Trying to Get Pregnant

What were your first few TTC cycles like?

I'm not sure whether I should just start TTC by having sex regularly or whether I should start by pulling out all the stops right out of the gate. By that I mean, OPKs BBT etc.

How were your first few cycles TTC and what would you recommend? Regardless of whether the first few cycles produce a BFP, I want them to be more enjoyable than stressful. I'm scared of making this a chore for my fiancé, and I really don't want to put that type of pressure on him.

Thanks in advance :)

Me: 22, RN

DH: 30, Corrections officer

Wedding Date: 9/06/14

BFP: 9/15/14 !!

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Re: What were your first few TTC cycles like?

  • Jags8Jags8 member
    I'm in my second cycle TTC. Right now I am tracking BBT, and also CM if I think of it. I don't tell DH if/when I think I'm fertile so that he does not feel pressured (or like you said, a chore).

    I really recommend tracking BBT because it is just so useful, and only takes 1 minute out of your day. And if you know when you ovulated, you know if you had good timing, and when to take a pregnancy test. 
  • Jags8 said:

    I'm in my second cycle TTC. Right now I am tracking BBT, and also CM if I think of it. I don't tell DH if/when I think I'm fertile so that he does not feel pressured (or like you said, a chore).


    I really recommend tracking BBT because it is just so useful, and only takes 1 minute out of your day. And if you know when you ovulated, you know if you had good timing, and when to take a pregnancy test. 

    That's a good idea! It'll give me the advantage, but he can still have fun :). How do you BBT--orally, vaginally? I've read the different routes and the pros and cons of each.

    Me: 22, RN

    DH: 30, Corrections officer

    Wedding Date: 9/06/14

    BFP: 9/15/14 !!

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  • Jags8Jags8 member
    @mrs2mommy92 I temp vaginally. I just think it's more reliable (especially if you're a mouth breather). Also, if I close my legs together, the beeping at the end is quieter and doesn't wake up DH!
  • @Jags8‌ thanks! The one I bought a few months ago beeps the ENTIRE time lol. But he's a heavy sleeper so it shouldn't be a problem.

    Me: 22, RN

    DH: 30, Corrections officer

    Wedding Date: 9/06/14

    BFP: 9/15/14 !!

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  • CytheCythe member
    My first few cycles were optimistic. You know, hit my FW and bam! But, nope. Dont be naive - just do what you can from the start to ensure you're actually hitting your FW.
    TTC #1 since May 2014
    3 failed IUI cycles
    Oct '15 - IVF 1 - 10R, 3M, 0F
    Sept '16 - IVF - 12R, 11M, 5F and 3 perfect day 5 blasts - MMC 7w5d
    Jan '17 - FET 1 - BFP, EDD 10/14

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  • I started with temping and then after a few cycles threw OPKs in the mix.








     


  • With my first, I just did OPKs, but I realize that that was pretty lucky. This time I pulled out all the stops from the get go. TBH, I really like temping and charting. I look forward to FF's interpretation of what's going on-not stressful at all really. I recommend temping from the start. It can take a bit to get in the habit of temping and learning how FF works. Start taking the tutorials. You will learn a lot and they only take a few minutes each. Like pp said, you can involve your fiancé as much or as little as you want. I temp orally. Some here temp vaginally because they sleep with their mouths open. I use Wondfo OPKs because they're cheap and they work for me. I don't do CM because there is no pattern to mine, but you might find it useful.
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    Little O- 2/25/12
    BFP 2/28/14 MMC 14W2D D&C 5/07/14



  • My first cycle I just did OPKs. I am only at the end of my second. This cycle I pulled out all the stops.

    Temping is a great tool. I wish I would have done it my first cycle as well. I temp vaginally.

    Me: 25 DH: 26
    Married 11/12/11
    BFP 12/17/11
    DS 8/29/12 via C-section
    TFAS 3/2014
    BFP #2 5/25/15 EDD 2/4/2016
    It's a BOY!
  • I didn't find temping stressful at all. It was great source of information, and not something I shared much with my DH. 
      It's a girl!! EDD 2/28/15
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  • I've been charting BBT and CM since February. We are starting to try this month. I feel like I know what's going on with my body. I've been seeing my temp shift, so I know when I ovulate. I'm nervous and excited, but charting doesn't stress me out. I think I'd be stressed not knowing. Good luck!

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  • I think it's totally up to you. The first cycle we had sex whenever without protection (I don't count it in my cycle count because there's no way our timing was good). The next couple we just had a lot of sex around CD14. Then I switched to strip OPKs for 4ish months and then switched to CBE Advanced OPKs. PPs are correct that temping is something that it's good to go ahead and get accustomed to if you're going to do it, especially because it can help you see if you need to take a HPT or not.

    Some women here don't tell their H's about O and just jump him. Some track but don't use tracking to change their sex schedules at all. For me, I know that I'm going to tell H because he wants to know when it's time to get down, but I know a lot of partners aren't wild about that. If I'm tracking, then it's going to help decide the sex schedule to a degree. But some women are able to totally put it out of their heads.



    TTC #1 since 11/2012
    Me-31, H-27
    **Loss 1-Cycle 7(June 2013) at 5w6d-CP**Loss 2-Cycle 11(October 2013) at 5w4d-CP**
    **Loss 3-Cycle 14 (January-February 2014)-M/C dx 2/10, EP dx 2/24, MTX 2/25**
    Beta Hell--hCG finally down to 0 - 6/20/14
    SA normal. Genetic testing normal. Hormonal testing normal.
    HSG 6/30/14 - found blocked left tube and 2 'bubbles' on uterine wall.
    Hysteroscopy/Lap--8/4/14 - Tubes unblocked. Polyps removed from uterine wall. Septum removed.
     9/30/14--Off the bench! Unmedicated TI through December 2014
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  • Thank you all for the great advice!! I'll have to see if that is something he'd prefer to be included in or not. And as for CM, I really never get fertile CM. Is that normal? TMI, but I'm either dry or have white sticky CM.

    Me: 22, RN

    DH: 30, Corrections officer

    Wedding Date: 9/06/14

    BFP: 9/15/14 !!

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Ovulation Calculator"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1b5836.aspx" alt=" BabyFetus Ticker" border="0"  /></a>

  • Cythe said:
    My first few cycles were optimistic. You know, hit my FW and bam! But, nope. Dont be naive - just do what you can from the start to ensure you're actually hitting your FW.
    This.  Completely.  
    DS born 12/2012
    Little Squeaker due 6/2015
  • Thank you all for the great advice!! I'll have to see if that is something he'd prefer to be included in or not. And as for CM, I really never get fertile CM. Is that normal? TMI, but I'm either dry or have white sticky CM.

    Some people have trackable fertile CM some don't. It's not normal or abnormal. If you need lubricant, try Preseed. BTW, it's not TMI. Very little is around here.
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    Little O- 2/25/12
    BFP 2/28/14 MMC 14W2D D&C 5/07/14



  • I temp for the sole purpose of knowing when I ovulate so I don't go crazy thinking I'm "late" and so I know when to expect my period. It's been really useful since my first cycle was 27 days with a 10 day LP and this one I didn't even ovulate until CD 27. Without temping I'd think I had missed my period by now. It actually eases stress for me :)

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  • I started temping 2 years before TTC, because we used it to TTA.  My first cycle TTC we had sex the day I ovulated.  BFP 2 weeks later. 

    This time I temped for about a year before TTC, again, using it to TTA.  We had sex every day during my FW the first cycle, but because I was tracking my temp, I can look back and think maybe I didn't ovulates (no thermal shift) which explains why I'm still here.

    I really think whether you get pregnant immediately or not, temping helps to have a better idea of when to try and potential reasons when you don't.

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  • My first couple cycles actively trying I was a hot mess, because I was not doing anything (other than having unprotected sex). My cycles are *normally* 30-ish days, and my second cycle TTC ended up being 45-ish days. I was totally, completely, certain that I was KU and I was crushed after that cycle, which ended in multiple BFN's and ultimately AF. In one of my phantom symptom googling crazes I happened upon this place and I could not be more thankful. I spent cycle three learning as much as I could, and cycle four I intro'ed and joined this community. I wish I had started temping from day 1 of NTNP. Even if we weren't timing sex at that time, looking back, I would have stayed so much more sane knowing what was going on. So, I would recommend at least temping straight off the bat. 


    Married since June 2010 | TTC January 2014-July 2014 | BFP #1 - 7/22/14 | EDD - 4/2/15

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  • I started to temp and chart even before TTC, just to get to know my body.  I'm glad I did, because I found out that I O late.  Important info to have!
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  • I'm in my second month TTC and just got a postive test today, 3 days before missed period :). We did not temp or take ovulation tests. I did put in the calendar when my period was, so then I knew approximately when I would be ovulating. I actually felt myself ovulate this month (something I had never actually noticed before TTC. I'm sure I had experienced these ovu cramps before, but didn't ever pay attention because I wasn't TTC). So we definitely had sex that day and the day after (We also had it for a couple days prior because I knew I would ovulate soon). Last month when we were TTC I took pregnany test like a crazy person, even 7 days before missed period. This month I didn't want to do that to myself, so I waited until 3 days out. You can spend a lot of money on tests and it can cause much heartache. 
  • I think temping is useful not just for making sure you hit it on your FW, but also, as others have pointed out, you don't really know when you're late if you're irregular and don't know when you ovulated. I don't really worry about missing my ovulation time, because husband is a horny little bastard, but since I'm highly irregular I wouldn't know when to expect my period on my own. Right now it's been 4 weeks since my last period but I'm fairly certain I haven't ovulated yet.
  • mosdubmosdub member
    I'm glad you started this thread - I've enjoyed reading through all of the responses so far.  

    I am on my 2nd cycle of TTC and have only charted 1.5 cycles before this one.  I am SO glad I ended up temping because I like seeing the progression of the cycle.  I can verify that I DID ovulate and am able to estimate my period as well.  I'm with @ FLFishoutofwater , I am just too much of a planner/researcher to take the "whatever will be will be" approach (There's nothing wrong with that approach.  I wish I could loosen the fuck up more to take that approach sometimes).

    Cycle 1 of charting I was pretty obsessive over the chart and would look at it on FF constantly.  I never gleaned any new information but I just found myself going back to look at it.  This cycle I'm less obsessive about it, so I think in time you will be able to temp without fixating on every. little. thing.  At least, I hope ;)

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    TTC since 5/2014 
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