Tips for ttc from a Google-holic!

So I've been ttc for about 7 months now.  Not really that long in the scheme of some of the ladies here who've been trying for years! But I'm one of "those" people who like to know everything there is to know about things they are involved in.  So I've gotten the Google equivalent of a PhD in getting pregnant. Lol.

I also really like to be helpful to people so I thought I would share some of the things I've found helpful to understand!

The Cycle

A cycle is the time between the start day of one period and the start of the next. The first day of your period is cycle day 1.

Cycles can be broken into two phases. The time between cycle day one and the day you ovulate is the follicular phase. This is the time during which your egg is growing and preparing for possible fertilization. This part of your cycle can vary quite a bit,  which is what causes the total number of days in your cycle to change.

Ovulation is when the egg is actually released. You'll have between 12 and 24 hours after this for possible fertilization if sperm are present. This is the most vital time to have sex! The good news: Sperm can survive in your womb about 3 days (sometimes longer but I wouldn't push it past this) so you've got lots of chances at getting some swimmers close to your egg!

The days following ovulation before your next period is called the luteal phase. This phase is usually 12-14 days! Knowing this can be really helpful in determining your ovulation. Just count backwards 12-14 days from the start of your next period! It's not an exact science, so I recommend other methods as well,  but it gives you a place to start!

If you're certain you know when ovulation was and think your luteal phase was less than approximately 12 days,  you may want to look into short luteal phase disorders. Simply Google just that,  and you'll get a lot of information to get started.

So what are these other methods for determining ovulation?

The first and most common is by measuring your basal body temperature(bbt). To do this you'll need a special thermometer called a basal body thermometer. They are between 8 and  15 dollars on average and can be purchased in most pharmacies.

Apps like Glow, Ovia, and Fertility Friend which I'll talk more about in a minute will help you track bbt and this information will help them to give you an idea when your fertile week is.

bbt needs to be taken at the same time every day. It should be after 4 hours of sleep (or more) and before you get up and move around. I personally set an alarm to take mine at the same time every day.  Once you have ovulated you'll see your bbt go up by at least .4 degrees. Be careful though,  it should stay up a minimum of 3 days following or it might not indicate ovulation!

Ovulation Prediction Kits(Opks)

Opks work similar to a pregnancy test. You pee on them and look for lines! Lol.

The difference is opks are measuring hormones that indicate ovulation. Also,  opks shouldn't necessarily be taken in the morning. I usually take mine when I get home from work.

An opk is positive when the test line is the same color, or darker than the control line.

I typically start taking opks around cycle day 10. But my cycles are long (about 36 days) so if you have short cycles you should probably start after your period ends.

A special note on opks-They don't work so well if you have Pcos(polysystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, or thyroid dysfunction. For example I have hypothyroidism and I get several positive opks at very separate days of my cycle. It's normal for opks to be positive 2-3 days in a row, but not on separate days with a negative in between. If this happens to you Google those disorders and see if you have other symptoms. I recommend taking all concerns to your doctor.

You can get opks at most pharmacies as well,  but I recommend ordering them on Amazon. It's Way cheaper and they work fine. I use Wondfo brand.

Cervical Mucus

This is the fluid produced by your cervix. Google how to check it! However,  know that you are most fertile when your cervical mucus is similar to the consistency of egg whites.  Meaning it's clear and stretchy!

If you're like me, you might not produce a lot of cervical mucus. That means you might need a little help.  See below.

Preseed/Conceive Plus

Both of these are fertility friendly lubricants. Normal lubricants are not super friendly to sperm so I would not use them!

You can get preseed in most stores, but have to order conceive plus online. They work basically the same. They provide lubricant and help the sperm stay alive inside your womb. My personal preference is for conceive plus, but you can use either!

Vitamins

Some women may struggle to ovulate naturally. Vitamins are what I know the least about so I won't say a lot about this,  but the most popular ones I've seen on Glow are evening primrose oil, maca root, and red raspberry tea leaf!

Apps

The three apps I use are Glow, Ovia, and Fertility Friend. All three are free and available on android and apple.

I like Glow for its community. It's great to be able to connect with others who get it!

I love Ovia for its straight forward information. It tells you what cycle day you're on,  how many days until your next period, when to test,  and gives you a fertility rating for the day.

Fertility Friend has the best bbt charts and predictions. Ovulation is really easy to see on fertility friend!

Ttc language! You may have noticed ttcers have their own language. You can Google ttc abbreviations to get a full list,  but here are some basics to get you started.

Ttc- Trying to conceive

CD- Cycle day

DPO-Days past ovulation

BD- Baby Dance,  or sex.

BFN- Big fat negative

BFP- Big fat positive

AF- Aunt Flo or your period.

The most important thing about TTC.... it's normal for it to take time! It can be really hard when you don't fall pregnant right away. A lot of women think there must be something wrong with them. I know I've thought that many times! But it's not necessarily true. Even if you have sex during your fertile window there's only a 33% chance of getting pregnant each month!

So keep your hopes up and be patient with yourself! Best of luck and baby dust! 😊🎇🎇🎇😊