Where do I even start?

[Dr. Lostreality]

So me and the man have been talking very very seriously about trying to conceive later this year- we are thinking we will start trying right around vibes so I will give birth after finishing my phd but a few months before starting a new job.

But where do I even start finding out information about conceiving and pregnancy and childbearing? There are so many things I have no idea about...and so much information out there that is it very overwhelming. I met with my ob/gyn and she told me to take folic **** every day, so I've been taking this 'one a day woman's' multivitamin that has folic ****, and I've also started jogging so my body will be in better shape when I have to carry a baby around inside of me....also talked to her about going off birth control about 2 months before starting to try to conceive.

But yeah, that's all i got. Our conception plan right now is to have sex every day for a few months until I get knocked up :lol: I'm sure there's a better way of doing that, although I think our way sounds fun :grin:

Is there any resources people can recommend? Like a good book or blog or something? I'd prefer a book that doesn't buy into traditional gender roles- I'm looking along the lines of something like offbeat bride (http://offbeatbride.com/), but for baby making. :)

[wabbit]

sunny sunshine is a good person to talk to.. she has been doing natural birth control and knows her stuff..

I was off my pill and got pregnant during my first ovulation.. I hadn't taken any vitamins before hand..

good luck!! :heart:

[wabbit]

here is her thread from women's circle.. maybe this could help?

http://gatheringofthevibes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4809

[fire_rocket]

You're going to want to figure out when you ovulate so you can up your chances of conceiving during that time. You just put in when your last period was, and it will tell you what your best dates to conceive are for months in the future. Of course you can still do it every day for months too... :lol:

Just google ovulation calendar and you'll come up with a whole bunch. Check out www.babycenter.com for a whole bunch of information on getting pregnant and beyond. :wink: Good luck!!

[Dr. Lostreality]

hmm, well before I was on birth control my period was never regular- I would get it every 6-8 weeks, never every 4 weeks. So I'm not sure if those calendar things will work for me, cause they are based on the assumption that your cycle lasts 28 days.

I was thinking of getting this ovulation measuring thing that you pee on every day and it tells you when you are about to start ovulating. Do those things work?

[wabbit]

I think Tiff does something with her temperature as well.. I am not sure about the ovulation thingy's.. I imagine they must have some merit, maybe they measure temperature and protein or something too??

In the ovulation calendar, you put down when your most period started, so it can change month to month as you need it to..

I am hoping the next time we start trying, things are as simple. I

[Dr. Lostreality]

i think the ovulation thingies measure some hormone that you start having right before you ovulate. I probably won't get it unless we can't conceive for a few months, will definitely try the calendar thing once I go off birth control (I'm thinking I will go off it in late may or early June, with the aim of starting to try to conceive in early August).

[little frog]

i used the calendar method .. meaning, i was very regular and i just knew when i was fertile, for about 4 days a month. worked perfectly three times.

[Joia]

you can do a search for "fertility friend" which will send you a series of e-mails explain how to track your cycle.

mothering.com forums has an entire forum dedicated to "trying"

[Sunny Sunshine]

i think the ovulation thingies measure some hormone that you start having right before you ovulate. I probably won't get it unless we can't conceive for a few months, will definitely try the calendar thing once I go off birth control (I'm thinking I will go off it in late may or early June, with the aim of starting to try to conceive in early August).

Rel - shoot me an email - thamanne at pcconnection dot com

I've been working with this for the past year or so. Temping is a great method for learning when you're ovulating. Fertiliy friend isn't a typical calendar. It keeps track of your temps and helps you figure out when you're going to ovulate/have ovulated. It keeps track of everything for you even if you don't have normal cycles.

When I got off BC I had once cycle that was 68 days long, then a 49 then a 39 then I got to a normal cycle for me. It a huge help in planning when you're going to ovulate, when the best time to conceive is. You can even keep track of when you sex and compare between months of TTC.

Buy the book taking charge of your fertility. It will help you A LOT. We can talk more about this through email. Trav and I will begin TTC in either June or July so we're in about the same boat as you and B :)

[wabbit]

ok, so I sat here trying to figure out what ttc meant, but I figured it out!!!

[Mama Kel]

i didn't use them but i heard the ovulation things are not accurate. I used the basal thermometer both times & got preggo right away. I also do not have a regular period so the basal termometer was great for that. If you google basal thermometer you'll find info, charts, etc.

Also I think sex every other day is more effective - something to do with sperm build up?

Good luck

[Wende]

Why stress? Why not just go about your life and do what comes natural and let it all happen? Too much stressing and not enough instinct. IDK, do people really plan and prepare like this? :lol:

SHow's how much I did.

[Drop_o_Rain]

Here's what I did...

Have sex.

[Sunny Sunshine]

i didn't use them but i heard the ovulation things are not accurate. I used the basal thermometer both times & got preggo right away. I also do not have a regular period so the basal termometer was great for that. If you google basal thermometer you'll find info, charts, etc.

Also I think sex every other day is more effective - something to do with sperm build up?

Good luck

Every other day is usually reserved for if you're having trouble getting pregnant, from what I've read. I think everyday is okay :)

[Dr. Lostreality]

Why stress? Why not just go about your life and do what comes natural and let it all happen? Too much stressing and not enough instinct. IDK, do people really plan and prepare like this? :lol:

SHow's how much I did.

Well, really the reason is that next year I have about a 5 month window between when I graduate and when I start my new job (cause in my fields jobs only start in September), so it would be perfect timing to have a baby then and be able to spend a few months at home with her/him before starting work...so I want to try and aim and have a baby right around when I graduate. :)

[fire_rocket]

Every other day is usually reserved for if you're having trouble getting pregnant, from what I've read. I think everyday is okay :)

Every day certainly doesn't hurt, but waiting a day in between isn't a bad idea. Then the sperm "save up" and there's more bang for your buck. :wink:

Plus I love sex but doing it 3 nights in a row got to be a bit much for me... :lol: especially since it was not exactly "duty" sex, but it was.

[Spiderweb]

Why stress? Why not just go about your life and do what comes natural and let it all happen? Too much stressing and not enough instinct. IDK, do people really plan and prepare like this? :lol:

SHow's how much I did.

This is what I was thinking too. Relax & let it happen :)

[Drop_o_Rain]

Good luck. :heart:
I think that trying to plan these types of things down to a season or a particular moment in time, more often than not leads to disappointment and hurt.

[Mama Kel]

Good luck. :heart:
I think that trying to plan these types of things down to a season or a particular moment in time, more often than not leads to disappointment and hurt.


True - which usually leads to more stress & less success

[Joia]

True - which usually leads to more stress & less success
Q4T

[lil pixi]

:heart: Baby makin' vibes to you, Rel. :heart: :smile:

[soulshiny]

I did use the ovulation dip stick things. They were very acurate. If you search for them on the web you can buy them in bulk for very cheap and the one to find out if you are pregnant. Once we started trying it took us 8 months to conceive. Every one is different though. Good luck!

[KindGeeGirl]

Hell I was trying NOT to get pregnant the first time :lol:

One thing I would add to your plan is to go off the pill earlier. If you want to plan it then making yourself as fertile as possible will help. Going off the pill 6 months prior will make you more fertile. Yeah I know condoms and an early pregancy would ruin your plans but IMHO the longer you are off the pill the better your chances to concieve. With my second child the plan was to go off the pill for six months and then concieve. Which happened in a weird not worth posting sort of way.

I would also do it every other day when you start trying. It lets the sperm build up and possibily get stronger. Okay the stronger one I'm pulling out of my ass but it seems to make sense. I hear if you make a child from blue balls they come out 10lbs and asking for milk. Just kidding :lol:

I wouldn't do the ovulation thing unless you don't get pregnant right away or have other signs that you might have problems. Try to let it all happen naturally.

Good luck :heart:

(I've enjoyed seeing your relationship grow and look forward to your baby stories and crazy Jewish oppression. It seems like just yesterday you were talking about the new guy who wowed you in bed.)