What do you wish you had known or done prior to TTC (new to board)

[GraceM]

I am new to the boards.

Following a missed period (apparently due to a short term medication I was given) and negative beta, my husband and I are now actively planning to TTC and considering what steps we should be taking prior to doing so.

I have already seen my dr. and had a pre-ttc prescreen (rh factor etc...). My first priority is to lose 20 pounds to hit my ideal weight. Other than that, I am at a loss. If you have any suggestions of things you wish you had known or done or would suggest to do before ttc, I would appreciate them.

[SC-Sherb]

Start taking prenatal vitamins and extra folic acid.

Good luck with your TTC journey and welcome to the board!

[Suzanne Rico]

Hi Grace--I'm not sure if you've done any acupuncture, but I wish my first RE had told me about it. I had two miscarriages (single, then twins) before being successful with my 3rd IVF--and this is the one I did acupuncture with. If nothing else, it is very relaxing and stress relieving--and often insurance will pay for it (or part of it). It was also lovely to have this mellow, informed, acupuncturist to talk to, instead of a disinterested, busy doctor. Good luck! Hope to hear good news soon.

[KimAtFertilityAuthority]

Definitely start with vitamins and try to cut out any habits that might interfere, if any, like smoking or excessive caffeine intake. Good luck!

[PrincessBride]

Take weekend trips with hubby while you can and document in journals and take pictures, etc!

[Cali]

Buy some OPKs to determine exactly when you ovulate. TTC on days leading up to O.

Good luck!

[GraceM]

Thanks very much. All these thoughts are very helpful. I am going to see my doctor next week and made an appt for accupuncture. I have done accupuncture before and it was amazing. Hopefully it will help with this. Now I just have to lose a bunch of weight... sigh.

[jenga12576]

if you OPK get the digital, not the one with the smiley face. I used both, and if i had gone with the smiley face would have missed my window. Definately take prenatals, and even a little extra folic acid. Make sure they test your dh sperm as well as you. Otherwise just realize it can take a while to get pregnant, it can be very emotionally challenging for those who have to go thru IVF cycles etc. Make sure your marriage is strong, and good communication.. infertility can destroy a marriage.

Jen

[angelady]

hi, i'm ~ 13 weeks now and during my 1st tri i was able to lose 10-15 pounds...relatively easily esp since i was banned from doing any exercise. due to aversions, coffee (with cream) was completely out, i mainly had a fruit/veg based diet, but eating meats/cheese when i felt like it too. skim milk only (for me skim milk now tastes like full-fatted milk). these changes caused my weight to drop, trust me i can't believe it either because when i was actively "trying" including occ. exercise couldn't lose an ounce, if fact kept slowly inching up the scale.

so my advice if i could do it over is really change the diet to have helped myself lose some weight. i'm plump and i really feel its better going into a pregnancy somewhere in your normal weight range. my ob said i can only gain 20 lbs through the whole pregnancy..so i'm going to take the weight i'm at now as my starting point and only put 20 on from here...it feels great to have lost some weight before going into 2nd and 3rd trimester, i feel healthier.

also , i used a great prenatal 3 months prior to iui as well as b-vit and iron elixers...all feel these helped me get pregnant and keeping the baby healthy too.

very good luck to you.