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I'm trying to conceive! 0.15213946117274 15.2% [ 96 ]
I have a baby! 0.06973058637084 7.0% [ 44 ]
I'm TTC #2+! 0.033280507131537 3.3% [ 21 ]
I don't want kids 0.22187004754358 22.2% [ 140 ]
I'm pregnant! 0.077654516640254 7.8% [ 49 ]
I'm infertile 0.050713153724247 5.1% [ 32 ]
I'm just voting~ 0.3946117274168 39.5% [ 249 ]
Total Votes:[ 631 ]
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Dapper Genius

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II a r c II
spazzi dumpling
        I don't know, even since my first pap smear when they ask "When was your last period" and I always say "I have an irregular cycle, it's hard to remember," they push me to estimate. They've never made any sort of diagnosis about it.

        I am thinking that a year from now if we have still had difficulty becoming pregnant I will see a fertility specialist. I'm terrified, honestly, but I guess it's sort of like going to the dentist hah.... Scary!
I'm sure the objective of the fertility doc is to help you try to conceive before they declare you infertile. Don't worry!

Also, I found this blog or something that might help. Lady Stuff

Kawaii Autobiographer

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So how com this topic is all sparkly and blue?

Divorced Datemate

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My 31 year old sister has been trying to concieve for a few years now and it's just not happening for her. She has PCOS and her husband has health issues putting him in and out of the hospital. But she is lucky to have her 3 step-daughters, one of them living with them full time.

My other sister who is 33 dreamed of having kids but when got married they were both so overwhelmed with their busy careers it didn't happen. Then he cheated, she gave him a second chance, then he told her he never wanted children, ending the marriage. But she has a new boyfriend now who has a daughter from another women that she treats as if she is her own.

I'm really sad for both my sisters. They want babies so bad. But luckily do have men with children so they have some sort of children in their lives to care for and love.

Darling

Toxilicks
So how com this topic is all sparkly and blue?
        I used "Promote My Post" function to draw attention to the topic c:

Darling

spazzi dumpling
II a r c II
spazzi dumpling
        I don't know, even since my first pap smear when they ask "When was your last period" and I always say "I have an irregular cycle, it's hard to remember," they push me to estimate. They've never made any sort of diagnosis about it.

        I am thinking that a year from now if we have still had difficulty becoming pregnant I will see a fertility specialist. I'm terrified, honestly, but I guess it's sort of like going to the dentist hah.... Scary!
I'm sure the objective of the fertility doc is to help you try to conceive before they declare you infertile. Don't worry!

Also, I found this blog or something that might help. Lady Stuff
        Thank you for posting the link and your support! I will check it out when I get home (at work currently haha!)

Darling

Pink Plaid
My 31 year old sister has been trying to concieve for a few years now and it's just not happening for her. She has PCOS and her husband has health issues putting him in and out of the hospital. But she is lucky to have her 3 step-daughters, one of them living with them full time.

My other sister who is 33 dreamed of having kids but when got married they were both so overwhelmed with their busy careers it didn't happen. Then he cheated, she gave him a second chance, then he told her he never wanted children, ending the marriage. But she has a new boyfriend now who has a daughter from another women that she treats as if she is her own.

I'm really sad for both my sisters. They want babies so bad. But luckily do have men with children so they have some sort of children in their lives to care for and love.
        My heart goes out to both of your sisters. A major part of my anxiety about getting pregnant comes from the fact that the prime fertility age is 20-24, and I am closing in on 24. I appreciate you sharing your story. If they are Gaia users they are welcome to come for support! Either way, my prayers are with them.

Enduring Phantom

Ugh. Why don't you just go to the parents thread.

This makes me resent paying for birth control if there's people who can have unprotected sex for years and not get knocked up tbh. Better safe than sorry though.

Darling

ragnaroknroll
Ugh. Why don't you just go to the parents thread.

This makes me resent paying for birth control if there's people who can have unprotected sex for years and not get knocked up tbh. Better safe than sorry though.

        First of all; it is very rude to come in here and act like that towards people who have been trying for years to get pregnant. If you aren't going to be supportive then there's no reason to post.

        Second; I did not see that thread before making this one, and besides; this thread is focused most on TTC and struggling with BECOMING pregnant. Not already being pregnant or being a parent.

Dapper Dabbler

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Good luck to you! smile
I wont be trying to have kids for many, many years. But i found out last week i might have endometriosis, and may be infertile. I have to go in next week for an ultrasound. Im not sure what comes after that, but im pretty freaked out about it.

Enduring Phantom

II a r c II

        First of all; it is very rude to come in here and act like that towards people who have been trying for years to get pregnant. If you aren't going to be supportive then there's no reason to post.

        Second; I did not see that thread before making this one, and besides; this thread is focused most on TTC and struggling with BECOMING pregnant. Not already being pregnant or being a parent.


I don't see how it's rude. I'm merely commenting, why do I shell out a ton of money on birth control every month if you can have unprotected sex for years and not get pregnant? It's not fair cry

Also there is a "TTC" section in the pregnancy thread so this is a repeat thread (I'm willing to bet you didn't even read this)

So I'm going to go ahead and quote it:

Adorably Awkward
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♥Trying to Conceive.♥

I
f you're ready to take that next step in life and become a parent then congratulations! Welcome aboard the TTC Train...*Woot Woot*.

This section of the Pregnancy Support thread will cover a few bases of TTC. Please consult a physician if you have any health concerns or questions. Please keep in mind that all this information is provided by the internet and may not be the words of a true physician.

I
f you’re not already eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly, now is the best time to change your diet, and possibly even your lifestyle, to help insure not only a successful conception but a healthy pregnancy. By learning more about nutrition and developing good habits now, you’ll be in a good position to instill healthy eating habits in your child, too.

○Pre-conception Doctor’s Appointment
You may even want to visit your doctor before you conceive. He or she can advise you on a healthy diet, evaluate your overall health, and let you know if you should lose or gain weight before you begin trying to conceive. You can find out your ideal healthy weight by calculating your BMI (body mass index). Being overweight can decrease your chances of conception by as much as 29 percent.

â—‹Eliminate Fast Food
For many people, step one toward a healthier diet is to eliminate fast food from your weekly menu. Pricey, fried, loaded with trans fats, and mostly devoid of nutrients, fast food offers few benefits beyond convenience. If you find yourself at a fast food restaurant, order a salad with grilled chicken on top, and use dressing sparingly. This is a lifestyle change that will benefit your unborn baby and your infant. Some of the benefits of breastfeeding are negated if you eat fast food more than once or twice a week while breastfeeding.

â—‹Eat a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet consists of plenty of whole grains, at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, at least three servings of non-fat or low-fat dairy products, and small portions of lean proteins, such as chicken and fish. Don’t forget the healthy fats, too, such as those found in olive oil (and other nut and seed oils) and foods like avocado.

You can find out more about the USDA Food Pyramid and smart food choices at mypyramid.gov.

Pregnant women and those TTC need more folic acid (otherwise known as Folate or vitamin B9) in their diets and should be sure they are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D. Taking in no less than 400 mcg of folic acid per day can reduce the risk of serious neural tube birth defects such as spinal bifida. You can get folic acid from sources such as dark leafy vegetables like spinach, citrus fruits, and fortified breads and cereals.

â—‹The Good and Bad of Fish: DHA and Mercury
Studies show that DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, is important in the development of the brains of fetuses as well as infants and toddlers. DHA can be found in foods such as flax, pumpkin seeds and avocado, but one of the best sources of DHA is coldwater fish, including tuna and salmon.

Unfortunately, fish also contain levels of mercury, which has been linked to nervous system disorders. So, what’s a woman who’s TTC, pregnant or breastfeeding to do? Eat fish shown to have the lowest levels of mercury in moderation by following the EPA guidelines for fish consumption in pregnant and lactating women.

As a general guideline, stay away from tuna steaks, swordfish, and shark, which are high in mercury and limit consumption of low-mercury level fish, including salmon, shrimp, chunk light tuna (not albacore) to 12 oz. per week.

Get the balance of your DHA by taking a pre-natal multivitamin enhanced with DHA or taking a separate DHA supplement.

â—‹Pre-natal Vitamins
Most people’s diets don’t contain enough Vitamin D, folic acid, or DHA, along with many other essential nutrients. Even if you eat a balanced diet, it can be challenging to get sufficient quantities of these vitamins and nutrients every day. Your doctor may prescribe a pre-natal vitamin during your pre-conception check-up, but you’ll probably find prescription pre-natals don’t differ much from over-the-counter supplements.
Pre-natal vitamins should contain:

........Vitamin A
........Vitamin C
........Vitamin D
........Vitamin E
........Thiamin
........Riboflavin
........Niacin
........Vitamin B6
........Folic Acid
........Vitamin B12
........Calcium
........Iron
........Zinc

Take pre-natal vitamins with a meal or a glass of milk, as they may cause nausea on an empty stomach. If your pre-natals are causing constipation or an upset stomach, you may want to experiment with different brands. Again, it is better to start your vitamins while you are TTC, so that you know that any side effects are caused by the vitamins and not by pregnancy.

â—‹Exercise
Most doctors will tell you that it’s safe to continue almost any exercise program you were doing with proficiency before you conceived during your pregnancy. This includes bicycling, scuba diving, aerobics, yoga, tennis, weight training and countless other sports and activities. After you get pregnant, however, is not the time to learn a new sport or skill, which is why it’s a good idea to begin an exercise program you love while you are TTC. If you were not exercising regularly before you conceived—or did not have time to grow proficient in your chosen activities before you conceived–stick with walking and swimming, or even water aerobics if swimming is too taxing on your body, during pregnancy. •Source

B
eing aware of your menstrual cycle and the changes in your body that happen during this time can help you know when you are most likely to get pregnant.The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days. But normal cycles can vary from 21 to 35 days. The amount of time before ovulation occurs is different in every woman, and even can be different from month-to-month in the same woman, varying from 13 to 20 days long. This is the most important part of the cycle to learn about, since this is when ovulation and pregnancy can occur. After ovulation, every woman (unless she has a health problem that affects her periods) will have a period within 14 to 16 days.

C
harting your fertility pattern. Knowing when you're most fertile will help you plan pregnancy. There are three ways you can keep track of your fertile times. They are:

○Basal body temperature method – Basal body temperature is your temperature at rest as soon as you awake in the morning. A woman's basal body temperature rises slightly with ovulation. So by recording this temperature daily for several months, you'll be able to predict your most fertile days.

Basal body temperature differs slightly from woman to woman. Anywhere from 96 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit orally is average before ovulation. After ovulation most women have an oral temperature between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. The rise in temperature can be a sudden jump or a gradual climb over a few days.

Usually a woman's basal body temperature rises by only 0.4 to 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit. To detect this tiny change, women must use a basal body thermometer. These thermometers are very sensitive. Most pharmacies sell them for around $10.

The rise in temperature doesn't show exactly when the egg is released. But almost all women have ovulated within three days after their temperatures spike. Body temperature stays at the higher level until your period starts.

You are most fertile and most likely to get pregnant: Two to three days before your temperature hits the highest point (ovulation), and 12 to 24 hours after ovulation.

A man's sperm can live for up to three days in a woman's body. The sperm can fertilize an egg at any point during that time. So if you have unprotected sex a few days before ovulation there is a chance of becoming pregnant.

Many things can affect basal body temperature. For your chart to be useful, make sure to take your temperature every morning at about the same time. Things that can alter your temperature include:

â—‹ drinking alcohol the night before
â—‹ smoking cigarettes the night before
â—‹ getting a poor night's sleep
â—‹ having a fever
○ doing anything in the morning before you take your temperature — including going to the bathroom and talking on the phone.

○Calendar method – This involves recording your menstrual cycle on a calendar for 8 to 12 months. The first day of your period is Day 1. Circle Day 1 on the calendar. The length of your cycle may vary from month to month. So write down the total number of days it lasts each time. Using this record, you can find the days you are most fertile in the months ahead:

........1] To find out the first day when you are most fertile, subtract 18 from the total number of days in your shortest cycle. Take this new number and count ahead that many days from the first day of your next period. Draw an X through this date on your calendar. The X marks the first day you're likely to be fertile.
........2] To find out the last day when you are most fertile, subtract 11 from the total number of days in your longest cycle. Take this new number and count ahead that many days from the first day of your next period. Draw an X through this date on your calendar. The time between the two Xs is your most fertile window.

This method always should be used along with other fertility awareness methods, especially if your cycles are not always the same lengths.

○Cervical mucus method (also known as the ovulation method) – This involves being aware of the changes in your cervical mucus throughout the month. The hormones that control the menstrual cycle also change the kind and amount of mucus you have before and during ovulation. Right after your period, there are usually a few days when there is no mucus present or "dry days." As the egg starts to mature, mucus increases in the v****a, appears at the vaginal opening, and is white or yellow and cloudy and sticky. The greatest amount of mucus appears just before ovulation. During these "wet days" it becomes clear and slippery, like raw egg whites. Sometimes it can be stretched apart. This is when you are most fertile. About four days after the wet days begin the mucus changes again. There will be much less and it becomes sticky and cloudy. You might have a few more dry days before your period returns. Describe changes in your mucus on a calendar. Label the days, "Sticky," "Dry," or "Wet." You are most fertile at the first sign of wetness after your period or a day or two before wetness begins.

To most accurately track your fertility, use a combination of all three methods. This is called the symptothermal (SIMP-toe-thur-muhl) method. You can also purchase over-the-counter ovulation kits or fertility monitors to help find the best time to conceive. These kits work by detecting surges in a specific hormone called luteinizing hormone, which triggers ovulation.

Information taken from womenshealth.gov
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Stop being so hypersensitive; you're more likely to find people who care in the appropriate thread anyway.

Lucky Star

I wish you the best of luck!
And I totally understand the need for this thread outside of the pregnancy support....
I have a son and desperately want another, but know it's a bad time for another child right now so we aren't trying
But reading everyone talking about their pregnancies make my desires for another kid 100x worse

*plenty of sticky baby dust sent your way*

OG Cutie-Pie

Oh I wish this had been around a while back. No one's sure why, but the older I get, the worse my hormonal cycle gets. I went from having irregular periods to only having periods a couple times a year or even less. I can't take hormones, they make me sick, and I was told that I was lucky to have had my first baby so young, because I'd never conceive naturally again. Thankfully, that doctor was wrong, and I had my beautiful son last year. But there was a long period of heartbreak before that happened.

I'm opting not to try for any more, as it's been very dangerous for me, and I don't know I'd be so lucky a third time. But funny enough, a lot people I know have gotten pregnant right after I've wished them luck conceiving, so BEST OF LUCK to everyone in this thread who wants a baby. heart
ragnaroknroll
Ugh. Why don't you just go to the parents thread.

This makes me resent paying for birth control if there's people who can have unprotected sex for years and not get knocked up tbh. Better safe than sorry though.


Trying to conceive.
Currently pregnant.
Rearing a child.

Three different segments of parenthood. While they all merge in some way, it's best to have a topic for each so that each can have their own specific focus. Many TTC partners may feel disheartened or depressed if they hang around the pregnancy thread where mothers to be have their infants already incubating. Just as those currently pregnant could feel overwhelmed or anxious to hang out in the parenting thread for their future responsibility.

They each deserve their own focus.

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