I am feeling very frustrated today… I am considering adding in tracking my temperature this cycle to see if that can increase our chances. Looks like my cycle has decided on 26 days yet again for some reason, do you start temperature tracking on CD1? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
I am not sure if I am just going to drive myself crazy with another thing to track though, I already watch my app like a hawk and take OPKs starting at CD10, is temping going to help?
@kibby I know everyone’s different and it may be helpful for you, but after tracking/temping/OPKing for a couple of months after my periods returned the first time, I will never, ever be doing anything other than the “BD lots, wait and see” approach again. Too much stress for me (I tend to obsess over stuff) and it near did my head in, not to mention messing with my cycles because of the pressure I felt! I’m not saying that’s your problem, but might it be worth trying a low-tech cycle or two - if only to give you a break from all the tracking?
@katinka - I can be very obsessive over things too. I am thinking I will probably just drive myself insane if I add another thing, I am not sure temping will tell me anything an OPK doesn’t. I am just feeling anxious for it to happen at this point, you know? We tried two cycles just winging it, (with an educated guess at O day) and two cycles with OPKs so far, I still have OPKs on hand so I will likely use them again this cycle, it’s hard to just let go and relax and see what happens! Feels like everyone in my life is TTC or expecting at this point!
@kibby I don’t have much experience obviously (only 1 cycle TTC!) but I think I’d second what [name_f]Katinka[/name_f] said.
I know of a couple who spent years TTC, then they gave up and decided they were going to accept being childless, and booked an overseas holiday to see family complete with lots of hiking and kayaking. The stress of ttc was off, and wham their miracle happened (with timing that meant overseas holiday was going to be off instead, such is life!).
I don’t think so much stress and watching things like a hawk is really a good thing?
Ugh… I’m feeling pretty down about stuff at the moment. [name_f]Pet[/name_f] cat has gone missing, upcoming fertile window is bang on when we’ll be staying with family which doesn’t tend to inspire feeling frisky (could not be more bang on, we drive up day before predicted ovulation, are there ovulation day, and drive back the next), and I had the cervical screening from hell yesterday where nurse jammed it up without waiting for me to be able to relax muscles and it hurt heaps and I was left feeling in mild shock and like I never want anything up there again (also not great for ttc).
@bedhead: Thanks!
@mamaenzi: Thank you! Your lack of spotting sounds promising, keep us updated.
@kiriki: Sorry to hear about your cat and the timing problems. Could you squeeze in a BD the morning before you drive? And sperm can live a few days up there so you could definitely still hit your window if you BD the day before you leave too. Sorry to hear about the screening as well. I had a similar v painful experience with a nurse once and it sucked, I had to go and have a cry in the loo at the clinic afterwards. I hope you feel better soon.
@kibby
I really loved temping and charting cervical fluid while I was TTC last time. It can be kind of hard to get in the routine, but I thought it was worth it just because I knew exactly when I ovulated (OPKs are only predictive, but if you can chart a temp shift you KNOW you ovulated). I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it in this thread or not, but the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility gives really good information about all of this kind of stuff. But anyway, as for temping, make sure you have a basal body thermometer (they have one for like $8 at walmart), and try to make sure that you do it at the same time every morning, before you get up, and after at least 3 hours of sleep if possible.
It is more stressful for some people, but if you want to know more about what is going on with your cycle, I highly recommend it! My cycle was super irregular after I came off birth control. I didn’t ovulate until like CD35 or something, but I knew that I had after a confirmed temp shift, I knew when I could take a pregnancy test accurately, and I knew when my due date should be when I called. Otherwise they would’ve thought I was several weeks further along, based on my last period. If you’re worried about having short cycles, temping could let you know if you’re just ovulating early and have a regular length LP, or if you have a short LP. There are ton of things in the book that you can kind of figure out with charting, I lent my copy to my [name_m]SIL[/name_m] and never got it back, or I’d give you more specifics!
It is something extra to do, but I’d rather do that than assume I’m late every time my period doesn’t come when expected or wonder if I’ve ovulated yet. It stresses me out more not knowing what is going on, which is where I’m at currently. I keep meaning to start again, because I still haven’t ovulated after having my baby 16 months ago and I’d like to know when I do, but I’m still waking up multiple times a night with her to nurse, so I’m not expecting to ovulate any time soon, and I’m not sure I would be able to get three hours of sleep consistently enough anyway :(.
@shalexis- thank you! I actually completely forget I already have that book somewhere! I haven’t seen it since I moved two years ago but I know it’s in a box in the basement! I am going to go search for it tonight. I honestly didn’t even think to pull it out for a fresh read because I originally bought it when considering natural birth control and right now my mind is in the complete opposite direction obviously!!
@kibby Yeah it’s great for both! I don’t know if I’m disciplined enough to use it when TTA, but I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] it for TTC and recommend it to everyone haha.
Hey all! [name_u]January[/name_u] is our first month TTC. I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility so I’m tracking temps and CM and using OPKs. I am definitely a little obsessive but I also like that I can confirm ovulation this way. I’m sure if it takes us a long time to conceive, I’ll take a break from temping, but for now it’s all so new that I don’t mind. Today is the start of my two week wait. Fingers crossed!!
@kibby: When I tracked my BBT, I took my temperature each day, regardless of Cycle [name_u]Day[/name_u]. That’s what my doctor told me to do, anyhow. Definitely don’t drive yourself nuts with this, though. Temping can help but it varies on how much. For instance, I temped religiously for several months and in a sense, it helped, because it helped my doctor to see that I likely don’t ovulate on my own (my chart, instead of having a flow or pattern instead looked like the teeth of a saw). However, I will never temp again unless again instructed to by my doctor. Too much stress, too much worry, and very little positive outcome.
@cactusgram: Welcome 
fingers crossed for you.
Hey ladies! Yesterday, we got a BFP! We are very excited!
Good luck and baby dust to all who are already TTC!
Congrats to all who are getting BFPs!
Coincidentally my fertile window lined up exactly with the winter storm that blew through, so I’m really hoping there’s a blizzard baby in our future, haha. It’s still too early to test but I should be able to in about a week. I also got the unfortunate news that my husband has to deploy AGAIN this year. Not as long (4 months max, as opposed to 6.5) but… ugh.
mamaenzi: Congratulations, that is wonderful!!!
cactusgram: So exciting, hope you get that BFP!
We have just entered the fertile period over here.
Random question but does anyone here follow a specific budget plan?
Congrats to our first BFP’s of 2018!!
AF started a couple days ago for me, so I am looking ahead to next cycle. My brother’s wife had her baby yesterday ([name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]) and that has fueled my baby fever even more Good luck to everyone in their TWW!
Congratulations Mamaenzi! Looks like the 2017 ladies are quickly clearing out! Here’s hoping for the rest of us
@bedhead - we used to need to budget very very strictly while we were in school and living pay cheque to pay cheque, getting lucky to afford everything every month. Luckily things are vastly different now. However we relied very heavily on [name_f]Gail[/name_f] [name_m]Vas[/name_m] Oxlades Jar budgeting program. With it we were able to pay off a huge chunk of debt before returning to school, and survive while we were in school.
Kibby: Thanks so much, I will look into that. We thankfully don’t have any debt but are really wanting to better allocate our money and save every penny we can right now!
Congratulations mamaenzi!
@mamaenzi: Congratulations!!
@julylacs: Good luck! Sorry to hear that your husband has to deploy this year 
it’s such a selfless act, to serve one’s country, but I’m sure it must be hard for you guys.
@bedhead: We suck at budgeting lol (mainly because we will plan things out, but payments stay ‘pending’ for so long before going through that it throws everything off). However, I’ve heard great things about the Dave Ramsey stuff.
@meyera4: Congrats on your new niece! And good luck this cycle
Well, AF showed, so CD 1 for me! I’m so relieved to not be in limbo still, so I can’t say that I’m terribly upset. It just showed at a crappy time lol…we closed on our new house and have to move over the next couple of days, so…blah. Lol.
I love hearing about BFPs just 10 days into 2018. Congrats ladies!
@bedhead I created our budget, so we don’t use a specific “plan” per se. A big part of our pre-TTC checklist was refinancing our house to pay down some student loans (thankfully the value has soared since we purchased, so it makes financial sense to use the equity @ a lower rate to pay higher interest student loans). We had a NIGHTMARE of a time trying to do so with [name_u]Chase[/name_u], so we weren’t able to do so at the end of last year (which meant a little longer to wait to TTC, BOOO). I would urge anyone ever considering using [name_u]Chase[/name_u] as a lender to rethink doing so. Sorry, I know that wasn’t your question but I’m still angry.
@namergirl3 Moving is the absolute worst. Good luck with everything!
Namergirl3: I have heard about [name_m]Dave[/name_m] [name_m]Ramsey[/name_m] plan mentioned a couple times now, will look into that one too. Thanks.
hml: Sorry to hear that. You’re not alone though. My parents feel the same in regards to [name_u]Chase[/name_u] lol.