Waiting to O - TTCAL

Spartanrd4

@Bornready FX on your IUI!!

I also echo your feelings about "nobody told me", I never knew TTC/pregnancy would be so hard- it really has opened my eyes. I am kicking my past self for being on birth control for so long and not going off right when we got married. I thought we needed alone time after our wedding and we went on a trip abroad to Europe last year so wanted to wait until after the trip to TTC. Now I feel like we wasted a lot of time. Also DH's job basically has been c*&ck blocking us this whole TTC journey because he goes away a lot for work...we basically missed the FW almost every cycle I've had since starting TTC except 2- 1 of them I got pregnant. The first 2 cycles going off bcp I'm not sure because I wasn't temping then. This whole process has just been so frustrating all around, sometimes I feel like I don't even want to try this cycle- just see what happens. Sorry for the rant! This week has sucked big time and so happy I have a 3 day weekend...I really need to get away from work and all my KU co-workers. 

mylittleversailles

Well, they admitted her to the hospital for at least two weeks, so I am currently nervously making 3 stews so she and her husband don't have to worry about getting vegan food at a hospital. I'm a wreck; this was supposed to be her miracle because she had a 50% chance of losing the pregnancy due to a genetic condition.

Not a good after loss day, no.

MooFish2364

@reneeannemm I'm sorry to hear that about your friend. I'm wishing and hoping that everything works out for them and she has a happy & healthy baby. You're a great friend to take them food. I'm sure it will offer them comfort during this difficult time. 

Spartanrd4

I will keep your friend in my thoughts @reneeannemm! 

brooklyngirl18

@reneeannemm i'll be thinking of your friend. you are so sweet to bring them food and be so selfless. 

catiecatp

@renneeannemm - what a lovely thoughtful friend you are (though I think we all knew that already) - and a good self-care plan for yourself, I know that baking and cooking bring you comfort. I'll keep your friend in my thoughts. 

roxgibbons

@reneeannemm your friend is in my thoughts and I hope and pray for a positive outcome. You are so thoughtful to prepare food for them- I'm sure it means a lot to them.

fivetimesnoluck

Like the others, I am keeping your friend in my thoughts, @reneeannemm! Hopeful for positive outcomes for her and her baby!

mylittleversailles

Thank you, everyone. I'm trying to hold it together, but I'm extremely sensitive as you've probably picked up on. I did a lot, so that helped funnel my tremendous amounts of nervous energy into something positive.

I think the stress delayed my period again because I'm still just spotting, 16 DPO or what this morning appeared to be CD 1. Hopefully tonight - because it hurts and always feels better about six hours after it starts and that means tomorrow will be fine.

SnobunnieMel

@reneeannemm make sure to take care of yourself too. Lots of prayers you and your friends right now

BornReady

The HuffPost had an article this morning that mentioned the sentiment of "why didn't anyone tell me this" that we discussed yesterday. The article is about infertility and loss, but does mention a healthy, progressing pregnancy at the end. So definitely some trigger warnings for anyone not feeling it today. 

Here is the link if anyone is interested in reading it: Article

cooaladolly

@reneeannemm I'm very sorry that your friend is going through such a scary time, and by proxy, you as well. It's so good of you to look out for her that way. I hope you get some comfort from AF as well, but try to pamper yourself at least a little bit this weekend, if you can, to alleviate some of the stress going on for you.

I definitely echo that same sentiment that a few of you have mentioned. So unfair that it isn't nearly as easy for some us as they always promised/warned us it would be growing up. I am bitter about this, and also would have started much earlier if I had had any idea it could be so rough.

mylittleversailles

I have had 6 litres of grapefruit juice in the past 12 days. Help me. 

MooFish2364

Looks like I'm going to be back here any time now. Light cramps last night and temp dip just to cover this morning. I'm expecting today or tomorrow to become cd1. This sucks. I was really feeling hopeful this month because DH and I had tons and tons of relations this month. Oh well. 

@reneeannemm does grapefruit juice help with TTC or is it just something that you like?

mylittleversailles

@MooFish2364 It's supposed to increase fertile cervical mucus. It has not, but that could just be my tipped uterus. And no, I do not like it.

SnobunnieMel

@reneeannemm it's much better if you add some gin to it 

mylittleversailles

@SnobunnieMel I wiiiiiiiiish. I love gin, but alcohol and me do not get along so I abstain. It makes me flush, I feel like crap and then I can't sleep that night at all. DH is the same.

Grapefruit's not so bad, but it is a little bitter. I just blend it in my daily smoothie. I doubt I'll repeat this particular scheme next cycle.

catiecatp

@MooFish2364 - I'm in the same boat as you. And looking to add OPKs to determine if I have a slow rise pattern or a short LP... I'm exhausted just thinking of adding something else to TTC.

catiecatp

@MooFish2364 - I'm in the same boat as you. And looking to add OPKs to determine if I have a slow rise pattern or a short LP... I'm exhausted just thinking of adding something else to TTC.

MooFish2364

@catiecatp I usually have slow rise pattern...I also used to ovulate on cd13 or 14 and now I'm more like cd15 or cd16 since my loss. I used to also have a high and consistent BBT that would crash the first day of AF, but now it seems that also have a slow falling BBT.

I will say, my BBT and positive OPKs never seem to really match up like they should. I don't know if it's a sign of a problem or if it's just my normal. 

catiecatp

@moofish2364 - I think today is likely going to end up being CD1 - not much flow - I'd call it more than spotting but less than what I normally consider light flow? If I put in a fake OPK for the 14th FF moves my crosshairs and I know I had a ton of EWCM on CD13, so that could be accurate and slow rise. Without the OPK FF puts my O 4 days later and I'm CD9 today (or CD1)... 

I need to find a way to explain to DH that the OPK would add valuable information - though he's not going to be receptive to the idea this week given an argument this past Sunday... I'm to be focusing my thoughts on a different problem we're having.

mylittleversailles

Does anyone have any sage wisdom on how easy it might be to miss your LH surge? I test twice a day usually, but things are looking real murky this cycle. My OPK last cycle didn't get that dark, but I was reasonably sure it was a positive when it was. Now I had one vaguely positive stick on CD 9, but I wasn't convinced. If I plug that into FF, it says I ovulated that day. But I'm still having watery CM on CD 12. Here's a link to my chart, if that helps, but it's not helping me at all. It's in Celsius, but you can switch that if you're American.

I usually have a slow rise pattern, but I had really low temperatures this cycle due to opening the window at night starting CD 2.

Spartanrd4

I usually used the clearblue digital monitor and never got a peak reading except one cycle- only high fertility so I assume that I always missed my surge. I ordered wondfos and will be doing both to be able to test twice a day hoping I will be able to catch it. Even during high fertility I just assume I'm going to ovulate soon and will BD until I see the temp rise. A lot of my patterns I have flat temperatures before O so that gives me a good sign too. 

BornReady

What times are you testing @reneeannemm ? I am a short surge person and had the best luck catching my surge between 6:30 and 9. Usually closer to 9.

mylittleversailles

@Spartanrd4 Thanks, I think I missed it entirely. It's a guessing game in the beginning with OPKs, I think and I'm not that experienced. I missed it entirely my first cycle after loss because it came so late and I just ran out. I may have just been lucky last time to catch it.

I really would have assumed I am still WTO, but I generally start to feel some cramping 3 DPO which I have now - which does put ovulation on CD 9 like it wants to if I count that possibly not positive OPK as such. It's making my head hurt; I feel really awful at the ends of each part of my cycle. I am miserable until I feel confident I know what's what. I guess next cycle we had better start relations as soon as I stop bleeding because this is two in a row we'd have almost missed. As it looks it's -2 and O, but I was obsessed with hitting -1 this time and thought we were cool to take a day off.

Edit: @BornReady I was testing at 2:30 pm and then again in the evening closer to bed. I drink a lot of water, so sometimes it's got to wait until my pee isn't clear anymore. I think that might be clouding the issue further.

If I stick with CD 9 and overlay my charts, the slow rise pattern after O is nearly identical, so I think that might be what's happened.

SnobunnieMel

@reneeannemm everything I have read mentioned testing after 3pm and avoid drinking or using the bathroom 4 hours prior. This may help not dilute out the LH and give a more clear reading 

mylittleversailles

@SnobunnieMel omg four hours is bananas. I would never go that long without water, I'd keel over from a dehydration headache. I'll take my chances with a couple hours without water and test a little later on. The instructions with my OPKs did not mention that, though I've never used really dilute urine to test because that was pretty obvious to me.

I think I must have ovulated real early then and I'll keep testing for a few more days if the CM remains watery. My CM is never really clear to me, though, it's not a sign I read easily.

BornReady

@catiecatp Sorry this is all so confusing. DH doesn't like the idea of you using OPKs? Does he just think it's too much of a TTC focus? 
I found I got more of a heads up with OPKs and it made me focus my timing of BDing much better. With my temps I was never sure if I could trust the rise etc. and would anxiously keep initiating not wanting to miss anything. With the OPKs I know that I have a 48 window after OPK when ovulation is likely and act accordingly. I've used the advanced digitals and wondfos effectively. Good luck!

Knottie69717311

Anyone get pregnant in between D&C and first AF?

MWoodside

My period finally came late Monday night. So CD3 today. Glad to finally be through the waiting and on to cycle5. Considering adding acupuncture in this cycle.

SnobunnieMel

@Knottie69717311 yes but it was a chemical pregnancy. Try the PGAL board, i know there are some successes there 

mylittleversailles

Woo, I didn't ovulate CD 9. I took a test last night and another impatiently this afternoon with a not great sample- both obviously positive.  

This is all very good, if I ovulated that early it would have stuck my FW during my trip to my hometown and we're staying at friend's where sex will be impossible. DH is also not a do-a-quicky-in-the-bathroom type of lover, so I'm just totally relieved we won't miss next cycle's opportunity. Thanks for your help @SnobunnieMel and @BornReady I think I feel more comfortable with OPKs now and it seems my cycle is trying to go back to closer to the clockwork it was before.

edit: removed an extra word

brooklyngirl18

that's great news @reneeannemm!! good luck and have fun BDing 

Taggarab

I seem to be ovulating later than I did before previous pregnancies. Looks like around CD 16 or 17. My cycles are only 28ish days, but I don't think that makes my LP too short does it? I'm on 14 right now so just temping away. 

catiecatp

@bornready - the issue has been we weren't convinced that it would add much information to the BBT. With a potential slow rise it may be worth it. DH doesn't have issues with TTC focus, he has an issue with me not focusing as much on other things as I do on TTC... so it might cause a bit of an issue.

What would be the most fool proof way to do OPKs - what system should I be thinking about?

yolandamunoz

I guess I am again WTO.

About baby making sex, I just wanted to share: My husband knows I am charting, he knows I am very aware of my fertile days (I have always been, since I feel ovulatory pain), but he is thankful I am not sharing all the technicalities with him, because that would stress him out. I have always have an increased sex drive during fertile days, even on the pill, so it's nothing new.  When those days arrive, I try to say things like "these are my good days" so that he knows, and I try to say this in advance, so that he is prepared (LOL).

I hope you can find a way that works for you and your DH.

Wishilivedinflorida

@yolandamunoz I'm so sorry to see you back here.  *hugs*

yolandamunoz

thank you @Wishilivedinflorida
I am so very sad

hugs to you too

BornReady

@yolandamunoz So sorry you are hear again, hugs.

fivetimesnoluck

Noooo! I am sorry, @yolandamunoz. So sorry.