Wow! I can't believe I'm actually getting to post on here! I've been trying to conceive for 5 months and finally got a BFP. I was beginning to think something was wrong with me. This month was the first month we used Pre-Seed!
I am almost 34 and have two beautiful daughters, 5 & 12. Both previous pregnancies were unplanned, so when my husband and I decided to get pregnant again I, naively, thought it would happen the first month we tried. Needless to say we were in a for a big surprise. I know five months is nothing in respect to those who have been trying for years, but I began to get an idea of how frustrating and heartbreaking it is every month TTC with no success. It is an emotional roller coaster especially during the dreaded TWW. If I had to hear one more person say "just relax and it will happen!" or "You're stressed. That's why you're not pregnant. Try not to think about it." I was going to scream! I mean, seriously how are you NOT supposed to try or think about it? Well meaning, but not very helpful.
I typically have a regular 27-29 day cycle every month. For the first couple months I tried using digitals OPK's and after two months of no success decided to stop and just listen to my body.
After two more months with no success we tried 6 new approaches.
* OPK (cheap target brand) less expensive and I was able to test a little more freely without worrying about wasting them.
* PRESEED! I truly think the Pre-Seed is what made the difference for us this month. I don't have any issues with creating enough EWCM, but thought the more for the sperm to swim around in the better right? I had also read so many testimonials of women who claimed they got pregnant after their first use that I thought what could it hurt to try? I used it internally and administered it about 10 minutes before we DTD. I would say I used about 1/2 to 3/4 of the recommended amount.
* Started tracking my basal body temperature for the first time this month. I used an application on my phone called Kindara. It was very easy to use and helpful in charting other information such as days we BD and cervical mucus etc. Mainly I did it for my own piece of mind. I wanted to see if my temperatures would indicate if I was actually ovulating. According to my chart I believe I ovulated on CD14.
* Kept my legs and hips up for 30 minutes following BD. Previous months I did not have the patience to do this.
* Husband wore boxers in place of boxer briefs.
* A lot of personal prayer. :)
This month we only did it a TOTAL of 4 times all during my fertile window. On CD10 I got a positive OPK. We DTD on CD10, CD11, CD13 & CD14. Tested for the first time on CD25 (11DPO) and it came up positive right away. I used both a cheap Target test and reconfirmed with a digital ClearBlueEasy.
Another thing of note is on CD 16 I woke up with what I thought was a cold but turned out to be strep throat. I don't know if this a factor at all but have heard that when you are sick your body's immune system is compromised and less likely to fight the baby off as a foreign invader. Not sure if this theory has any merit at all but just thought I'd throw it out there. Not like anyone is gonna get sick on purpose. haha
So here are my symptoms as best I can recall:
1DPO: No symptoms at all.
2DPO: Came down with strep throat. Too sick to notice if anything was off.
3-4DPO: Took antibiotics and felt almost 100% better.
5-6 DPO: Very, very emotional. This was the day of and following the Connecticut shooting. I could not stop crying. Was almost inconsolable with grief for these children and their parents. I would not say this was necessarily unusual as I probably would reacted the same way, pregnant or not, in the wake of such an incomprehensible tragedy.
7-8DPO: Had some breakout on my chin that was unusual especially since it wasn't time for me to PMSing. It was under the skin and a little painful but resolved itself within a day or two. Started having trouble sleeping but kept dozing off during the day.
9DPO: Had a minuscule streak of blood mixed with my CM. Wiped again and it was very slightly tinged pink. This is when I started to think something was up. At first I was like, is it AF because many times that is how my period begins. But she would never come as early as CD23, and by that evening I knew it was not my period because when I spot like that I start within hours and I didn't get any more that day. Then I thought maybe it is implantation bleeding. With my two previous pregnancies I never had or noticed this so I wasn't really sure what it looked like. This time of month my CM usually becomes like EWCM until my AF but was white and creamy. Trouble sleeping at night but tired during the day. Began to get hungry (usual pms symptom) but when I would eat it was like I couldn't get full. Like a bottomless pit. I just kept eating.
10DPO: i had a little bit more pink tinged. It was so light though that had I not been looking for it, I might not have even noticed. Again, creamy CM. I really wanted to test but didn't know if I could handle another BFN. I'm sure, as you all know, it becomes almost scary to even try. Other months when I had tested too early it caused me to become more anxious with questions like, did i test too early? is this a false negative? was my pee too diluted? to take over my brain. I decided I would wait until the next morning and use FMU. REALLY TIRED. bottomless pit again.
11DPO- CD25: Woke up early and used a Target test and it came up BFP within seconds. Took another CBE digital and it said pregnant!!!
This month I actually think I had less pregnancy "symptoms" than the previous. So many are like that of PMS it's really hard to differentiate. Expect for the spotting and the slight absence of cramps i usually get leading up to AF, everything else felt the same. Boobs not sorer than normal, same frequency of urination, no cravings or aversions, however everyone and every pregnancy is different.
I just want to end by saying congratulations to all of you expecting and tell those of you who are still trying NOT TO GIVE UP!!! Every month is a new opportunity and you never know when you will get your BFP. Try using Pre-Seed if you haven't or any new techniques you are willing to! Hope my story helps! *Baby dust*