Tips for keeping stress at bay

stacey2345

I know this topic has come up as common so I'm hoping maybe you ladies have tips to offer...I feel like AF is gonna show so I want to start charting next cycle.  I have been doing OPKs already and DH jokes that I'm like a scientist vs "letting nature take its course" and says he is feeling stressed and pressured so my fear is that charting my temps EVERY morning may only make this worse.  Plus we will only be starting 4th cycle so I feel like this is so soon for him to get stressed which is probably my fault (I hate being so out of control which I'm sure many can relate).  Any tips on how to destress and just enjoy the process?  I'd really like to chart to confirm O but wanted to throw this issue out there.  Thanks in advance!

LanaBob678

Although charting may be stressful for him, I highly recommend it. I personally do not think it is too early to start. If I had been charting this entire time we've been ttc I feel my doctor could have discovered our fertility issues much sooner because we would have had a better idea of how everything was working. It's just a very useful tool.

As far as reducing and dealing with the stress, work very hard at not putting so much focus on ttc and for the most part being relaxed about it. Focus on and do all the things you two enjoy doing together. I have also been reading a book about yoga and all the benefits it can add to ttc and that may be something the two of you can do together to help reduce your stress and maybe even help you in your ttc efforts. HTH

MonsterBean3815

I actually find that charting has taken a lot of the stress out of this process for me.  I am a complete control freak and charting makes me feel like I have some level of control over something that I really have very little control in!  As for your DH, maybe try to explain to him that learning about your body and all the signals it gives is not some kind of 'mad science' but actually natural in its very essence!  HTH and GL!

UrbanLe1

I don't have much advice, but I can tell you that I'm in the exact same boat.  Same number of cycles even!  And, like you, I'm very very very worried that it's going to put some serious pressure on DH, which I don't want at all.  He's a surgical resident--he has enough stress already.

But I can also tell you this.  I feel like the whole "let nature take its course" thing was killing me.  I was on eggshells all the time--wondering if that OPK was really positive, worrying about my cervical mucus, always afraid I was misreading the signs.  I'm going to give BBT charting a try--mainly because I hope it will give me some security in knowing my own body.  

I'm lucky--DH wakes up before me (like, way before), so he's not going to be bothered by this temp thing most of the time.  But, if he is, I'll stop.  Just that easy.  

Have you thought about something else for the interim, like an OV Watch or other fertility monitor?  Just a thought...

 

qnikki1285

Today marks day 1 of cycle 7 for us.  I am going to be diligent about charting this month as I haven't temped in the past.  At first, I avoided charting because I thought it would make it seem like "work" rather than fun.  But, at this point, I really need the distraction.  I am hoping that it acts as a stress-reliever for me.  I also spend lots of time dreaming up where we should go on vacation!

stacey2345

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone!  Just the support alone started my day off right.  I sorta feel like charting may help me feel in control too.  I started up yoga last week as well and that helps!  I come home an entirely different person so in case anyone else is considering it I highly recommend it.  I am very guilty of letting TTC consume my mind so I am gonna try harder this cycle on that too!  Thanks again everyone and GL to all of you!!

  

stacey2345

Also @urbanle0 I have thought about a monitor but was trying to hold off.  Any advice on that?  And how do they work?