TTC - Your First Child

Hello and welcome! I'm sorry your first cycle was unsuccessful. It's very upsetting when the hag shows! This whole process is emotional and can take a lot out of you. I think the decision to ttc and have a baby is extremely personal and should be connected to you emotionally. If this wasn't important to you, you wouldn't be ttc anyway and wouldn't have to deal with some of the challenges that come along. IMO, if you remove yourself emotionally then there's no point in it.

The good thing is that there is support (like right here on TTCYFC) from women who have been there and want a baby just as much. We all have different experiences, but are going for the same end result. I hope you find great support here!

Have you thought about temping and charting or using OPKs to help detect ovulation? If you haven't already, check out fertilityfriend.com which has a ton of info on ttc, maximizing your chances each cycle as well as free charting software and a ttc "course". There really is a wealth of information on there so I highly recommend checking it out.

Kim - This Cycle: Unmedicated, Follow-Up Lab Work, Repeat S/A  

Hi and welcome! Ugh, I hear you! Like you, I was really surprised after my first month of TTC about how much it upset me to not be pregnant right away; I was not expecting to cry about it. I'm afraid I don't have any advice on how to make it easier. I agree with Kim, though, that detaching from the process emotionally probably isn't helpful, and I know for me would be darned near impossible.

I also agree with Kim that finding a place with other women going through similar experiences (like TTCYFC) is really helpful. In my own experience, I've found that my friends who aren't TTC don't really understand how difficult it is; it seems that we all learned in our sex ed. classes that virtually all it takes to get pregnant is eye contact--yikes! (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration. But not much of one).

I've also found that charting my BBT on fertilityfriend.com and using OPKs has been super-helpful this month. If you're newly off of birth control, it *may* take your cycles some time to re-adjust and you *may* have really long or really short cycles as a result. I had a short cycle last month, and am on a long cycle this month; I'd be lost, confused and very frustrated if I weren't charting my temps this month.

Good luck to you!! I hope you find the support you need here!

Hi,

Many women find it easier to know when to ttc if they chart.  There are different kinds of charting, BBT, Fertility Microscope and OPK.  There are support forums on this site for women who chart.  If you are interested in learning to chart go to this link:  http://natural-fertility-info.com/menstrual-calendar-charting-your-signs-of-fertility.html

Eating a nutrient dense whole food diet, taking a good prenatal vit, trying not to stress out, all of these things will help you to begin your journey to parenthood.

best wishes,

Dalene

  Hello!  I will be ttc'ing starting at the end of the year, and I already anticipate having some of the same feelings described here.  I started temping and charting 2 cycles ago and have found it to be immensely helpful (with very little energy expended, despite my concerns it would be a hassle).  By the time I start ttc'ing, I will have three full cycles recorded and I am already seeing a pattern in terms of when I ovulate and what signs to look for to predict it.  A lot of women post similar thoughts to mine: we spent so much time trying NOT to get pregnant without realizing what hard work it is to actually get pregnant!  So much info is based on a 28 day cycle with ovulation on the 14th day, but that simply isn't accurate or personalized enough to help.  Even when the timing is right, the chances for conception are still surprisingly modest, so I have found it comforting to know I am doing what I can to get the timing right.

  I wish you luck and hope next month is successful for you!