I want your TTC FAQ's!!!

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on an article and was after some input from everyone if you can think of anything to contribute! I am doing a great big article about FAQ's from conception to pregnancy, so if you could all list some questions you had from the very beginning (e.g. before you even knew about how to go about TTC'ing through charting etc) right through to now. So any FAQ's you might know of, had thought of before or even have now would be great!

Thanks guys!!!

Hi Kelly, I am trying to reconstruct my questions from my journal:

(pre)TTC:
- what should I do before TTC (i.e. vitamins, pap smear, rubella immunity, no/limit alcohol etc.)
- how long should I take folate before TTC?

TTC:
- when am I fertile (i.e. which days is conception possible)?
- when do I ovulate?
- how do I know I ovulated?
- which positions are best for conception?
- is it possible to enhance chances for a certain gender of the baby?
- what do I have to eat when pregnant (i.e. 6 serves of protein, 3-4 serves of calcium.....)
- how will I know if I'm pregnant (aside from AF not showing up)
- how early can I test with an HPT?

Pregnangy (so far - very early, so this will be short):
- when is my baby due?
- what should I NOT eat (no sushi, soft cheeses,.....)
- is it safe to use a hot water bottle (or will I 'boil the baby')?
- is it harmful for the baby if I inhale insect spray (e.g. Mortine)
- is it harmful for the baby if I eat something that is burned?
- can I eat sausage rolls or pies if they are piping hot?
- can I eat MacDonalds (aside from being unhealthy)?
- can I fly in the first trimester?
- how will I know if I miscarried?
- when do I see a doctor and which doctor?

..

I am sure there are lots more that I had, but these are the ones I can recollect.

Snowy

Wow, thanks Snowy, these are great! If you think of any more, please add them!

I hope no-one feels embarassed asking about these sort of questions, so don't feel embarrassed to put them down. Trust me - I get to see the keywords people use when they find my site through search engines - and people look for all sorts of weird and wonderful things. But they are questions they are too scared to ask - it shouldn't be that way ;)

I think that if I can create a great big FAQ database, it will encourage more to be open and also less embarrassed!

Charting

1 - I hear people chart with BBT thermometers. What is BBT.
2 - Must I use a thermometer with BBT on it
2 - When do I take my temperature
3 - Apart from temperature is there anything else I can do to help predict ovulation
4 - People suggest to raise your lets in the air after having sex to assist sperm. Is this necessary.

OPK's

1 - the test line looks about the same as the control line. Is that a positive
2 - I have had three positive OPK's for 3 days straight. Can that happen
3 - I have used all 5 tests with no result, does this mean I am not ovulating.

CM

1 - is it possible to get EWCM more than once throughout your cycle
2 - how can you tell the difference between EWCM and Sperm

Love :smt049

oh - I just thought of a few more (while in the shower):

- is it okay to use epilatory cream?
- is it okay to have a bikini wachs?
- is it okay to use acne creams/face masks?

snowy has already put down all my questions that i had.. although if i think of any more ill add them here

Lesley

- Can Lubrication Gels affect my chances of conception?
- Can I have sex every day or is it true that this decreases the potency of sperm?
- How long before I should go see a dr in regards to long term TTC, in order to get help?
- Are there any food/drinks I should stay away from during the TWW.
- I am a smoker, Should I quit now or wait till I am pregnant?

Ummmmmm thinking of some more...Just so you know I am asking the questions in first person lol for the sake of the questions LOL!

*hugs*
Cailin

DH is going to a fertility specialist tomorrow & I came up with these for HIS doctor:

Should DH stay away from certain foods / alcohol?
Does it really make a difference if DH wears boxers or briefs?
How can we increase sperm count?
Are there any vitamins etc DH should be taking to increase our chances?

Other than that:

Is there anything you can do immediately after BD to increase the chances of conception?
Do you EWCM on the day of or the day before ovulation?
How early can you get pregnancy signs - morning sicknees, sore breasts etc?

do I need to wait between going off the pill and TTC? Does the pill affect my chances of concieving? (or other methods of birth control).

Here's a few more I just came up with:

Should I be ovulating around the same time each month?
What can cause ovulation to be early some cycles & late in others?

Any more takers?! Going to get cracking with this article ASAP!

You might be able to put this in a Q. Something about the length of your cycle differing, but LP stays pretty much the same... therefore if you O late your cycle will be longer etc

Maybe also something about ttc while breast feeding, and how it can affect cycle length and temps.

Maybe a little about launa clycles and a womans cycle

I know these aren't questions but, you catch my drift.

Tanya

All of the above are applicable, the other one that my DH and I thought of was:

- will having a spa affect your fertility?
- does it affect both men and women?
- if pregnant is it / is it not safe to have a bath, and if so from when?
- do bath salts affect fertility / conception?

The other questions we always debate are:

- what is the life span of a released egg?
- what is the life span of sperm inside cervix? Does that change throughout the cycle?
- what are the most fertile days - before or after ovulation, and how many?

There are many others but probably better stop now! LOL!

Can't wait to read the article Kelly,

Love
Gabby O:)

I know that one issue that came up was the fact that some women need to go to the toilet straight after BD and can't lay on their back for half an hour. However Drs. say that urination after sex helps to prevent urinary tract infections and that it shouldn't dramatically deacrease the chances of fertilisation.

Also, the female orgasm. Does it help fertilisation? Can it hinder fertilisation if you have them during the TWW (especially if you have a lot of discharge)?

Otherwise, I think most other things have been covered!

Oh, and mobile phones - do they decrease male sperm count if kept in their pockets? Should the male also keep his "package" cooler to increase sperm count? Should he stop drinking so much beer? (hint, hint DH!!! lol)

Does Cm and CP offer any clues to early conception?

Moving to General Conception Discussion...

Some more... d:-)

* what are the different types of CM in a cycle?
* what exactly is hostile CM, eg: is it too much CM,
or a different consistency?
* when does implantation normally take place & how long until HCG
levels rise enough to be detected in HPT's?
* what is implantation bleeding, eg: how much, what colour?
* what is a CD21 Projesterone test for & what are normal levels?
* what is clomid?
* what can reduce your chances of conception &/or could affect
a feotus (sp?), eg: alcohol, certain vitamins?
* what should I look for when buying HPT's, eg: 25mlU?

I can't think of anymore question... Just trying to think what I have asked over the past 3 months..... uuummmm

Do you need to take a multi vitamin or os plain folate ok?

Is the sheltes method proven?

Something about the TWW


I can't wait to read this....