Home Conceiving

[Class n Sass]

Just curious...how long did it take you ladies out their to conceive your first child? Were you keeping tracking of when you were ovulating or anything?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Have you lurked in the TTC (trying to conceive) thread? More information than you would ever possibly want on this stuff! As for me, I was charting/tracking ovulation, and we got preggers in our third cycle of trying.

When I was TTC I posted this information, which I copied from a forum in the companion website for the excellent book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility":

'I've spewed statistics around here since I started posting about how long it takes to conceive. I've always quoted one study that I saw the results of. It was a study that had otherwise healthy couples, where the woman had regular cycles of reasonable length. They bd'd during the fertile period. Of those couples, 50% conceived in 6 months, 82% in one year, and 91% in 2 years, all without medical intervention.

But, then I decided to do a poll here to see how long it took the people we all chat with every day. I've asked that only people who conceived with no medical aid (clomid, progesterone supplementation, iui, ivf, etc.) respond. Here is the poll:

http://www.ovusoft.com/forum/tm.asp?m=456705

With 205 responses so far, here are the stats. I will update these numbers as more respond:

Conceived within 6 months: 61%
Conceived within 12 months: 80%
Conceived within 24 months: 94%
Took longer than 24 months: 6%
They match up reasonably well with the scientific study so far. I hope this will give some hope for those of you who thought it would happen sooner. If you've been trying for a few months (or longer), there is no indication that there is something wrong, just because you are not pg yet.'

ETA Here are the most recent results of that poll (Note: these women were all charting their fertility signs):

1 month 23% (352)
2-3 months 23% (345)
4-6 months 18% (274)
7-10 months 13% (194)
11-12 months 4% (73)
13-18 months 6% (99)
19-24 months 3% (51)
>24 months 6% (95)

Total Votes : 1483

 

[neatfreak]

Dreamer's stats are very representative of what studies in general find. For us it was the first month of trying! And I got knocked up with twins! AND my cycle was wonky because I was coming off the pill! So you just never know...the biggest lesson I learned about TTC is that you just have NO idea how your own body will react, so all you can do is keep trying!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I got preggo the first month. I was not charting.

ETA: also to add to NF, don't start TTC until you are *REALLY* ready. I know a few people who thought it would take longer and got preggo quickly. One was 3 months preggo WITH morning sickness at her wedding...not fun. Each new month is a fresh start. No way to build up fertility points

 

[mela lu]

I concur. I got knocked-up the first month trying too. Who knew? Well, I did because I was charting my cycles. We''re trying again now, so we''ll have to see how long it takes this time.

come join the TTC thread! It''s "fun"

 

[Class n Sass]

Thanks for the statistics....now any suggestions on how I should accurately track ovaulation?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Come to the TTC thread, you will see more information than you would ever want and lots of helpful and informed women!

 

[robbie3982]

Wow, lots of PSers got a BFP the first time trying! I hope I can count myself in that group!

 

[TravelingGal]

Yup first month, not really trying (one shot wonder). However, I knew it could be a possibility because of CM, which for some reason I remembered might mean I was ovulating. It was such a shock when I got the BFP that I cried on the bathroom floor for a half hour.

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 8/14/2008 11:05:18 AM
Author: TravelingGal
Yup first month, not really trying (one shot wonder). However, I knew it could be a possibility because of CM, which for some reason I remembered might mean I was ovulating. It was such a shock when I got the BFP that I cried on the bathroom floor for a half hour.

Awe. My mother-in-law told me (no idea why since it was before DH and I were even married) that all of her kids had that break down and cry moment when they got their BFPs whether they were trying or not. I think it''s natural to freak out about something that huge.

 

[Independent Gal]

Another first try, with twins here.

 

[curlygirl]

With my first pregnancy, it happened the first month we officially "tried" but I had been charting for a few months before that just to track my cycles after coming off of 15 years of the pill. The current pregnancy was a one shot deal--totally unexpected, unplanned, unprepared, no trying, total shock. You get the picture! You should check out fertilityfriend.com if you want to learn about charting. Good luck!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

How long did it take? Well, about 2 hours, I reckon. We made the decision to TTC and by the morning it was too late to back out! I''d agree with the advice above - don''t try until you''re really ready!

Good luck.

Jen

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/14/2008 11:44:55 AM
Author: Independent Gal
Another first try, with twins here.

IG, when I was reading the TTC thread the other day, I thought you had a couple of cycles of BFN before the twins?

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I am not TTC, but went to the TTC thread (and fertilityfriend.com) to learn more about the whole process yesterday. I'm telling you, the TTC thread is 100 pages of the most informative, shocking, wonderful info you will ever read. First, the PSers who currently post or have posted on that board are absolutely fantastic and I adore them. Second, it takes a few hours to go through it all, but it's totally worth it. And third, WHO KNEW THERE WAS SO MUCH INVOLVED IN GETTING PREGGO! Holy crap, I was so overwhelmed that I talk to my husband about it for AN HOUR at the gym last night. My head is still spinning.

I love lurking on that thread, though, it's such a great place. Class, I highly recommend going through it.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Looks like most of the posters here (not me!) were in the magic 23% that gets preggo that first try! Not the norm, for sure, but then neither is taking 1000s of pictures of your bling and posting them for the world to see! We are just a unique and special group, that is for sure.

NEL I think the TTC gals are mostly obsessive researchers (its what drew us to PS in the first place right!) or plain-old garden-variety obsessives, but as all the one-shot wonders posting above attest, it can be very simple. But isn''t it just so fun when it is complicated

... And that''s cool that you found the thread interesting, I found the whole process very eye-opening and facinating (and anxiety provoking, but that is another story).

 

[qtiekiki]

You ladies are lucky to get preggo the first cycle.

We took almost exactly a year. I wasn''t charting/temping, but I was aware of my ovulation time with changes in CM. I also had asymptomatic UTI (aka asymptomatic bacteriuria) for the whole time that we were TTC-ing (I wasn''t aware of it, and it''s a long story why it wasn''t diagnosed in the annual physical the year before). As soon as I found that out, my dr and I decided that I would treat it during my period to make sure that I wasn''t pregnant since we were TTC-ing. We end up getting preggo that cycle.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I big red heart the obsessive research. Love it! You ladies are fantastic! Also, you always have such a great sense of humor about things like CM. Women after my own heart, I tell you!

 

[snlee]

It took us 4 months. Like QT, I wasn''t charting/temping but I was aware of my ovulation time with changes in CM.

 

[janinegirly]

Similar story as my preggo twin (curly girl).

Married end of September, off the pill end of October (after honeymoon and finishing off a pack). Charted November without trying. Charted December without trying. Decided to try January--one shot but then DH decided to wait till February to officially try. Too late, BFP 2nd week of January.

Like others, I thought it''d take me ages, and at 35 I knew time wasn''t on my side. Turns out there wasn''t anything to worry about, but you never know until it happens.

I think if you are regular and chart, your chances are very high in first few months. Even if you''ve been on the pill for awhile and even if you''re in your, gasp, mid 30''s.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Remember you only have a 20% chance of success in the perfect circumstances so don''t be hard on yourself if it takes some time.

 

[Pandora II]

Just want to add that it is so nice to have a bunch of intelligent, caring people to share the ups and downs of TTC with and who seem to share my extreme need to overanalyse and obsess over the whole thing.

Having decided to chuck the BC out the window (not quite literally

) on our wedding night and ever since, I''d have been almost slightly disappointed to have got KU this cycle.

Instead I get the chance to play with all the new gadgets that arrived in the post this am - basal temp thermometer for starters - and fill in the nice charts on FF, as well as cheer on my fellow TTCers.

Are you coming to join us?

 

[somethingshiny]

Almost 6 years to conceive and carry. I also did minimal fertility treatments, just a hystosalpingogram, Clomid, stuff like that.

 

[Kay]

I went off BCP and we spent 2 months not trying, so the hormones could clear my system. I got knocked up the 2nd month we tried. I was not charting, but did keep track of the 1st day of my cycle for the 4 months so I would know my cycle lengths if we decided to chart after a few months of trying. I expected it to take a lot longer, as there is a history of difficulty conceiving in my family, including my mother who took 4 years of trying to have me. I didn''t realize I was PG until 7 weeks in when I started getting sick and did the math (I thought I was just irregular coming off the pill).

Because of our travel schedules the month I conceived, I think I know when it happened. I had sprained my ankle a few days prior and was looking for an endorphine rush to distract me from the pain. I tease DH that he shouldn''t be too proud of his accomplishment, because he caught me when I was injured (mostly funny because he has wanted kids for years and I only agreed to try last Fall).

 

[lili]

Wow, most of you ladies are lucky to get a BFP on the first try.
We tried for 3 1/2 years. we probably would have conceived sooner if I hadn''t dillydallied about seeing a fertiltiy specialist.
Found out I have endometriosis that requires a outpatient surgery -- laparoscopy.
Like QT, I was aware of the changes in CM, so first cycle after the surgery, we got a BFP.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 8/14/2008 1:09:13 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
I am not TTC, but went to the TTC thread (and fertilityfriend.com) to learn more about the whole process yesterday. I''m telling you, the TTC thread is 100 pages of the most informative, shocking, wonderful info you will ever read. First, the PSers who currently post or have posted on that board are absolutely fantastic and I adore them. Second, it takes a few hours to go through it all, but it''s totally worth it. And third, WHO KNEW THERE WAS SO MUCH INVOLVED IN GETTING PREGGO! Holy crap, I was so overwhelmed that I talk to my husband about it for AN HOUR at the gym last night. My head is still spinning.

I love lurking on that thread, though, it''s such a great place. Class, I highly recommend going through it.

It is a great and informative thread.

But I have to say, I could never go through all that to conceive - not because I don''t want to be so technical about it. Nope, it''s because I''m way too dumb to understand all that science!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 8/14/2008 2:54:11 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
I big red heart the obsessive research. Love it! You ladies are fantastic! Also, you always have such a great sense of humor about things like CM. Women after my own heart, I tell you!

Cooooommmme to the daaaarrrk siiiiide NEL... briiiinnnnggg your therrmommmmettterrrr....

 

[mela lu]

Date: 8/15/2008 8:14:25 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 8/14/2008 2:54:11 PM
Author: NewEnglandLady
I big red heart the obsessive research. Love it! You ladies are fantastic! Also, you always have such a great sense of humor about things like CM. Women after my own heart, I tell you!

Cooooommmme to the daaaarrrk siiiiide NEL... briiiinnnnggg your therrmommmmettterrrr....

Moo wah ha ha.

 

[radiantgirl]

We got pg first month off the pill, basically 2 weeks after I took my last pill. We weren''t "actively trying" and I just noticed fertile cm and went with it. Sadly, that pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and now we are trying again. This is my second month charting, so I''m hoping it will not take us long to conceive this time around.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

2 mos w/ pg. #1

6 mos + 2 IUI cycles w/ pg #2