Newbie Intro Week of 10/24

bumpybump

Welcome to the community! 

Some great tips for benefiting from this wonderful community:

- Read The Ultimate TTGP Guide pinned at the top of the board. It is full of really helpful TTC advice and knowledge.

- Participate! Join the WTO (Waiting to Ovulate) and TWW (Two Week Wait) threads. This is a great place to let everyone know where you are at in your cycle, rant and/or rave about anything (TTC-related or not), and have any questions answered.

Please introduce yourselves. Share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. 

Ages (you and SO): 

How many months have you been TTC? 

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? 

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.)

sbarluccico

Hi all! I am excited to join this forum! This is me:

Ages (you and SO): me, 30 - DH, 32

How many months have you been TTC? this is the 6th cycle/5 months

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? having loads of sex mainly! But also:

We have been using Conceive Plus lubricant from the last cycle and I have been monitoring CM and CP for over a year, and although I almost always get ovulation / date of AF right, sometimes my body seems to trick me! I did try tracking BBT but it stressed me too much (bad sleep due to anxiety, getting obsessed with single measure) so I gave up.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.): DH and I have been together over 10 years (!!!) and married for 6 months. I have wanted kids for a couple of years now so I am equally super excited that we are TTC now, but also and very scared that it won’t happen soon &/or naturally!
We are both Italian but live in England - I hope it’s ok to join here, I see it’s mostly USA-based. He is an engineer and i am a journalist, I travel a lot for work and so far, TTC during FW hasn’t been impacted by my travels, i hope it stays that way! We don’t have pets in London, but DH has a dog back at his family home in Italy that he loves more than his own life, and sometimes i think he loves her more than he loves me! ;-)

I wanted to ask if it's ok to jump in a TWW board, since I am at that stage of my period now? Or is it best to wait for a new period and get in WTO instead? 

In any case, I look forward to being a part of this community (even though, as many, I hope my stay is short), I have been lurking for a while now and I found that very informative/useful!

XXX

lund

@sbarluccico hello and welcome!!! It's absolutely ok for you to join here - there are a few other women who don't live in the USA. And, feel free to jump into the TWW board!  

sbarluccico

LuND said:

@sbarluccico hello and welcome!!! It's absolutely ok for you to join here - there are a few other women who don't live in the USA. And, feel free to jump into the TWW board!  

Thank you! X

MTgirlCOworld

@sbarluccico welcome!

GeorgiaWife6912

Welcome @sbarluccico! Hope your stay here is short! 

MplsKate

Hello all! I have been lurkin' a bit and I *triple* read the guidelines so... [to self: don't screw this up, don't screw this up, don't screw this up.]

Ages (you and SO): Both 30.

How many months have you been TTC? 3

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? I've been tracking my cycle for several years, using WomanLog Pro. I have now switched to Ovia and tracking cycle, CM, and symptoms. Not tracking BBT or using OPKs yet, because I keep telling myself we're NTNP... 

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) DH and I have been married for 3 years and have spent that time adventuring and building careers and having a goofy ol' time raising a greyhound and a cat. I think we are both pretty nervous and excited about TTC.

SaphireSweetie88

@sbarluccico - Welcome. Hope your stay here is short and I look forward to getting to know you. It's fine for you to jump into the TWW if that's where you are in your cycle and then go to WTO if you get AF

@MplsKate - Welcome!

Basherbaby

Welcome ladies!

JuneRoseRuby

@MplsKate I also use Ovia, but I recently started using Fertile Friend as well. It charts and tracks so much better. You can also share it on here and have the girls stalk it for you and give you some insight. I like FF better than Ovia, but I keep logging in both since I have used Ovia for years. Welcome!
Welcome to you too @sbarluccico !!

MTgirlCOworld

@MplsKate Welcome!!  I had the same thoughts when I first started here but as long as you follow the rules every one here is awesome!!

Mackey15

Ages (you and SO): Me 29, DH 39

How many months have you been TTC? TTCAL 1 month. 4 months before the loss.

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? BD, tracking my cycles with Ovia, CM. Just bought Clearblue OPKS and will start those in a few days.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) Hello! We live in OK but are literally 10 minutes from TX which is where I am from and we both work in TX. We have 2 cats and 1 dog. They get a ton of attention and we spoil them pretty bad. We actually both work the same job just different shifts. We only work 3 days a week 12 hours. We get 4 days off together! But we literally just see each other in passing for 3 days straight. We love camping and going out on the trails hiking or riding our atvs. We try to travel as much as we can. This year we hiked the Grand Canyon and the Smoky Mountains. I'm happy to have found a place to participate in while going through this journey. 

bumpybump

@Mackey15 Welcome!  Sorry to hear about your loss. Sadly, there are many members who have experienced the same.  For courtesy of the other community members, please place a "TW" (trigger warning) before any mention of losses. 

Mackey15

@bumpybump thanks! And I will do that next time for sure. Already edited my comment. 

bumpybump

@Mackey15 I apologize, it wasn't my intention to have you think it wasn't ok to mention it. It truly is fine to have left it. Just to have added the "TW" in front of that part  . 

hqinmd

Ages (you and SO): I'm 33 and DH is 36. 

How many months have you been TTC? 4th cycle (today ), almost 4th month 

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? Temping using FF, OPKs, PNVs, maybe preseed this time around, trying for EOD during FW but it never seems to work out that way.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) We have 2 girls (are we supposed to TW for mentioning kids? I've seen some people do, some don't), ages 1 and 3, and 3 cats and a dog. Married 5 years and together for 10. We're both accountants and DH works too much, hence EOD ends up a challenge. My only hobby is fiction writing, but my girls don't leave much time for that. Oh, and I'm a complete BSC symptom-spotter during the TWW. I own it.

I've been lurking a couple of months now without joining because I was clinging to the idea that it would be quick like before, but not so lucky so far and I've gotten a lot out of reading these threads so I wanted to join in now that AF showed again. 

MTgirlCOworld

@Mackey15 and @hqinmd Welcome!

tzeg

Hi everyone! I've been lurking for a long time, I'm excited to finally be a part of this community!

Ages (you and SO): 

I'm turning 30 in a couple of weeks and DH is 28.

How many months have you been TTC?

NTNP for one month, officially TTC our first for 2 months/2 cycles.

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? 

A lot, it seems, but I am a total control freak, so I could never just 'let it happen' lol. I read TCOYF and enjoyed learning about FAM. So, I am temping, monitoring CM, OPKs, PNVs and supplements, Preseed, and BD daily or EOD during FW. (Though during this last FW, DH was out of town for the two days before O). Also have been using FF and the Glow app.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.)

We live in the Midwest, and recently got married on the Outer Banks in NC. No kiddos yet, but we have a 2.5 year old yellow lab who is super awesome and fully believes she is our human child. 

I'm a nurse and DH works as an athletic director for a local township. He just started grad school yesterday in pursuit of his MBA! Nursing is a second degree for me, and I am currently working my way towards CRNA school, though it'll be a few years of critical care experience before I can even apply. 

We are moving into our new house this weekend- so excited! I'm currently 7DPO and already turning into a full-fledged crazy person with the symptom spotting.

doula-mama

Hi everyone - I've been lurking for a bit, and now that we are ready to start trying, figured it was time to introduce myself!

Ages: both 32

How many months have you been TTC? This will be our first month, if DH gets home from a work trip before I O

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? I've been trying hard not to obsess, but still like to have all the information - so read Taking Charge of Your Fertility, BBT/CM charting for several months, PNV, herbs from a naturopath to regulate cycles, green tea (although only in the week before O as I know it can mess with folate levels)

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) We've been together for a couple of years, and have the best. dog. EVER! We got married this summer and were planning on starting TTC next year, but since we both honestly want kids sooner rather than later, have decided to start now. I've got mild(?) PCOS, so have a lot of concern about conceiving. I've been seeing a naturopath for a year now, and that seems to be working (I went off hormonal BC and now have regular-ish cycles and seem to ovulate every month). 

spk112

@tzeg, I'm a second degree nurse, too! I have no plans to become a CRNA, but my sister is a nurse and just transferred to ICU with CRNA as her ultimate career goal in mind. Welcome! 

MTgirlCOworld

@tzeg @Sailing_Mama welcome! Good luck on your TTC journeys.

aprilew

Ages (you and SO):  I'm 28, my husband is 30

How many months have you been TTC?  Officially been trying for one cycle, but have been off BCP for about 8 months. 

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)?  Just trying to relax and enjoy sex...especially in my fertile window!

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.)  We're trying for our first baby!  Been married a year and a half, but together for 8 years!  I'm a veterinary technician in an ICU, and it's just as sad as it sounds, but it's also super rewarding and I love every minute of it.  As far as hobbies, I'm pretty multifaceted.  I love singing more than just about anything, but reading and hanging with my three dogs and my husband is probably my favorite.  We enjoy binge watching Doctor Who and drinking stupid amounts of coffee!  

SoraLk

Ages (you and SO):  We are both 26.

How many months have you been TTC?  TTCAL for 2 cycles now, but 7 cycles total.

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)?  I'm using Ovia and Kindara to track my cycles. Doing my best to accurately measure fertile window with temp, opk, and cm. I'm taking vitamins daily, and reminding the SO when it's time to do the deed.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) We have a little kitty named Momo who is both sweet and sassy. SO and I have known each other since 2006 but have officially dated since last November. We aren't married yet  (still trying to put together our finances for a wedding) but decided that we weren't going to prevent a pregnancy before we've said our vows. For hobbies, SO and I both are geeky. We love video games, board games, and tv shows and books of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Horror genre. 

It's been awhile since I've been to these forums. I took a small break after my loss, and I hope to stick around this time.

nikkiandchris

Hi! It feels like a long time since I've posted on the bump, but I'm ready to jump back in. 

Ages (you and SO): H and I are both 34

How many months have you been TTC? 7 months

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? Charting, OPKs, B complex, and just had bloodwork done because of a short LP. Will have progesterone tested at 7 dpo and may add progesterone from O depending on results. 

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.): I have two girls, 3 and 5. I also have a german shepherd (also a girl hehe). I used to be a teacher, but I stay  home now for the most part. I do newborn photography part time, and love it but have trouble finding the time to jam it in. 

mamasaurus12415

Hi! I have just recently rejoined The Bump with a new account because I'm terrible at remembering login info. I was only ever part of my BMB when I was pregnant with my daughter a year and a half ago. I'm excited to be back and to give and receive support on my road to becoming a mom of two!

Ages (you and SO): I am 23 and my husband is 27

How many months have you been TTC? Right now, we are NTNP. I discontinued my BC pills in July but I've been having super long cycles since then. Only two... the first was 60+ days and now I'm on CD 39 of the second cycle. I suspect I am not ovulating, so I've made an appointment to get everything straightened out.

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? Nothing special at all, just BD when we feel like it.

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) I'm a SAHM to our 17-month old (I'm also working on my undergraduate degree full time) and my husband is a data security analyst for a software company. We have two cats (Helen and Charlotte) and have recently acquired a German Shepherd puppy (Scout). I love knitting and anything to do with Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Meg920

Hello! I am glad to be back and a part of this community! I obviously suck at using this app, as I posted in the previous week newbie post... I promise I will get back on the swing of things! 

Ages (you and SO): my husband and I are both 28, but I will be 29 in 2 months!

How many months have you been TTC? We are just starting again. I just had my first AF since my daughters birth (9 mpp). We are being very causal about it and not tracking my temp or anything. Just trying to figure out my cycle again so we can make future plans!

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? We BD when we can! Not always easy with a 9 month old and our rediculous schedules!

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) I have an amazing little family! 'Y husband and I have been married for just over 2 years and we have been together for 8. We have one 9 month old daughter named Elizabeth, but we call her Ellie. She is my entire world.  I also have a 5 year old son. He happens to be a black pug. My husband is a store manager so he works rediculous hours and I manager international corporate relocations, so life is a little crazy! we would love to have 3-4 kids, but we will see! I am looking forward to getting to know you all and going through this journey with you!

sbarluccico

@cosbyae I am with you with the ridic amounts of coffee! May I ask, are you reducing amounts of caffeine now that you are TTC? I have been trying to drink less lately but it's so hard!

@norahbeansmom @nikkiandchris I am jealous of the german shepherds! My husband has a gs girl back at his parents house and we miss her immensely, our biggest dream besides a baby is to have a dog (impossible for us in the big city and not allowed in our rental)

mamasaurus12415

@sbarluccico I hope someday you can get a dog! Ours is a lot of work right now because he's not quite 4 months old yet, but I know it'll get better. I'm very proud of him because he just learned how to sit on command! Glad to meet you. 

nikkiandchris

 sbarluccico my girl is lucky I love her because she has a hereditary eye disease that was just diagnosed yesterday and needs drops in her eyes twice a day forever. She is a sweet, protective girl though, so I'll do it

Tennis11785

Hey, ya'll.  

Ages (you and SO): 30 for me (although I'm all of three weeks away from being 31), 31 for H. 

***Trigger Warning from here down -- M/C mentioned*** 

How many months have you been TTC? In total, 1 year.  Two pregnancies, but neither resulted in a baby.  

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? We're sidelined for a bit (next three cycles).  So I'll probably start joining in here a bit, perhaps more as we're no longer sidelined. I know it's a bit early for TTGP, but the I've found the miscarriage board doesn't have the community the TTGP or birth month boards have.  I hope its cool that I join ya'll early.  

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) Hi!  As I mentioned above, I've had two losses.  One at 8 weeks, one at 20 weeks.  The doctors are pretty confident (or at least are pretty good actors) that our next pregnancy should be more successful.  2016 just has us as super unlucky.  H and I live in Washington DC with our two rescue pups. I enjoy running, volunteering with a local non-profit, and beer and wine (in a tasting different types and enjoying different flavors and less in the it's college and let's get as drunk as possible as cheap as possible).  

kiki75

@Tennis11785 I am so sorry for your losses. I already like you because you know that DC is the Washington that needs clarification. Welcome. 

lee^2

Ages (you and SO): DH and I are both 23

How many months have you been TTC? 2

What are you doing to get knocked up (WAYDTGKU)? Having sex often, especially during my fertile window, tracking my cycle (had been using glow, just started using ovia). 

Tell us about yourself! (Kids, pets, job, hobbies, etc.) DH and I have wanted kids for a couple years. Now that we have graduated collage and are married we are ready to grow our little family. We have two dogs and two cats who are the four greatest animals in the world and all have their own hilarious personalities. Our hobby lately has been decorating our house and making it our own (DH lived in this house with two roommates for four years before I moved in) I was worried that it would always feel like their house, but after a few months it really feels like ours. DH has his dream job at a small but fast growing marketing firm where he is excited to go to work every day. I have a bachelor of fine arts in painting and will be teaching watercolor classes a couple evenings a week and just got an admin position with a real estate company. My dream job is a wedding photographer. I am actually photographing my SIL's wedding tomorrow and could not be more excited! 

SaphireSweetie88

@Mackey15 - Welcome
@hqinmd - Welcome (again)
@tzeg - Welcome (again)
@Sailing_Mama - Welcome
@cosbyae - Welcome
@SoraLk - Welcome
@nikkiandchris - Welcome!
@norahbeansmom - Welcome back.
@Meg920 - Welcome back.
@Tennis11785 - Welcome. Sorry to hear about your losses.
@lee^2 - Welcome. Have fun photographing the wedding!

sopranoali

Hi all. I am 32, DH is 29 and we live in Virginia. We have an amazing 2 year old daughter that we conceived quite by happy accident, so paying attention to my cycle is kind of a brand new world for me. I came here specifically to lurk and learn about BBT. I've been taking it religiously and my temp really isn't biphasic the way I was expecting. Or maybe I'm taking it wrong 

I loved my BMB 3 years ago and am friends with many of the moms to this day, and have always valued their advice and insights. I'm confident I will learn a lot about BBT here.

EDIT: I should also say I'm dabbling with the Shettles method for sex selection (trying for a boy) and would be interested if anyone has any experience/feedback. 

- Ali

NYTino24

sopranoali said:

Hi all. I am 32, DH is 29 and we live in Virginia. We have an amazing 2 year old daughter that we conceived quite by happy accident, so paying attention to my cycle is kind of a brand new world for me. I came here specifically to lurk and learn about BBT. I've been taking it religiously and my temp really isn't biphasic the way I was expecting. Or maybe I'm taking it wrong 

I loved my BMB 3 years ago and am friends with many of the moms to this day, and have always valued their advice and insights. I'm confident I will learn a lot about BBT here.

EDIT: I should also say I'm dabbling with the Shettles method for sex selection (trying for a boy) and would be interested if anyone has any experience/feedback. 

- Ali

Welcome. I doubt you'll get feedback on sex selection as we have quite a few members who would do anything for a take home baby of either sex. Some who have been here for a long time working hard to get (and stay) pregnant may be offended by this post. Lurk around, check out the culture of the board, and post in the WTO / TWW or GTKY threads. 

sopranoali

No offense meant, it is just something I'm thinking I'm trying to do. After looking around, "Babies on the Brain" might be a better fit for me.

I'm not sure if my baseline settings for the app are the same as yours, but mine has an infertility tab and then has a pregnancy tab. There's a TTC board under both, I chose the one (this board) under pregnancy. 

May be something to discuss with bump admins if this board would be offended at the mention of sex selection. I wish you all the best of luck. Thanks for your time.

[Deleted User]

<blockquote class="Quote">
<div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@sopranoali</a> said:</div>
<div>No offense meant, it is just something I'm thinking I'm trying to do. After looking around, "Babies on the Brain" might be a better fit for me.

I'm not sure if my baseline settings for the app are the same as yours, but mine has an infertility tab and then has a pregnancy tab. There's a TTC board under both, I chose the one (this board) under pregnancy. 

May be something to discuss with bump admins if this board would be offended at the mention of sex selection. I wish you all the best of luck. Thanks for your time.</div>
</blockquote>
QFP
No. Really.  You should have lurked more.  there is nothing to discuss with admins; it's quite simple.  So thrilled for your "happy accident." We totally understand thay TFAS is not always as easy, and it's great that you want to try temping. Read the Newbie guide.  Pick up TCOYF.  There is a lot to learn.

But please.  Talking about dabbling in sex selection for a sibling is utterly, impossibly tasteless in this setting. In any setting, really.  If you had lurked AT ALL.  You would know that.  I would give my right arm to have a daughter.  or a son.  Just to know that my husband and I could conceive.  I would give my life in childbirth to bring our son or daughter into this world.  I have been an active member here for a year now, and I can't begin to tell you what I have found.  and you want to dabble this board or that, looking for a place where it's appropriate to banter around casually about Shettles.  Here's a hint.  You won't find one.  It doesn't take admins to tell anybody that; it's called common human decency.

ETA Also this:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1440662/

And this:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2001.tb02161.x/abstract

Aaaand this:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199512073332301
Shettles is nonsense.

PurpleRains

sopranoali said:

No offense meant, *snip*

Well, offense taken.  I wholeheartedly stand behind everything @BusinessWife said.  

kiki75

@sopranoali When I first saw your post, I just choked back the tears and moved on. I was glad to see that @NYTino24 gave you the gentle advice that a number of us simply couldn't. She was kind and polite and then you come back with this crock of horseshit. You are talking to a number of women who are in testing or have official IF diagnoses and a number of us who have suffered losses. IDGAF what the gender of my baby was. I wanted THAT one. Boy OR girl. Lots of us feel that way. So yeah, it is offensive to have you come in with your Shettles crap (which is freaking ridiculous, btw). Then you act like WE'RE the jerks and blame it on your app settings??? That's just fabulous. Here's a Halloween magic trick for you.

PurpleRains

@Kiki75 lady

Neikoda

**Dirty lurker/Lover of my TTGP peeps**

Kiki75 said:

@sopranoali When I first saw your post, I just choked back the tears and moved on. I was glad to see that @NYTino24 gave you the gentle advice that a number of us simply couldn't. She was kind and polite and then you come back with this crock of horseshit. You are talking to a number of women who are in testing or have official IF diagnoses and a number of us who have suffered losses. IDGAF what the gender of my baby was. I wanted THAT one. Boy OR girl. Lots of us feel that way. So yeah, it is offensive to have you come in with your Shettles crap (which is freaking ridiculous, btw). Then you act like WE'RE the jerks and blame it on your app settings??? That's just fabulous. Here's a Halloween magic trick for you.

All of this. I can tell you that my previous two losses would have been perfect, regardless of their genitalia.