Newbie TTC Questions

[gringuitica]

Hi all, I'm Erin, and my DH and I are just beginning the TTC journey for the first time. I've been lurking on the boards for awhile, but now that we're really doing this, a friend suggested I participate.

Aside from being excited and nervous (really nervous!), I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. So here I am. I guess this is an intro post and also a hope for support from some of my more experienced peers. I am so committed to not stressing or obsessing about this, as I know it can be a very long journey, but I'm an obsessor at heart! Of immediate concern: what am I allowed/not allowed to eat and drink? Do I have to abstain from caffeine, alcohol, and sushi every month between O and AF? Any general advice on things I can do to improve our chances? You help is much appreciated!

[sarah2881]

HI Erin!

This will be our first cycle TTC this go around, but in the past I have always promised myself each cycle I will not obsess and I always do! I might even order a bunch of internet cheapie test this time so i don't even have to worry about wasting the money! It is hard to not think about all the time, I think it is really important to keep up any hobbies or activities you enjoy.

As far as what to do and what not to do... I think with what ever knowledge you have it is a pretty personalized decision. Everyone does something different and even doctors will recommend different things. For me, personally, I figure if I do not have a BFP yet I am not going to stress too much about what to do or not to do. I do take folic acid regularly and a few other supplements depending on what is going on in life or what time of year it is. i don't smoke, so I don't really worry about it, but when around family member who smoke I do try to stay away, but I don't like being around it anyway. Drinking and sushi I take in moderation. I think just like in any time of life you don't need to go overboard on anything, moderation and balance.

Of course that being said, with #1 I got a BFN around 13 dpo, I figured I should have gotten a positive by then! So I said screw it, DH was working a swing shift, I had no friends around in a new city so i had my own chick flick night and I think a downed almost a full bottle of wine on my own. Turns out I am pretty sure I had my O date wrong and I got a BFP a couple days later, OPPS! She is perfectly fine now. The next time I did things pretty much 'right' did not drink much at all and that little one did not make it past the first trimester, I am sure I had a drink here or there and maybe did not eat all my fruits and veggies, but there was really nothing to do or not do to prevent it from happening. The third time I went to a party with all you could eat sushi and drinks a week before I got a BFP and she is also here today super healthy and growing like a weed!

So anyway, I think the best plan is to just try to live an all around healthy life for yourself, take care of your body, try not to OD on beer and sushi, but if it happens i would not freak out over it! Of course I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt!

[sarah2881]

One other thing, if you don't already have a regular exercise plan now would be a good time to just start walking or doing some workout videos. It is hard to get up the energy in the first trimester to start but it is really good for you! Plus it might take your mind off of TTC for a little bit each day.

[Rainy229]

Welcome, Erin, may your stay here be brief!

What I've basically done, as far as what to eat/not eat/do/not do, is treat myself like I'm preggo... I switched to decaf (although I still have caffeine - I keep it under 200mg/day - less than 2 cups per day), I don't really drink (never really did, except for a brief period I try to forget about) - maybe 1/2 a glass of wine once or twice a week, with dinner... I try to get physical activity in where I can, I try to eat better than the day before, I take a multi-vitamin (not a prenatal, 'cause they make me so stinkin' ill) with enough folate, watch my stress level (or try to anyway), and drink plenty of water... oh, and I TRY to sleep enough every night.

Other than that, I chart (or, as of late, TRY to chart) my BBT, CM, CP, etc., and take some supplements and medications to help my body "run better."

Best of luck, and again, hope your stay here is short!

--Rainy

P.S. if you REALLY wanted to get on the "I'm gonna act preggo so it's not a double-shock when I get my BFP" wagon, you could transfer kitty-litter-duty to DH!

[gringuitica]

Thanks for the welcome, Sarah and Rainy!

Originally Posted by Rainy229

P.S. if you REALLY wanted to get on the "I'm gonna act preggo so it's not a double-shock when I get my BFP" wagon, you could transfer kitty-litter-duty to DH!

Haha! Believe it or not, done! We started that a few months ago, when I went off BC (to give my body enough time to bounce back) -- I told him that he needed to create good habits then, so it wouldn't be so hard when we did get pregnant!

I'm also taking a prenatal daily multi (have you tried Rainbow Light, Rainy? they don't make me feel bad at all) and I very, very rarely drink any alcohol -- maybe a glass of wine once a month. I don't eat much sushi because there are no restaurants close, but I LOVE it and it'll be hard to resist when I am within striking distance of a good restaurant. I'll survive though. The coffee is what'll kill me; I love a big cup in the morning, and it'll be hard to cut down. I think I'll start doing half-decaf, half-regular. Any idea on how to figure out caffeine (mg) content? (If there area any serious java junkies out there, I grind two full scoops for one large cup, brewed in a French press.)

As for exercise, my DH and I go walking up our mountain 3 times/week, and we'll probably up that. I definitely want to be in good shape for baby, both for a healthy birth and to be an active mommy.

[just_lily]

I got the BFP for my daughter while in Las Vegas for my brother's wedding. I had gotten several BFNs before I left and had what I thought was my period so I had a really good time for a few days.

Then my period never really arrived in full so I took one more test that I had with me just to confirm to myself that I wasn't preggo. Surprise!!

Of course I stopped drinking then, and my DD is now 2yo and perfectly fine and healthy.

This go around I am not doing anything special other than taking folic acid, which is important to have in your system before conception in order to prevent defects.

My understanding that since a fertilized egg is just floating around and not interacting with your body yet until well after you would be testing positive, things like alcohol and caffiene are not going to have any effect on a fetus during the TWW.

(Although this thread is making me want to go out and have sushi this weekend, as that is something I really missed during my first pregnancy.)

[nintendork]

You certainly don't have to cut all sushi out of your diet, lots of sushi is made with cooked seafood or is tempura. Also inexpensive sushi is usually made with farm raised fish which has a lower concentration of mercury than wild caught fish. That and a large portion of the world eats tons of sushi daily and it doesn't cause any problems.