Seeing What Happens: TTC in February, 2006

[Twylla]

squee sorry about the BFN. No one wants to see that!

neenbean AF? Bummer. Sorry about that one hun.

Taz any more spotting? Maybe implantation spotting......????

tinkerbelljenny I hope you had a great trip, welcome back! And thanks!

houseblend thanks for the warm welcome back!

Nothing new here. I'm still being totally goofy and propping my hips after BDing. DH laughed at me today and said he wasn't having any part of the propping, but then cheered his "boys" on! He told them to swim fast, LMAO!!!! At least he's excited, right? lol.

[tinkerbelljenny]

Baby dust to all the ladies that will be testing this weekend. Hopefully there will be some BFPs and we can start the November Mommies thread!
Congrats Kyrsten! I hope to join you in the November thread!

I have been sick for the last week so I have no clue about symptoms.
Jess, I know alot of women that got sick right at the start of their pregnancy. I am thinking many happy thoughts for you!

[lege]

I'm still holding out - we're planning to test tomorrow. But I'm feeling less hopeful - sometimes knowledge is a bad thing :mad: I love charting, but am way too aware of every little thing. I had a temp dip today - I'm at 11dpo - and a little spotting last night. Don't know for sure, but don't think it's a good sign...we'll see!!! I tried to convince DH we should test today, but he couldnt' stand the thought of finding out (either way) and then having to leave & go to work...so I'll wait one more day...and if not, AF should make her appearance on Sunday and we'll start again...

Kyrsten - CONGRATS!!!

squee - so sorry about the BFN

Jess - hang in there!!! I'm right there with you!

[Ericka_Jarett]

Jess - I had a cold the week I got my BFP.

I'll be checking in tomorrow and hoping to see some BFP's. Good luck ladies

[zhannushka]

Congratulations Kyrsten! :D

Sorry about AF, neenbean and pacificbliss :(

Sorry about the BFN, Squee :( I hope that it's just too early and you'll get your BFP soon!

Everyone "test fest-ing" this weekend - wishing you lots of BFP's!!! :)

In my news - nothing exciting going on - I am at CD4 and patiently waiting for AF to be over, so that we could start BD'ing again. I think we'll be following the SMEP strategy this month - we'll see how that will work for us I guess...

[zhannushka]

A Look at the ''Sperm Meets Egg Plan'' (SMEP)

Sometimes getting pregnant naturally isn't as easy as you might have thought. If you've been trying to conceive for several months or more, it may be time to start analyzing your cycle closer and making sure you babydance (have intercourse) on the most fertile days of your month. There are many ways to do this, most of them involve purchasing an ovulation predictor kit (OPK), which works like a pregnancy test except it's checking for the luteinizing hormone (LH) which preceeds ovulation. You may be doing this already and still not having much luck getting pregnant. There are lots of possibilities for the inability to conceive quickly and most will take a doctor to rule out different issues, but if you are looking for something new to try out.... read on....

Perhaps you've seen other women online mention the "Sperm Meets Egg Plan" also nicknamed SMEP by those familiar with it. I know the first time I heard of the name, I thought it was a silly name - of course the sperm has to meet the egg in order for pregnancy to occur. But then I began to look at what the plan involved and realized that there is a lot of purpose to it.

The wonderful thing about this plan is that it will give you the best odds of ensuring that the sperm gets to your egg. Obviously if you have blocked tubes or other physical conditions barring conception, this plan will not help much, but if your body is primed and ready for pregnancy, this plan should give you an advantage that you may not have had in past months. But be forewarned... this plan requires some serious lovin'....

Here is the "Sperm Meets Egg Plan" crash course:

1. Buy 10 OPK tests PRIOR to cycle day 10
2. Starting on cycle day 10, do one OPK test EVERY DAY
3. Babydance (BD) EVERY OTHER DAY starting on cycle day 10 (hips elevated for 10-30 minutes after each BD session)
4. When you get a +OPK, babydance that day and the next 2 days in a row (so 3 days in a row total)
5. Skip one night and babydance once more the next day
6. Take a home pregnancy test (HPT) 15 days after the day you ovulated (or most of you will start taking your HPTs at 10-12dpo!)

So there you have it. Simple formula... lotsa work. I've read that up to 40% of post-miscarriage women will get pregnant on their first try if they are faithful to the plan, about double the number of the normal population who are not on the plan. This assumes, however, that you are indeed ovulating every cycle.

Did you know?

* Many books will tell you that sperm can live up to 5 days in the uterus and the egg can survive for 24 hours. For most people, sperm can only survive a couple hours if you do not have good quality cervical mucus to sustain the journey and the wait. Egg white cervical mucus (EWCM) is the best and most fertile cervical mucus your body makes - it is clear usually and stretches 2 or more inches between your fingertips) If you find that you don't make enough EWCM, you can try taking plain Robitussin cough syrup (expectorant) starting at CD 10 or a few hours before you babydance every other day. Robtussin will thin out your existing cervical mucus and make it more hospitable to the sperm. Or you can buy Preseed, a sperm-friendly lubricant, and use that during intercourse.

* Babydancing too frequently can actually cause more harm than good. Do not try every day until you get your +OPK! You will not only get exhausted, but you will use up your cervical mucus reserves before you ovulate. Babydancing every other day until +OPK and then every day at that point will be enough to seal the deal.

* If the SMEP doesn't work the first month, don't give up! Continue to use it as a guide and try it again next month. If you feel that you have been trying on your own for too long and nothing is working, consider making an appointment with a fertilty specialist.

[neenbean]

Congrats Kyrsten! H & H 9 to you!!!

Sorry about the BFN Squee. I know those too well. :p

Good luck to the test-fest participants this weekend. :D I hope this is YOUR month! November needs lots of babies. :)

Great info Zhanna!!!! If we aren't preggers by April, I think we may start that process. It will have been 7 months for us. Good luck to you. :)




Thanks for all the well wishes everyone. AF is beyond light, so I am not sure what is happening. :rolleyes: I do tend to spot the day or two before, so maybe that is what is going on... Or maybe it is implantation??? Doubt it, but as of right now, I will continue to say I am out for the month and will hope for next cycle or the one after, or the one after that. You know how it goes. ;)

[Twylla]

lege Good luck testing tomorrow!!!!

zhannushka Thanks for all of that info! I hope it works for you. I keep thinking, 'next cycle we should use OPKs' but i never actually get around to it. are they expensive? Have you used them before? Let me know what works best for you.... and good luck! ;)

neenbean very light? Hmmmm.... it could still be promising....

Have a great weekend ladies, and for everyone involved in the test fest, let's see those pink lines!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lege]

Well, I survived my first month 2ww - but got a BFN, followed an hour later by the arrival of AF - a day early, but if it's going to be negative, I think I'd rather know (and be able to not worry about drinking at the party we're going to tonight!)

I'm disappointed, but had a feeling it would be neg yesterday when my temp dropped & I was spotting. Next month, here we come!!!

GOOD LUCK to everyone else testing this weekend!!!!!

[neenbean]

Sorry Lege. Better luck nex tmonth. :)

<TMI warning>My AF has gone MIA... Had very heavy "spotting" on Thursday, and nothing since then. I have a feeling she will return later today, but if not, I will test again tomorrow with FMU. This is so weird. Typically I spot on Thursday, then a light AF day Friday and in the middle of the night it becomes full-on AF, by Tuesday night she is gone... I am so confused. I doubt I am pregnant as all of my tests are BFNs but I am beginning to wonder WTF?!

[TazLuv]

Well ladies, I'm out AF showed this morning, I suspected she was coming. But its really okay because my DH's schedule is MUCH better during my projected fertile time next month and we should have a much better shot. :)

[Jess71903]

Sorry about all the BFNs and AF ladies. I am right there with you. BFN this a.m. at 13DPO. I'm calling it, although I know "it ain't over.... blah blah blah" It's been quite a bust for a test fest, huh?!

I am really sad. It's to the point that I am ready to do something about it. The herbalist in town may get a call this month. We did everything "right" this month and I just feel like such a failure even though I know there's nothing I could have done. I kinda woke up this morning and then went back to sleep. In that little time, I dreamed that I took 3 tests, all BFP. I had to remind myself when I woke up that it wasn't real and I should be ready for a BFN...

Neenbean- my AF has been doing that too. I told my Dr. about it at my yearly and she said to let her know if it kept happening. She had a name for it and said it can make it harder to get pg.

[tinkerbelljenny]

Sorry lege ! Have a good night at the party.

Neenbean Hang in there!

Jess Sorrry about the -. I thought it would be better news.

TazLuv Sorry about AF but next month sounds like your lucky month!

Like I said before, I am so ready for this month to be done with! Bring on March! This weekend is major BD time, hopefully we get our turkey baby. Good luck to everyone!

[looty]

Sorry to hear the test fest hasn't been very great so far.

I tested on Friday (took all my stuff in the bathroom first thing and took a shower immediately so it didn't look weird). I was going to wait until Saturday because AF is due Saturday or Sunday, but I was feeling guilty about the couple of drinks I had Thursday night and knew there would be more offers of drinks so I thought if I knew one way or another I would feel better about my decisions that day. It was BFN. I haven't gotten AF yet but I expect to since I figure that if I was 12 to 13 DPO I would have gotten a BFP. I turned my fertility monitor on when I got home and it has to symbol for AF is here or test on it. :( I guess she will probably show tonight or tomorrow. I do feel better about things though ebcause at least I know I am ovulating due to the fert monitor readings.

Anyone else that was in the test fest that hasn't reported?

[neenbean]

Neenbean- my AF has been doing that too. I told my Dr. about it at my yearly and she said to let her know if it kept happening. She had a name for it and said it can make it harder to get pg.Seriously?!?! That is awful. This is how each cycle has been since I stopped BFing DD. :eek: I am patiently waiting until the end of August to go to my annual if I am not pregnant by then, because it will have been a full year of TTC #2. If you remember the name or any more about it, PLEASE let me know. I would like to know what is happening. Before DD, my cycles were dead on predictable and exactly 30 days. Now, they are all over the place, come and go as the week continues and really inconsistent in flow.

Just to report back... AF arrived full force last night. I am not that disappointed, but would really like to know how I can get it back to "normal". I guess a lot of us would like the same, huh?

[pacificbliss]

So sorry about the BFNs. Is there anyone else out there who hasn't tested? We need a positive!

[Jess71903]

neenbean- it is like asynchronous shedding or something like that. It just means that one side of your uterus will shed before the other side, like they aren't in sync...at least that's how she explained it to me. She acted like it was no big deal really and said if it keeps happening that she would put me on progesterone for a month (I think). If it has been happening to you ever since your 1st, I wouldn't wait until Aug. to call. It would be a shame if it was an easy fix and you waited until then. If it happens to me this time, I am going to call my doc.

Well, it's CD 28 and still no sign of AF. I remember she showed up in the afternoon last time, so I'm not calling her late just yet. Last time I spotted on CD 27 and called it CD1 the next day, even though it was still very light. If still no sign tomorrow, I will test again. We'll see. I hate all this hope if it's not going to be, KWIM?

[neenbean]

Thanks Jess!!! I really appreciate you sharing that info. I will call my doc if it happens again next month... I am holding out hope we can make a December baby. ;) If not, I will give them a call- it will be 6 complete (and very uncomfortable) cycles at that point.

[Jess71903]

Ok, it is 8:30pm and still no sign at all of AF. No cramps, no spotting, nothing. I am trying really hard not to get my hopes up, but I would be lying if I said they weren't up just a tiny bit.

[neenbean]

Jess~ what's happening? Have you tested? I would be going crazy if I were you!!! Your temps still look good... Hope all is well and AF does NOT arrive for at least a year. :p

[Jess71903]

neenbean- I have no clue what's going on. I tested this morning at 15DPO and it was BFN...I sqinted and turned it to the light and tried to see a line, but nothing was there. (ETA: my temp went up this morning too) As of right now (almost 9am) no AF. This is the longest cycle I have had since going off BC in August. I hate this. I know that since it is so late I am almost positively not pg. I am wondering if maybe its one of those where something implanted but didn't make it so no + test and no AF...blighted ovum, maybe? I haven't researched it so I don't know. Anyway, I am really disappointed and wish AF would go on and show so we can get on with it.

[Jess71903]

www.babymed.com: If you know you ovulated and your period hasn't come 15+ DPO, then there could be only one reason: You are pregnant.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Sorry to hear about the BFN Jess. I know it can be frustrating, one of my cycles went 38 days, longest one since having Rebekah, I'm usually 33 days long. Unfortunately it was a negative in the end.

You can always go for a blood test and see what it says

[Jess71903]

Ericka- did your LP change in length, or did you O late? I O'd on CD 14, just like always. I thought LP always stayed about the same. Thanks for the concern!

[Ericka_Jarett]

I usually O either CD22 or CD23.

[lege]

Hi ladies! We had a good weekend...and now I'm sitting at CD3...waiting to get the show on the road again :-) Nothing else to report here...

Jess - hang in there!!!!

[pacificbliss]

Crossing my fingers for you Jess!

[Squee]

Hmmm well Im sorta in the same boat as Jess, I didnt chart this month but if I Oed on the usual day I would be about15 or 16 dpo. This is cd 29 and theyr usually 27 days long. I took a test on sunday whichs had the *faintest* line in the world within10 mins we could both see it but the camera couldnt get a good pic of it. So we test yesterday with whats supposed to be a better test and major bfn. I figure its too late to be getting a bfp so I shouldnt get my hopes up. Im booked to see the doc tomorrow anyway so if she dont show Ill ask him!

Good luck Jess!!!!

[Jess71903]

You too, Squee! Isn't it frustrating??!?!?!?!? I now have the lightest, faintest brownish-yellowish spotting. I probably wouldn't have noticed in regular panties, but I have on a panty liner. Maybe this month is when I will have a "real" period and everything will be in place for this month. Who knows. I had no idea it would take us this long. If I conceive this next cycle, I will be turning 28 about the time it is born. I always thought I would start a lot sooner than that!

[Twylla]

So sorry about the test fest bummer ladies. It sounds like it's not over for a few of you.... but waiting certainly isn't a strong suit of any of us TTCers, so hang in there!

I'm thinking we'll bve lucky if we can end up with a December baby. I'm trying to just relax right now, adn I'm not really doing too much. We're BDing every 3 days, and I'm just underlining the days on the calendar. Today is CD15, and I don't have any EWCM, or really any CM at all right now. I must O super late.... if at all. I'll go see the doctor at the end of next month.... but my birthday is March 20, so it would be super fun to get a BFP around then!

Good luck to everyone heading off to the dr for confirmation of what-the-heck-is-going-on!

[looty]

I just wanted to update and say that Af showed up today full force. I was 16 DPO but since I tested - on 13 DPO I was waiting for her. I wasn't as disappointed as I thought I would be.

Just hoping we get a couple BFP! My fingers are crossed for Jess and Squee!:D

[Squee]

Well af just showed up! Guess my body is just trying to have some fun with my mind! Not upset like I was last month, last month I think I wanted it to happen first time so i wouldnt have to go through any of this so that why i was so upset. This month Im just ok with it..Cd 1 for me.

Sorry af showed up looty! Glad you werent so dissapointed.

[tinkerbelljenny]

Sorry about AF looty and Squee!

I am so glad tomorrow is the last day of February!

[Jess71903]

Sorry, girls! What's the deal with us this month?! Feb. has not been nice to us! The light brown spotting continues, but I am almost sure it is AF coming. I guess we'll all be shooting for December babies, which is something I wanted to avoid.

[MrsKinnison]

I'm so bummed that there wasn't one single bfp from the test fest. That really isn't fair at all! Looks like we are all moving on to march together. Maybe the luck of the Irish will help us???

[Ericka_Jarett]

Sorry to see February was a bust. There may still be some November babies in here, don't give up hope.

[neenbean]

Sorry to hear about AF Squee and Looty. :( She is causing misery in our home as well.

Jess71903~ good luck! Sorry to hear about the BFN... Maybe this is implantation spotting? Sux so bad to not get an answer- even if not the answer you want.

Thanks for being such great cheerleaders MrsKinnison and Ericka!

[jnshanna]

Just checking in... :)

I've been really busy at work lately and DH has been keeping us busy when we're not working so I haven't been able to check in very much.

I'm sorry to those of you that AF has arrived for. :(

And good luck to those testing soon!

I'm waiting to O and we're leaving on vacation tomorrow morning. We're going to be in Las Vegas until late Friday without a computer so I'll try to do SO's this weekend. I hope everyone has a great week. And hopefully there will be some BFP's when I get back! ;)

[Twylla]

Have fun in Vegas jnshanna! We just got back, and it was a blast!

February really was a bit of a bust... let's hope someone reports in with a BFP tomorrow!

Anyone else hoping to avoid a December baby now figuring they'll end up in labour in December??? It was the one time I sort of wanted to avoid.... Nov 25 is DH's birthday and he hates it being that close to Christmas, so we were hoping for a BFP before March... but it's been long enough that I'll take a baby anytime I can become PG!

[TazLuv]

twylla, we were hoping to not have a December baby for the same reasons. We have several friends with "Christmas" babies and they talk about how they feel birthdays get forgotten. Luckily if this is the cycle it would be 12/3 so at least that's early. We'll see...

[Chris~n~Jen]

Wow, this has not been a good month for us at all! I was totally expecting at least 1 BFP out of the test fest.

Sorry to those that AF showed! Good luck to those waiting to test.

As for me, CD10. We are going to try the SMEP that Zhanna posted. So the fun starts today. We also talked about skipping this month because of the whole December baby thing. DH was totally against skipping. I guess he doesn't think it's a big deal to have a birthday and Christmas all at the same time. :rolleyes: But honestly I can't stand the thought of just not trying. I kinda feel like we should just keep at it and we'll have our baby when we are ment to. Even if that means a December baby. So we'll just see what happens. At least with this month, I'm already feeling like if it doesn't happen it's not as big of a deal because at least then I won't have to deal with the holidays in the future. If that makes sense. :)

[zhannushka]

Oh no... I was away for the weekend and couldn't wait to check in and find lots of BFP's here... I guess February was just not a good month for this group :( So sorry to hear about those BFN's and AF, girls!

I am at CD8 today - the fun will start on Thursday (CD10) :D

[Twylla]

Reading back through I also noticed that Jess71903 mentioned December babies as well, sorry Jess!

Isn't it funny how we try to avoid certain birthdays? I mean, we could become PG in April, or May even, and still give birth in December! So in a way, we worry for nothing, lol! I was going over this last night, and now I sort of want a December baby.... I love Christmas, and it's such a nice time of year, that would make it even more special. Okay, now I'm just babbling...

CD16 for me, waiting to O, excited for March to start!

[tinkerbelljenny]

CD11 here, waiting to O. So glad today is the last day of Feb. If I become pregnant this cycle then I will be due at the end of Nov.

[Jess71903]

Hi guys. Well AF finally showed this a.m., in her usual, nearly non-existant way.I am calling my dr. in a couple of days and telling her about my crazy start-stop light AF.

I was trying to avoid Dec for the same reasons. My b-day is 12/10, and although my family always did good to give me "my" day, I always thought it would be fun to spread out the present-getting. I am will Twylla, though. I have waited long enough and I am not going to risk missing a potentially good cycle!

I will be MIA for a few days. My step grandma passed away last night and I will be traveling to her funeral.

[looty]

Jess~ I'm so sorry to hear about your grandma and AF! You will be in my thoughts.

Good luck to all the ladies that are getting ready to O. I hope that this month will be prosperous. :)

[Squee]

Jess~ Im sorry about your Grandma and AF, my thoughts are with you.

Good luck to those waiting to O! Maybe march will be our month..

[MrsKinnison]

Originally, there were a few dates I wanted to avoid being due (like Christmas) too, but now that we are REALLY ttc, I suddenly don't care about any of those things. We haven't even really been trying that long yet, and already I can't imagine not trying for a month to avoid a potential "scheduling conflict" - LOL. I think I would even be okay with a Christmas baby now. Funny how things suddenly change when you actually really want something!! Besides, like Twylla said, what are the odds that the baby will even arrive on the actual due date anyway?

I am on CD11 too, and we are trying much harder this month :D :D :D DH has been a riot about ttc this month ...He's started refering to it as "giving me his baby juice!"

[MrsKinnison]

Jess, I am very sorry about both your grandmother and AF. Definately give your Dr a call when you get back. Have a safe trip.

[Jess71903]

Thanks ladies! You guys are great! I wasn't feeling left out, Twylla! I often forget where I post what, so no biggie!

[houseblend]

Sorry to hear about all the BFNs! Here's to March being the month for all of us!!!

[Delaney21]

I was trying to avoid Dec for the same reasons. My b-day is 12/10, and although my family always did good to give me "my" day, I always thought it would be fun to spread out the present-getting. I am will Twylla, though. I have waited long enough and I am not going to risk missing a potentially good cycle!


Ditto to everything, except my b-day is 12/21. My sisters b-day is 12/20 and she always "reminds" me not to BD during the month of March. DH doesn't understand it, but said he'll support what ever I decide. I don't feel like I could really give up a month after trying this long.

But on other news, I'm still on CD8 hoping to test on March 4th. I've been having lots of cramps since O, but still no AF.

[Esq.]

I beat you all! My b-day is 12/26! And I was gong to avoid March for the same reason! I already have waaaaaay too much going on in December, and I don't want my child to have to share its b-day with Jesus, like we all do ;) You really can't trump Jesus, in my experience.

[neenbean]

Jess, so sorry to hear about your grandma. Best wishes!


GOODBYE February!!! and good riddens!

Don't they say March comes in like a lamb and out like a lion, or in like a lion and out like a lamb??? Either way, whatever the saying, bring it on! We are ready for a whole lot of BFPs this month. :D :D

[Seeing What Happens]

Here's the link to the March (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=16537) Thread!

Good luck to all!