Help! Confused about O/BD dates!

[cl59]

Hi everyone,

This is only my second month TTC after coming off the pill so I know that things might fluctuate a bit but I want to give it my best shot. This is a pretty long msg so I'm sorry, but I would really appreciate any advice or support you guys can give. Don't really have anyone to talk to about TTC.

Took my last pill (fyi packet of 21 pills, then no pills for 7 day break) on 19/08 and got my withdrawal bleed four days later as usual on 23 aug. So I recorded this as CD1 of my first cycle off the pill. As I didn't know how long cycles would be but I used to be around 28 days, we BD around days 12-15. AF came on 19 sep giving me a 27 day cycle that month (FYI I was on holiday in the US - east coast, live in UK, between 4-14 sep so that may have affected cycle).

Based on that, I started testing OPKs (usually around 6pm) this month on CD11 (unfortunately missed CD12). Got my OPK+ at 6pm on CD18. BD on CD7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 (exhausted lol!). I know we should have BD on CD20 too (based on OPK+ on CD18) but we didn't get the chance, and we didn't on CD21 (last night) either.

At midday on CD20 (18hrs after OPK+) I felt some sharp stabbing pains low down on my left side, and I was a bit crampy the rest of that day. Also slightly crampy yesterday and today, but I am constipated which might be the cause (quite normal for me, I have IBS - but ususally don't get cramps unless its AF).

Also I have had hardly any fertile CM at all. Sorry TMI - only a teeny tiny bit after a bowel movement on CD 18 but nothing more. Since O I have had quite a bit of creamy CM.

So - my questions are:
Is it weird or bad that I got my OPK+ at 6pm on CD18 when my last cycle was only 27 days?
If we BD on CD17, 18 and 19 (all late at night) but NOT the night of CD20 when I felt my possible O pain that midday, have I ruined my chances?
Does the cramping after O mean anything?
Will having hardly any fertile CM mean I'm out this month?
Am I crazy??? OK that one is a joke

Thanks in advance for any help! Baby dust to you all!!

 

[Loobs]

Hi! Firstly, you are definitely not crazy. Well - not more than me but thats what this journey does to you

I think your body is still finding its groove after you stopping the pill. I think your cycle will fluctuate a bit, so I wouldn't be worried about a slightly later ovulation. I stopped taking the pill 18 months ago and my cycle length has varied between 27 and 34 days.

If the pain you felt on CD20 was O then I think you should be covered with your timing on CD18 and 19.

I'm not sure about the post O cramping if thats what it was. I've never experienced that so haven't really looked into it.

Having hardly any CM doesn't mean you won't conceive. I've seen it happen here quite a few times! If you feel you are particularly "dry", there are a range of fertility lubes out there. They are lubes which are similar to EWCM and seminal fluid which aren't spermicidal. They seem to be quite popular and effective, DH and I have used it a few times. I find the extend of my EWCM is just one blob of it, once in the cycle. So I figured preseed or something similar wouldn't hurt. It's not worked for us yet!

Hope your cycle settles soon, and you catch the eggy! x

 

[cl59]

Thanks so much for responding and for the great advice on sperm-friendly lube - I have heard people on here mentioning preseed a lot so if this isn't my lucky cycle I will definitely get some of that! And thanks for the reassurance about my timings - I'm sure you're right about adjusting after the pill, I guess I'm just impatient!

 

[Loobs]

No problem at all. I hear ya about impatient, know the feeling! x