What to expect postpartum

This is great information for expecting moms about what to expect postpartum!

What Nobody Told Me About Mesh Panties

 

I ovulated!

Phew!!!

As you know if you've been around for a while, we've "tried" over 20 times in the last three-plus years but I haven't actually done my official FAM charting. Until now. I decided that if we're serious, I better show it, as per the previous post.

So I got back to taking my temperature at the same time every day and recording fluid, symptoms, etc. Based on my last cycle, I figured I'd ovulate around day 18 this time and, much to my surprise, my temperature went from 97.3 to 98 on day 19! And it has stayed well above the cover line in the five days since, and went all the way up to 98.3 today! 

Implantation wouldn't occur until post-ov day 9 at the earliest. I had ovulation spotting with one of the pregnancies, but it's no guarantee. What I'm really looking for is getting to day 13 post ovulation, when I had positive pregnancy tests before. That will be April 12. Or a third clear rise in temperatures to indicate a rise in progesterone!

I really need to get my hands on both boys' fertility charts to compare! But of course it's been almost eight years since I last got pregnant. Gulp.

I feel very relieved that I do seem to be ovulating! And my temperatures indicate good hormone levels. So that's encouraging.

The crazy thing is, we'd conceive in April and be due in December...just like with the miscarriage. Wouldn't that be something?

P.S. I've added a D3 supplement to my arsenal. That was my only deficiency when I was last tested so I figure, why not try to get it up to normal??


 

My trying to get pregnant arsenal

The hubby and I have had a chance to regroup recently and have decided to really have a go at TTC. I've been treating it rather half-heartedly and need to COMMIT.

So we're getting back in the game. I thought I'd share with you 

my trying to get pregnant arsenal. 

This is my TTC Bible. I stopped taking the Pill in 2003 after about a year. The story is, I started on the Pill when Drew and I were a few months away from our wedding. Then a Catholic gentleman I worked with gave me a brochure about the effects of the Pill and it was eye-opening. The idea of a pill making my body inhospitable to a fertilized egg was not in line with my beliefs and values so I was considering not taking it anymore when my backpack was stolen out of my car--with my pills in it. "Message received, God."

I then decided to teach myself the Fertility Awareness Method, ordered this book, and started right away with charting. I still pick it up on occasion when I have a fertility-related concern.

This is the 2015 anniversary edition of Taking Charge of Your Fertility on Amazon.

There are FREE printable fertility charts from TCOYF, too, so they're ready to go. I've used them dozens of times over the years and they'll tell me a LOT about what's going on with my body. They look like this.

Print yours by clicking here.

I also ordered a new basal thermometer so I can chart my temperature (along with cervical fluid and other fertility signs). Using this method, we got pregnant with Andrew after about four official tries then got pregnant twice in a row after that ON THE FIRST TRY.

I'm 38 now and we've "tried" over 20 times now to now avail so it's time to big out the big guns again. Here's the one I ordered on Amazon. Basal thermometer.

For me, the most important features are that it takes your temperature quickly and recalls your last temperature. So I can take my temperature at 7:00am every morning, even if I don't write it down until later in the day (when I'm not half asleep and it's not dark).

I also ordered these ovulation detection strips from Amazon.

My cycles have been between 27 and 31 days lately so that means I need to test from about day 13 to 18 to tell if I'm experiencing a surge.

Naturally, when you're TTC, you're going to wonder if you're pregnant...so I went ahead and bought a big ol' pack of pregnancy test strips, too. Pregnancy test strips from Amazon.

When I talked to my ob/gyn about taking prenatal vitamins (they often upset my stomach), she suggested forgoing the usual and instead just taking a folic acid supplement. There's not much to them so I just got these Folic acid tablets.

{If you've heard anything recently for or against folic acid, please let me know!}

I'm also determined to keep stress levels low, cut back on sugar again and just take better care of myself in general. After the holidays, I never quite returned 100% to my healthy eating habits (I'm looking at you, Lay's potato chips).

We're feeling ready!

Of course I'll keep you updated on our TTC progress. Hopefully charting officially will increase our odds because I'm not getting any younger!