Several Newbie Questions

[maxnmaizy]

I would appreciate some help. I've got several questions! Thanks in advance for holding my hand.

What diet/lifestyle changes have you made while you are TTC? Alcohol, coffee, exercise, sex? Foods you are avoiding? Foods you are increasing your intake of? Herbal supplements? Etc.

Talk to me about basal body thermometers. What are your favs? Do you take the temp before you get out of bed? Tips?

What are some good resource for pg tests? I hate spending the money on them, but I know I'm an impatient tester type.

Making Love--What positions are you practicing while TTC? I'm guessing mostly female on bottom, knees/feet up. Do you think staying in a certain position post-coitus helps conception? Do you think mutual/syncopated orgasms helps conception?

Any other tips, strategies, advice?

[BunnyMcFluff]

I started taking a multivitamin 2 months ago and switched to a prenatal this last month. I also recently started taking fish oil (2 caps) and EPO (1 cap) daily.

I just cut WAY back on caffeine (I drank a lot of caffeinated beverages plus ate caffeinated fuel packs during training runs). Now, I'm foggier-headed and having green tea and unleaded fuel packs instead. I also cut back on alcohol consumption (5-6 drinks per week to perhaps 2).

Sex every day, but that's not a change from our baseline (yay for that 30's sexual peak!!!!). And I'm still training for the half marathon I have planned in August.

I take my temp every morning at the same time. I just have a basic BBT from CVS and it's fine. I wish it were back-lit, though. As for tests, I've not bought any yet, but I saw that the dollar store has tests for $1 each if you want to stock up. Some of the women here get them off the internet for much less than $1 each, and I bet you'll get links.

[maxnmaizy]

Thanks Cami! It's great to see a familiar "face"!

What is EPO? I am still on the fence about taking a vitamin. I eat kale (high in folate and iron) for b'fast most everyday and am not too worried about my vitamin intake. Also HATE the constipation that comes with prenatal vitamins. In my perfect world I'd be getting all the nutrients I need from my diet.

Sex everyday would be WONDERFUL. My man doesn't feel the same. Sucks having a difference in drive. I've always had a high sex drive, and now I've got the dirty 30, plus wanting the baby making action!

[vivica2]

Originally Posted by maxnmaizy

I would appreciate some help. I've got several questions! Thanks in advance for holding my hand.

What diet/lifestyle changes have you made while you are TTC? Alcohol, coffee, exercise, sex? Foods you are avoiding? Foods you are increasing your intake of? Herbal supplements? Etc. one glass of red wine 4 dpo, to help the uterine lining, and my sanity. but i cut everything else, caffine alcohol ect... i was trying for a girl, so no salt, lots of leafy greens to adjust the ph (down there), i took b6 to help a Luteal Phase that was too short. also Vitex to ov earlier in my cycle. good luck!

Talk to me about basal body thermometers. What are your favs? Do you take the temp before you get out of bed? Tips? i take my temp before i even move! lol 7:3 every day, i obviously have a few off days, when kids arent helping. but i keep it on my bedise table befor ei even talk. a few ladies on here swear by vag temping. it may be worth investigating.

What are some good resource for pg tests? I hate spending the money on them, but I know I'm an impatient tester type. www.saveontests.com

Making Love--What positions are you practicing while TTC? I'm guessing mostly female on bottom, knees/feet up. Do you think staying in a certain position post-coitus helps conception? Do you think mutual/syncopated orgasms helps conception? any position works! lol we were doing missionary (to up the chances of a girl) and you dont have to worry about hanging upside down or anything after DTD the sperm travel at 30 mph (so i hear) so position doesnt matter, the sperm get up into your cerxix/uterus even when the 'stuff' falls out. id recommend DTD every other day that you have fertile CM, and if you dont get any do it from CD 9-20 to be safe if you dont know your cycle yet.

Any other tips, strategies, advice?

good luck!!

[BunnyMcFluff]

EPO=evening primrose oil. Most of what I've read suggests taking it from CD1-ovulation, and to d/c during LP (luteal phase), and it's meant to increase CM

[AmandaMom]

Originally Posted by maxnmaizy

I would appreciate some help. I've got several questions! Thanks in advance for holding my hand.

What diet/lifestyle changes have you made while you are TTC? Alcohol, coffee, exercise, sex? Foods you are avoiding? Foods you are increasing your intake of? Herbal supplements? Etc. I cut out all alcohol and caffeine. I take a Whole Foods prenatal once daily with no constipation problems. I've also cut down on refined sugars and increased fruits and vegetables. I was a pretty healthy eater to begin with, though.

Talk to me about basal body thermometers. What are your favs? Do you take the temp before you get out of bed? Tips? I use a BD thermometer and take my temp right when I wake up, before moving or talking. I do my best to temp at the same time every day, but it doesn't always work out. I also chart cervical mucous (CM) and cervical position (CP). I do OPK's as well.

What are some good resource for pg tests? I hate spending the money on them, but I know I'm an impatient tester type. I go to early-pregnancy-tests.com for pg tests and OPK's.

Making Love--What positions are you practicing while TTC? I'm guessing mostly female on bottom, knees/feet up. Do you think staying in a certain position post-coitus helps conception? Do you think mutual/syncopated orgasms helps conception? I am usually on my back, a papery sheet covering my legs, with my feet in stirrups.

Any other tips, strategies, advice? Try not to stress. HA!

Good luck!

[vivica2]

Originally Posted by AmandaMom

I am usually on my back, a papery sheet covering my legs, with my feet in stirrups.

wow! i was like "she must be super saucy, they have stirrups in their room!" lol

it took me a minute to get to the siggy.

[MaerynPearl]

Im no longer TTC (conceived back in December, just cant bring myself to leave here) but Ill answer anyway! Just all my answers will be from when I was TTC.

What diet/lifestyle changes have you made while you are TTC? Alcohol, coffee, exercise, sex? Foods you are avoiding? Foods you are increasing your intake of? Herbal supplements? Etc.

I took Maca and got a mile walk in every single night. Other than that? Nothing. I dont drink horribly large amounts of caffeine anyway (I cannot tolerate pop and coffee gets me jittery so its mostly a tea per day) and Im not big on alcoholic binges... Id drink during my TWW but have already had my doctor reassure me (and did research myself to confirm it) that that alcohol never comes near touching the baby... so as long as you arent getting yourself wasted on a daily basis you dont have to really avoid alcohol. I had 3 glasses of white wine on 7dpo. As did DFs cousin (she was also 7dpo that night and we shared wine) and we are both due the same day with very healthy babies! Wines actually a really good choice, aside from the health benefits, because you tend to be relaxing when you drink it.

Talk to me about basal body thermometers. What are your favs? Do you take the temp before you get out of bed? Tips?

Favs? LOL... my favs are when I look back and can tell my baby implanted on 6dpo lol

My thermometer was the pink walgreens BBT... and I used FF. I temped vaginally, I found for myself it was easier and more accurate since I am a mouth breather at night. And of course temp before you get out of bed! If you move around you will change your temp and then its not reliable.

What are some good resource for pg tests? I hate spending the money on them, but I know I'm an impatient tester type.

I got lines starting at 11dpo with saveontests.com tests. I had bought 50... I got my first bfp with a FRER (super faint) on 13dpo.

Making Love--What positions are you practicing while TTC? I'm guessing mostly female on bottom, knees/feet up. Do you think staying in a certain position post-coitus helps conception? Do you think mutual/syncopated orgasms helps conception?

I think... it cant hurt. But honestly, if you do not have anything strictly holding you back... have fun with it, do whatever position you want and you dont have to stay laying down afterward if you dont want to. I know with DD I had gotten up right after DTD and ran and took a bath (i hated the feeling of him inside of me... which i should have taken as a clue since I divorced him...)

Of course, there are certain things that change that suggestion... if you have a retroverted uterus (tipped backward) doing it doggy-style is actually best (or reverse cowgirl for those that enjoy that) to get the sperm deposited on the side that the cervix will open on.

As for orgasming at the same time... I enjoy that TTC or not. LOL... so we are always aiming for it.

Any other tips, strategies, advice?
Relax. Its the hardest thing to do and the #1 thing that will help.

It wont likely help get you pregnant but it WILL help you not freak out about it.