Planning to sway next month

[Fabby123]

Hi,

IÂ’m planning to TTC next month..! I have greatly increased my protein intake since having my girls but it will be only 5-6 weeks on full HE diet, which IÂ’m hoping will be enough. Trying to be as strict as I can with diet- lots of nutrients, protein with carbs, snacking every 2-3hrs and a bedtime snack every day. IÂ’ve been taking a multi vit for months now (nothing in it more than 100% RDA) and also contains probiotics. Taking extra vitamin D (25mcg total) extra folic acid (1800mcg total) and omega 3 fish oil every other day.

DH is taking a multi vit (centrum menÂ’s one a day) and refusing to take anything else. He is usually into his cycling and running but has agreed to do weights instead, and trying to get him to wear loose boxers as much as possible. IÂ’m getting as much as I can from him in terms of sway support haha!

I cycle to and from work 4 days a week, 30 min journey which is not particularly strenuous, but IÂ’m worried this might be too much exercise. I could reduce this to 2 or 3 times a week but donÂ’t want to give up completely as itÂ’s saving us a lot of money. I also want to incorporate some weight training but not sure how to include this without doing too much exercise!

Another thing that worries me is ovulation. My cycles are fairly regular (around 31 days) but I never seem to get a positive opk! I find it really hard to track when IÂ’m ovulating and IÂ’m worried IÂ’ll miss ovulation completely and mess up my sway. Also getting enough attempts in may be potentially difficult with a 2 year old who doesnÂ’t like sleep!

All tips and support much appreciated!! Thanks in advance 😊

[atomic sagebrush]

6 weeks on HE Diet has been enough. It was only pink swayers who seemed to benefit from 12 weeks.

4 days a week 30 min. cardio is not too much and should not affect a sway negatively. It's only for DH who might need to skip riding bikes.

Adding in weight training is fine, you just separate out the time you do your cardio with the time you do your weights so it is never more than 30-45 min consecutive exercise. So do your cycling when you need to and then at another time of day (or on another day entirely) lift weights for 15-30 min.

What kind of OPK re you using and when are you testing??

[Fabby123]

Thanks for your reply! Good to hear about the cycling and yes I try to do weights on days when I’m not cycling. DH has actually not cycled in a few months now, and cut right down on running which is great and partly why I want to sway sooner rather than later..before he decides he wants to take it up again!

Using cheap opk’s as I can’t afford the expensive ones, and didn’t have much luck them last time. Trying to test 3x a day during fertile week. Think I may have missed ovulation this month (now day 21) but started testing late as didn’t get any ewcm till around day 17, when I started testing. Will buy pre-seed as I don’t always get lots of cm. And also think I should use mucinex.

Trying to eat every 2-3 hours and increase protein as much as I can. Also feeling unwell the last couple of days, sure I will be better within a week but just want to check it’s not going to affect my sway for next month? Arrr getting stressed with just wanting everything to be perfect!!

[atomic sagebrush]

The expensive ones are pretty bad too. I would have you test after lunch and before dinner. Don't bother testing in the morning.

Getting sick now is probably ideal, you'll be recovered by next month.

Don't worry TOO much about stuffing yourself with protein, anything 90 g or more is great. If you eat too much protein it just passes through anyway so don't make yourself miserable eating into the hundreds of grams if you just can't stomach it. You're also taking room away from other things like carbs/fats and nutrient rich foods in favor of protein that may not even be fully digested if you eat too much.

:agree: mucinex is great, preseed if you need it!

[Fabby123]

Hi, so I’m currently on CD35 and no period!!! Not pregnant and completely out of the blue, I’m always 30-31 days 😭 hopefully should start soon, I’m getting so frustrated with my body and now worried that it will ruin my sway for next month. Should I wait another cycle so I’m more regular? Not sure if swaying the month after a weird cycle will affect it in some way? Arrrr please help!

[atomic sagebrush]

Have you drastically upped carb intake or gained more than 3-5 lbs??

[Fabby123]

No, gained a little more weight but no drastic amounts. I have been ill for a lot of the month though, (one cough or cold after another!!) and been pretty stressed so that may be why.

[Fabby123]

I upped protein a little more and started taking my supplements later in the day (early evening) as I read that the fibre in the oats I eat for breakfast may prevent absorption. Also upped folic acid from 1800 to 2200mcg. Those are the only things I’ve changed at all, and thinking of going back to my old routine of supplements in the morning if it keeps my cycles regular.

[Fabby123]

Finally AF is here, early morning CD36!! It’s never been this late and now I’m panicking that the weird cycle will affect my sway this month..may be we should wait another month? I know my DH won’t want to wait at all 🙄 and also the longer I make him wait the more likely he is to start picking up cycling/running/energy drinks again 😩😩

[tillytys]

Your sway looks great Fabby, how do you feel health wise? Can I ask how old you are?

[Fabby123]

Still got a cough and cold on the go (so annoying!) but I’m hoping I’ll be over it in the next few days. I’m usually pretty fit and healthy, no health issues at all and hardly ever ill! I’m 32, DH is 35.

Also was thinking of sway attempts, the one thing I’m pretty sure I did with all 3 girls was only getting one attempt in at fertile window. I’m thinking this time DTD every 2-3 days unprotected, throughout cycle, and will try to get several attempts in at positive OPK. I remember reading somewhere about it being bad having dead sperms up there before fertile window, and that’s what encouraged me to try Shettles timing before..but it seems ridiculous now I think about it. If anyone can reassure me that’s not true?

[tillytys]

That sounds like a good idea, im sure its a good idea to have the cervical crypts filled for a blue sway.

[atomic sagebrush]

That's the old debunked Shettles idea. This thought that Y sperm die off fast leaving only the X behind - the trouble is that whole notion has been debunked!! Most of us with all boys, myself incuded, BD every 2-3 days when not trying (usually without protection) and then when we are trying, have sex a lot around ovulation.

People have speculated all the way back to Charles Darwin's time that lots of sex = boys, and new studies have indicated that more semen helps to boost fertiity even when it's out of the fertile window (and higher fertility seems to sway blue). So there is actually scientific thinking in addition to our experiences that seems to support the idea.

FWIW I got all my boys with at least 2 attempts. Only kid I ever got with one was my girl. :)

[Fabby123]

Thanks! Do you think it will be ok to go for it this month?? (After being ill and run down) If I’m completely better by fertile window, I don’t really want to wait but I also don’t want to have any regrets, and if it’s the kind of thing that would negatively affect my sway I should probably wait another month. ..trying not to stress over it too much!!

[atomic sagebrush]

It's totally your call to make. It all boils down to whether you'll live a thousand lifetimes of regret if you try and get an opposite, but at the same time you have to keep in mind that for all we know, you'll be passing up on a great month in favor of a month that's not as good!

[Fabby123]

Arrrgh I know, so frustrating!! I worry that if I leave it this month, then next month my husband will be ill, or decide to run a marathon 🙄, or there’ll be something else that will make me delay it for longer and longer. I guess I’ll just see how I feel over the next couple of weeks. I can only do my best. I could have it absolutely perfect and still get an opposite, so I try to put things in perspective and will try not to stress too much!

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes exactly - what I said above doesn't even take into consideration the truth that we don't know the future and it may be worse for OBVIOUS reasons let alone possibly imaginary ones! I have seen WAYY too many people skip mostly-ok months thinking that there will be some perfect month that never comes along, only to find out that the subsequent months were worse, and in the end they say "oh screw it" and try anyway in a month that was undoubtedly worse than the ones they'd passed up on. Just use your gut instinct!

[Fabby123]

..so we went ahead with attempt this month!! Currently on CD21 and still having unprotected attempts every other day due to confusion with OPKs. I just wasn’t getting any positives, and testing twice a day from CD7. Unfortunately I didn’t realise they take a while for the line to fully appear, until I got a load out of the bathroom bin haha! One of them looks almost as dark as the control line, and I’m guessing it’s from CD14 or 15.

Anyways we DTD on days 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 and will probably continue every other day for the rest of the week. Hoping that’s enough to cover us! (And also not too much?!). I was really hoping to get the 3 attempts in at OPK+ 😩!!

I did my best with the diet and exercise. I felt if I was any stricter it would affect my sanity haha, and just didn’t want to drive myself (or my husband) crazy. Also took supplements religiously, again didn’t take absolutely everything I could have done but chose the ones I felt were sensible - multivit with probiotic, fish oil, extra vit D and extra folic acid. Hubby took a men’s multivit but wouldn’t take anything else. I also took guaifenasin twice a day from CD7 to CD20. Noticed that I had more watery CM and when I got EWCM it wasn’t tons, but very very clear (is usually cloudy). So I hope that’s done something useful!

I was definitely having more protein than when my girls were conceived, so I feel good about that, had 2 eggs every day and I’ve been obsessed with Greek yoghurt! Also meat or fish every single day. DH did almost no cycling (I think there was one occasion) and no running. Did more weights than he normally would.

Overall I think it’s gone well, will just have to wait and see if I’m pregnant..will keep you posted! Thanks for all the help and advice, even though I’ve not posted lots I have spent many hours lurking and considering all the info on here! It’s all appreciated ❤️

[atomic sagebrush]

That's good though, I'd rather see you keep trying in case of delayed ovulation. Way too many times people assume they ovulated when they didn't.

The main point of the 3 attempts at pos OPK are because a lot of people are doing timing - it's the only way to have people get 3 attempts while still doing timing! I certianly never had 3 attempts at pos OPK when I got any of my boys (and very few of us with all boys did!) I think you had great attempts, very much what I did when I got my boys, and I think you're in with a great attempt!!

[Fabby123]

Thank you 😊 yes I will keep the attempts up every other day!

[Fabby123]

UPDATE! I tested this morning (day 31) and got a BFP!! I tried testing last Sunday (day 26) which would have been 9-10 days after I think I ovulated but it was negative. Also used really cheapo tests, so left it almost a week till testing again.

Getting a little nervous already! I’ve had pains mostly on the left side which is freaking me out..although I keep telling myself that means nothing in terms of gender. Otherwise I feel like I have less symptoms than I did with the girls and I hate sweet things recently which is unlike me. But of course it’s very early days! And I’m trying not to read too much into it.

We will be going team green/yellow and waiting until the birth, but I will come back and update some time in October!

[atomic sagebrush]

The pains and where you feel them mean nothing. I have heard from 123,456,789 people who worry about this and then find they ovulated on the other side and/or baby is implanted in a totally different spot. It's just wherever your body's nerve endings are as your ligaments stretch from the relaxin hormone your body starts releasing at BFP.

Yep symptoms don't predict gender so don't get invested in them. Hugest congrats and tons of blue dust headed your way!

[Fabby123]

Hey! Unfortunately I miscarried at 6 weeks 😭 was a real shock as I’ve never had any issues with conceiving and all very healthy pregnancies. I know it’s so common but I keep thinking silly things like ‘maybe it’s because it was a boy and I can’t carry boys’, or ‘maybe it’s because I kept cycling to work’ or ‘didn’t eat enough after I got BFP’..ridiculous I know and really trying not to beat myself up over it. Its silly because it was so early into the pregnancy but I keep getting so upset and also angry that it didn’t work out and the age gap between DD3 and the next one will be even bigger 😭

In some ways though I am quite excited to try again and do better on the things I wish I had last time. I only started bleeding a couple of days ago so will wait until AF comes back and aim to try that cycle. I know DH is keen to try again straight away but I want my body to feel normal again and also worried about swaying pink unnecessarily. I’m sure I am ‘set’ enough for pink that anything that may sway slightly will not do me any favours! Arrrr feeling pretty drained from this 😩😭

[tillytys]

Sorry to read this Fabby:( I hope you are ok.

[Fabby123]

Feeling much better thanks. I was so emotional the last couple of days, I think it was all the hormones! Feeling a lot more positive now 😊

[atomic sagebrush]

oh no I'm so sorry.

To put your mind at ease, no one "can't carry boys". That is not actually a thing. Some people have rare genetic disorders where half the time they will miscarry or have a baby with a health issue, but those are VERY rare and you'd usually have a history of unexplained losses both for yourself and also in your mother, grandmother, sisters, etc.

It is SO natural to think of all the things you did/didn't do but the vast majority of losses are just bad luck. Either chromosomal (most common), clotting disorders, or thyroid issues. It may be worth having your thyroid checked but they ~usually~ aren't willing to investigate for clotting disorders until there have been three losses in a row.

THe odds are very good you'll have a normal, healthy pregnancy the next time. Please let me know how I can help!

[Fabby123]

Thank you! Just a little scared it will happen again, but I know my chances are good with no medical issues or previous losses.

I was initially excited about swaying again next month, but now with this coronavirus situation everywhere I’m a little apprehensive! I’m a nurse as well so it’s already getting crazy busy and likely to get much worse, and I’m at high risk of exposure. Probably not the ideal time to be swaying 😩. Will have to see how things pan out over the next couple of months..

Stay safe everyone! (Especially pregnant ladies and those with underlying conditions) X

[atomic sagebrush]

It is a huge decision to make. On the one hand we don't know that there will be any ill effects, but at the same time we don't know that there won't. It makes a lot of sense to wait if the luxury of time is on your side.

Stay safe and sending you ((((hugs))))) and best wishes for good health through this nightmare.