Last BCP... questions...

[Summerwine]

I took my last Microgynon this morning. So I suppose that makes this the right board for me!

We got married earlier this year, and are now ready to TTC. I've been taking folic acid since the wedding, but I have an couple of questions about exercise, alcohol and OPK's please.

I exercise pretty hard 5/6 days a week - can I carry on as normal whilst TTC? Recommendations seem to vary on exercise so I've found the advice a bit conflicting!

Similarly with alcohol - do you abstain altogether since you began TTC? I am not a heavy or regular drinker but known for enjoying a glass or 2 of wine during social occasions and concerned about the raised eyebrows if I switch to water now!! Obviously if it's recommended, that's fine. I just wanted some advice from those of you who are already TTC, because I know it could take us a while.

And finally, OPK's... what CD do you start testing? Would testing in the evening be okay (I don't want to take them to work!)

Thank you

I am both excited and scared at this point! I don't know what to expect of my body over the next few months so I'm looking forward to getting to know me again.

 

[Wren83]

I'm no expert but I have heard of you are a regular exerciser then there's no need to change anything or stop exercising.

Re alcohol, as long as you don't go mad I doubt there's a reason to stop just yet. Maybe stop when you get to the 2ww, although even then there's conflicting advice as to wether one glass of wine would do any harm to a baby that early. With my second and third I had had an odd glass before I found out, same with this one. I'm not a big drinker at all I just happened to say yes to a glass with dinner when visiting family.

Re opks, I know nothing about them I'm afraid. I would say start around cd10 but honestly that's a guess.
What I can suggest is basal body temping. So easy and simple, although it will only tell you once you have ovulated so some women use opks alongside temping.

Good luck! X

 

[Summertime]

Hi Summerwine,

Welcome to the world of TTC! I was training for a triathlon when I fell pregnant and was exercising a lot and it didn't seem to have any negative effect, once I have a confirm pregnancy test I just eased the intensity but I'm still doing 3 sessions a week whilst I still can.

Guidance varies on alcohol, I don't think a couple of glasses of wine would do any harm but I think when TTC advise to have minimal alcohol. I stuck with the rule that wasn't pregnant when having period/before ovulation so ok to have a drink or two but I wouldn't following ovulation.

I used the digital OPKs from clear blue that you take first thing in the morning - I didn't get on with the cheap ones so if you can afford it would recommend the clear blue hormone as they are either positive or negative so don't have to interpret the line.

I came off Microgynon at the start of the year and took 6 months for my cycles to return to normal, to start with cycles were 35 day + so it's hard to know when to test. Fo rthe first month at least I would just relax and see what happens post birth control and use an app to track your periods and get an idea of cycle length then you will know when to test. IF you are having sex every 2-3 days you will cover all ovulations dates. After 6 months I started accupuncture to help regulate my cycles, some ladies on here have a regular 28 cycles straight away so it all just depends.

Good luck for your ttc journey xx

 

[Summerwine]

Great advice - thank you both.

I'll carry on with the exercise as normal, and stick to the odd glass of wine in the first 2 weeks of my cycle!

Hmm temping might be something for me to look into then I think Wren83 - thank you. I've heard about it but may do some research.

Thanks for the OPK advice Summertime! My OH works away during the week so we wont be having sex every 2-3 days haha, but I am hoping to use the OPKs just to work out whether I am ovulating for now, rather that putting pressure on us to DTD at specific times, if that makes sense?

Thank you - some really helpful advice good luck to you both also x

 

[sarah1986]

Hi All
Interested in this post however What does OPK AND CD stand for?

Thanks ��

 

[Summerwine]

Hi All
Interested in this post however What does OPK AND CD stand for?

Thanks ��

OPK = Ovulation Predictor Kit
CD = Cycle day. Apparently CD1 is the first day of your period

I only know these things from Dr Google

 

[xMillie]

I start taking my opks from cd10 usually
It should be fine to take them after work (late afternoon I presume?) just try not to drink too much in the last couple of hours of work and do the opk when you get in xx

 

[candymycandy]

I used to start OPKs from cd8 as I followed SMEP (sperm meets egg plan). Re exercise as I understand you can continue as normal if that's your usual routine. I'd only ease off the intensity perhaps when you do get pg. The current official advice re alcohol is to abstain completely while ttc but I think that's ridiculous! I drank as normal (but this was only 1-2 glasses of wine a week max on average). You'd have to consume a lot to cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Good luck!

 

[MoominGirl]

Hi Summerwine. Welcome to the forum

I'm also of the understanding that it's fine to exercise as is normal for you when TTC.

Also wouldn't cut out alcohol completely especially if you're not a regular drinker. You have to remember that it may take longer than you plan (hopefully not!) so you still need to enjoy yourself during that time.

I agree with Summertime about allowing yourself a few months to allow your cycles to get back to normal as this can take a while. Also allows you to just go with the flow to begin with if you know what I mean. If you do decide to use OPKs though, I just use the cheap ones. Now that I know my cycles better, I usually start on CD10 as I normally ovulate CD11-CD14. Obviously that wouldn't suit someone with longer cycles. I also do them late afternoon as soon as I get in from work.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Summerwine]

Thank you all - what a lovely welcoming forum!

I will take on board all the advice/guidance I've been given above. Really appreciate you all taking the time out to help! x

 

[Sunflower1]

I don't think testing in the evening is a good idea with opks. I heard between 10am and 5pm is best. But then I got Clear Blue advanced and it said first thing in the morning! The day you start depends on your cycle length I think. My Clear Blues have directions. I start on cd6 or 7. I actually found that cheap opks gave me a positive 24 hrs after Clear Blue said I was at my peak, and 48 hours after it said I was in high fertility. I actually think I ovulated 24 hrs before the cheap opk gave me a positive.

Personally I'm avoiding alcohol completely but I'm over 40 and not willing to take chances. Studies say it interferes with fertility for both sexes.

Overexercising isn't a good idea. You could continue as normal but if you find you are struggling to conceive dial it back a bit in case it's putting too much stress on your body.

Good luck!

 

[Summerwine]

Hey Sunflower1! Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I'll be able to test between 4pm-5pm. I had heard that the clear blue's are first thing in the morning, but cheapies recommend in the day not first thing? I'm going to stick with cheapies at the moment, just because we are only starting out and I don't want to start out spending a fortune each month.

I may have to do a bit more research on alcohol... I don't want to go teetotal knowing it could take us a couple of years!

I think I'm definitely going to continue the exercise for now. There's a couple of ladies in my gym classes who are currently heavily pregnant so I had a bit of a nosy chat with them this evening. If we are struggling in 12 months time ill dial it down a bit and see if it makes a difference though.

Thank you and good luck

 

[MoominGirl]

Hey Sunflower1! Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I'll be able to test between 4pm-5pm. I had heard that the clear blue's are first thing in the morning, but cheapies recommend in the day not first thing? I'm going to stick with cheapies at the moment, just because we are only starting out and I don't want to start out spending a fortune each month.

I may have to do a bit more research on alcohol... I don't want to go teetotal knowing it could take us a couple of years!

I think I'm definitely going to continue the exercise for now. There's a couple of ladies in my gym classes who are currently heavily pregnant so I had a bit of a nosy chat with them this evening. If we are struggling in 12 months time ill dial it down a bit and see if it makes a difference though.

Thank you and good luck

I usually test around 6pm with cheapies and have no issues. I'm not a morning person so my routine is always kept to a complete minimum so after work suits me.

Neither of us are big drinkers so the alcohol thing has never been an issue for us. If we did drink more often though, I wouldn't cut it out completely and would perhaps be a bit more mindful around the 2ww.

I think the usual advice on exercise is that it's ok if your body is used to it. Obviously you don't want to be exercising to excess either.

I think the most important thing is balance as you still need to be able to enjoy life at the same time.