fingers crossed* for you!!! :) Good Luck :)

[Chesna]

Maybe we need to borrow Morr and Semi's sperm chants

Go Spermies, Go Spermies..GO GO GO!!
It's your birthday..woo hoo


Ok that sucked..but hey..maybe the laugh its self will relax you...now you and your hubby and get into baby mode

Go Spermies..Go spermies..Go all the way !!! YEA!!!

Chesna

PS- what is cd1??

[DreamSpell333]

Maybe we need to borrow Morr and Semi's sperm chants

Go Spermies, Go Spermies..GO GO GO!!
It's your birthday..woo hoo


Ok that sucked..but hey..maybe the laugh its self will relax you...now you and your hubby and get into baby mode

Go Spermies..Go spermies..Go all the way !!! YEA!!!

Chesna

PS- what is cd1??


LOL chesna!
:)
cd1 means = Cycle day 1

:fpompoms Go spermies Go! rah rah rah! :fpompoms

[Amethyst Rose]

Okay.... so, I should be 4dpo, I think. I had all the signs of ovulation. And then on my third day, and today, my temperature dropped so now fertilityfriend is saying I haven't ovulated yet. I'm scared that this is an anovulatory cycle, because of it (cuz I'm only 1 week away from my usual end of cycle).

I'm beginning to think that I should stop temping. I should just keep track of the days of my cycle (I usually ovulate between day 14 and 16), and just do it the old fashioned way. I think that temping has just confused me and stressed me from the beginning.

I totally believe that the whole 'just stop trying' thing works... however, it's not possible to stop thinking about it, as well.

[Sequoia]

Okay.... so, I should be 4dpo, I think. I had all the signs of ovulation. And then on my third day, and today, my temperature dropped so now fertilityfriend is saying I haven't ovulated yet. I'm scared that this is an anovulatory cycle, because of it (cuz I'm only 1 week away from my usual end of cycle).

I'm beginning to think that I should stop temping. I should just keep track of the days of my cycle (I usually ovulate between day 14 and 16), and just do it the old fashioned way. I think that temping has just confused me and stressed me from the beginning.

I totally believe that the whole 'just stop trying' thing works... however, it's not possible to stop thinking about it, as well.

Of course you aren't going to stop thinking... You want a baby, you want his man spermies, and you want it all now!!! 8O

Oh... I don't know. As a gal who has never had a child, I must admit, my best technique would be "go at it like rabbits until one of you conceives". Throw out your thermometer. :hugz:

[RainInanna]

I could never get the hang of the temping either, but if you know your usual schedule you could be ok without. There are other ways too like cervical mucus/discharge.

Personally, I used http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/ for about a year and a half so it had my cycles figured down to a T. Then I just dtd once just before I knew I would ovulate. I always seem to get preg. on the first try that way.

[Amethyst Rose]

Yeah, I've tried charting CM as well.... however, I have to go with discharge as I can't reach my own cervix (my ob/gyn can barely reach it, even). That's not as reliable, however.

I expected to get pregnant the first try.... and the second, and the third....this month I just knew from day one that it wouldn't be my month. My second and third try I think an egg was fertilized, but never made it past implantation.

I sure was lucky I didn't have to go through this with my son. (he was unplanned). :)

Thanks for the website, btw. I'll check it out. :)

[Amethyst Rose]

Hey.... just wanted to touch base. FF says that I ovulated late... around CD 21 instead of my usual average of between 14 and 16. (yeah yeah... I couldn't give up the thermometer even though I wanted to.) We only managed to BD the day before it though, cuz I wasn't expecting it. Chances are still good, but we'll see what happens in 10 days. :)