The Official TTC Thread!

[AmberWaves]

Awww, blushing! Love the yorkie! I love how they look like Chewbacca when they are puppies! I''m so excited about Disneyland, so I''m totally harping on the husband to get well.

I''m terrible.

I''ve been giving him vitamins daily now, just to make sure everything is covered on both sides. My temps have been kind of weird. It hit the high of 98. something the other day, and since then the temps have been going way down. Taken at the same time every day, laying in bed... today they were like, 97.46 or something. Weird. I''m supposed to be ovulating on the 9th...

DD, Sometimes we worry since Woofie has never been around babies. Now that he''s 3.5 years old, he''s definitely calmed down a lot, compared to how he used to be. He''s never mean, never snaps or bites, he just HAS to be in your lap, ya know? Right now he''s our baby, but he doesn''t have a lot of allowances other people give him. No matter what, he''s in the kitchen in the morning- with a baby gate. When I get home, we go for a walk and then he settles on the couch chewing one of his bones. When it''s bedtime, I say, "Is it bedtime?" and he runs into his crate.

He doesn''t ever sleep with us, or out of his crate. So hopefully a baby won''t change that. Do yours sleep with you guys?

 

[neatfreak]

I LOVE all the furbabies so cute! Luckily our huge boys may be clumsy and excitable, but they love kids and are quite gentle with them. There is a great book called Bringing Home Baby about integrating the new baby with your furbabies.

And DD-I totally agree about temping and collecting data! So fun! I understand exactly where you are coming from.

 

[Sha]

Awww...the puppies! Cuteness overload!

 

[blushingbride]

I worry too with Harry - he loves the constant attention (he''s spoiled rotten) and I''m scared that w/ a baby he''ll go into depression.

Did you know that dogs can be depressed?? My best friend had a baby back in Oct. and she has a 2 year old basset hound, Rufus, who actually went into depression when the baby arrived. He had to go on meds and everything! Crazy right??? When we come over to visit them, we can see the difference in his mood from pre-baby to post-baby, but according to her he''s getting better so that''s good.

Our pup sleeps in our bed with us, but that might change once the baby comes. He can sleep in the bed with us or in a crate (he sleeps in the crate when my parents are watching him). We wanted him in his own bed originally, but it didn''t work out when we brought him home and caved (I know, I know...we should''ve trained him right from the start, but oh well

)

 

[AmberWaves]

Neatfreak, thanks for the book rec, I think that''ll really come in handy.

BB, It''s so easy to cave, isn''t it? My dad is such a stickler for rules and things, and he''s spent a majority of time with Woofie, so Woofie knows the rules. No scraps, no hopping on the bed (it''s so high, he can''t do it anyway), no begging, no chewing on furniture, don''t steal food off the table... I feel kind of bad for him, sometimes! He''s just so regimented, with his wake time and bed time being relatively strict. Don''t get me wrong, he gets to play around all day long, but I think he thrives on a scheduled life.

It''s so easy to pamper, and he just loves baths and getting brushed. My mom does her share of spoiling though. It''s like he knows when she comes over, that he''ll get a toy. That woman needs a grandchild. Well, she has one, but she''s all the way in Australia!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/5/2008 11:11:18 AM
Author: AmberWaves

DD, Sometimes we worry since Woofie has never been around babies. Now that he's 3.5 years old, he's definitely calmed down a lot, compared to how he used to be. He's never mean, never snaps or bites, he just HAS to be in your lap, ya know? Right now he's our baby, but he doesn't have a lot of allowances other people give him. No matter what, he's in the kitchen in the morning- with a baby gate. When I get home, we go for a walk and then he settles on the couch chewing one of his bones. When it's bedtime, I say, 'Is it bedtime?' and he runs into his crate.

He doesn't ever sleep with us, or out of his crate. So hopefully a baby won't change that. Do yours sleep with you guys?

Ours are pretty disciplined too for little dogs, I guess. They also spend the say in our kitchen locked up with a baby gate. They have a little bed in there and they snuggle together. They also sleep in a crate together every night. At first they had their own crates, but we noticed that Dreamer would always go into Seamus' crate and try to sleep with him each night, so we got a bigger crate and they seem to really like sleeping together. The crate is in our room though!

We have a lot of friends with kids so we have been careful to expose them as much as possible. Dreamer is really shy, she was a resue and has some shynees issues, so she likes to keep her distance from unknown people, including kids, but she lets them pet her and doens't have an aggressive bone in her body. Seamus is more outgoing and likes the lick little kids and sniff them etc. He is more rambunctious so I think he will need some training not to try to jump on the baby etc.

But I think they will be fine. Expecially since I will be staying home with our baby for at least 8 - 10 months, and as of now DH is planning to also take parental leave for the first 2 months after the baby is born. The dogs will get more together time with us after baby than they even got before baby!

ETA: BB as long as his behavior is generally good then I am not sure there is anything wrong with letting him sleep with you... You may want to get him used to a crate before you ave a baby, though, since you may cherish sleep too much to let him share your bed then!

 

[AmberWaves]

DD, I forgot to mention Woofie''s dad''s name was Seamus! Tiny little guy. I totally understand them sleeping together, they are such little cuddlebugs. I really wish we could get a friend for Woofie, but we can''t manage two dachshunds and a possible baby in an apartment in LA. Woofie just wrecked the carpet up to now, so we''ve really got to get our crap in order! I wish we had two, though. I''m jealous of you!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/5/2008 1:55:06 PM
Author: AmberWaves
DD, I forgot to mention Woofie''s dad''s name was Seamus! Tiny little guy. I totally understand them sleeping together, they are such little cuddlebugs. I really wish we could get a friend for Woofie, but we can''t manage two dachshunds and a possible baby in an apartment in LA. Woofie just wrecked the carpet up to now, so we''ve really got to get our crap in order! I wish we had two, though. I''m jealous of you!

Too funny! Two really is better than one, and now we don''t find two any more work than one, but we live in a house with a yard (still a rental, but it is pretty nice) and that makes things easier. Also, Seamus and Dreamer were already friends before we adopted Dreamer, so they knew each other which made it easier. And Seamus was 9 months old when we adopted Dreamer, whi was 7 months, so we didn''t have to do the whole puppy thing the second time around (though kennel raised dogs aren''t always totally house trained, so there were still issues). Seamus is pretty fiesty, sounds like your Woofie a little, but Dreamer is really laid back and lazy so that also makes things work. Point is, if you get two it seems to help if you can choose a second dog that offers a nice compliment to the first and isn''t a lot more work!

But now that you are on the baby-making track you probably won''t get another dog for years... I think the baby will make up for that!

 

[sunkist]

Looks like things are moving along well on the TTC front

Fingers crossed and baby dust to all the girls on the TWW!!

I''ve decided that I''m going to start temping as soon as I''m off BC next month. I was going to just track CM and take it easy, but then I decided that I''d rather have a bit more information of what''s going on in my body. So, temping it is! Does everyone use the online charts at FF? or do some people just use a paper and pencil? Does FF really add that much more info to tracking your cycle?

I love the pictures of all the doggies! Our doggy is our baby, especially to my husband. But the sad thing is that I don''t trust our sweet doggy around kids. He''s not sweet around kids and not even around all adults

He''s great with us and so we are just very cautious when we have him around other people, but I''m scared of what we may have to do when baby comes along. He''s a cocker spaniel and I know they''re not the best tempered dogs. I was bit by one when I was little, and I''ve heard similar stories from lots of other people. I''ll stand up to do anything I have to to protect my future babies, but it makes me so sad that it might mean saying goodbye to our first furr baby

Another question

: Has anyone gone on a baby-making vacation? Sorry I don''t have a better term for it! My hubby wants to kick off our baby making season by going on a nice vacay. It''s also going to be our last big vacation before we become parents (hopefully!) so he doesn''t mind staying a little longer or spending a little bit more, sort of a splurge/spoil for the two of us. I am always on board for a vacation, how could I not be! But I was wondering a little if it''s going to make concieving a little more difficult. Time differences, travel stress. Of course I don''t even know when I''ll be ovulating so it may not really play into our vacation at all. Hubby is also conviced that he''ll get me on the first shot, so I don''t want him to be disappointed if our trip is "unsuccessful". But I guess if I make sure he knows this will just be a kick off and not a baby making trip, then he''ll know we''ll still be having lots of fun when we come home

 

[blushingbride]

Hey Sunkist! I wasn't going to temp either...at least until I officially started to TTC...but, the whole endometriosis scare had me start things a little sooner. I started using the temping software that came with my TCOYF book, but I really liked the FF site. It seemed easier to use and it's cool because it lets you look at other women's charts, OPK tests and pregnancy tests (in case you aren't sure if you got a positive or negative). It gives you 12 lessons on how to chart and there's even chat rooms to discuss your results, etc. I would recommend it!

I guess you could say we are going on a "baby-making vacation" - we are going to Italy and Croatia (DH was born in Dubrovnik) the main reason we are going is to not only visit DH's family, but also to have one last big trip before the babies start for both myself and my sister. We are traveling with my sister and her hubby along with my parents. We will definitely find some time to TTC as well! I think that it will be a little more complicated with the time differences and the stress of traveling around, but like you this will be our "kick-off" and if it doesn't happen abroad, we will work on it wihen we return. Although, I must say that I love the idea of conceiving our baby in another country...esp. DH's hometown!

However, I know the odds and not getting my hopes up.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/6/2008 12:51:56 AM
Author: sunkist

I''ve decided that I''m going to start temping as soon as I''m off BC next month. I was going to just track CM and take it easy, but then I decided that I''d rather have a bit more information of what''s going on in my body. So, temping it is! Does everyone use the online charts at FF? or do some people just use a paper and pencil? Does FF really add that much more info to tracking your cycle?

I personally wouldn''t use a pen and paper (except to record it in the AM) for a few reasons.

1. Some people have wildly varying temperatures and FF figures the pattern out for you.
2. Some people have a big thermal shift, while some have a tiny one. If it is in the computer, it will recognize it even if it is small. On paper YOU have to recognize it.


Those are the biggies my very morning sick mind can think of right now...but I think it''s worth it to use FF. You don''t even have to use the paid service, the free one is just fine IMO.

 

[Independent Gal]

We''re officially ''at it''. Question: is it true that you''re supposed to keep your legs in the air, y''know, after? Does that really make a difference. And for how long?

Doing that makes me feel like an idiot!

Maybe I should do some yoga shoulder stands instead?

 

[E B]

Date: 5/6/2008 9:23:18 AM
Author: Independent Gal
We're officially 'at it'. Question: is it true that you're supposed to keep your legs in the air, y'know, after? Does that really make a difference. And for how long?


Doing that makes me feel like an idiot!

Maybe I should do some yoga shoulder stands instead?

Indy,

I just read a list of 10 "TTC myths", and that was one of them. I'll see if I can find the article, but the specialist said the sperm must enter the cervical mucus within the first 5 minutes. You may want to keep tight for a minute or so, but standing on your head for 30 would be kind of pointless.

 

[E B]

All of you have such precious dogs! Can I share my two?

Here''s my 3-year-old girl pug, Sally:

 

[E B]

And our 2-year-old rescue, Baxter. DH and I haven''t had any time to take any good photos of him, so this is the rescue org''s picture:

 

[AmberWaves]

Oooh, Ebree, Baxter is just adorable! I didn''t know you had two! Of course, Sally is a doll as well!

Sunkist, I write mine down in the am, only so I can transfer the info to FF in the morning. Since I am a lazy goose, I love FF because it kind of does all the work for me, ya know? ITA with Neatfreak, in that it helps you figure things out for yourself, but it does all the complicated parts for you. I know my basal thermometer came with a chart I could use, but man, those little boxes were tiny! We''re not planning any vacations, but we are doing Disneyland on Monday. Does that count?

Welcome to the TTC world, IG. It''s insane. Best of luck to you!

BB, I''m so jealous.

 

[blushingbride]

Ebree! Baxter and Sally are so freakin cute...you must be one proud mama!

I agree with the others that FF does all the work for you...it''s really effortless and a great tool to learn about your cycles, etc. I''m not sure what my internet access will be like on my trip, but I plan on writing down my temps and just plugging the numbers in as soon as I get a chance. I might do my chart by hand that month since I''ll have the hang of it by then, but I''ll definitely use FF too.

OK, now here''s another thing that worries me...so I realize that this is CD11 in my 2nd cycle temping, but I looking at last month''s cycle last month and noticed that I only had 9 days in my luteal phase.

After doing some googling, I''ve come to find that it could be a sign of luteal phase defect and that anything under 10 days is cause for concern.

I will see what happens this month, but I was reading that your luteal phase doesn''t really change that much from month to month (maybe a day or two). So, now I have to keep on eye on this! Ugh...

Here''s my question, should I approach my Dr. about this after charting it for two cycles? I also read that it''s an easy thing to fix w/ vitamin B6 and even clomid. I really want to deal w/ this before I go away if I do in fact have it. Has anyone else experience this????

 

[AmberWaves]

BB, I wish I had advice from you, but as this is my first month temping (I''m on CD10, and have no idea what my luteal phase is {how do I find out?}), I''m kind of lost. I''m trying to figure out why my temps are so weird. Mine goes: up, down, up, up higher, and then down to the same temp as two days before. I''m so lost.

 

[blushingbride]

FF friend figures it out for you after you ovulate. When you ovulate, cross hairs will appear which show you the day you ovuateld and it will then start tracking your luteal phase. Pretty neat right? I''ve been reading about women who''ve been TTC for months and months will no success and then realize they have luteal phase defect after charting for a couple months. If I do have it, I''m glad I''m realizing now rather than later...

 

[AmberWaves]

Well, no coverline for me at FF yet. I just started temping Friday morning, and I have a lot of the fertile signs, but still no coverline.

I''m doing pretty much whatever I can, temping at the exact time every day, checking CM (watery), and even attempting to check cervical position. That''s interesting, to say the least.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/6/2008 11:38:53 AM
Author: AmberWaves
Well, no coverline for me at FF yet. I just started temping Friday morning, and I have a lot of the fertile signs, but still no coverline.

I''m doing pretty much whatever I can, temping at the exact time every day, checking CM (watery), and even attempting to check cervical position. That''s interesting, to say the least.

LOL

I''ll post more later, gotta go to a meeting. Welcome to the fertility fest 2008 Indy!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/6/2008 9:23:18 AM
Author: Independent Gal
We''re officially ''at it''. Question: is it true that you''re supposed to keep your legs in the air, y''know, after? Does that really make a difference. And for how long?

Doing that makes me feel like an idiot!

Maybe I should do some yoga shoulder stands instead?

You should do this for sure, I''m sure it will guarantee conception!

Haha, j/k

but it would be hilarious!!

 

[snlee]

Date: 5/6/2008 9:23:18 AM
Author: Independent Gal
We're officially 'at it'. Question: is it true that you're supposed to keep your legs in the air, y'know, after? Does that really make a difference. And for how long?

Doing that makes me feel like an idiot!

Maybe I should do some yoga shoulder stands instead?

IG, lots of baby dust to you! I've read that it doesn't do much. The semen that will leak out is the bad sperm that won't have a chance at making it to the egg. However, I still laid in bed for 30 minutes afterwards. It helped me feel like I was giving it my best shot.

This is what I found on Babycenter.com -"Should I stay lying down afterward? There's no evidence that it makes a difference, but it can't hurt. Remaining horizontal for 15 minutes or so after intercourse allows more semen to remain in your vagina. Of course, with millions of sperm in every ejaculation, there should be plenty of sperm in your vagina even if you get up right away."

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

Doc told us to lay on left side - where follicle was for 15 minutes (I guess to aid gravity?)

We got pregnant last time doing this so I have been doing this and the shoulder stands as well hehehhe......

The sperm can make it to the egg in 30 minutes of ejaculation so why not help em'' out?

Most die quickly (not so good morphology or motility) but many go single file through cervical mucus (like ants) towards the egg.

The strongest make it up there in no time! Not to mention the few that are already hanging out from previous BD episodes!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/6/2008 1:05:38 PM
Author: lisa1.01fvs1
Doc told us to lay on left side - where follicle was for 15 minutes (I guess to aid gravity?)

We got pregnant last time doing this so I have been doing this and the shoulder stands as well hehehhe......

The sperm can make it to the egg in 30 minutes of ejaculation so why not help em'' out?

Most die quickly (not so good morphology or motility) but many go single file through cervical mucus (like ants) towards the egg.

The strongest make it up there in no time! Not to mention the few that are already hanging out from previous BD episodes!

Wow, it all sounds so gross!

 

[AmberWaves]

Question: if your husband was feeling really really crappy, and you are fertile Tuesday through Friday, but will probably Ovulate on Friday, but your poor husband will only relent to having sex once (he''s REALLY sick), which day would you do it? Hypothetical? Not at all.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/6/2008 3:49:49 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Question: if your husband was feeling really really crappy, and you are fertile Tuesday through Friday, but will probably Ovulate on Friday, but your poor husband will only relent to having sex once (he''s REALLY sick), which day would you do it? Hypothetical? Not at all.

hahaha... I think you can "convince" him if you use indirect methods... What if he doesn''t have to move at all, just lie there, KWIM?

I''d choose Thursday.

 

[AmberWaves]

Hahaha, Thanks DD. Poor guy. I felt so bad for him. When he gets sick, it always turns into bronchitis and a sinus infection. I think I may have to try every trick in the book. Hmmm. What''s his favorite meal again?

Thursday was my choice, too.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 5/6/2008 4:23:25 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Hahaha, Thanks DD. Poor guy. I felt so bad for him. When he gets sick, it always turns into bronchitis and a sinus infection. I think I may have to try every trick in the book. Hmmm. What''s his favorite meal again?

Thursday was my choice, too.

Walking around in my birthday suit usually works with my DH, so try serving his meal that way! haha

 

[AmberWaves]

We did just get a PS3, perhaps he''ll enjoy a leisurely game of Grand Theft Auto, followed by something with pasta and a nice dessert!

I''ve recently given him vitamins for his reproductive health, daily I ask him, "Are they working yet?" And he replies, "What the heck did you give me? What are you expecting?!" He just takes the vitamins, and doesn''t even think twice, what a doll.