What should I be doing? Because I am an *insane* over-planner...

[Ravensong13]

Okay, let me preface this post with the statement that I am NOT in fact an idiot, just like to prepare for things WAY in advance

Dh and I have decided that come August we are going to start ttc. I am super excited and have no idea how to prepare. My dd was a complete oops and besides knowing that I should be on top of my cycle I do not know where to start! Should I avoid certain foods or herbs? How the hell do I chart? etc, etc, etc. I am already eating crazy healthy and starting to run again. Any advice?

[SilaMarila]

Purchase Taking Charge of Your Fertility and read it again and again  SERIOUSLY! You will learn EVERYTHING! Including how to chart  Good Luck!

[RosieL]

I have requested TCOYF from interlibrary loan. In the meantime, I took the free charting course from fertilityfriend.com and enter my chart data there (which makes it easy). It's the dominant site but a few others seem to be used by people here too. 

I am a super planner too. I wish I could have done the "not trying not preventing" thing though. If you can, do it!

[Jaimee]

There is another thread HERE, about what you would do if you knew you were going to start TTC soon.  It got some good responses.

To chart, I second the pp's recs for TCOYF.  Get it immediately and read it well.  I also second the rec for Fertility Friend.  It's free and really helpful to keep track of your charts as well as giving you a second opinion about your ovulation day.  Plus you can share your charts here to get more opinions.  :)  BUT, I would not rely on FF as a sole source of information, I highly recommend learning the rules of charting by reading the book.  How old is your dd?  Are you still nursing, co-sleeping, dealing with night wakings, etc.?  If so, charting will be especially helpful to see if you're ovulating and have a fertile length luteal phase.  While charting can be a bit more of a challenge in this situation, it's still totally possible to see a pattern. 

You should start taking a prenatal vitamin if you aren't already and you could cut out caffeine, alcohol, etc.  Same with your dh!  :)  Also maybe examine your diet and see if anything needs tweaking for optimum health prior to succumbing to morning sickness. 

Maybe read some books on tandem nursing (if you're still nursing) and Siblings Without Rivalry while you still have the time and energy to read! 

Oh and start an exercise routine so that you can more easily continue it while pregnant.  And think about things you wish you had done/known about the first time, how you would like things to be different, etc. and start researching and looking into your options.

Edited by Jaimee - 5/14/11 at 8:20am