Young and TTC

[Rae15]

Hello! Just to get everything started off, I'd like all of my helpful peers to know that I am a happily MARRIED 17 year old. No, I was not pregnant when we decided to tie the knot, just crazy for each other. My husband is four years older than me, (he'll be 22 in March) and I will not be 18 until June. My parents had to sign a form of consent and all the works. But down to business, we've decided to start trying to conceive! We have been married for almost 6 months now. We own our own house, my DH has already been through college and earned a degree, paid off all of his student loans and has a full time job. I am still in high school and will be graduating this coming May. I am a CNA currently but I have been accepted to a nursing program starting in June. This program is built around non traditional students and is just a short drive from my home. My DH and I are very aware of what this means as we've had the kids talk over and over. He is a Jehovah Witness and I was raised Catholic, so we've beaten a dead horse on discussing things of this nature. We'll even have free childcare as my mother is a daycare provider and has alreasy agreed to watch her grandchild while DH and I go to work and school next year! (But refuses to be called grandma )This month I received my very first BFN, which was very discouraging. I'm just looking for some inspirational stories or some advice on anyone that has ever been in a situation similar to mine. Mainly, how long it took you to conceive. I know one month isn't anything, I'm just trying to keep my spirits up and I'm sure no lady is going to be opposed to sharing her jubilant news either. Thanks in advance ladies and apologies for the novel I wrote haha!

 

[meg_bellamy]

Hi there, welcome Sounds like you and your DH have talked about all the logistics of baby/ work/ study so that's great I don't have any advice really about TTC as this is my first month trying, I will probably be crushed as well if I get a BFN first month even though I know that is normal haha! I think expecting it to take at least a few months is realistic, but it's not so bad as it gives you a chance to get fit and healthy and take pre-natals lol. Good luck x

 

[Rae15]

Really? First month for you? Well that's great! Baby dust to you! I hope you don't end up with a BFN, too! It's no fun. But lots of baby dust to you!

 

[justplay91]

Hi, Rae15. Sounds like although you're young, you're prepared and know what you want. Good for you! My husband and I are also young. He's 26 and I'm 23. We have a 6 month old who was a bit of a surprise (but a happy one) and are now TTC #2 so I can go back to school as soon as possible after we have our two kids. I'm also planning on nursing school. Unfortunately, our first month was a BFN, too. We're on our second cycle now. We're hoping for a BFP by July so the kids will be close in age!

TTC is a frustrating process. It takes on average at least 4-6 months to conceive, but I know that every BFN feels like a failure. I sincerely hope you and your husband get a BFP soon so that you can enjoy your first pregnancy! Baby dust to you!

 

[Rae15]

Oh my goodness! I am so happy someone else finally said it! My DH is so supportive but when I got my BFN yesterday and I felt like I failed, even though I know it's not my fault, he just didn't understand. Thank you so much! It takes a very special person to be a nurse, but being friendly is a big step, so I think you'll do great. Congrats on your first! And I hope you get your next little one as soon as possible! Two is a great number. Lots of baby dust to you!

 

[Bee Bee]

Since you are new to TTC, here is some advice

- Even for perfectly healthy couples, it can take up to a year to get pregnant. So, dont be discouraged if it takes that long. If it does, you may seek help from a specialist to help you fall pregnant. I know that it took my parents a little over a year to fall pregnant with me.

- Even under the most perfect conditions, your chances of getting pregnant each month is about 20% (its higher if you release more than one egg, which doesnt happen often). You have a 20% chance to fertilize the egg, then another 20% chance to implant and then ANOTHER 20% chance of the pregnancy being viable and sticking. Thus why it can take up to a year. 70% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. (I'm not trying to be discouraging, just giving you the facts so you know. Especially if you should, heaven forbid, have a miscarriage. They're very common so don't lose faith if it happens to you.)

-If you want to up your chances of getting pregnant, I would suggest charting. Charting consists of taking your temperature every morning and marking it down. I have been doing it for a year and a half and it has helped me tons. The reason this is helpful is because your body does very particular things temperature-wise throughout the month. your temperature will drop when you ovulate and then rise after and stay high until you have your period. Figuring out exactly when you ovulate each month will help you time intercourse better and up your chances of falling pregnant. To get started with charting, youll need to purchase a BBT thermometer and then use a app like Fertilityfriend to enter your temperatures. (If you decide to chart and need any help with it, let me know)

- Another way to figure out your ovulation day is to use OPKs (ovulation predictor kits). You start testing around 10 days after the first day of your period and you test until you get a positive result. They detect what is called your LH surge. LH is the hormone your body releases when ovulating. So, once you get a positive test, you should ovulate anywhere from 12-48 hrs afterwards.

- Sperm can live in your system for 3-5 days, sometimes up to a week if they are particularly strong. So, you'll want to have lots of intercourse the week around ovulation. Docs also suggest that you have intercourse every other day in order to produce healthy, strong sperm. That gives the sperm time to regenerate. Its possible that your hubby might not have proper time to regenerate sperm properly if you have intercourse every day.

And that's all I can think of right now. I hope that helps you out in your endeavors

 

[meg_bellamy]

Bee Bee, thank you so much for your helpful posts, you are very knowledgeable and I'm learning a lot

 

[Rae15]

Thanks so much for all of your wonderful information and your personal tales! I feel a lot better! You ladies are awesome!

 

[Rae15]

And just a quick question, are any of you ladies taking prenatal vitamins preconception? if so, recommendation on brand? Thanks in advance!

 

[Bee Bee]

And just a quick question, are any of you ladies taking prenatal vitamins preconception? if so, recommendation on brand? Thanks in advance!

I am! My doc actually prescribed me some with my ectopic that I had left over (along with extra folic acid) but for a long time I was taking these and I liked them https://www.brainstrongdha.com/brainstrong-prenatal

They used to be on amazon but I guess they only sell them in Walgreens and such anymore

 

[MichCuc]

I second the charting advice! So helpful. Are your cycles regular (i.e. around 28 days each month)? If not, charting and opks can be even more helpful! My cycles are a mess, and I think if not for the help of opks and charting, it would have taken me much longer to conceive my daughter. If you have the time, you could read the book Taking CHarge of your Fertility, it's so informative and goes over how to chart. Good Luck!

 

[Rae15]

Ordered some vitamins and they should be here soon! My cycles last anywhere from 28-30 days. I bought an OPK and I'm going to give it a try this month! My first CD is anywhere from the 13th to 14th day of each month so I'm hoping that this kit will help me tremendously! Do any of you have a slightly annoying cycle like mine?

 

[Rae15]

Bee Bee, congrats on your BFP by the way!