I am so excited, I got my BFP on Thursday, after 18 months ttc#1. Not exactly sure what we did that made a difference, but in case it helps anyone, Ill put some details below. Im 34 and DH is 36, neither of us have children or health issues, were both a healthy weight and Ive never been pregnant. I was ovulating regularly on CD15. Wed both had the standard tests (blood tests and sexual health tests for me, SA for him) and everything was normal. Wed been using condoms prior to TTC so no problems with effects from hormonal contraception. It was mystifying, and was really getting us down. I had seen a consultant at the local NHS fertility clinic and was waiting for date for my HSG dye test. Then surprise! Best news ever.
What we were doing anyway
- no caffeine for me, for months before
- both on Pregnacare preconception vitamins for him and her, also cod liver oil, DH on extra vit C and acai
- charting my cycle, after reading TCOYF (very much recommended)
- using OPKs
- cut down on alcohol (I didnt't drink much anyway, maybe 2 or 3 glasses of wine over a weekend, but I stopped drinking in the 2WW), and DH had started to cut down a lot on smoking 4 months ago (I strongly suspect this is what has made the difference, but he wont accept it!)
What we did new this month
- used Preseed (pro-fertility lubricant)
- I started taking kelp and Siberian ginseng this month, just thought Id give them a try as I was always cold, with cold hands and feet and a cold nose, and thought maybe theyd help
- I had no alcohol at all
- I did much less aerobic exercise just because Ive been really busy at work and didnt have time to go to aerobics (which Id normally do about 3 times a week). Was still doing lots of cycling and a couple of weights classes and yoga classes a week
- I started following the Foresight conception programme this month. It might sound a bit radical but after 18 months I had got to the stage where I would do anything! This meant eating an organic fertility diet, getting a water filter installed, not using a microwave, not using aluminium-based deodorant and a few more things you can find for free on their website. I tried it after some friends who were also TTC for 18 months got pregnant on their first month on the programme and recommended it (they had sperm issues and had been told theyd never get pregnant). I've decided to keep it up throughout the pregnancy just in case
- we had less sex previously wed been BDing every day or nearly every day from about CD11 to about CD16. This time DH was away in New York until CD15, my ov day. I thought it would probably be too late but offered to go and pick him up from the airport so hed be home as quickly as possible just in case! So I collected him, whisked him home, and voila!
- sods law, it was the first month after which I wouldnt get any maternity pay (due to end of contract). Typical! Still worth it!
What we had tried that didnt work for us
- using an old diaphragm to keep sperm in. Didnt cause any problems, but nothing happened
- agnus castus (vitex) lengthened my cycle (ov moved to CD18) and made my OPK results disappear (very weird, even the control line on them disappeared. Until then all brands had worked perfectly. Afterwards none of them worked). I would say dont try it on the offchance (which is what I did, stupidly).
- In the first part of my cycle, I had been taking evening primrose, drinking green tea and eating fresh grapefruit to try to increase CM. I hadnt bothered this month.
For anyone interested in early pregnancy symptoms, I had nothing until the day my period was due. Then I had usual cramping pains (which have continued all week) which of course I just thought was my period on its way. Slight nausea but again nothing too much out of the ordinary. But then I went to bed in the afternoon and slept for 2 hours. I NEVER sleep in the day, which should have been a big clue! And over the week after my period was due, the other one was having a couple of erotic dreams again not usual I guess its the hormones. Finally by a couple of days after my period was due I was needing to go to the loo more often.
We are so happy and after having read these forums over many months and got so many tips and so much advice, are overjoyed to be finally announcing a BFP!
What we were doing anyway
- no caffeine for me, for months before
- both on Pregnacare preconception vitamins for him and her, also cod liver oil, DH on extra vit C and acai
- charting my cycle, after reading TCOYF (very much recommended)
- using OPKs
- cut down on alcohol (I didnt't drink much anyway, maybe 2 or 3 glasses of wine over a weekend, but I stopped drinking in the 2WW), and DH had started to cut down a lot on smoking 4 months ago (I strongly suspect this is what has made the difference, but he wont accept it!)
What we did new this month
- used Preseed (pro-fertility lubricant)
- I started taking kelp and Siberian ginseng this month, just thought Id give them a try as I was always cold, with cold hands and feet and a cold nose, and thought maybe theyd help
- I had no alcohol at all
- I did much less aerobic exercise just because Ive been really busy at work and didnt have time to go to aerobics (which Id normally do about 3 times a week). Was still doing lots of cycling and a couple of weights classes and yoga classes a week
- I started following the Foresight conception programme this month. It might sound a bit radical but after 18 months I had got to the stage where I would do anything! This meant eating an organic fertility diet, getting a water filter installed, not using a microwave, not using aluminium-based deodorant and a few more things you can find for free on their website. I tried it after some friends who were also TTC for 18 months got pregnant on their first month on the programme and recommended it (they had sperm issues and had been told theyd never get pregnant). I've decided to keep it up throughout the pregnancy just in case
- we had less sex previously wed been BDing every day or nearly every day from about CD11 to about CD16. This time DH was away in New York until CD15, my ov day. I thought it would probably be too late but offered to go and pick him up from the airport so hed be home as quickly as possible just in case! So I collected him, whisked him home, and voila!
- sods law, it was the first month after which I wouldnt get any maternity pay (due to end of contract). Typical! Still worth it!
What we had tried that didnt work for us
- using an old diaphragm to keep sperm in. Didnt cause any problems, but nothing happened
- agnus castus (vitex) lengthened my cycle (ov moved to CD18) and made my OPK results disappear (very weird, even the control line on them disappeared. Until then all brands had worked perfectly. Afterwards none of them worked). I would say dont try it on the offchance (which is what I did, stupidly).
- In the first part of my cycle, I had been taking evening primrose, drinking green tea and eating fresh grapefruit to try to increase CM. I hadnt bothered this month.
For anyone interested in early pregnancy symptoms, I had nothing until the day my period was due. Then I had usual cramping pains (which have continued all week) which of course I just thought was my period on its way. Slight nausea but again nothing too much out of the ordinary. But then I went to bed in the afternoon and slept for 2 hours. I NEVER sleep in the day, which should have been a big clue! And over the week after my period was due, the other one was having a couple of erotic dreams again not usual I guess its the hormones. Finally by a couple of days after my period was due I was needing to go to the loo more often.
We are so happy and after having read these forums over many months and got so many tips and so much advice, are overjoyed to be finally announcing a BFP!
xx
thought it would never happen again, thought i prob wasn't even preggers! Kept on trying and got BFP straight after!! still in shock. 18weeks along now and all seems well, due date is Nov4th - and my 40th birthday is oct 8th so this is gonna be one helluva year!
I really have an issue with feet though, don't like them touching things or being touched.. Baby feet are the only feet I tolerate.. 
