Preparing to Conceive

[Mother Cake]

Anyone else out there preparing to conceive? I feel like I don't quite fit in on the wanting but waiting tribe any more, since I'm actively doing so much to prepare for pregnancy, but I also feel a little lost on the TTC threads, since we're not actually TTC yet.

A little about me, TTC plans, what I'm doing now.

We're planning to try in a few months, maybe as soon as April.

In the meantime, we both need medical and dental check-ups. Well, I only need my teeth cleaned--I had an urgent situation where I had to have my wisdom teeth out. That's one reason we are waiting at least until April--to give the anesthesia they used on me time to fully leave my system, and my mouth time to fully heal.

We are also unpacking and clutter-busting in our new apartment, and both of us are making changes to our diets. DH is in the process of going vegetarian, and I am trying to increase my calorie intake (I'm a life-long vegetarian). I hope no one jumps on me for this, but I am one of those people who has more trouble gaining weight then losing it, so I want to make sure I have a cushion in case the first trimester hits me hard. (I don't want to lose too much weight if nausea keeps me from eating well.)

I'm also researching UC, trying to get DH on board, and looking for potential childbirth classes that would be helpful in preparing for a homebirth/UC. Oh, and researching prenatal vitamins, too.

Anyone else in my boat? What are you doing to prepare yourself for conception/pregnancy?

[jennmk13]

Hi - I just wanted to say it sounds like you're doing a lot to prepare yourself and that's great!

Have you started taking the prenatal vitamins? It's good to start taking them a few months before you start TTC. Ya, I don't mean to be preachy, but I just wanted to mention. I will also suggest one in a soft gel capsule form. They will break down more easily in your body allowing you to be able to absorb them. Sometimes the hard pills just go right through ---

We had a home/water birth with #1 and it was fantastic. We took the Bradley Method birthing classes which I do think helped for our home birth, and I think that it could really help for a UC. It empowered my DH to really be a part of the birthing process. Also, our teacher is also a doula and she ended up being OUR doula. Our time spent with her in class gave us a lot of extra time for us to get to know her.

Have fun planning TTC!

[JENinOR]

**This post deleted because I was too outspoken, sorry!

[Blanca78]

Hi! I guess I'm technically preparing to conceive, though not actively so. I had a molar pregnancy in December, which means a mandatory waiting period of six months to TTC again, so we're looking at June. The main things I'm doing are charting, taking prenatals (I know I don't need to this far out, but I figure if nothing else they can't hurt). I'm also taking B6 to try to increase my puny 10-11 day luteal phase. The charting is helpful just to get a better sense of my cycles and how to read my own fertility signals. I also need to get into better shape.

[Ardor]

Seeing as how I was just making a list of things to do before we have a baby, I think I belong here too! That list quickly went from "finish dental work" to "buy a Moby wrap" though

I think that what would be helpful for me would to be to start on one thing at a time - say for this week, take my vitamins every day and restart that routine and then next week maybe schedule my dental appointment and so on. Otherwise I get to thinking I have way to much to do before I get pregnant and it seems overwhelming!

I'm also looking at ways to get my husband more on board with a homebirth. He's really pushing me towards the hospital where I had my last c-section and I really don't think I can emotionally handle choosing that as my first option. Emergency situation would be a different story, but I can't just walk right in there.

[Mother Cake]

Originally Posted by jennmk13

Have you started taking the prenatal vitamins?

We had a home/water birth with #1 and it was fantastic. We took the Bradley Method birthing classes which I do think helped for our home birth, and I think that it could really help for a UC. It empowered my DH to really be a part of the birthing process.

Thanks for the suggestion about Bradley classes, I have been thinking they might be good ones for us to take.

As to prenatals, I am very proactive about getting most of my nutrients from food, but I am taking a B-complex supplement and researching which prenatals will be best for me. Thanks for the soft-jell capsule suggestion, I will take that into consideration.

Originally Posted by Blanca78

I'm also taking B6 to try to increase my puny 10-11 day luteal phase.

I have a short luteal phase, too--11-12 days. I never knew B6 could influence that. Do you know how/why it helps?

Sorry to hear about your molar pregnancy. Sending you sympathy and good thoughts.

Originally Posted by Ardor

Seeing as how I was just making a list of things to do before we have a baby, I think I belong here too! That list quickly went from "finish dental work" to "buy a Moby wrap" though

I think that what would be helpful for me would to be to start on one thing at a time - say for this week, take my vitamins every day and restart that routine and then next week maybe schedule my dental appointment and so on. Otherwise I get to thinking I have way to much to do before I get pregnant and it seems overwhelming!

I'm also looking at ways to get my husband more on board with a homebirth. He's really pushing me towards the hospital where I had my last c-section and I really don't think I can emotionally handle choosing that as my first option. Emergency situation would be a different story, but I can't just walk right in there.

& I hear you on not wanting to go back to the same hossy. I also agree that my list could get way out of hand. Taking things one at a time is really helpful. 2 months ago I thought we might be ready to start TTC in March, but this whole wisdom tooth deal took nearly 4 weeks total to fully clear up and have me back to normal, so I spend 4 weeks on just one item on my list. Ugh.

[Ardor]

Well yesterday I made a decision on which major dental work to do and I called my dentist. I'm also researching other brands of prenatal vitamins. I'm taking Rainbow lite one a day prenatals and I think they're pretty good, but I midwife I know reccommended another brand so I'm trying to compare the two.

Blanca- I'm charting too and I noticed that over the last five months my luteal phase has changed from an average of 11 days to 13 days. I think it's because my son is nursing less though. I did try taking B6 one month and I noticed I ovulated a couple days earlier than my usual CD23 and my luteal phase was 14 instead of 11. I don't know if that was what caused that or if my hormones just jump around a lot.

[Mother Cake]

Ardor, just out of curiosity, what brand of prenatal does the midwife you know recommend?

[Ardor]

Originally Posted by Mother Cake

Ardor, just out of curiosity, what brand of prenatal does the midwife you know recommend?

She recommended Garden of Life Raw Prenatal Formula. I looked at the ingredients and thought I saw soy so I wasn't totally convinced on getting them, but I'll have to double check and see if I was reading the right brand. All those brand names sound so similar!

[maxwill129]

Thanks for the thread. DH just told me that he would like to have another baby, though we're not ready to try quite yet. I have some weight I need to shed, not much, but enough that I need to get rid of it! Good suggestion on the prenatals...I never really thought of that.

[Blanca78]

Originally Posted by Mother Cake

I have a short luteal phase, too--11-12 days. I never knew B6 could influence that. Do you know how/why it helps?

Sorry to hear about your molar pregnancy. Sending you sympathy and good thoughts.

Thank you so much. I am still processing it, but doing pretty well overall, but I am so impatient to TTC again! In a way it's good to have an enforced waiting time to focus on other things, though. Not that I'm focusing that hard, lol. I'm still here almost every day.

Anyway, I don't know how B6 works. As far as I can tell, it hasn't made much difference for me, and my doctor doesn't seem concerned about my LP. But, I have seen many women on these boards swear by it. I will say that the month I started taking B6--at 50 mg a day--I got my bfp. However, I think it must have been coincidence and my doctor was right that it wasn't a concern, because I don't think I'd taken it long enough to make much difference. I upped it to 100 mg/day, and my first post-D&C cycle the LP was still 10-12 days. It's hard to tell, because my temp didn't rise until two days after my CM dried up, so I think I may have o'd earlier with a slower response, but FF says it was 10 days. However, I've heard it can take a month or two to build up in your system and have an effect.

[JENinOR]

Originally Posted by Ardor

She recommended Garden of Life Raw Prenatal Formula. I looked at the ingredients and thought I saw soy so I wasn't totally convinced on getting them, but I'll have to double check and see if I was reading the right brand. All those brand names sound so similar!

I really like the vitamin below. It is whole foods derived and costs the same as Garden of Life, but the nutrient percentages are much, much higher. It is not a prenatal per say but much better than even this company's prenatal (baby and me), New Chapters, or Garden of Life's in comparison. A really great brand and product.

http://www.vitacost.com/MegaFood-DailyFoods-Womens

[Mother Cake]

Where do you find info on the nutrient percentages? Is it available on the web or do you have to go to a store and look at the bottle?

My head gets weird when I'm in the store and sometimes I can't process stuff, so I'm hoping some of this info is available on-line, but I haven't found it yet. Admittedly, I haven't looked very hard. ;-)

[AmandaMom]

Originally Posted by mommyjenn

If I could ask you to please take a look at this guided tour at the Weston A. Price foundation in regard to your vegetarianism, especially since you are trying to conceive.

http://www.westonaprice.org/Vegetarian-Tour.html

You did not say you were vegan, so do are you okay with milk and eggs?

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you need to eat meat/dairy/eggs because you're TTC or pregnant. Those posts should actually be deleted by moderators because they don't comply with MDC rules. I recommend The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook: Whole Foods To Nourish Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women - And Their Families. A good prenatal vitamin is essential, especially for the folic acid. Doctors recommend you start getting enough folic acid 3 months before conceiving. Beware gel capsules, though; I'm sure you know many of them are made with gelatin. You should also check out the Vegetarian & Vegan Living thread if you haven't already. Good luck!

[Mother Cake]

Originally Posted by AmandaMom

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you need to eat meat/dairy/eggs because you're TTC or pregnant. Those posts should actually be deleted by moderators because they don't comply with MDC rules. I recommend The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook: Whole Foods To Nourish Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women - And Their Families. A good prenatal vitamin is essential, especially for the folic acid. Doctors recommend you start getting enough folic acid 3 months before conceiving. Beware gel capsules, though; I'm sure you know many of them are made with gelatin. You should also check out the Vegetarian & Vegan Living thread if you haven't already. Good luck!

Thanks AmandaMom, I ignored it anyway. I actually am very lucky to have been raised by parents who were vegetarian and very conscious about the nutritional needs of vegetarians. I'll look into the book you suggested. And yes, I know about gel capsules being made with gelatin, and I've been on the vegetarian and vegan forums and threads. But I really appreciate your concern.

[Mother Cake]

Blanca78, Thanks for the info on B6. It explains why my b-complex supplement hasn't had any effect on my LP--it only has 9mg . But I'm not worried about my LP length anyway. The last time I tried to lengthen it--using a tea from Yogi Tea--it did get longer, but I also got terrible PMS. I'd rather have a short LP than bad PMS!

I also wanted to say welcome to maxwill129! Glad to have you hear!

[OSUvet]

Hi everyone! Thanks for starting this thread, as this is where I am right now too! DH and I are both working on our health and our home, and preparing to TTC in a couple months. I have been taking prenatal vitamins daily, and this is my first cycle off hormonal bc in 12 years. I have been temping/charting my cycle, and researching homebirth options in my area. I have been surprisingly successful in getting DH on board with the idea of homebirth, which I am very excited about. I look forward to reading others' posts to see what other things I should be working on during this time!

[Mother Cake]

Welcome OSUvet! That's great that you've been able to get your husband on board with your desire for a homebirth.

[Mother Cake]

I got to go to a moms-to-be fertility support group last night. It's technically for women who are TTC, but they have been very welcoming of me, and it is nice to have some in person support.

Unfortunately, I have to drive 20 miles to get there, even though there is a family resource center within a mile of my home, because the one near my home is for profit, so it doesn't actually do as good a job of supporting parents as the not-for-profit one 20 miles away. Worth the drive, though. :-)

What's everyone else doing these days?

[JosieAK]

I am not ttc yet either. I have been pregnant or nursing for the past 2 years, and I'm at the end of winter in Alaska (not a lot of fresh greens--they just don't look good--and no sunlight for me). I quit Curves when a little before Clara was born, and I really have not found something to replace it. I feel fat, blah, and totally deprived of good things. This could just be mental perception, but I do know that after I had Clara (she just turned 1, Feb 8) ), my wonderful, hard-as-rocks, never-get-cavities teeth were full of cavities. I have to believe that Clara took those nutrients that my teeth should have gotten.

So . . . I don't know if I should go to a doctor or naturopath to get help analyzing what my body needs and how to get it where it needs to be, or if I should just jump in and start doing what I know I should be doing--cutting out sugar (I am totally addicted and let it replace good things in my diet), boosting D3, iron, etc. naturally, getting in the habit of exercising regularly, getting a pap, maybe losing a few pounds in the meantime.

I really hope that this summer we will be ready to try.

Anyone have any suggestions for me? Or encouragement? Sometimes I think I must be overthinking all of this. Maybe I just need sunlight to get a boost. Am I crazy or not crazy enough? Thanks.