Negitive Test---I wanted it to be Positive

[tkyes]

Sorry to hear about that

I recommend charting your temperature. That combined with the inexpensive ovulation predictor kit (less than $20) worked for us. Now we just need a pregnancy to stick, but that's a whole nother thread!

Best of luck to you. Try not to get discouraged.


tamie

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

DD2 took much longer to conceive than DD1. One of those over the counter ovulation kits (Clear Plan Easy, I think) worked like a charm for us.

I had been tracking my cycle fairly closely, but it just wasn't happening with DD2. After buying the kit, I realized I was miscalulating my ovulation. One kit later, DD2 was on the way. I didn't even believe the pregnancy test that came with the kit!! I had to go buy my old stand-by EPT for me to believe I was actually pregnant again.

 

[MosMom]

I know that people will probably think this is ridiculous BUT we tried for 1.5 years for my son who was a #2. My daughter was a honeymoon baby so needless to say, we had no problem conceiving her.

We had just moved into our new house and things were very hectic. We had decided to stop trying so hard and concentrate on getting the house set up. This was in September and we said we could continue trying after the holidays. We set up the guest room (which would be the baby's room) and went on with life as usual. I totally put trying out of my head (which you CANNOT force yourself to do....you truly have to let the pressure off). We got pregnant in October and I think we only had intercourse once that month. I couldn't even remember when it happened!

I honestly believe that there is something to "trying too hard". I was constantly stressed about it and I think that messed with my cycles. If you have been trying for a year, I would definitely get checked for infertility problems (some doctors won't see you for infertility until 18 months) but let some pressure off. TRY not to get stressed out about it. I know it is hard.

I never used an ovulation kit because my cycles were irregular but I did chart. I noticed many women in my conception email lists were just bd'ing (baby dancing/intercourse) right around ovulation time and maybe one target day. I would say if you don't feel stress is the problem to bd for about a two week period surrounding ovulation every day.

I wouldn't let the fun out of making the baby though. It can add to the stress of having a baby and your sexual relationship.

But this of course is just my humble opinion after our experiences.

 

[katerkat]

I chart my temperature - I have been since January. It's been extremely accurate on showing when I ovulate. Keep in mind, though, the temperature will only show ovulation after the fact. You need to chart your, uh, fluids beforehand as well to knowing when ovulation is about to happen. We're not trying to conceive and I've been able to know when I'm about five days away from ovulation based on my fluids. (Since we're trying to avoid, that's key!)

 

[HappyMommy2]

I know how disappointing those negative tests are!

I also wanted to highly recommend "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." I read it before we began trying to conceive #1 and there was so much great info there. I think every woman should read it whether trying to conceive or not--you really learn how your body works.

I had no problems conceiving #1 and #2 (#1 was lost to miscarriage, though) but #3 was a harder--probably because #2 was a toddler and DH work schedule was busy and travel-intensive and we just didn't have time to be rabbits! So for a bit of extra help with timing for #3 I used the cheap ($12 or so per kit?) ovulation predictor kits. I used two kits each month for the first couple of months and that helped me know I was using them exactly correctly. Using those kits, plus knowing my "fertility signs" (as read in the Taking Charge book) gave me a good understanding of when the best "go for it" days were! Thankfully it wasn't long before I got the positive pregnancy test we were waiting for.

Take care of yourself, and have fun "trying"! DH says he always loves it when we are "trying" I hope your new little baby will be on the way soon.

 

[scarlett873]

i totally recommend the book taking charge of your fertility as well!! i checked it out from my library first and then, after renewing it as much as they would allow, i ended up buying the book. it's wonderful!!!

 

[Mishetta]

We also had trouble with baby #2. We gave up once I turned 40 (& DS was 4 y/o). At 42 I got the surprise of my life. My surprise is now 2 1/2 years old! Not that I had planned to be chasing after a toddler when I'm steps away from an Old Folks home but that's the way God wanted it!

Good luck to you & enjoy the ride in the meantime!

 

[Annette_VA]

You don't have to shell out $200 on the Ovulation Predictor! You can buy test strips that are way cheap:
http://www.babyhopes.com/ovulation-predictor-kit.html

I used these to conceive #2. Got pg the first month!

Good luck to you!

 

[MosMom]

i totally recommend the book taking charge of your fertility as well!!

I strongly agree with this book as well. It is an excellent book and I think it should be required reading for girls in high school. Our bodies have always been such mysterious things. I know I learned alot about myself when I read that book.

Oh and Annette -- That picture is absolutely precious! I love it!

 

[Gwene65]

I will definatly (sp) be buying a copy of that book.


Thanks for the help and words of encouragement. We haven't been trying long-only 3 months but it is still agonizing.

 

[MosMom]

Gwene,

Did you just come off of birth control before trying? Sometimes it takes your system awhile to get back on track after coming off of BC. Depending on the BC it can take 6 months to get back to normal.

 

[Gwene65]

I have been off of BC since September of 2003. I got married and knew it took awhile to get the BC out of my system so we actually have been "trying" since September. I didn't really start trying until March.

I went and got my tarot cards read last week and the lady told me that she thinks I will get pregnant by August and it will be a girl. Which is cool BUT my husband has no sisters and I am a strong believer of siblings having something to do with what kind of sex your baby wil be. Example-his dad had all sons and no daughter so I think my husband will have all sons and no daughters. Which sucks b/c I have the most perfect name for a little girl. I actually started loving once I read these boards. Somone on these boards has inspired me!

Sorry for the rambling. I get excited talking about babies.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I have no personal story to post, b/c DH and I aren't trying yet, but I just wanted to say that through hearing my friends' stories, #2 can take quite a while. I agree with the posters who advocate relaxing, because it is truly astonishing what stress can do to your body.

Also, please don't feel silly for posting questions like this! I find these threads are a great place for advice/support, and even I am going to look into that taking charge of your fertility book, because I love to read about this stuff. So your thread is going to help not only you, but others as well.

The DIS is a cool place.

 

[MosMom]

Gwene...

My parents had a boy and a girl. DH's parents had 2 boys and a girl. I'm the oldest so none of my siblings have had kids yet. DH's sister had 2 boys. DH's brother had 3 boys. We have a boy and a girl.

My daughter is the only granddaughter. So, I think you still have a 50/50 chance of having a girl.

There is a method known as Shettles which has high rates of predicting boy/girl by when you ovulate & bd. BUT, if you are worried about getting pregnant period...you might not want to add gender choosing to the mix.

 

[Gwene65]

I wouldn't dare play God so to speak and choose the gender of my baby. All I really want is a healthy one.

I'm so glad I found this board. My husband thinks I'm crazy for spending all my time (even on the clock) here chatting with you all.

 

[scarlett873]

Originally posted by Gwene65
I wouldn't dare play God so to speak and choose the gender of my baby. All I really want is a healthy one.

I'm so glad I found this board. My husband thinks I'm crazy for spending all my time (even on the clock) here chatting with you all.

my husband thought i was nuts too...at least at first. now he's ok with me "hanging out" here...

i haven't been keeping an accurate chart for awhile due to some medical issues that have arisen for me, but we will be dong round 3 of clomid here soon...here's hoping 3rd time's the charm!

 

[mickeyboat]

I am just the opposite of most of you. It took 2 1/2 years to get PG with #1 and only 2 1/2 months to get PG with #2. Oops! The doctors told me we would probably only get PG with medication (I had PCOS). I was concerned about secondary infertility but I was too tired to care at that point. Since I was nursing and hadn't had a period yet, I didn't worry about getting PG. Now I have two little girls who are almost a year apart and will be in the same grade in school (their birthdays fall on either side of the cut off date).

A lot of people will not have much sympathy for you because "well, you already have one." But not being able to have a baby when you want one, whether it is your first or tenth, is an incredibly difficult emotional challenge.

Good luck to you! Remember that we are all here for whatever kind of support you need.

P.S. Share the name!

Denae

 

[AspiringCindy]

I agree that sometimes "trying too hard" can cause too much stress! We waited 1 year to conceive DD#1. Then DD#2 & DD#3 were each first try babies! Try not to think about it soo much and just relax! Good Luck!

Originally posted by MosMom


I honestly believe that there is something to "trying too hard". I was constantly stressed about it and I think that messed with my cycles. If you have been trying for a year, I would definitely get checked for infertility problems (some doctors won't see you for infertility until 18 months) but let some pressure off. TRY not to get stressed out about it. I know it is hard.

)

 

[gshoemate]

Another one here that read Taking Charge of your Fertility. It is a great book. I had a real older version that I just gave to our leasing agent, the new one on the market is twice as thick. It has a lot of great info. I think for the most part women think they ovulate on the 14th day of their cycle, this is only true if your cycle is 28 days. Not every woman is like that. The book tells you how to read your body to know when you are ovulating. I tried every trick in the book and had no problems conceiving. I even took robitussion cough syrup (and I hate cough syrup, won't even touch the stuff when I am sick) to speed things up a bit. Sounds strange but if you read the book,you'll know what I'm talking about.

 

[Dan Murphy]

's Gwene65