Sources for information?

[stacey79]

OK, I'm big on researching things that I do, especially big things. I'm talking to my gyno when I go in a couple of weeks and think this will be my last month on the pill. So, I'm wondering if you guys have found any resources with good information on TTC and all that. I'm totally in the dark. Obviously, I know about the birds and the bees, but I'm not sure on many things.

I don't have anyone in "real life" to talk with this about. We're not telling anyone that we're even thinking of starting to try. I guess I'm wondering about things like how to best tell when I'm ovulating (seems like my periods were irregular before the pill), what I need to do as far as vitamins, any research on diet, etc.

[llwd]

Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. Many people recommend this book at a good overall view of TTC. I never knew to observe my cervical mucous so that I could tell when I was ovulating.

My best advice is wait a few months after getting off the pill before you begin to TTC. Your cycles need to adjust to a regular pattern off the pill. Use ovulation tests to pinpoint when you ovulate. I used them and got pregnant 3 out of 4 times that I used them (one ended in miscarriage). Most medical advice assumes that your cycle is 28 days long and you ovulate at 14 days--that is certainly not true of everyone. You don't necessarily ovulate every cycle either.

If you have more specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Good luck!
Lori

[stacey79]

Thanks, Lori.

I will check out the book. My local library has it, so I'm going to pick up a copy today (if they're open; if not tomorrow). I'm going to send you a PM, too, with some other questions.

Also, in the meantime, I came across this Web site from someone else: http://pregnancy.alltop.com/. And I came across this one on my own: http://www.4woman.gov/pregnancy/. I figured I'd include those in case anyone else could use them.

[kuntrygurl78]

Thanks for the info Stacy! Hubby and I are TTC right now. I think for the first year, we are just going to do it the old fashioned way...wait for it to happen when it happens. I figure after that Ill hit the books and websites.

I did talk to my doc about vitamins and such. I cant take a multivitamin. She told me to make sure I take Calcium and folic acid. She didnt give me amounts. I just did some research on the internet and found recommendable amounts. Ive been taking them at night along with my elavil. Doc told me elavil was fine for now, but we would talk about wether I would stay on it or not when the day comes. Its my miracle pill, so it freaks me out to think I might have to go off it.

Wouldnt it be fun if we got preggers at the same time:woohoo:

[stacey79]

Hey, Kim. Yeah, we are going the old-fashioned route to start with, too. I have been reading some things about how to naturally tell if you're fertile. The book Lori recommended is good. I got it at the library.

I tend to be a research fiend. It partially goes with the work that I do as a journalist, but it's also a bit of a control thing, I think. The unknown is scary to me, so I like to know as much as I can. Somehow makes me think I'm more in control or something! :bonk:

So far I'm doing OK with being off the Ditropan. It's my miracle drug! :) I am also doing OK with the vitamins. Right now I have a UTI, so my bladder is very unhappy, but until that, it was going OK. I'm being a bit more careful with my diet since going off my meds. I was allowing myself one vinegar product a day. That's now maybe one a week at most and with Prelief. That kind of stuff.

I hope it goes well for you and your hubby! That would be fun if it happened for us around the same time. Feel free to PM and/or e-mail any time to keep in touch.