In need of tips / advice

[Vintageling]

Ok so we are in cycle 7 and in the 2ww but if this goes the way I'm feeling I need some tips an advice to basically help this journey.
I do bbt, opks and I check cm I take folic acid and a normal multi vitamin and eat pretty good.
What else can I do to help.i remember ladies talking a while back about supplements ect and at this point I am willing to try anything to help with fertility for me and oh.

 

[Kholl]

I feel like a broken record, but it is vitally important to take the active form of folic acid, which is folate or methylfolate. I think a combo of methylfolate and maca root is a fantastic fertility boost. I took the Thorne folate/b12 combo, and there are many prenatal multivitamins with the active form of folate.

Good luck!

 

[WinterWolf]

What's your BMI? Any extra weight will make TTC harder, so make sure you're eating healthy. No processed crap or sugary treats as they can mess with your hormones. You also should be doing 30mins of proper exercise a day (enough to get your heart pumping/make you out of breath - walking doesn't cut it!). Lastly, make sure you're getting at least 8hrs sleep every night. People forget the importance of sleep on overall health! Make sure hubby is doing all the same things too and also watching his alcohol intake as that can mess with sperm quality.

You should also look at trying the SMEP plan if you haven't yet. Lots of couples have success with it.

Aside from good timing and keeping yourselves in the best shape possible there's really not a lot you can do on your own to improve your odds I'm afraid. There are supplements you can take like CoQ10 that are meant to improve egg quality but they'll only help so much. It's mostly a waiting game. 7 months isn't that long even though it seems like it x

 

[Kitana]

Winterwolf said it all! I think exercise is indeed such a great stress reliever and makes you feel much more confident and positive.
Good luck hun!x

 

[Sunflower1]

Yoga works for a lot of people.

 

[Vintageling]

Thanks ladies. Exercise is a problem for me at the moment because my fibro has been such a cow bag recently so I have to slowly build myself back up again but I do at least 1 hour a week at majorettes and then practice with the ladies on my team when we are all free and my fibro is behaving. I'll try out some if the supplement suggestions. I'm 11st 4lbs at the moment so my bmi isn't the worse but isn't the best but I'm still skinny just have a little tum that sticks out that I have even when I was at my smallest. I'm 5ft 3 so I could do with losing a little weight to be fair. Yea I try not to eat to many processed foods we cook alot from scratch

 

[Princess81]

I feel like a broken record, but it is vitally important to take the active form of folic acid, which is folate or methylfolate. I think a combo of methylfolate and maca root is a fantastic fertility boost. I took the Thorne folate/b12 combo, and there are many prenatal multivitamins with the active form of folate.

Good luck!

I support this! I take solgar 400ug folate.

We’ve used pre-seed lube this month and hubby has been taking wellman conception vitamins too. Not sure if it’s worked yet as also in 2ww xx

 

[Loumaro4]

Hiya Ladies

I've spent weeks trying to find an up to date forum, I am so in need of people in the same boat, I only have my partner and my mum to talk to and I know it bores the pants off them and they glaze over! I've noticed you guys are trying similar stuff to me, I'm on cd7 of cycle 4 now and I've bought some of that preseed, hoping it works, I've found out taking anti histamine dries you up, 😲and I always have them. So stopped that now. Also been having those before conception tablets, partner hates these calls them beef pills as they apparently smell like beef ha ha. I'm really confused with ovulation at the min so hoping to chat about what everyone does to find out exactly as my temps say one thing and the sticks say another. Sorry to rant on, but I can't wait to talk to people who understand 😊 hope everyone has had a good weekend. Xx

 

[Kitana]

Hiya Ladies

I've spent weeks trying to find an up to date forum, I am so in need of people in the same boat, I only have my partner and my mum to talk to and I know it bores the pants off them and they glaze over! I've noticed you guys are trying similar stuff to me, I'm on cd7 of cycle 4 now and I've bought some of that preseed, hoping it works, I've found out taking anti histamine dries you up, 😲and I always have them. So stopped that now. Also been having those before conception tablets, partner hates these calls them beef pills as they apparently smell like beef ha ha. I'm really confused with ovulation at the min so hoping to chat about what everyone does to find out exactly as my temps say one thing and the sticks say another. Sorry to rant on, but I can't wait to talk to people who understand 😊 hope everyone has had a good weekend. Xx

Hi Loumaro and welcome! Maybe you could create a new thread with your questions? Hope you get your answers!xx

 

[WinterWolf]

Thanks ladies. Exercise is a problem for me at the moment because my fibro has been such a cow bag recently so I have to slowly build myself back up again but I do at least 1 hour a week at majorettes and then practice with the ladies on my team when we are all free and my fibro is behaving. I'll try out some if the supplement suggestions. I'm 11st 4lbs at the moment so my bmi isn't the worse but isn't the best but I'm still skinny just have a little tum that sticks out that I have even when I was at my smallest. I'm 5ft 3 so I could do with losing a little weight to be fair. Yea I try not to eat to many processed foods we cook alot from scratch

That makes your BMI 28. If you're struggling to conceive it's worth trying to get it into the healthy range (below 25) - you wouldnt need to lose much weight for that. Maybe 1 stone? Sorry to hear you've got fibro, that definitely makes it harder to stay fit. The medication also doesn't help! I have a friend with fibro, she gets her exercise swimming. Is that something that works for you? I know it's different for everyone. Hopefully you can find something that you can do more frequently. Weight loss is 80% diet though so maybe have a look at what you could cut out or swap for healthier options x

I wish I could be more help with supplements but if you google egg health supplements you should find what you're looking for.

Is your partner taking any sperm health tablets? Might also be worth getting him to try Menevit or something similar. People are quick to blame the woman but the mans health is just as important for conception to occur!

 

[MoominGirl]

As someone who took a long time to conceive, here is what I probably should have advised my former self at this stage!!

Try not to worry at this stage. I know that's easier said than done but the added pressure will be no good for either of you.

Keep talking to each other. Can't stress that one enough.

Focus any changes you make on your general health and wellbeing rather than 'for fertility'. A lot have already been mentioned but good diet, cooking from scratch rather than processed foods, keeping well hydrated. Regular exercise but not overdoing it. Stopping smoking/cutting back alcohol if either applies. Aiming towards a normal BMI if that applies. I definitely would not suggest cutting out things you enjoy completely. Just everything in moderation.

Also think about things that make you feel good. Make time for treats and things you enjoy. Mental health and stress are really important.

Also try not to symptom spot. Again easier said than done. The reason I say this is that you'd think after so many failed cycles I'd have noticed something remotely different when we actually caught but I had no symptoms whatsoever and only noticed the late period because I was tracking cycles. So I wasted a lot of time with pointless symptom spotting!!

Good luck!!

 

[Vintageling]

Thanks ladies. Exercise is a problem for me at the moment because my fibro has been such a cow bag recently so I have to slowly build myself back up again but I do at least 1 hour a week at majorettes and then practice with the ladies on my team when we are all free and my fibro is behaving. I'll try out some if the supplement suggestions. I'm 11st 4lbs at the moment so my bmi isn't the worse but isn't the best but I'm still skinny just have a little tum that sticks out that I have even when I was at my smallest. I'm 5ft 3 so I could do with losing a little weight to be fair. Yea I try not to eat to many processed foods we cook alot from scratch

That makes your BMI 28. If you're struggling to conceive it's worth trying to get it into the healthy range (below 25) - you wouldnt need to lose much weight for that. Maybe 1 stone? Sorry to hear you've got fibro, that definitely makes it harder to stay fit. The medication also doesn't help! I have a friend with fibro, she gets her exercise swimming. Is that something that works for you? I know it's different for everyone. Hopefully you can find something that you can do more frequently. Weight loss is 80% diet though so maybe have a look at what you could cut out or swap for healthier options x

I wish I could be more help with supplements but if you google egg health supplements you should find what you're looking for.

Is your partner taking any sperm health tablets? Might also be worth getting him to try Menevit or something similar. People are quick to blame the woman but the mans health is just as important for conception to occur!

I'm actually unmediated and have been for over a year now. I struggling with swimming because of how cold the changing rooms are because that in itself cab cause my pain to kick off. OH doesn't take anything yet but he's starting to be more receptive to doing things to help his sperm health now because he can see I'm getting frustrated. I've been telling him if we do have problems conceieveing he better hope it's him that's the problem and not me because it's far more invasive if it's me with the things they will do to help

 

[Vintageling]

As someone who took a long time to conceive, here is what I probably should have advised my former self at this stage!!

Try not to worry at this stage. I know that's easier said than done but the added pressure will be no good for either of you.

Keep talking to each other. Can't stress that one enough.

Focus any changes you make on your general health and wellbeing rather than 'for fertility'. A lot have already been mentioned but good diet, cooking from scratch rather than processed foods, keeping well hydrated. Regular exercise but not overdoing it. Stopping smoking/cutting back alcohol if either applies. Aiming towards a normal BMI if that applies. I definitely would not suggest cutting out things you enjoy completely. Just everything in moderation.

Also think about things that make you feel good. Make time for treats and things you enjoy. Mental health and stress are really important.

Also try not to symptom spot. Again easier said than done. The reason I say this is that you'd think after so many failed cycles I'd have noticed something remotely different when we actually caught but I had no symptoms whatsoever and only noticed the late period because I was tracking cycles. So I wasted a lot of time with pointless symptom spotting!!

Good luck!!

Thanks hun yea I stopped symptom spotting a few cycles ago because I've had cycles that were mad with symptoms like I had everything and then other cycles I've had not one symptom at all so I've given up there lol and that drove me insane symptom spotting.
My oh is really good to be fair he listens to me and he knows I'm getting frustrated now and he always said once we got the 6 month mark if we still haven't concieved he would change some of his habits because he had a hell of alot if caffeine and I've tried for the past year for him to cut it down for his general health but he's cut it down now for his sperm health lol

 

[Abi88]

The only other tip I would suggest would be to vary the time of day you dtd if you can. I sort of followed SMEP but tried to aim for every 1.5 days rather than 2 in the run up to o. I wasn't massively strict about it but I have heard that morning can be better for some people. I also had pineapple from o to implantation, I got an ib so I stopped then. Probably just coincidence but they would be my tips.

 

[IVW]

Thanks ladies. Exercise is a problem for me at the moment because my fibro has been such a cow bag recently so I have to slowly build myself back up again but I do at least 1 hour a week at majorettes and then practice with the ladies on my team when we are all free and my fibro is behaving. I'll try out some if the supplement suggestions. I'm 11st 4lbs at the moment so my bmi isn't the worse but isn't the best but I'm still skinny just have a little tum that sticks out that I have even when I was at my smallest. I'm 5ft 3 so I could do with losing a little weight to be fair. Yea I try not to eat to many processed foods we cook alot from scratch

That makes your BMI 28. If you're struggling to conceive it's worth trying to get it into the healthy range (below 25) - you wouldnt need to lose much weight for that. Maybe 1 stone? Sorry to hear you've got fibro, that definitely makes it harder to stay fit. The medication also doesn't help! I have a friend with fibro, she gets her exercise swimming. Is that something that works for you? I know it's different for everyone. Hopefully you can find something that you can do more frequently. Weight loss is 80% diet though so maybe have a look at what you could cut out or swap for healthier options x

I wish I could be more help with supplements but if you google egg health supplements you should find what you're looking for.

Is your partner taking any sperm health tablets? Might also be worth getting him to try Menevit or something similar. People are quick to blame the woman but the mans health is just as important for conception to occur!

I've been telling him if we do have problems conceieveing he better hope it's him that's the problem and not me because it's far more invasive if it's me with the things they will do to help

Oooooo you were brave if i said that to my partner he would have been pissed off beyond belief.

 

[MoominGirl]

As someone who took a long time to conceive, here is what I probably should have advised my former self at this stage!!

Try not to worry at this stage. I know that's easier said than done but the added pressure will be no good for either of you.

Keep talking to each other. Can't stress that one enough.

Focus any changes you make on your general health and wellbeing rather than 'for fertility'. A lot have already been mentioned but good diet, cooking from scratch rather than processed foods, keeping well hydrated. Regular exercise but not overdoing it. Stopping smoking/cutting back alcohol if either applies. Aiming towards a normal BMI if that applies. I definitely would not suggest cutting out things you enjoy completely. Just everything in moderation.

Also think about things that make you feel good. Make time for treats and things you enjoy. Mental health and stress are really important.

Also try not to symptom spot. Again easier said than done. The reason I say this is that you'd think after so many failed cycles I'd have noticed something remotely different when we actually caught but I had no symptoms whatsoever and only noticed the late period because I was tracking cycles. So I wasted a lot of time with pointless symptom spotting!!

Good luck!!

Thanks hun yea I stopped symptom spotting a few cycles ago because I've had cycles that were mad with symptoms like I had everything and then other cycles I've had not one symptom at all so I've given up there lol and that drove me insane symptom spotting.
My oh is really good to be fair he listens to me and he knows I'm getting frustrated now and he always said once we got the 6 month mark if we still haven't concieved he would change some of his habits because he had a hell of alot if caffeine and I've tried for the past year for him to cut it down for his general health but he's cut it down now for his sperm health lol

My OH was also very good but reading on here lots of men really do struggle with the whole thing but in a different way to women and it can end up causing a lot of rows. If you do end up having issues (and I'm absolutely not suggesting you will at this early stage), he is the one person who will go through the whole thing with you and the one person you will need above everything else just as he will need you.

Lifestyle changes can make a big difference to sperm health and they're good for you so it's win-win. We still cook the majority of meals from scratch now and we enjoy them so much more. We're both just more confident in the kitchen generally and so much more willing to try making different things. Of course we still cheat from time to time but a bit of forward planning and cooking in bulk means that we cook the majority from scratch.

My OH did have sperm issues initially (just motility, everything else was fine) so along with the diet I got him taking conception vitamins just to make sure we were covering all bases. Sounds a silly point but men are generally useless at remembering to take these things so we used to take our vitamins are the same time with our evening meal to avoid any rows. Neither of us would have remembered in the morning and he definitely wouldn't have remembered ever if he wasn't prompted!!

He knew he needed to be more active so he joined a martial arts group and actually really enjoyed it so he still goes now. I started yoga and still go now as the teacher I go to also has a pregnancy group. I like that we were able to take some longer term positives from what turned out to be a truly miserable journey for us.

Oh and in the end, I really backed off from tracking cycles too closely. I figured that my cycles were so reliable and I knew what I was dealing with so obsessing about it wasn't going to change anything.

 

[WinterWolf]

I'm actually unmediated and have been for over a year now. I struggling with swimming because of how cold the changing rooms are because that in itself cab cause my pain to kick off. OH doesn't take anything yet but he's starting to be more receptive to doing things to help his sperm health now because he can see I'm getting frustrated. I've been telling him if we do have problems conceieveing he better hope it's him that's the problem and not me because it's far more invasive if it's me with the things they will do to help

Its great you're not needing to be on any medication anymore. Ah, hehe, I forget how cold the UK is (I'm in Aus). Well, I'm sure you'll find something that works for you

My hubby wasn't keen on supplements either. I also told him to stop wearing tight pants/underpants as that can overheat sperm. He did do that without much fuss. Heat is probably not an issue for you guys though! Don't worry - it almost definitely won't come to needing the investigations. 7 months really isn't a long time to try. We were trying for about that long when we caught and I know it feels like an eternity. 6 months to a year is average. People who catch in those first couple of months are super lucky and even though it seems like it on here, that's not the norm!

 

[alwayscoffee]

Nice to see you back!

The one thing that helped me get pregnant was switching to organic, I know it's expensive, but I just bought organic fruit and veggies and dairy and meat. I did this because of all the additives, pesticides and hormones in non-organic foods. Google it, it's really interesting to read how much it can affect fertility. I also limited starches and sugar as much as I could, ate more protein. I still drank alcohol, but tried to stick to red wine. I don't exercise, I hate it. But I tried to stay active by playing tennis, going for a hike, outdoors stuff. Thankfully, I have a natural good metabolism, but I think eating is a big part of why I am in good shape. I drink LOTS of water. Ate fresh organic pineapple in the 2ww (this you don't have to buy organic because of the hard shell on pineapple). Make sure to eat the core as well. I also took the "Conception" pills on Amazon which had inositol and vitamin B in them.

The month I got pregnant, I did all of this and hubby and I only had sex once in my fertile period and it was the day after my egg had released! I really think this all helped me out. Every other month, we had sex at least 3-4 times in the fertile period and nothing ever stuck. I really contribute it to diet and the Conception pills. They have great reviews and most people get pregnant the first month trying them out!

 

[Vintageling]

Thanks guys yea it's a struggle to not he on meds but I got taken off them while I was under investigation with my heart because it seemed like my heart rate was really high and my meds did have that side effect but I just stayed off them found out I have arithmia but I just knew I wanted to start trying so I just stayed off them and glad I did because it would have been hell going through meds withdrawal with everything we had going on recently.
Oh yes it was real feel of -1C today so heating has been on today and the winter wardrobe has been taken out and summer clothes have gone into storage I totally need more vintage winter clothing lol.
I've talked to OH last night and we are going to look at different prenatals for me and he has started wearing looser boxer shorts he drives for a living so spends alot of time sat in a nice warm van so he's making an effort to keep the crown jewels cooler and has agreed to getting some conceive plus lube so fingers crossed this helps.
I'm trying to get back to where I was fitness wise before all these flare ups because at the moment even walking has me out of breath, not a bad level more of the out of breath you want to see when your exercising I'm not totally breathing through my butt unless I run up the stairs or move the heavier things around the house around.

 

[MoominGirl]

Thanks guys yea it's a struggle to not he on meds but I got taken off them while I was under investigation with my heart because it seemed like my heart rate was really high and my meds did have that side effect but I just stayed off them found out I have arithmia but I just knew I wanted to start trying so I just stayed off them and glad I did because it would have been hell going through meds withdrawal with everything we had going on recently.
Oh yes it was real feel of -1C today so heating has been on today and the winter wardrobe has been taken out and summer clothes have gone into storage I totally need more vintage winter clothing lol.
I've talked to OH last night and we are going to look at different prenatals for me and he has started wearing looser boxer shorts he drives for a living so spends alot of time sat in a nice warm van so he's making an effort to keep the crown jewels cooler and has agreed to getting some conceive plus lube so fingers crossed this helps.
I'm trying to get back to where I was fitness wise before all these flare ups because at the moment even walking has me out of breath, not a bad level more of the out of breath you want to see when your exercising I'm not totally breathing through my butt unless I run up the stairs or move the heavier things around the house around.

Just reminded me when you mentioned Conceive Plus. We tried it as well as Preseed. We happened to be using Preseed when we caught but I don't believe it had any bearing on it as we had a lot of failed cycles with both!! One thing I would say is that Conceive Plus felt more like the consistency of a normal lube but Preseed was a lot runnier. You may find you prefer the feel of one over the other. They often come with applicators but we just used them like a normal lube as the applicators waste loads and it's expensive. A lot of ladies on here said the same.