38 and new to TTC - overwhelmed

[StarSign]

Def 2nd the CoQ10. Iffy on Omega-3. And I also 2nd Peacebaby's water tip (helps in mucus dept, too), but add lemons as that will help with bloating issues too..since you're reducing BMI. Hope you don't have to TTC for too long...

*SS*

Welcome hun SS why are you iffy about Omega 3? I was told to take it from my acupuncturist

Diff strokes for diff folks It's fine/great for you.

 

[patooti]

..The day of your first positive is the day your LH surge begins, and ovulation will take place 24-48 hours later.
- The general rule of thumb for seeking help from a fertility specialist is....

Hi Ladies-

OPK's can def tell the start of fertile period (great recoo on the CB monitor), but ovulation doesn't always happen 24-48 hours later. Best is to use the BBTs to see a temperature drop (likely day of Ov) and the next day the elevated temp (Ov finished). Then after 3 days of elevated temps, and you know for sure.

You can see in my charts, I've had many cycles where I still had + OPKs and my temps already showed I ovulated or where I surged for 3-4 days before I ovulated. If I wasn't temping, my timing would have definitely been off. I'm just saying, use both tools to corroborate the other while you see how your body works.

Good point and interesting to know. I don't even know if I ovulate so I am hoping that temping will answer that definitely for me. If you see the pattern of temps that indicate ovulation does it definitely mean that ovulation occurred. I'm guessing it does because the corpus luteum is responsible for the rise. I think I'll order OPKs after charting for a bit though just to try using both.

 

[HappyAuntie]

..The day of your first positive is the day your LH surge begins, and ovulation will take place 24-48 hours later.
- The general rule of thumb for seeking help from a fertility specialist is....

Hi Ladies-

OPK's can def tell the start of fertile period (great recoo on the CB monitor), but ovulation doesn't always happen 24-48 hours later. Best is to use the BBTs to see a temperature drop (likely day of Ov) and the next day the elevated temp (Ov finished). Then after 3 days of elevated temps, and you know for sure.

You can see in my charts, I've had many cycles where I still had + OPKs and my temps already showed I ovulated or where I surged for 3-4 days before I ovulated. If I wasn't temping, my timing would have definitely been off. I'm just saying, use both tools to corroborate the other while you see how your body works.

Good point and interesting to know. I don't even know if I ovulate so I am hoping that temping will answer that definitely for me. If you see the pattern of temps that indicate ovulation does it definitely mean that ovulation occurred. I'm guessing it does because the corpus luteum is responsible for the rise. I think I'll order OPKs after charting for a bit though just to try using both.

Good point about the long surge, SS. Doing both is certainly helpful when you're learning your cycle.

For me it got really tedious after a few months, and since my cycles are really regular (28 days on the nose), I eventually ditched both and just used my calendar to determine the week in which I should ovulate and made sure we BD every other day in that week. That's how we got pregnant the first two times. If your cycles aren't regular, though, definitely stick with the monitoring to make sure you get the timing right.

As for a temp rise meaning you definitely ovulated, I think you're right, but I'm no temping expert. I do know it's not unusual for a woman to have an anovulatory month here and there, even with regular cycles. If it happens once in a while I don't think it's anything to be concerned about, but if it happens regularly definitely get it checked out.

 

[SWLondonMum]

Just wanted to say hi as my hubby is 11 years younger than me - I'm 38 and he's 27. Nice to meet you as it's quite rare to have a similar gap (apart from Demi and Ashton and look at them ) We met about 6 years ago and have a DS1 who is 3. We also have a business together though we are selling it as it has been stressful (partly because #1 came just after we started the business - which is why we've waited to TTC #2 - of course #1 came along quickly and #2 has taken a while!) though we may start another business together in future. DH is from SE Asia and we are thinking of moving back - other than the fact that we want to try living there instead of the UK, I think (as a younger guy) he would be happier being in a stronger position regarding business/income etc as he is limited in what he does here. Fine by me - I will hopefully be pregnant soon so don't have a problem with that -and I have had various careers before our business where he is relatively early in his working life and has different motivations.
Anyway sorry for going off topic a bit but just wanted to say hi! Good luck with your IVF plans and

My husband is also 11 years younger than me (I'm 43, he's 32). My best friend's husband is 12 years younger than she is, but it's not very common among my group of friends. She got pregnant at 42 and is due in about a month. My husband I were pretty sure we didn't want kids, but realized we had some mixed feelings about it and decided to try. I think TTC has made it more real and although it's stressful, I will be okay one way or another. Nice to see some other women in the same boat!

Hi Virginiaplain - good to meet you too...yes kids is a tricky issue with younger guys and can sometimes force the issue a bit quicker but as you say you will be fine either way. I wasn't that bothered about kids till I met my husband so despite the age gap it's lucky we met otherwise I might never have TTC. Love the positives of the age gap - it's a cliche but he does keep me young! And I'm sure there will be some great advances in plastic surgery in the next 10 years

 

[Jodes2011]

Def 2nd the CoQ10. Iffy on Omega-3. And I also 2nd Peacebaby's water tip (helps in mucus dept, too), but add lemons as that will help with bloating issues too..since you're reducing BMI. Hope you don't have to TTC for too long...

*SS*

Welcome hun SS why are you iffy about Omega 3? I was told to take it from my acupuncturist

Diff strokes for diff folks It's fine/great for you.

Ahhhh ok

 

[froliky2011]

Hi all,
I'm new here and brand new to TTC. DH and I have been married for 15 years but life circumstances and a nearly complete phd for me later and finally the baby clock has started to tick. I'm not sure what we were thinking, but that's just how it played out.

I have regular cycles but I think they have gotten slightly shorter in the last year and I'm really really hoping this is not a sign that early menopause is on it's way for me but I get scared.

Besides trying to get stress under control (hard when you are trying to finish a PhD) I wonder what else I should be doing. I'm taking standard women's vitamins (with 500ug of folic acid) and trying to lose weight (BMI is a little bit over 30 right now). I just got a BBT thermometer and plan to start charting temps tomorrow morning and started trying to pay attention to my cycle and my mucus at the beginning of my last cycle.

I've seen some threads mentioning CoQ10 and Omega3 etc. so I'm wondering if there are other things that might help. Herbs, tea, anything...

Also, even I find it a bit weird that I would wait this long and then when I decided I needed to try it got really intense. Is that weird? I guess I'm just scared I messed up by waiting and I don't want to find out I'm right.

I'm sure once I get more used to this TTC I'll settle in

Nice to meet you all.

Welcome! I am 37 and will be 38 in a few months too and TTC for the first time. One thing I thought was helpful was getting a few tests done to make sure everything is up and running well. I had an HSG and ultrasounds to look at my folicles and a hormone test to make sure everything was normal. This was very helpful. The doc said I may be the more fertile 37 year old he's ever seen. In addition, he found a polyp in my uterus so that was removed which gave us the "Go Ahead" for TTC. It was a few months of tests, but now due to all of it, it significanly increases my chances of getting pregnant. Good Luck & Baby Dust to All! I personally think waiting is better. I know so many couples that rushed when they were not mentally, emotionally or financially ready and pass their issues on to their kids. This way we are (hopefully) more mature, more financially secure and ready!