Do any of you ladies have any tips to conceive? Need it badly!

[Sunshine4me]

Hi ladies, I have started one other thread on here about Vitex and I have also looked everywhere on here about tips to conceive but I just haven’t found what I am looking for. My hubby and I have been TTC for a few months now but not long enough to go see the doctor. We both have done our best not to have to use or need any meds for anything. I want to do this natural. If I have to go on meds, then I will but I want to try everything I can to do this the natural way. We are very much into herbs. I have been on Vitex, started my second cycle. I am also taking a prenatal, baby aspirin and I just ordered Dong Quai.

I am not much overweight, I could lose a few pounds though but I work out. Don’t drink pop or alcohol. Basically no caffeine for me! I also have a period every month. They just always fall on different days than I expect. I usually have a 32 to 35 day cycle. I think the Vitex is helping. My hubby is taking Zinc and Ginseng.

That is what we are doing herb and vitamin wise.

Does this sound like a good plan? We are baby dancing every other day starting the day after my period ends until after ovulation time. We have tried just around ovulation time but that has obviously not worked. I just bought a basal thermometer but am still not exactly sure about it. I know to take the temps every morning before you get out of bed but when the temp does go a bit higher when ovulation occurs, does that mean it is too late to fall pregnant or is it when the temp is a bit higher that that is when it is the best time to baby dance? J I am also putting pillows under me so the sperm will go in easier.

Do any of you have any tips for me? I know it isn’t good to stress about it. I am very good about stress so I’m not having that problem.

I guess I am looking for you ladies to help me with a better plan and more/ better tips.

This is our first baby. We are in our mid 20’s. We didn’t think it would be hard since all these teenagers are having babies so easy and us women, who are trying so hard, aren’t. I know the chances of healthy couples and so on. I would love for some advice ladies J

What are you doing to conceive? What did you do to conceive? Do you have any tips? What is or was your journey to conceive?

Thanks SO much!

Baby dust to all!

[RosieL]

Hi Sunshine, welcome. I suggest reading up on some of the threads in this forum, as well as outside Mothering, and soaking up info as you search for it. I liked http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-to-get-pregnant/PR00103. There will be things missing from that list that you'll find on another list somewhere, after some search.

Your temps will give you an indication (rise in temp) after you've ovulated, so temps are good for confirming ovulation, not predicting. For prediction you can chart your cervical mucus, use ovulation predictor sticks, as well as other ways. You might want to go through Fertility Friend's guide to charting http://www.fertilityfriend.com/tutorials.html. It seems like a good resource. 

I've never been pregnant, and from reading it seems that everyone's story is a little different. What works for some doesn't for others, and vice versa.

Good luck!

[tantylynn]

I agree about checking out Fertility Friend. That is the best thing I have done so far. You can sign up for free and it makes tracking your symptoms, temperatures, cervical mucus etc so easy! They also email you lessons each day for the first cycle to teach you about charting and TTC. I learnt so much about my cycle and what to watch for to detect O. Hope it helps you too!

[lilacvioletiris]

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-to-get-pregnant/PR00103

I think the period at the end of the link messed it up, try this instead.

[lilacvioletiris]

This page about healthy sperm seemed important too.  Vitamins E and C are important for sperm health, I didn't know that.  Time to tell DH.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fertility/MC00023

I talked to my doctor about concerns that I will be 35 this summer but this page had some great explanations of preconception planning.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/preconception/HQ01251

Then the page for pregnancy symptoms

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptoms-of-pregnancy/PR00102

Good luck on your TTC journey!

[Stevi]

The temp rise is supposed to indicate that you ovulated the day before.

BUT!!!

First, the egg can live for awhile after ovulation, so BDing the day of your temp spike is a good idea.

Second, temps can go up for other reasons. So it is best to keep BDing until 3 consecutive days of higher temps.

When you chart every cycle you will start to see a pattern in your CM, temps, and ovulation. That helps you predict ovulation in later cycles.

OPKs are also a way to help predict ovulation.

Oh! Let me know why you are using the Dong Quai. I'm thinking of starting it myself and could use more info.

[Sunshine4me]

Thanks everyone!

Stevi- I don’t know a whole lot about Dong Quai but 2 of my friends conceived from that and taking Vitex together so I thought I would give it a try.

The big benefit of vitex for couples trying to conceive is lowering testosterone levels and removing some of the symptoms of PCOS in women. In men, however, not only does vitex blunt any desire for sex, the lower levels of testosterone stop the production of sperm. In cases of extreme overuse, vitex can even cause testicular atrophy.

Dong quai is also used in women’s fertility. Vitex lowers testosterone levels, but dong quai lowers estrogen levels. Since estrogen fuels the growth of endometriosis and certain kinds of blockages in the ovaries, lowering estrogen levels can make it easier for the egg to reach the uterus during ovulation.

[mamanoish]

I have two children (that I didn't have much trouble conceiving compared to baby #3!!!) and don't really have any advice, but I love the info given in this thread. I use FF for charting, am also in my mid 20s, taking nothing other than a prenatal and I eat a healthy vegan diet with a lot of raw fruits/veggies. We have been TTC since Sept 09' with 2 pregnancies resulting in loss. My first son was a pleasant surprise (when I was a teenager  and my 2nd son came after 7 months TTC.) I know at this point we should probably see a Dr about fertility, but I am working with a midwife, I just don't want to take medicine for it as well. We basically BD up until 2 days after O has been confirmed, then try again next month! Please update on the other herbs as well, I will have to get DH taking some of the supplements mentioned. 

[Stevi]

I tried Vitex once and it had a detrimental effect on my cycle, so whatever it helps must not be one of my problems. LOL I don't think I have PCOS, I have very regular cycles, and when I manage to temp; it confirms that I'm ovulating.

I've had two miscarriages, but they were over 2 years ago, so I'm hoping the Dong Quai will have a positive outcome. Perhaps something during my second miscarriage clogged up my tubes... I very likely had a ruptured ovarian cyst at the time, perhaps it caused some blockage? I don't know. Anyhow, I figure it is worth a try.

[Sunshine4me]

I do not believe that I have PCOS either but Vitex has made my cycle a bit shorter.I would try the Dong Quai. I have heard so many great stories. Hopefully it works for both of us!

[Sol_y_Paz]

Stuff I have learned along the way

drink lots of water

have green tea

drink grapefruit juice

check out pre seed

check CM

temp and chart

eat baby carrots raw

have a healthy diet

exercise some

get natural sunlight, helps vitamin D levels

get some books like http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Your-Fertility-Anniversary/dp/0060881909

and http://www.amazon.com/Art-Natural-Family-Planning/dp/0926412132/ref=pd_sim_b_18

have a physical to make sure you are healthy, for instance, run blood work like thyroid function

[kismetbaby]

RUN, do not walk, but RUN out and buy Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Wexler!!!!  :)   The end.

Really. This book is great and you will reference it for years to come.  It will tell you all you need to know about charting, which is truly the best way to figure out what is going on with your cycles and your fertility. 

Good luck!

[Sunshine4me]

Thanks again everyone. I just bought green tea ans grape fruit juice but I just read somewhere on google that green tea is bad when trying to conceived so there arew mixed reviews.

[Sol_y_Paz]

Originally Posted by Sunshine4me 

Thanks again everyone. I just bought green tea ans grape fruit juice but I just read somewhere on google that green tea is bad when trying to conceived so there arew mixed reviews.

One cup a day.