The Maybe Mamas: TTC #1 in 2007

[PookiePrincess]

Anyways, I think I feel more pressure because of my age than anything. I never wanted to be an "old" mom so I feel the need to reproduce before I hit my 30's and I am pretty close to 30.

I do this to myself, too. I've always wanted to have my first baby before I'm 30. I just turned 28. If we succeed this year (crossing my fingers!), I'll be 29 when our first is born. DH doesn't care about age, but I do. My mom was 21 when she had me! DH's parents are much older than mine.

[K-L-U]

I worry about the age thing too. I will be 28 in May and I hope to be off the pill in December 2007. There are some things that we need to take care of first. Though I don't think 30 is old to have kids these days. I have friends that are excited that we are talking about TTC but I don't get pressure from anyone. I think I give myself more pressure than anyone else. Plus, my best friend had a baby in November and I want them to be close in age. We will know when we both are officially ready.

[rubyslippers]

I feel the age pressure too. I'm 33 and DH is 32. Our parents have been pretty cool about not saying anything. The extended families have had plenty to say though. We haven't told anyone that we're trying.

[akacharlotte]

I feel the age pressure. I'm 34. I put that pressure on myself though.

Right now I'm really irritated with FH.:mad:

[Reenie]

I don't worry about age too much (I'll only be 26 this year), but I do worry about it in the sense that we'd like to have three kids, and space them out by at least eighteen months (from the end of one pregnancy to the beginning of the next), and I would prefer to be finished with childbearing by the age of 35. But you know what? We don't always get what we want, and I know that at this point, we will just be thrilled to have a baby.

And yes, we got married in '04, so the pressure is really on from all around regarding pregnancy. Even my parents and siblings, who were all "wait until you're ready, there's no rush" when we got married are now saying things like, "Well, with your babies," and from my bro and SIL even, "What are you waiting for at this point?"

[amew]

Just popping back in to say congrats to LadyD, filmgirl & AmuseBouche! This thread is off to a great start in 2007!

I was 9 weeks yesterday. We had an U/S on Thursday, and the babe looks great. In terms of the current conversation, our first baby will be born just after our sixth wedding anniversary (and just before our twelve dating anniversary). Our families and friends didn't pressure us at all for the first four years or so that we were married, but as we approached our fifth anniversary, people started to get a little antsy. My personal belief is that parents should not be allowed to pressure their kids to have babies until they have been married for at least five years. :)

Good luck all! Looking forward to seeing lots more BFPs!

[LadyD088]

Amew - Congrats!! I am glad to hear everything is well with you and baby!!!

Age - I have to say, I am turning 31 this year. I set so many goals and they all were broken!! LOL I said I would be married by the age 26...nope! Was married at the age 28. Said I would have my first before 30, well...off by a year on that one.

I've come to the conclusion that you just CAN'T plan life out. You can want things but usually, they never come when you want them. And I've learned to live with that fact. That its OK...when it happens, it happens...no matter what it is.

DH were together 12 years before marrying. That was the most pressure we got. But as soon as we were married, it was like...Bring on the Kids. After we suffered the MC last year, that all stopped. I know everyone is anxious to hear when we are PG...its just a matter of when we tell them now. Don't want to do it TOO early but I'm ready to BUST!!!

Can't wait to see MORE BFP's this year!!!

[JLRenheos]

Posted by amewIn terms of the current conversation, our first baby will be born just after our sixth wedding anniversary (and just before our twelve dating anniversary).

DH and I, will probably be in the same position sometime this year, too. We're not TTC just quite yet, but soon! We're going on 6 yrs. of marriage & on 12 yrs. of knowing one another.

Congratulations amew!

I'm starting to feel some heat from my Dad, surprisingly enough. I thought that my Mom would be the one to drive me nuts. He's driving me crazy asking me all kinds of questions. I just kind of ignore him or just simply tell him when we're ready, it'll happen and he'll be one of the 1st ones to know. ;)
At this point in our marriage, I'm sure people are probably thinking, 'When are they going to have kids?' or 'Are they even going to have kids?' I'm starting to sense/feel it from certain people, although they don't come out & say it or ask questions. I turned 30 last year. It's just now starting to bother me, knowing that I've been married awhile & that we're not pregnant, nor ttc or have any children.


Well, Af came on it's own *finally* and now it's gone-yay. It's been one helluva week with it. I can't believe it. It's been 3mos. or so since the last af.

QUESTION-
Just curious, but can your father's side of the family play a role in your fertiltiy?

[karabear0117]

Geesh I just turned 23 and have only been married well less than three months and every day since then my mother has asked when she's getting grandchildren :rolleyes: even SIL has jumped on the bandwagon. Last weekend she told me I need to hurry up because she wants to be an aunt. I told her to go have one of her own then because I'd like to be an aunt too. ;)

[TriSigmaNC]

I feel the age pressure too. I'm 33 and DH is 32. Our parents have been pretty cool about not saying anything. The extended families have had plenty to say though. We haven't told anyone that we're trying.

This is about exactly where we're at, except DH is 29 and I'm 32. It is alot of pressure from extended family and friends, but not parents. They've been so great. We've been together for 9 years and married for coming up on 4. We don't plan on telling anyone when we're starting. We haven't started yet, but should be soon enough.

[j.d.l.102205]

I feel the age pressure too. I just turned 28 in Dec and I've always wanted to have at least one by the time I'm 30. So we'll see how that goes. I've also gotten pressure for my parents and even the in-laws. My in-laws haven't actually come out and say it, but since 4 of their church friends have had grandchildren this past year they are ready to be grandparents again. What surprises me alot is my dad. He just keeps saying I wish they would get started on it. I think when we do start TTC we are going to keep it alittle quiet from our families only because we will get the questions every month. They know we were thinking about this year, I just don't want them to know exactly when. ;)

[Sue]

I think we're both feeling the age pressure, but from ourselves. I just turned 34 and my DH is 37. We've been together 9 years, married for 4 and I don't think either of us thought we would wait this long. But we did go through our "We're not having any" phase, but I think the biological clocks are ticking to loudly now. But we're both pretty laid back about the whole thing.

[MrsH]

Well my computer has been giving me trouble lately so I haven't been able to visit, but now things are working so I am here to report my BFP a week ago!! My due date is September 23rd! I am thrilled!!

[akacharlotte]

Congrats MrsH!!!! A H&H 9 months to you!

[K-L-U]

congrats MrsH!!! That is great news!

[Reenie]

Congrats, MrsH! :D

I am beginning to think this may be the luckiest thread on the boards! ;)

[karabear0117]

Congrats MrsH! :)

[PookiePrincess]

Congratulations MrsH!

[Annette]

congrats Mrs H!!

[heather1029]

Wow, congratulations MrsH!

[MrsH]

Thank you to all of you! I am still pretty stunned. I keep waking up and thinking it's not true, but it is! My husband is on cloud nine! We waited a long time for this!

[Sue]

Congratulations MrsH!!!

[kanga1622]

Congrats MrsH!

[loving624]

Wow, congratulations MrsH!!

I hope this IS the luckiest thread on the board. I'm ready for some more BFP's!

[coquelicot]

Congrats, MrsH!

Re: the age issue--I keep saying that I'd like to have #1 by the time I'm 30, and be done having kids altogether by the time I'm 35. My parents were older (38 and 42 when I was born), and now they're both deceased. Granted, they did die relatively young (57 and 67), but many times I feel like I have this void in my life--like I shouldn't already be parentless at this point. I had no parents at my wedding, so my godparents filled in for that role. Even while they were living, they both had health problems, so they weren't as active with me as a lot of my friends' parents were. DH's parents are about the same age as my parents would be if they were still alive, but his mom still works, so I guess it can go the other way as well. Growing up, I just wished that my parents were a little bit younger. They usually got mistaken for my grandparents.

For those of you who have been married since '05 and are already getting baby pressure--it'll only get worse the longer you're married without kids. I've been married since late '03! We don't get pressure from my ILs because they already have 3 grandkids, but my dad was asking when we were going to have kids even while we were engaged! He was hoping we'd have one within our first year of marriage. After that one pregnancy scare I had 4 months into our marriage, I knew I wasn't ready at that point! We get a lot of questions from DH's aunts and uncles, though, like we're totally ancient or something (I'm 28, DH will be 30 in March). Just because we didn't have our first child at age 20 or sooner like a lot of them did doesn't mean that we're weird...

[heather1029]

RE: Age Issue

I'm getting little to no pressure to have kids! My mom would love a grandkid, but she doesn't push. She knows I want them bad enough already (:
I'm 24 and really, that is a perfect age to have babies. I've always said I wanted to be a young mother, and even now I'm past the age I would consider an abnormally young mom. My mother was 20 when she had me, and I have always thought our relationship and age difference was PERFECT. We are best friends and that made being a teenager so much easier.

I also love the idea that your body bounces back more quickly if you have kids in your 20s and it's almost as if your body was designed to have children younger. I have energy for kids and I already survive on less than enough sleep.

Unfortunately, I get a lot of people telling me to WAIT to have kids. They say to live out your youth, go to bars, concerts, fulfill your career, blah blah blah. I really disagree with that viewpoint. Life does not end with kids! I can still have a career; I can still have fun. Anyway, I never was a partier and don't plan on starting now!

[MaybeMamas]

UPDATED TO HERE!!

Anyone want to be Co-Threadmistress? We only have one right now, I think 2 would help keep the updates done quicker - especially since this is a HOT BFP thread!! LOL

[akacharlotte]

Threadmistress-I pm'd you via the maybemamas login.

[MaybeMamas]

We have our Co-Threadmistress!! Please join me in WELCOMING akacharlotte (Stacey)!!! Thank you for taking on the responsibilities with me!!!

Your Threadmistress are: akacharlotte and LadyD088.

Don't forget to post any updates in RED for us!!! TY!

[bethnjim]

Congrats MrsH!

[JLRenheos]

Congratulations MrsH!!

[lil_geek]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?

[akacharlotte]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?


The only birth month I plan to avoid is May due to circumstances I've posted about before.

[Sue]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?

We're going to start in June, but I would like to conceive in August for an April/May baby. I don't want a winter or holiday baby, so that limits us, June to January would be our time. I''ve also looked at when everyones birthdays are and was trying to choose a quiet month. But with my DH's large family - something was happening every month, so I gave up :p

Our waiting is for a couple of reasons... one is not to have a winter baby (I was born in January, so I have experience :) ), the others are more financial - we'll be moving and want to pay off some debt.

[LadyD088]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?


Honestly we didn't consider this at all. Just wanted to start our family. When it happened, it would happen. That's all that mattered to us.

[PookiePrincess]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?

We're waiting until June to start because that would give us a March baby. Our reasons are my school. As a teacher, the worst time to be out is at the beginning of the year. So, we're shooting for a March-June or July baby. Ideally I'd like to get pg the first month or two, take 8 weeks off and go back to school for the last few weeks (or last week) of school and then have all summer off with the baby. We are basing our possible due date around my job.

[lil_geek]

I should answer my own Question!

QOTD It plays in part... we wanted to wait until we had been married about a year. And had our trip to Italy in (going in April!) and we want to start by trying for a late winter/early spring baby. It seems all things 'fell' into the same timeframe.

ETA: the only thing I want to avoid is a christmas baby. But we are starting to try in April/may so we avoid it for this year. If it takes us until NEXT feb/march to conceive I won't care when the baby is born!

[rubyslippers]

We haven't given any consideration to birthdate. We've both got big families and reguardless of when it's timed it's bound to be close to someones birthday.

[loving624]

QOTD- We started in October, and while we didnt love the idea of my being pg in the dead of summer in the South, we still forged on. Now that we are on to our 4th month of trying, I honestly dont care, I'd even have a baby in December now just bc I have no idea how long it will take us.

[j.d.l.102205]

I didn't want a Mar or Dec baby. Too many birthdays on both sides of the families in those months. We are kind of defeating the purpose though because we are starting in Mar (well I'll be done with the pill then.) We really sat down and said lets just take it naturally for the first few months and see what happens, so we very well may end up like the rest of our families. We'll have to see.

[heather1029]

QOTD:
I've always said I didn't want to give birth in the summer because I did't want to feel all fat and huge in the humid heat! I also have never wanted a January baby because my birthday is that month and I've always thought of it as the worst month of the year. Then December sounds terrible with Christmas taking the cake as the most exciting part, meaning a dull birthday! Oh and I'd hate to have a February 14th b-day too.

That said, I think I'm forfeiting all my preconceived notions about the perfect birthday and starting TTC when we feel ready. DH recently said he'd like to wait until October to start trying (update!) so if we got pregnant right away, I'd have a summer baby after all. Oh well!

[LeslieandPaul]

QOTD: I don't want a Christmas baby, and I do not want to have a baby in October (WAY too many ppl with birthdays that month). Other than that I'm not too picky.

[filmgirl7]

Quick drive by -

MrsH - Congratulations! Happy and Healthy 9 months! Your due date is two days before mine. I just wanted to invite you over to the Sept mommies thread. It's a nice group, and we'd love to have one more!

Good luck to everyone trying to catch the egg this month!

[tree23]

Oh my Goodness! I went away for a week...and WOW...what a lot of posts to read in this thread...I think that it increased by 6 pages since I went away!

CONGRATULATIONS to DEB, FILMGIRL7, AMUSE BOUCHE, and MRSH!!! - wow, you guys are really impressing me...I am with all and thinking that perhaps this is a lucky thread afterall!

Amew - Yay, 9 wks...that's wonderful news!!!

Miss Madelyn - WELCOME!!!!!!!

LynzeyAHL - Yuckers...wishing you luck and praying for you with all that you're dealing with and going through...HUGS! :o

Stacey - hopefully all your stuff gets sorted out soon...glad to hear that your abnormal pap won't affect your fertility though! Good news hidden in some aprehension...luck!

Age - With all you who thought you had some sort of plan sorted out...thought I would be married by 24 (pretty much hit that one on the nose as I turned 25 18 days after my wedding)...thought I would have kids by 26 at the latest...well, I turn 31 in July...and I'm part of this thread...how's that working out for me? Not...but there is hopes for this year...

QOTD - At this point where we've all been trying...what's the point in even thinking about WHEN IT'S BORN...just so long as it's born and it's healthy! My brother is always making comments on when the baby's birthday will be, etc. I'm not too fussed...I mean I would RATHER NOT have a baby on christmas, but what can you do? Not much...I just want a happy, healthy, beautiful baby or two!

All - Keep smiling girls...hopefully we'll all get those BFP that keep popping up in the last week or so! :)

[Jill1228]

I'd like to avoid a birthdate in December

Our anniversary is in December
December babies get shafted...I oughta know (mine is on 12/28)


but I am starting to feel this way (quoting another poster)
I honestly dont care, I'd even have a baby in December now just bc I have no idea how long it will take us.

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?

[Jill1228]

I feel the age pressure in a big way! I turned 40 last month :eek:
I didn't get married until I was 35

As far as parental pressure...none...I killed that noise before it even started. I will have one when we are good and ready (on our terms). I wish my aunts and cousins would shut up about it.

I feel bad about going off on my aunt a couple of weeks ago. She asked THE QUESTION. Now gossip goes thru my family like wildfire so I figured she knew about my m/c.

I snapped: "why did you ask me that? you know I had a m/c last month". She had no idea :o

But yeah my bio clock is screaming

I feel the age pressure too. I'm 33 and DH is 32. Our parents have been pretty cool about not saying anything. The extended families have had plenty to say though. We haven't told anyone that we're trying.

[karabear0117]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?
Haven't really given it much thought, although there are a lot of b-days in Jan, Feb, and March so it'd be nice to throw something else into the mix. I get quite sick of birthday cake in the winter as it is :)

[Reenie]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?
It was less and less. First, we were going to start in the summer for the same reasons that PookiePrincess said (I'm a teacher, try to go out on maternity leave and then have the whole summer with the baby). But then things changed and it's probably best that we changed our minds because it turned out that I've been having some issues that warrant fertility testing. :(

[Julss05]

Congrats MrsH!!

Well considering nothing has gone the way I thought it would I'm just kind of going with the flow as far as planning and life is concerned, but heading into my 30's soon makes me want to have kids as soon as we can. I am glad we waited though, feel earlier I wasn't ready to be a mom but am now.

QOTD: I don't care when our baby's birthday is, our TTC start date is based on the earliest time we'll be ready financially and otherwise. We did talk about how nice a spring baby would be and that I don't want to be in my last months of pregnancy in the middle of summer. I'll take what I can get though and would gladly accept a July or August due date if that meant our first child would be born.

[bethnjim]

I teach so I would prefer to have the baby in the summer. It would be A LOT easier for me. However, I really don't mind what month the baby is born as long as it is healthy!! :)

[kanga1622]

We originally wanted a fall baby but we just decided to start TTC with our belated honeymoon trip last March (and I actually convinced DH to start in Feb since I was worried we'd be post-O on our trip).

We still wouldn't be too thrilled with a late December baby but we'll take whatever. There is a lot of stuff going on at work now that might have caused me to put off TTC if we hadn't already been trying for 11 months. Now we're just hoping it will happen eventually.

[coquelicot]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?

I don't want a Christmas baby, nor do I want one in September (too many birthdays on DH's side that month). I would prefer not to be too big during the hottest part of the summer. So I'd rather have a spring or mid- to late-fall baby.

[tree23]

All - nothing really to report or post today, just felt like writing something...I'm a bit flat today so I'm not my normal cheery, optimistic self...it'll come back!!!

[JLRenheos]

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?


If we were ttc, I would try & avoid the month of October for our baby's birthdate. Other than that month, I really don't care. I'd just be thrilled when my Dh gives us the *thumbs up* to do so! ;) It's just that in a matter of 1 year & within 2 1/2 weeks of the month October, I had 3 NEW Siblings. OY! - Oh, and can't forget the niece too that was also born in October!
As of right now, we're just waiting to hear back from dh's job offer, so we're not ttc as of right now.

[jenji]

CC Name: Jenji
Me: Jenn, 25
DH: Brad, 27
Married: 5/1/04
TTC start date: 12/06
Any other children: Hank (2) chocolate lab, Ellie Mae (6) border collie mix
Miscellaneous Info: Charting and off BCP since 9/05, have underactive thyroid and a pituitary tumor both of which I'm on medication for.

QOTD: How much have you let when you want your babe's birthdate to be influence when you are gonig to start TTC?
Well, I really wanted a spring baby, but TTC when we wanted for that didn't get the doctor's go-ahead. I'm not going to stop TTCing just to prevent a certain birthdate. I don't really want a December or January baby, but if I haven't gotten PG in the next couple months, I doubt we'd plan on putting things on hold until May.

[MaybeMamas]

UPDATED TO HERE

Welcome Jenji!

[PookiePrincess]

Welcome Jenji! :)

[Walton]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it? My DH and I aren't planning to TTC until July 2007, but I mentioned that I wanted to stop taking BC after this month and start charting. I have been on BC for about 10 years, so I want to see what my natural cycles are like. He kind of freaked out and felt like I was being too "scientific." He wants to just see what happens and have fun with TTC, and feels like the whole charting thing will turn it into an obsession. I wasn't sure how to respond, because I'm afraid he might be right, but I don't really want to "wait and see" either. Have any of you encountered this?

[lil_geek]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it? My DH and I aren't planning to TTC until July 2007, but I mentioned that I wanted to stop taking BC after this month and start charting. I have been on BC for about 10 years, so I want to see what my natural cycles are like. He kind of freaked out and felt like I was being too "scientific." He wants to just see what happens and have fun with TTC, and feels like the whole charting thing will turn it into an obsession. I wasn't sure how to respond, because I'm afraid he might be right, but I don't really want to "wait and see" either. Have any of you encountered this?


DH was like that. I to was on the pill for 10 years. We decided to chart to avoid. But once we start trying, the thermometer goes away (for the first few months anyways- if we don't get PG in 3-4 we may resume charting to see if anything isn't 'working'). In my case, I get almost no CM so temping has working to just show I am ovulating... but we wouldn't be able to rely on it to figure out when I'm going to O.

ETA: we are TTA right now still

[katiems118]

I too was on the pill for 10 years. I now have been off the pill and ttc for 7 cycles. My O date has varied considerable, so timing has been difficult. My cycles range from 29-39 days long...I would suggest charting to pinpoint O.

I am 27 DH is 30, never did I imagine it taking this long.

[Sue]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it? My DH and I aren't planning to TTC until July 2007, but I mentioned that I wanted to stop taking BC after this month and start charting. I have been on BC for about 10 years, so I want to see what my natural cycles are like. He kind of freaked out and felt like I was being too "scientific." He wants to just see what happens and have fun with TTC, and feels like the whole charting thing will turn it into an obsession. I wasn't sure how to respond, because I'm afraid he might be right, but I don't really want to "wait and see" either. Have any of you encountered this?

I'm charting and in my 10th cycle. I was on BCP for over 15 years and wanted to stop taking the hormones. If you aren't planning to TTC till July, I think charting till then would be a good thing. It takes a few cycles for your body to even out and see what your true cycle is. If you start off charting you can see if there are any issues that you need to address before TTC, like a short LP, irregular cycles, PCOS etc. And I really like knowing when AF is going to arrive :)

I already know approximately when I O, I have 26 day cycles and around a 12-13 day LP, so even if I didn't chart when we TTC, I'd still have an idea when to do it :p


ETA~
I get almost no CM
same here, I need the temping to know when I have O'd. I used to get tons, but once I stopped exercising, it went away... maybe the jumping around helps it slide down :D

[heather1029]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it? My DH and I aren't planning to TTC until July 2007, but I mentioned that I wanted to stop taking BC after this month and start charting. I have been on BC for about 10 years, so I want to see what my natural cycles are like. He kind of freaked out and felt like I was being too "scientific." He wants to just see what happens and have fun with TTC, and feels like the whole charting thing will turn it into an obsession. I wasn't sure how to respond, because I'm afraid he might be right, but I don't really want to "wait and see" either. Have any of you encountered this?

I went off my BCP in September and feel so much better for doing it. Synthetic hormones make me stir crazy. Coming off of them was difficult too. But I am so glad I did! I feel so much healthier, happier and alive.

Charting has been a godsend. DH was mad I was doing it at first, because he didn't like being the one to have to get up and grab the thermometer for me every day and he liked how easy BCP was. But I think he likes it now. We get to have unprotected sex for several days a month, since we know when I've ovulated. What husband wouldn't like that? :D

Plus, it's really nice to know how your body works and know that you DO in fact ovulate and it's also nice to know how long your luteal phase is.

[loving624]

I personally don't chart (yet), but I have the Clearblue monitor, so it tells me right when I O. It's also pretty scientific, but it helps me to feel good about it. DH hasnt been upset about my using it so far...

[Walton]

Thanks for your responses, ladies!

But once we start trying, the thermometer goes away (for the first few months anyways- if we don't get PG in 3-4 we may resume charting to see if anything isn't 'working').


I think this is what I will suggest to DH. I really do want to chart so I can be more informed about my body. But I know he thinks I'll get carried away and obsess about it. He may have a point - I am pretty detail-oriented and like to have a game plan for everything, so hopefully I won't go crazy with it.

Thanks again!

[PookiePrincess]

I went off BCP in June and started charting. We won't TTC until June of this year. I wanted to have some time for things to get back to normal. Believe it or not, cycles 3 & 4 were more wacky than my first two cycles off BCP.

DH was a little hesitant at first. He thought the whole charting thing was crazy and unreliable. I wanted to have some time to be able to tell how long my cycles are (about 32 days) and when I ovulate (CD 20-22). It's nice to know that I am ovulating and what's normal for me.

I will probably chart when we do TTC, but I don't know that I will be fanatical about it. I'll probably keep doing what I'm doing and time DTD with my fertile phase. When it happens, it happens.

[akacharlotte]

I have not been on the pill for about 5 years and that was own personal choice prior to meeting FH. He does not say much about it. Since we have not had an oops he trusts me to know my cycle and when I am Oing. He always asks if I'm fertile when we are intimate. Some may feel that takes the romance out of it but it is a quick question and we move on. That being said he also would not be opposed to an oops.

Taking my temp each morning is not a big deal. When my alarm goes off I hit snooze, stick the therm in my mouth and drift back off. The alarm on the therm wakes me up. Usually FH is in the shower so he does not even realize I'm doing it. CM on the other hand...he wants to know nothing about that. :)

My suggestion is to go off the pill, begin charting and use condoms as your safety net until you get the hang of it. I don't really think of it as all that scientific but I'm happy to know that if we have trouble conceiving I have a years worth of charts to show my doctor to say I have normal cycles and I am Oing every month.

Whatever you decide do what feels right for you and your DH.

[coquelicot]

DH just wants us to "have fun and be spontaneous" with it, too. I'll humor him for a while when we're TTC. If no results, then I might start charting. I know that before I started BCP, my cycles were anywhere from 23-33 days. It's been blissful to be a regular 28 days on BCP, but I'm scared as to what will happen once I go off it. I think DH would be okay with me charting if we weren't able to spontaneously conceive after a few months.

[linekelei]

Hi ladies-
I'm pretty much a CC lurker, and lurk in this thread a lot since we're going to TTC this year. I was just reading everyone's posts about charting and here's my question for you-I'm on my 3rd cycle of charting since off BCPs. The first 2 cycles were 33 and 30 days respectively. This cycle, well, I'm on day 25 and still no O. At this rate, I'm looking at least a 38 day cycle. Not to mention that I've had signs of O for, oh, just 8 days now, but still no O.

My question is, how many of you had crazy cycles a few months after coming off BCP, which eventually evened out to some sort of "normal" after 5 or 6 months? I'm not sure if I should be concerned about my cycle, or just chalk it up to it still trying to normalize after 15 years of BCPs.

[katiems118]

I hate to ruin it for you, but in 7 cycles, my O date seems to push further and further out...the earliest 16, and now 24. I hope each cycle it will come sooner.

[Sue]

My cycles were right on the first couple of months off BC. Then cycles 3 & 4 were wacky and as time has gone by, my CM has decreased, although I think that may be lack of water and exercising... They have pretty much evened out now and I have a 26 day cycle - I do only use temp to call O, since my CM is pretty much nonexistent. But I was pretty regular before BC, so if your cycles were wacky beforehand, they will pretty much revert back that way. The Charting to Avoid thread is full of people who have been charting for a long time and can interpret charts pretty well. They offer some great advice.

BTW, my charts are linked in my signature, you can check them out.

[linekelei]

Well, my ob/gyn told me to come back after 6-8 months of trying if my cycle remains crazy, so I guess we'll just wait to see what happens . . .

It's hard to remember what my cycle was like before I went on BCPs (since I was 15!), but I do remember it being pretty short. Like less than 28 days. So 40-day cycles seem weird to me, but who knows what's happened in the past 15 years.

[PookiePrincess]

linekelei: Right now I'm on cycle 7 and should be Oing any day. As far as how long it took to regulate, my first two cycles were pretty normal, but then my 3rd cycle was anovulatory (I think due to stress). My 4th cycle was 52 days long with an O on CD 41. That was the weirdest cycle to me. It seemed like for weeks I was ready to O and just didn't. Since then though, I've had a few normal cycles. I'm hoping my cycles are at some sort of normal range. I can look at them and see a pattern of O days, LP, and overall cycle length. So it's not out of the question to be in some sort of regular pattern by 7 or 8 cycles.

So, like they say in the charting threads, every body is different. Some women's bodies regulate very quickly and some take a little longer. It's totally normal for the 3rd cycle to still be wacky from BCP.

[akacharlotte]

I was off BCP for 4 years before I began charting so I cannot answer yourquestion exactly. I did have an annovulatory 47 day cycle last spring which I feel was caused by stress. It was my only one and my cycles have been fairly consistent since then. Like Pookie said every woman is different. Keep charting and if you have a couple of more cycles like this talk to your OB/GYN.

[JLRenheos]

Question

Just curious, but can your father's side of the family play a role in your fertiltiy?

Both of my 1st cousins on my Dad's side of the family have had fertility problems & the ability to concieve. Both of them happen to be sisters. They say that their Mother didn't have any problems concieving at all.

The one cousin, tried for over a 1yr. & ended up doing IUI for both of her pregnancies. She does have pcos.
Her sister tried for a year. They weren't getting pregnant. They scheduled an upcoming appt. with an RE. They went on vacation. They came back & ended up cancelling their appt. w/the RE, because they ended up Pregnant! With their 2nd pregnancy, they didn't have any problems concieving to my knowledge.

[lil_geek]

Question

Just curious, but can your father's side of the family play a role in your

I was dxed with PCOS when I was a teen and the DR said it was hereditary on the paternal side. (I haven't researched anything cause I seem to have grown out of it)

[jenji]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it? My DH and I aren't planning to TTC until July 2007, but I mentioned that I wanted to stop taking BC after this month and start charting. I have been on BC for about 10 years, so I want to see what my natural cycles are like. He kind of freaked out and felt like I was being too "scientific." He wants to just see what happens and have fun with TTC, and feels like the whole charting thing will turn it into an obsession. I wasn't sure how to respond, because I'm afraid he might be right, but I don't really want to "wait and see" either. Have any of you encountered this?

That's very much how my DH was. 1) he was very scared that charting wouldn't actually work for BC because he didn't understand it and 2) thought it could take the fun out of TTC. honestly I think he enjoys it and pays as much attention to it as me now. I've been charting for over a year. the first couple months of Charting to avoid, we used backup, and after he learned to trust the chart, he's been cool with it and will check it every day or two to see how things are coming along. Personally, I don't think charting takes the fun out of TTC unless you let it. I just like knowing what my body's doing. sometimes we have good timing and sometimes we don't, but we don't always let the chart dictate when we BD. I think that would take the fun out of it (if your BDing just because you're nearing O and you *need* to.

[Jill1228]

Hope to be back in the game again. Today I finally got my period. the first "normal" one after my miscarriage

[miss-madelyn]

AF was due yesterday, and is a no show.
I tested, but nadda.

My plan is to wait the weekend, at least, and test again next week. If I don't get a positive, then a doctor's appointment will be made.

This cycle is very different from my last 3...No spotting, no lower backaches, and the cramping I am getting, is not AFish at all.

Time will tell, I guess.

[JFlo]

LadyD088 or akacharlotte...

Do you mind updating my info? Names and wedding date removed, and TTC date pushed up!

CC Name: JFlo
Me: J, 27
DH: E, 27
Married: August 2003
TTC start date: February 2007
Any other children: none
Miscellaneous Info: going off BCP (and on PNV) in December, have read TCOYF and plan to start charting, DH and I are going to Hawaii in May 2007...this was going to be our last big vacation pre-pregnancy, but now with our timing shift, we could possibly be with-baby!

Thanks!

[tree23]

AF was due yesterday, and is a no show.
I tested, but nadda.

My plan is to wait the weekend, at least, and test again next week. If I don't get a positive, then a doctor's appointment will be made.

This cycle is very different from my last 3...No spotting, no lower backaches, and the cramping I am getting, is not AFish at all.

Time will tell, I guess.

miss madelyn - all my crossables are crossed for you...baby dust! :)

[miss-madelyn]

tree23- I appreciate that! Don't get too tangled! :)

[Jill1228]

welcome jFlo

good luck Miss Madelyn

[MaybeMamas]

UPDATED TO HERE!!!

[Julss05]

For those of you who are charting, how are your DHs handling it?
Okay. I wanted to use charting alone for BC but he doesn't trust it so we use condoms as well until TTC. Which is fine, I want both of us to be comfortable. He hasn't mentioned what he thinks of my charting but doesn't seem to have a problem with it, knows it helps me understand my cycle better.

Cycle after coming off hormonal BC- mine were actually normal the first few months, even ovulated, but then they were wacky for a few months changing length and O finally going back to normal.

Good luck to those waiting to test and to those TTC in February!

[tree23]

tree23- I appreciate that! Don't get too tangled! :)

I'll be careful...:D

[karabear0117]

Good luck miss-madelyn!

[akacharlotte]

APhiJill-Welcome back. :)

Miss-Madelyn-Lots of baby dust for you!

[miss-madelyn]

akacharlotte and karabear0117- THANK YOU!! :)


DPO 16, and no sign of AF...I'm 3 days past due now.
I'm still waiting to test...I know, I'm crazy. I'm just not sure how well I would take a negative (the last negative resulted in me yelling at the PG test...):rolleyes:

I hope to test between tomorrow and Thursday...

[heather1029]

akacharlotte and karabear0117- THANK YOU!! :)


DPO 16, and no sign of AF...I'm 3 days past due now.
I'm still waiting to test...I know, I'm crazy. I'm just not sure how well I would take a negative (the last negative resulted in me yelling at the PG test...):rolleyes:

I hope to test between tomorrow and Thursday...

How exciting! Fingers crossed for you :D

[Reenie]

Can you please delete my information from the members list? Thanks. :)

[summerbride2005]

I've been lurking for a while now, but I figured I would take the first step and add myself to the list.
summerbride2005
Me: C, 29
DH: W, 29
Married: 8/7/05
TTC start date: 8/07
Any other children: no
Miscellaneous Info: I have stomach issues that I am taking medication for everyday. I can't take them if I am pregnant, so I will be stoping them before August.

[linekelei]

I'll jump on the bandwagon, too, since I posted here last week. Oh, and good news. I finally O'ed on day 26!

linekelei
Me: Lindley, 30
DH: Steve, 30
Married: 8/21/04
TTC start date: March or April 2007
Any other children: Only pups-toy poodle, Daphne, and mini poodle, Buster
Miscellaneous info: Long cycles

[MaybeMamas]

UPDATED TO HERE!



Welcome Linekelei and Summerbride2005!

[loving624]

Welcome Linekelei and Summerbride2005!

Miss Madelyn - I am dying to hear from you now!! 3 days late is a good sign.

I'm hanging out here at 1DPO. I hate the 2WW. Luckily I've done this a few months now so its getting easier on me to just concentrate on other things...

[miss-madelyn]

loving624- :) You make me smile! I will definitely be testing in the next 3 days. I'm sort of waiting for it to get to at least a week. I'm at 4 days now, like I said in the last thread.



So yeah, I'm 4 days past due now. I'm not sure if I should test, namely because I'm not sure how I will react to a BFN. I am anxious though, and would loooove to be graduated to the October thread, STAT. At this point I am now 17 DPO and CD 33.

[loving624]

Miss Madelyn - 18DPO would be a great time to test, but I have a bitter attitude at times with tests, I like to test right at 14DPO, or around there, because I generally believe it if its a BFN and can prepare myself. The first couple of cycles I just got too hopeful. I'm glad you have more willpower than I do and I cant wait to get back on here one day this week and hear about your test. :) Good luck!

[summerbride2005]

Since I'm new to this I thought that I would go over 2 of the questions that people have put on here.

We are definitley thinking about the baby's birthday/due date when making our TTC plans. I would really like to have a baby next May/June because I love summer, and would love for the baby to have swim parties when he/she grows up! I also do not want to be pregnant through the entire summer since CA can get really hot! I'm not crazy about having a baby in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb since the holidays are around the beginning of that and it's cold out. In the end we just really want a healthy baby and don't really care when it's born, but it's nice to hope for a particular due date/month.

I am going to start charting next month, and DH is very excited about that. I explained how to do it, what it is for, and how it benefits us. He thinks that it is a great idea! He can not wait to be a dad.

[karabear0117]

I never got around to answering the charting question did I? Actually DH is all for my charting as long as I don't freak out over it :p that's why I come here to freak out. lol In all seriousness he's really great about it, asks questions wants to know what the different parts of the cycle mean. Although he usually tends to ask if we can "still make babies" about the time af shows up. :rolleyes:

[linekelei]

I'm avoiding working right now, so I'll jump in on the 2 questions, as well:

Charting: DH is fine with it if only because we are getting close to our start date. A few years ago when I charted for six months, the thought of it made him really nervous and he wasn't liking it at all. I went back on BCPs b/c it put a real damper on things!

Due date/TTC start date: As long as the baby arrives in November 2007 or later, I'm happy. I just want to bill enough hours this year (I'm an attorney) to get a bonus and my billable year ends in November. With my long cycles, it looks like I won't even O in March and we will start TTC in April, which makes for a due date in December. My sister was born on Christmas Day and while she was never a fan of it, I'm fine with a Christmas baby. I love the holiday season and would love to have a birthday in there with all of it. I know, I'm probably crazy. But any other month is fine with me, too.

[LadyD088]

Miss Madelyn - I was 18DPO when I took a pee test at the docs and it was positive. Sending you BABY DUST!!! Hope this one is positive for you. Keep us posted.

Charting - DH never really cared. He was always asleep when I temp'd. We just wanted a baby so we were doing what we could to make that happen. I would just tell him its time to start trying and he was all for it. Sure, no romance in that but doesn't mean that DTD wasn't romantic and fun!!! In fact, when we conceived, I thought it was too late. I was just hoping it was worth the shot!

[Sue]

Good luck miss-madelyn :) and welcome to the newcomers!!

Update... age for me is now 34 amd TTC has been pushed out to October.

[miss-madelyn]

Alright.
So I woke up this morning, all ready to test, and my 'supply' of PG tests seems to have disappeared...:rolleyes: I wonder who could have used them all...

Ok, ok, it was me...but darn it, I can pretend it wasn't.

And to top it off, my SO is at work. WITH. THE. CAR. So it looks like I may be waiting until he gets home tonight to actually go buy the test. I'm not sure how well my willpower will fair when I have the PG test in my hot little hands.

I am charting my CM in Ovusoft, and this morning, it told me to test for pregnancy. I had to giggle because it seems everyone is telling me to do so, even a computer program! :)

Hopefully I will be the bearer of good news in the next few days. :D

[Julss05]

miss-madelyn Good luck;)! Why is it whenever you really need a pregnancy test there is none in the house?! I have one and of course don't need it:rolleyes:. If I lived closer I'd give it to you:).

Linekelei and Summerbride2005 Welcome to the group!

I think I'm oing today, temp dropped a lot along with EWCM. Past few cycles I've been gassy the day of O:o, anyone else? We aren't TTC yet but it did cross my mind that if DH didn't have to work tonight we could create a baby and how hard it will be to time BD with his crazy schedule!

[summerbride2005]

miss-madelyn - good luck!

[MaybeMamas]

UPDATED TO HERE

[jenji]

miss-madelyn - I hope the wait is totally worth it!!! fingers are crossed for you!

[raven077]

miss-madelyn, heh heh.. Good Luck!

Me: Just hanging around, waiting for O. I managed to attack DH last nite despite his stiff/sore neck :p .. I had EWCF tinged with pink so I wanted to take advantage of it. He's out with friends tonite and tomorrow nite so if I O by Friday, that was our only chance to try this cycle. Hmm.. unless I jump him Thursday morning... :D (thinking....)

[heather1029]

I'm addicted to coming in here to see if there are any BFPs!

[Annette]

miss madelyn-Good luck!! We need some more ppl in the Oct 07 mommies thread.

[JLRenheos]

miss-madelyn-Best of Luck!!

raven077-you crack me up! good luck with catching O this month!

I called my OBs office today. I just wanted to get some info. & spoke w/the nurse. She said she'd have my OB doc call me on Thurs., hopefully. My cycles are very irregular. I'd wanted to know what steps we would potentially have to take for when we're ready to start ttc.
My OB had mentioned clomid & metformin awhile ago. I do have pcos & it's been since '04 since my last blood tests & ultrasound. My then ultrasound, did show some signs of cysts.

I can't believe there is an Oct. '07 thread already!~

[raven077]

JL, :D

heather, I like your job quote. I would agree, but unfortunately I'm still so busy at work that I barely have time for lunch. But man, it has me so down. I find myself almost breaking down in tears every other day. It sucks. Oh well.. I guess I should either do something about it or stop complaining, right? Sometimes being an adult just blows.

Sorry for the mini-vent, everyone. How's about that baby-dust? :o

[miss-madelyn]

I wish I had good news. :(

I tested last night, and it was negative.
I tested again, this morning, and it was negative. :mad: :mad:

I did find out that the test I am buying is not the super sensitive one; it needs 100mIU of hCG to get a positive. And at this point, my hCG levels could be anywhere from 5-7340.

Needless to say, I'm annoyed. I wish my body would stop being a douche, and tell me what it needs to tell me so I can move on either way. This is not a normal cycle for me by any means. I am a 29 day cycle gal; always have been, (except when I was coming off of Depo).

I am calling to make an appointment with my doctor for Monday.

My 2 week wait, has turned into a 3-4 week wait. :(

[Annette]

miss-madelyn-That really sux about the BFN, but I still have hope for you that you are pregnant. The charting thread has a list of pregnancy tests in order of sensitivity. Maybe you should try one of the really sensitive ones? Crossing my fingers that you get that BFP soon!

[akacharlotte]

For miss-madelyn from page one

Pregnancy Test Sensitivity Chart
Sensitivities checked with manufacturers in February 2005 - Test Name Lowest hCG detected
AimStick Pregnancy Test Strip 20 mIU
AccuHome Midstream Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
Answer Early Result Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
Answer Pregnancy Test (Cup) 25 mIU
Clearblue +/- 25 mIU
Confirm 1-Step Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
Equate Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
One Step Be Sure Pregnancy Test 25 mIU
Precise Pregnancy Test (doctors office) 25 mIU
Quickview Pregnancy Test (doctors office) 25 mIU
Walgreen Digital 25 mIU
e.p.t. Home Pregnancy Test
1 line = Not Pregnant 2 lines = Pregnant 40 mIU
e.p.t. Certainty Digital Test 40 mIU
Fact Plus Pregnancy Test 40 mIU
Clearblue Digital 50 mIU
CVS Cartridge Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
CVS Midstream Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
Dollar Store Brand Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
PROOF POSITIVE! Personal Home Pregnancy Test
Found at the Dollar Store and 99 Cents Stores 50 mIU
Drug Emporium Brand Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
e.p.t. + / - Test 50 mIU
early Pregnancy test 50 mIU
RiteAid Brand Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
Target Brand Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
WalMart Brand Pregnancy Test 50 mIU
Walgreens Pregnancy Test 100 mIU

Here is a sample reference list for HCG levels in singleton pregnancies, based on days past ovulation (DPO):

* At 14 DPO, the average HCG level is 48 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-119 mIU/ml.
* At 15 DPO, the average HCG level is 59 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-147 mIU/ml.
* At 16 DPO, the average HCG level is 95 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 33-223 mIU/ml.
* At 17 DPO, the average HCG level is 132 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-429 mIU/ml.
* At 18 DPO, the average HCG level is 292 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 70-758 mIU/ml.
* At 19 DPO, the average HCG level is 303 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 111-514 mIU/ml.
* At 20 DPO, the average HCG level is 522 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 135-1690 mIU/ml.
* At 21 DPO, the average HCG level is 1061 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 324-4130 mIU/ml.
* At 22 DPO, the average HCG level is 1287 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 185-3279 mIU/ml.
* At 23 DPO, the average HCG level is 2034 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 506-4660 mIU/ml.
* At 24 DPO, the average HCG level is 2637 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 540-10,000 mIU/ml.

[miss-madelyn]

Annette- I am super confused. I read online that this equate test only detects 100mIU...then as I was doing more research I found on www.peeonastick.com that the test is actually 25mIU, despite all the information on the internet. :confused:

akacharlotte- Thanks! I have been browsing that all night, to no avail. I am 20 days past ovulation according to what Ovusoft predicted. However, I am wondering if I O'd later now...it's the only thing that makes sense, and if that is the case, then I may be expecting AF.

I am beyond confused and still majorily frustrated.
I think taking a break from pregnancy tests for the rest of the week may be in order.

I also read 'somewhere' that there are a small amount of woman who will consistantly get negatives in store bought pregnancy tests throughout their pregnancy, even when they are 9 months pregnant. I'm not going to give that much thought.
Even when I was pregnant last, it took 11-12 days for the positive to show up. I honestly, just feel like a freak of nature right now; no period, no pregnancy. :(

Bah. I need to crawl under my rock.

[heather1029]

miss-madelyn:

Were you temping too? Because it is totally possible that you are having a wacky long cycle and you may not have even ovulated yet! I had a cycle like that recently and if I hadn't been temping, I would have thought I was PG.

But, here's hoping you actually ARE pregnant (:

[loving624]

I'm sorry Miss Madelyn about the BFN. That's no good. I was just wondering if you O'd later than you thought, like you said. My body was totally regular after getting off of the pill for 3-4 months, then it started being irregular so its definitely possible. Good luck at the drs on Monday and I am crossing my fingers for ya!

How is everyone else today?

[akacharlotte]

miss-madelyn- Do not be discouraged. A friend of mine thought she was pregnant and got BFNs. She thought she had her period(we now know she was spotting). 3 weeks later she got a BFP.

I've heard good things about the First Response tests.

Did you get a drs appt for Monday?

*****
After a 2 week forced abstinence I got lucky last night. ;) FH was pretty carefree about TTA and I told him if he wants to get me knocked up sooner rather than May to try to hold back as I do want to fit into my wedding gown in April! Men! He's been cautious all this time and now he's all carefree about TTA. He seems to think I would not be showing by April if we conceived now. I disagree. Previously, I did not care about getting PG before the wedding but since I bought my dress I do care. I want to wait for purely selfish reasons of course. I want to drink champagne and wear the dress I bought. :p ;)

[tree23]

Welcome!!! to SummerBride and Lindley!!!

Miss Madelyn - I'm so sorry that you're going through such a sucky time right now...I wish you patience and good luck and LOTS OF BABY DUST!!! Keep your chin up...

akaCharlotte - good luck with the TTA and fitting into your wedding dress...it's ok to be purely selfish about those things...it's your very special day!

All - I seem to be bouncing back out of my funk/flat now...so thanks for all those who were concerned and passed on kind words! :o

[jenji]

Madelyn - so sorry about the BFNs. I know that's got to be so frustrating. I hope you got an appt. with your Dr. so you can find out for sure what's going on one way or the other!

[karabear0117]

Miss-Madelyn: Sorry about the bfn. Hope your Dr. is able to shed a little more light on things for you.

[miss-madelyn]

I am still awaiting... CD 37 now...
I didn't dare test again. I may wait until my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. We'll see how brave I am this weekend :)

[LadyD088]

Miss-Madelyn - I hope that doc can help shed some light!! Tuesday will be here before we know it. Stay strong.

[tree23]

I am still awaiting... CD 37 now...
I didn't dare test again. I may wait until my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. We'll see how brave I am this weekend :)

miss madelyn - All my crossables are still crossed for you...and I wish you the gift of time flying until Tuesday arrives! have a great weekend!:o

[Julss05]

miss madelyn - Good luck tomorrow!

I read a disturbing article about our local licensed daycare programs (child care centers and family home providers)...after being graded on a 1-7 scale by a nonprofit research group local programs scored between a 1 and 2 on quality of environment, curriculum, and interaction between children and child care workers! The article also mentioned local infant daycare yearly costs exceed $8200. Talk about a dose of reality:rolleyes:. Makes me want to reconsider working full time after having kids!

[akacharlotte]

miss madelyn-I hope the news is good tomorrow!

[raven077]

Yikes, Juls! What was that article in? I'd like to take a look...

madelyn, good luck!

[miss-madelyn]

So, the doctor wasn't all that helpful; he did say that he 'thinks' I am most definitely pregnant given my symptoms. However, he was also positive that the urine test would be positive, which it wasn't.

He ordered a blood test, and asked me to come back on Thursday for the results. He is slightly concerned as I am a 29 day cycle gal, but also says that it's early enough that we can take care of any issues.

Here's to waiting until Thursday.

[Julss05]

raven077 Virginian-Pilot, local paper for the Hampton Roads area.

miss-madelyn Wow that must be frustrating! If the doctor is pretty sure you are that is a good sign. My SIL never got a positive urine test either HP or one given at the doctor's office and had a successful pregnancy with my niece.

Two girls at work are pregnant, both unplanned. One of them was saying how she was furious when she found out, almost went through with an abortion until her mom talked her out of it and feels like this will ruin her life. I felt so sad and angry after hearing that. I mean I'm glad she didn't abort but she still doesn't want the baby and acts like it is a burden.:mad: :( I wanted to tell her if she didn't want to get pregnant maybe she should have used BC in the first place:p. Yes I know BC can fail but it sounded like a good comeback;). They were both complaining about symptoms and getting fat and I'm just :rolleyes:. What is wrong with people?! Here I am wishing I could TTC, waiting for a good time and there are two women who aren't happy wishing they weren't. Sigh.......thanks in advance for the rant.

[karabear0117]

miss-madelyn: sorry the Dr. didn't have a quick answer for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good news on Thursday.

[miss-madelyn]

julss05- I know how that is, with people complaining about being pregnant. Even when I was pregnant with a unplanned pregnancy, I tried to make the best of it, morning sickness and all. You make choices, and you need to be responsible for them; and as far as I am concerned, if it's that much of a burden- there is always adoption for people who aren't able to have children of their own!

karabear- It sure is. But alas. At least I have two job interviews to prep for to keep me busy for a while.

[karabear0117]

Good luck with the interviews!

[LadyD088]

Julss - I hear ya!! That just sucks. Don't they realize what a miracle it is? Hopefully she'll do what's best for the baby..adoption (seems like it at this point). I am sorry you are having to hear all of this. Stay positive...your time will come and when it does, I hope it happens quickly.

Miss-Madelyn - More waiting huh? A bit frustrating, I am sure. But its better to be 100% sure than not. Here's hoping that tomorrow goes quickly for you!!!

Good luck on the job interviews!!

[tree23]

miss madelyn - more waiting??? I don't know how much longer I can keep these crossables crossed...I may lose my balance soon! ;) Luck! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers...and especially hope that Thursday comes before you know it! I too, am still awaiting the funding to come through for my cycle...I have to wait for the darned clinic to call and say that they've received the cheque...I'm needing the funding there before the 12th or I have to wait YET AGAIN...so I'm trying the ol' patience thing...and a lot of working out!!! Oh, and good luck with those job interviews!!!

juls - it will NEVER cease to amaze me at just how insensitve people can be in this world. As if we're not trying hard enough to be Little Miss Positivity and Little Miss Optimistic about our TTC and then all these people just seem to have them by accident or what-not...makes that positivity and optimism that much harder to dredge up! Thanks for the rant...it's great to read a good venting session from time to time! Makes me feel like I'm not the only one going insane here! :o

LadyD - I absolutely LOVE your atavar "don't poke the penguin"...it's AWESOME!

Me - I've had yet another good day. Yesterday was a big crazy. I went to the pool in the morning and swam for about 45 minutes...then later in the afternoon went back to the gym to do some arm and ab workout...then I had my usual Monday night Running Clinic where we ran 4 sets of 4:1's (run for 4 minutes, walk for 1)...I came home and had a hot epsom salts bath!!! Felt pretty good today...but then this morning my gym-buddy and I went for our 30 mins of jogging followed by 30 mins of cardio on the stationary bike...I'm a glutton for punishment!!! But I'm still feeling good...tomorrow is supposed to be another run day but I'm not 100% how I'll feel tomorrow...I'm just REALLY beat right now...need to head to bed soon! Have a great Tuesday night all!

Baby Dust to all!!!

[LadyD088]

Tree - Thanks!! I LOVE it - I love penguins!! HEHEHE My journal friend found it for me. Don't remember the website now, sorry. I could search my journal though, if you are interested. Let me know.

Keep up the good work on working out!! Gosh, I wish I had a pool to swim in. I would live there!!

[j.d.l.102205]

Ok this may be a very dumb question, but until last night I didn't know this. I know your job has to give you maternity leave, but I thought it was paid (at least a percentage.) Does anyone get paid maternity leave? Does it depend on your employer? We are still planning to start TTC in March, but I guess I need to start making an extra little nest egg if I don't get paid. I know it may be a silly question, but I was just curious.

[LadyD088]

JDL - From what I'm gathering at this point, it depends on your employer. Mine, luckily offers full pay. The other option is Short Term Disability. They only pay you a portion of your income.

I would recommend you call your HR department and ask the questions. I did about a year ago - because I wanted to verify if we needed to start early for our nest egg.

Not a silly question at ALL!!!

[raven077]

Thanks, juls. I'll have to look it up online. I remember that paper though. I went to ODU. :)

[loving624]

Juls - that makes me crazy. I'm in the TTC world right now and have been for a few months now, and that sort of thing makes me crazy. So does hearing relax and it will happen or be patient. Ugh. I get jealous of people who say they can get pregnant just by their husbands looking at them and I get jealous of the teenage girls who dont even want a baby who get one and my husband and I dont yet. Just makes me crazy. So I feel ya.

Miss Madelyn - I've commented to ya on the other boards but good luck with the job interviews!!

JDL - It is federal law that IF your company has over 50 employees and you have worked at least 1250 hours there, you have to be offered short term disability, for up to 12 weeks. However the WHOLE 12 weeks can be unpaid. It's just law that you are offered it. If you choose to take it, you have to have your job or a similar job waiting for you when you return. From my experience, MOST companies offer around 6 weeks paid, then the other 6 either partially paid or not at all. But yeah, it can be 12 unpaid weeks.

Wow tree - your workout dedication is great!! Good for you!

I'm hanging out at 9DPO. This thread seems to be good luck so I need to stay here a few more days! haha

[linekelei]

Maternity Leave Question- I get 3 months leave, 2 months fully paid. But it's totally up to the employer to offer paid. California has an extra benefit in that the state gives paid short-term disability for 6 weeks for mother's who give birth. Unfortunately, it caps out at a certain salary, but something is better than nothing.

[raven077]

Maternity Leave: Just found out how much mine sucks when our HR chick had a baby over the summer. We thought it was pretty generous with being able to extend paid leave with doctor's notes for up to another month after your own vacation/sick runs out.. But the reality is we only get our own vacation and sick leave. Plus, we're only able to carry over vacation from year to year so I only have 1 or 2 days, additional, from '06. Basically, I can't get sick at all this year OR take any time off in order to have at least a month paid after I have a baby.

I guess we'll have to start a fund to pay bills during my maternity leave for extra month or two. *sigh*

[heather1029]

Maternity Leave: Nope, my company is small and does not offer it. I have no idea if they do short term disability. But anyway, I'm planning on being a SAHM when I have a baby, so it would be sort of unethical to take up such a thing and then never come back to the company!

August couldn't come soon enough (:

[akacharlotte]

Ok this may be a very dumb question, but until last night I didn't know this. I know your job has to give you maternity leave, but I thought it was paid (at least a percentage.) Does anyone get paid maternity leave? Does it depend on your employer? We are still planning to start TTC in March, but I guess I need to start making an extra little nest egg if I don't get paid. I know it may be a silly question, but I was just curious.

My company is too small to offer FMLA. I asked about maternity leave and they told me they would work with me. Right now I'm researching STD plans and FH is going to check what he has at work to see if he can get one for me once we are married. At my old company maternity leave was paid at 60% of your salary for 12 weeks. I wish I had purchased AFLAC at my old company because you were allowed to keep it when the company removed themselves from the plan. You had to pay the preminums on your own but it was still at a good rate.

[kanga1622]

Maternity Leave - It is completely up to your employer whether it is paid. Mine will only be paid because I have sick and vacation time built up to use (we don't have caps on our sick leave and have a 240 hour cap on vacation time). I think I've got roughly 11 weeks paid time right now but I think I'll probably go back to work part time after 8 or 9 weeks so that I don't burn through everything. I know some people that use all their vacation/sick time to pay for maternity leave and then have to take unpaid time off when the baby gets sick or has a doctor's appt during working hours.

[lil_geek]

Good luck and baby dust to all the currently TTC ladies! We are still holding out... 2-3 more months... some days it seems like forever!

Maternity Leave - In Canada we are VERY lucky. We get 1 year at 55% pay under federal EI. On top of that, my employer tops me up for the first 20 weeks to 100% pay. Sorry......

I don't know how you ladies do it! Go back to work 6-12 weeks after the babe is born.

[j.d.l.102205]

Thanks for all the input. I'm definately going to have to ask the person who deals with that (I don't think we have an actual HR dept.) We are a pretty small company and something is telling me I'm not going to get paid. I kind of didn't want to say anything because I didn't want anyone at my work to know we were trying yet, but I've got to get my information now so I'm not stuck in the end. I think if anything I'll have to use my vacation and sick which isn't much and then like PP said I wouldn't be able to have a day off or be able to get sick. The other thing that sucks is ours doesn't roll over (if we don't use it we loose it, so I can't even save it up.) I would like to do 8 weeks of maternity leave, I guess I better make sure I have atleast half for bills for those two months. Thanks again everyone. Maybe I will get lucky and they'll be nice! :D

[Sue]

Maternity Leave - I'll be covered under FMLA and my company offers STD, which would a percentage of my salary for 6 weeks. We can only carry over 1 week of vacation time and sick days don't carry over. I am planning on taking 12 weeks and I have figured out how much $ we will need to make up for my lack of a salary during those 12 weeks.

[akacharlotte]

<whine> Why can't we be like Canada??? :(

I just talked to the HR rep here(I use that term loosely since we don't have an HR department). He is checking on the STD coverage for me to see if I can get something through the company.

[bethnjim]

I teach so technically if I planned it correct, I would get three months, give or take, of "paid medical leave". Of course, if I plan it poorly, I think I get two months or eight weeks and then have the option of leaving my job for a year and they will keep it open, but it doesn't come with pay. We are actually okay without my paycheck, so we aren't going to stay with our original plan of waiting until August or September. My husband wants to bump it up to March 2007, but I want to wait until June/July. We might compromise and meet in the middle, so possibly May!

[coquelicot]

Maybe we should move to Canada when I get PG...

I don't get any special maternity leave aside from the 12-week FMLA. However, if I have leave accrued, I can use it during this time and get paid. And my insurance would still be in effect whether or not I'm paid. However, I can't use my leave PLUS FMLA; they run concurrent. So I might have like 5 weeks of paid leave, 7 unpaid. (I'm trying to save my sick days as much as possible in case I decide not to be a SAHM.) It would be nice if I could tap into our Sick Leave Bank for maternity leave; I could get up to 90 days paid leave after I'd exhausted any leave I'd accrued. But I don't think they'd let me do that unless the baby and/or I were seriously ill.

[miss-madelyn]

*hijacking*

Um, I couldn't wait until tomorrow, so I called and spoke to my doctor's nurse.

My hCG levels are in the lower but POSITIVE range. She says that I am most definitely pregnant.

SO, I AM PREGNANT!

[PookiePrincess]

Congrats miss-madelyn!

[akacharlotte]

Congrats miss-madelyn! I hope those levels keep going up!

[Jill1228]

Congrats miss-madelyn!

I am on my way to my ob-gyn...AGAIN
JUST as i was pulling into the space at the medical center, they doc office called me to reschedule for later on today (like in an hour) :rolleyes:

he had to help another doc out and then he had a C section scheduled

i hope to get a clean bill of health so i can start TTC again

[summerbride2005]

Congrats miss-madelyn! How exciting!

[raven077]

miss-madelyn, congrats! What a rollercoaster!

[loving624]

Great news Miss-Madelyn. Congrats!!

AphiJill - hopefully they gave you a clean bill of health...

[MrsBeckyLP]

For many months I have sworn that I was not going to do this, but here I am. I'm browsing the PG boards. Yikes! Now I have to join ...

CC Name: futuremrslp
Me: Becky, 24
DH: Matt, 27
Married: June 10, 2006
TTC start date: June/July 2007
Any other children: Nope.

I haven't exactly had time to browse all 33 pages of this thread, but I have to comment on a QOTD from October asking if anybody has purchased anything for the baby they have yet to conceive.

I haven't. HOWEVER, I already have a crib and dresser. My mom bought them for us when we were engaged! Simmons (think Beautyrest mattress) had a juvenile products division in my hometown, and it was closing down two years ago. My mom asked me how long we planned to wait before we would TTC, and I told her it would be about a year after we got married. She said that would be great with her -- and she went out and bought us a crib and dresser off the back dock of the factory! She got the set -- originally $1,500 -- for $350! Most of my friends think it's a little weird, but we'll see who's laughing when I get a free NEW crib and dresser and they have to go buy a set! Right now, the set is safely packed away at Mom and Dad's house, but I hope it isn't much longer until it makes the trip to our house!


...and CONGRATS miss-madelyn!

[JLRenheos]

futuremrslp Welcome! What a great deal on a brand new crib & dresser! Wow!

miss-madelynCongratulations! I wouldn't have waited the exra day, either. Glad to hear that you called & found out.

APhiJill Hope your DR. gives you that clean bill of health. good luck!

[j.d.l.102205]

Congrats Miss-Madelyn!!

[JLRenheos]

maternity leave I do have vacation time, but not nearly enough. It's basically a use it or a lose it policy within a years time. DH and I just plan on saving a nice nest egg, for when we have a baby, so I can stay home for 2-3 months. We will also be checking out STD. I work for a small company(12 of us total; incl. my 2 bosses-they are dentists). It is family owned & operated and I have known them for over 10 yrs..

Question For those of you who work for a very small company/business, how would you approach your employer about maternity leave/STD and or coming back to work/or working just part-time? I may have to leave the company as well, to find another job that's closer to home. That will come eventually. I *plan* on working part-time.

Like a lot of others, I don't feel comfortable enough to speak with my male employer about this(pre-ttc), allowing him to know what I'm thinking and/or when we might be ttc. BTW, I have 2 bosses-father/son dentists.
Did you just wait until after you found out that you were pregnant to share the news & to have the talk?

[miss-madelyn]

Thank you to everyone! It's been quite rollercoaster!

I'm sending baby dust everyone's way... :)

[raven077]

futuremrslp, welcome. You'll find the time just flies by (whether you want it to or not! ;))

JL, as for your second question, I'm honestly not sure what I'm going to do. Our company is under 30 people and very fast-paced. I'm a little concerned with if I'll still have a place in the company when I returned. Though, technically, since I'm a designer, I can work from home if need be. I have a full computer set-up here for my freelance. But I'm a little intimidated after finding out that the higher-ups put up a fuss over another girl (said HR gal) and her time. She ended up leaving to be a stay-at-home-mom, partly because she could and partly because of the mess she had to go thru. So I'm sorry I can't help you at all.

[MaybeMamas]

Updated to Here

[MaybeMamas]

miss-madelynWhen you know your EDD please post in red and I will update you on the first page! :)

[Jill1228]

Welcome futuremrslp!
i got in to see Dr. Lo. He is so cool. He did my yearly and I got a clean bill of health. When he was checking the girly bits, he thought I O'd because of my mucous. Well I am only on CD 13 and I usually don't O until like CD 18-23. I haven't felt any O cramps and I don't usually get the EWCM...that might be a prob

Next...I gotta get a mammo

I got a hair appt tomorrow and I will call to schedule the mammo

[bethnjim]

I have my gyno visit on 2/28. What do I need to ask?? I told them on the phone that I want to have my annual visit, PLUS, need a pregnant visit at the same time, but should I have questions prepared?? I don't plan to revisit the gyno between now and my trying months, so I want to make sure my shots are up to date, etc. Anyone have a list of questions??

[karabear0117]

Miss-Madelyn- Congrats!

APhiJill- glad to hear you got a clean bill of health! :)

[Sue]

I don't have any questions, but I'm interested as well. I'm going to start seeing a new doctor (probably a MW) since I did not like my other one at all... I had only been to see her twice and she wasn't very supportive of charting. I'd rather find someone I'm comfortable with.

[heather1029]

Congratulations Miss-Madelyn!!!!!!!!! This thread really IS lucky, eh?!

And a huge welcome to Mrslp! Glad you're in here (:

[loving624]

Hey there MrsLP. Welcome!

AphiJill - glad you got a clean bill of health. Does that mean you get to try again this coming month?

[MrsBeckyLP]

For those of you who work for a very small company/business, how would you approach your employer about maternity leave/STD and or coming back to work/or working just part-time?

I just started a job Jan. 2 at a company with three other full-time employees, and my boss (the owner) is one of them! They are all male, so I am not comfortable discussing working plans with them prior to and during TTC. Once I do get PG, I will probably wait until I'm showing to tell them, and then we'll discuss plans? I'm really not sure??? I’m sure he’ll want to know what my plans are ASAP, but I have a feeling he won’t ask. Ideally I would LOVE to be a full-time SAHM, but I don’t think we will be able to afford that and the lifestyle we like to live (we’re building a new house on a golf course this spring). I think I will propose a “trial” period where I work two and a half or three days a week in the office, and from home the rest of the time. I hope he’s open to it, because I know my work could be done from home. (I write for a magazine so a majority of it would probably be done at night once DH gets home or on weekends.) However, if he’s not down with that, I don’t know what I do. I WILL NOT work full time.

I guess the big thing is that I'm going to wait to talk to them about it until I'm showing.

[LadyD088]

HUGE Congrats miss-madelyn! Happy and Healthy 9 Mos to you!!!

[bethnjim]

Awwww...congrats Miss-Madelyn!!!!! I am so happy for you!:D

[tree23]

LadyD - I'm ok without you dragging up the link for the penguins...I'll find something cute...it's really adorable though!

Loving - 9DPO - LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

JDL - Maternity Leave - I know that you've had a lot of answers already...and I've enjoyed reading all of the responses from everyone...wow, you guys really don't get lucky when it comes to health care and maternity leave and all that in the good ole USA...I'm from Canada and I'm in the military...the added bonus of the latter is that not only do we get 1 year as stated by lil_geek, but I'm topped up to 93% of my wages for the ENTIRE YEAR off. So it's really worthwhile to spend a full year at home...the downfall? It makes you REALLY comfy being a SAHM and then you have to get back into the work force! :rolleyes:

Miss Madelyn - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! Yay, you're preggers!!!! That's so awesome...I wish you happy and healthy 9 months...so exciting! :D

Jill - Awesome about your clean bill of health from your Doc...luck on the mammo though...I haven't had one yet, I hear they're not that fun! :eek:

FutureMrsLP - WELCOME! Good luck with your house that you're building...we built our house almost 3 years ago and I LOVE living in the home that we made together...picking colours and flooring and cupboards, etc. so much fun!

Me - Still working out like a banshee...I'm doing it to keep myself busy and pre-occupied so that I'm not constantly watching the calendar and waiting for the clinic to call and say that they FINALLY have the cheque so that I can get on with my ivf cycle...I'm talking myself down the path that it will most likely be postponed yet another month...if no moola by Monday afternoon then it will be March before we get started on the meds :mad: Yesterday I went to the gym with my gym-buddy and ran for 20 minutes and did abs and then went on the bike for another 30 minutes...and then went to Run Club and ran for about 20 minutes outside in the FREAKING COLD! :eek: Today I went swimming...that was good! Baby dust to all!

[Julss05]

Miss Madelyn Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck on your interviews!:)

Maternity Leave- I was hired for contract work so I don't have any paid maternity leave but have worked there long enough to get unpaid leave through MFLA. I plan to be working somehwere else soon and should be there long enough (at least 12 months at the time I plan to take the leave) to partake in both paid/unpaid maternity leave. Not too worried about it. DH just applied to a full time position and if that goes well we should be able to live off his income alone if I have to be out of work for a few months. As far as how to address time off with a small company with mostly male supervisors (where I work:)) maybe 4 months into the pregnancy I'd discuss what your plans are and see what they say. I'm sure if you're a great employee they will work with you to keep you and would possibly hire a temp. while you're out if need be. My friend told her employer at 4 months that she was pregnant and they told her she could arrange a work schedule around the baby's needs! How lucky is she? I know not every employer is like that.

tree23 You sound like me as far as working out. I weigh-in next week. Last night DH and I worked the buns out and did some weight lifting.

[akacharlotte]

I have my gyno visit on 2/28. What do I need to ask?? I told them on the phone that I want to have my annual visit, PLUS, need a pregnant visit at the same time, but should I have questions prepared?? I don't plan to revisit the gyno between now and my trying months, so I want to make sure my shots are up to date, etc. Anyone have a list of questions??


I forgot all of my questions for my visit but evidently there is not a whole lot to discuss anway. My doc just advised me to begin prenatal vitamins, get regular exercise and cut out bad health habits, i.e smoking.

Make sure your rubella vaccination is up to date. Also if it has been a long time since your last tetanus shot you may want another as you should not have a tetanus when PG.

I hope that helps.

[bethnjim]

Make sure your rubella vaccination is up to date. Also if it has been a long time since your last tetanus shot you may want another as you should not have a tetanus when PG.

I definitely need my rubella checked and I need another tetanus shot. I haven't had one in a while. YUCK...not looking forward to that!!! :)

[tree23]

BethnJim - no worries about the shots...they're over before you know it! You'll be fine! :o

Juls - I'm really enjoying my rigorous workout regime right now...and it's Saturday and I don't feel like I've been hit by a mac-truck or anything...I'm happy because that means that we were at a good pace for our cross-training! Yay! :D

Loving - how you hanging in there???

Me - Last night I hosted my Movie/Book club for watching "About A Boy"...what a great movie! It was nice to have some girly-company for a change and to have it at my place. My DH went out to a movie with a buddy and then did the grocery shopping (he loves doing it late Fri nights...shelves are stocked and produce is fresh...and NOONE is there! :p ) Today I'm off to get my hair cut with some girlfriends...taking a good chunk of it off...so we'll see how thrilled I am when I get home! Ha, ha, ha! I was supposed to have a playdate with my friend and her 2 kids today, but she cancelled this morning...maybe next weekend. Have a great weekend, everyone!:)

[PookiePrincess]

bethnjim, I had a tetanus shot in November and it wasn't that bad at all. I have a gyno appointment in March and plan on asking about TTC.


Also, I have the baby bug really bad! Some good friends of ours had their baby boy Tuesday evening and then my coworker came in Wednesday morning to tell me she thought she was pregnant. She went to the dr Thursday and came back Friday with "I'm pregnant." There's also another teacher that we are pretty close to who is pregnant. This is becoming really hard...especially when everyone just tells me we should just go ahead and try. I've heard that from our friends, my coworker, and my SIL this week. I wish we could start now instead of June. The only thing that is holding me out is my current cycle is about over and if we started in March we would have an end of November/December baby and I just don't want that. So, we're sticking to our regularly scheduled plan for now. I hope I can hold out that long!

[miss-madelyn]

I just thought I would update this board as well;

I went into the ER later afternoon because I had started to bleed. I waited for 4 hours to see a doctor, who did an internal exam and determined that the bleeding was coming from within the womb.

They ordered the two rounds of bloodwork I had done, and it seems my hCG levels went from 10 to the mid 80's and when they did the retest last night, it sunk to 0. My body was rejecting the pregnancy, and I was miscarrying.

I feel broken and sad.

[akacharlotte]

miss-madelyn-I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your SO right now. ((((hugs))))

[mindy2137]

Madelyn...I'm so sorry. {{{{hugs}}}}
I don't really know what to say. Sorry!

[loving624]

So sorry to hear that Miss Madelyn. My thoughts are with your and your fiance.

[tree23]

Miss Madelyn - I'm SO sorry for your loss...my thoughts and prayers are with you and your SO...hugs! :(

[summerbride2005]

miss-madelyn - I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your SO.

[Sue]

miss-madelyn I am so sorry :(

[bethnjim]

I am so sorry miss-madelyn! :(

[Julss05]

miss-madelyn, my prayers are with you and your DH. <hugs>

[MrsBeckyLP]

I'm so sorry to hear that, miss-madelyn. My prayers are with you.

[raven077]

miss-madelyn, I'm very sorry....

[karabear0117]

i know i said it in another thread but
I'm so sorry Miss-Madelyn

[raven077]

Hey, does anyone know what happened to the "View first unread" link? Is it just me? I can see it on all my other subscribed threads but this one. And for several days now. Weird.

[PookiePrincess]

Raven, it's there for me.

[raven077]

Huh.. it just showed up for me now. I promise I'm not imagining things. ;)

[MrsBeckyLP]

I don't know if this has been discussed recently because I don't have time to go through all the pages of this board, but I'm curious to see how many of you are TTC with charting and how many are TTC without charting.

We're going to try it without charting, but we'll see how long that lasts. (I'm one of those people who thinks charting would take the fun out of it for us.) If I don't get PG in a few months, I'm sure I'll start to chart.

[lil_geek]

Becky - do you just want current TTCers?

We are going to go no charting for 3 months. I have been charting for 4 months, O'd everytime, no signs of needing any extra intravention. Like you, we think it will take the fun, that I will orveranalyse the chart... and that in general we tend to not be the kind of people who need instant gratification/success (with anything in life)... we want to 'enjoy the ride'!

[loving624]

MrsLP - I am a current TTCer, and I am NOT charting. I am using the clearblue easy fertility monitor, so that is kind of as much of an obsession as charting, but I just thought this was better for us...

[heather1029]

QOTD: TTC w/ or w/out charting

I think we'll continue to chart when we begin TTC. Right now I'm charting to avoid and I think it's pretty fun. We'd really like to try for a boy baby, so charting would make it easier to figure out which days we should/should not try.

[MrsBeckyLP]

Becky - do you just want current TTCers?

Nope ... anybody can answer! I'm just curious to see what everyone is/is planning on doing.

[PookiePrincess]

QOTD: TTC w/ or w/out charting

I'm charting to avoid now, so I'll still keep charting once we TTC. I don't know that I'll be extremely fanatical about everything (analyzing every little symptom, not waiting to POAS). I don't see it as taking the fun out of it. It tells me when my fertile time is and narrows down when we should BD. I don't know if I'll even temp after O, I haven't thought that far yet. Even charting to avoid now it aggravates me on the days when I don't temp and I'm missing information.

[linekelei]

Charting- I'll definitely be charting when we TTC because my cycle can be strange-anywhere from 30 to 38 days.

[kanga1622]

QotD - Definately charting. My cycles are completely unpredictable and we'd been charting TTA for 2+ years so it would have been strange to stop charting when we started TTC. It has helped me not to waste pg tests when we obviously were not pg.

[coquelicot]

Charting - if my periods stay regular once I go off the pill, then probably not. If they revert back to the way they were before I was on BCP, then maybe. I know DH just wants to have fun with it at first and not worry about charting. After a few months if I'm not pregnant, then we'll look more seriously into charting whether or not I'm regular.

[Julss05]

QOTD I haven't decided yet if I'm going to chart. I do now but may not the first 3 months into TTC. Depends on how casually or serious we are about making it happen right away:). We have some friends who have been trying on and off for the past 6 months, she doesn't chart but they are fine with that and okay if it doesn't happen right away. I think after 6 months of TTC I'd be freaking analyzing my chart to death along with using O sticks:D. That's me though, I want to be pregnant within 6 months of starting but some people don't care. I could see how it would be harder to TTC without charting or ovulation predicter kits if you have no signs like cramping or EWCM. I get cramping and EWCM but not always and sometimes up to 6 days before O so if I relied on that alone it could take a while. Also my ovulation times vary from month to month. Oh and this may sound crazy but I figure if I'm charting when I get pregnant I'll be able to get a more accurate due date. Obviously the baby probably won't deliver on the exact due date but it would be interesting to see how close it is.

[karabear0117]

I do chart but only half-heartedly... I like temping so I'll have some clue when AF will show she showed up a few times too many uninvited when I was younger and the embarassment still gets to me after oh... 10 years. I only check CM if it is impossible to ignore.

[raven077]

QOTD: TTC w/ or w/out charting

We were charting-to-avoid since March of 2006, and I like knowing when things are promising and when they aren't. We're still kind of "seeing what happens" to a certain extent (i.e. not obsessively BD every nite or every other nite during my fertile phase) but just doing it as we feel like it. Plus, I like to have some indication of AF.. and without charting, I wouldn't have known that my Luteal Phase is on the very low end of normal. Something I'm keeping my eye on and have tried to lengthen with B6 and now progesterone cream. So yes, I'm charting and I enjoy it. :)

[Sue]

QOTD - Charting
I'm CTA right now, but haven't decided if I'll continue once we TTC. I have a pretty regular 26 day cycle and ovulate pretty regularly and I love knowing when AF will be coming. I may temp until O, then not temp after, but who knows... even with charting you aren't guaranteed to catch the egg, so I might regardless. Just not be a slave to it.

[j.d.l.102205]

CHARTING: I'm kind of charting right now (even though I've got 3 more wks of the pill) I'm really just doing it to get the hang of it. I will probably continue just so I have the knowledge of how long my cycles are and about when I o. I don't think we are going to chart as far as "timing it." We are going to take it naturally at first. If that looks like it's not going to work then we may take to charting a little more seriously and "time it" sort of speak.

[JLRenheos]

QOTD-Charting
I'm not charting at all.
First, we'll ttc without charting, if no avail, then I'll go see my doc.. I've already spoken w/him about my issues/concerns. I'm leaving it open as to *maybe chart* my cycles. My afs are soo irregular. I've gone 6 mos. before w/no af.. I'll probably need meds. to stimulate my ovaries and then we'll go from there.

[bethnjim]

I am not charting but I am keeping track of my periods...when I get them, etc. I don't know however when I ovulate, which might hurt us in the long run, but to begin with...I'm going to WING it!! :)

[LadyD088]

Miss Madelyn - I just wanted to say that I know how you are feeling. I was in the same situation last year in May. I am VERY sorry for y