The other night I had a dream that I had a baby boy. It was the most real “baby” dream I ever had because over the course of my dream I was actually pregnant, then in labor, then holding my baby. It was kind of crazy!
I wish I could make a pregnancy announcement right now, but the reality is that my dream was just that. No baby news just yet.
It’s funny, I never wanted to have kids during my first marriage. I was pretty young, though (I had just turned 24 the day of my wedding), so people would say, “Oh, you could change your mind. You have plenty of time!”
Now, eight years later, I don’t hear the “plenty of time” phrase anymore. 😉 What I (sometimes) hear now is, “Hopefully you have better luck than I did. It took me [x number of] years to get pregnant!” By the way, that number “x” has been as high as 13 years. Yikes!
So, tell me, mamas, what did you do when you were trying to get pregnant? Keep track of your temperature daily? Chart your periods? Wing it? I’d love to know what worked for you – books, apps, sites… help a wannabe mama out!
My beautiful Janie… as you know, I wanted YOU so, so much, even though I didn’t know who YOU were and could never have imagined the perfect bundle of JOY and LOVE I would be blessed with. YOU. I tried for 6 months to have you… each month, nothing happening. Then YOU. YOU were on the way. And I thank God every day that YOU became our great gift. YOU. It will not take years, believe me. I love you with all the LOVE in the universe, and holding your Babes will be a dream come true for Dad and me, too. xoxox!
Hi Jane!! Yup, been there and we tried everything you mentioned above and then some. What really works…??!! Sex…and lots of it 🙂 Unless you have been tryig for a year with no luck, then just wing it and try to have tons of fun in the process!!! Good luck!! Oh, and you were married before??!! Melissa
I started charting a bit – using Taking Charge of Your Fertility and the software that came with it (also fertility friend online but the TCOYF software was my favorite). I tracked my temp, cervical mucus, and I did use ovulation predictors for days 12-17 or so. Good luck —- I hope you see those 2 lines on a test very soon 😉
I had to do fertility shot for my first one. I had my second 11 months after the first and then my third 18 months after the second. You never know. Talk to you Dr and tell him/her you’re concerned. If you’ve been trying for a few months already with no success tell your Dr you want to be tested. The fertility clinic at W&I is wonderful.
I highly recommend this book if you don’t already have it:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
Absolutely life changing! 🙂
OK Jane…obviously…I have never had a baby myself but my advice to you and Brian is to relax, enjoy each other and it will happen when it’s supposed to! Honestly!!!
OVULATION KITS!!!!!!!!
They work like a charm! 🙂 You can look at William, Alex and Ben for proof!
I learn new things about you ALL THE TIME! Ahhhh! We need to hang out.
At 27 (Dave 35), I started charting and using a calendar and the moment we tried BAM baby. I miscarried, but got pregnant again quick.
We are hoping to have an easy time of it this coming winter, too… but I really feel that knowing my body months in advance and not putting pressure on myself helped.
I cannot wait for you to be dog and baby mama!! We can have dog park play dates!
Acupuncture. I’m totally serious! And lots of sex. Good luck!
How exciting! Yay! I started just keeping track of my cycles- ovulating and periods by writing it down. I also really paid attention to my body. I never took my temperature. Wishing you all the best! Have fun practicing 😉
Oh how I remember those days! I tried for a good year and then had surgery to check for endometriosis. They found lots of it and it almost had claimed my fertility completely. But thankfully the doctor was able to save my ovaries and one Fallopian tube. I did the charts with temperature taking before and after surgery. I had to go on drug therapy that put me into temporary menopause for 6 months. It took 4 months and the help of progesterone cream to get my cycles started again. Two months after that I was finally pregnant.
But each of my 3 kids are miracles. My first, I was 17 and was being pressured to give her up for adoption. I broke down one night crying my eyes out and begging God to let me keep my baby. The next day, things started to fall into place (very long story), and now she is a beautiful, successful 23 year old who I had the privilege of raising ! 🙂
My second child is the story above. I got to the point that I felt hopeless and had another breakdown/prayer session one night. I asked God to make it happen if it was His will and that I was putting it all into His hands…I couldn’t do it by myself. I got pregnant that month with my amazing 16-year-old son.
My ex changed his mind on having a 3rd child but my heart felt incomplete. I knew I was supposed to have one more child. I tried so hard to change his mind but couldn’t. I finally called in God again and told him that I trusted in Him and that I knew, just like with my previous two, if it was His will, it would happen.
That month, we had an “accident” who is now my beautiful 12-year-old Natalie. 🙂 Best “oops” ever!!!
So I would say the best advice is to keep the faith, pray and trust that God has your back on this. It’s hard to be patient but everything comes together in His perfect timing.
Love you bunches and am praying for you!! xoxo
Weee…I think a weekend trip on your new boat will do the trick.
Jane- I used an ovulation monitor. I was a few years older than you and I did have to use medical help. However, a aura reader told me to try herbs from a chinese doctor of medicine. We had one in town and my insurance covered it. Well, I got pregnant. I did use a fertility doctor so I really can’t say for sure that it helped, but who knows?
I charted using the fertility friend app and used a product called Preseed. I had purchased the digital ovulation tests as well, but got pregnant before I had a chance to use them!
Acupuncture. Worked the first month. I swear by it.
After my first (which took a bit), I charted using tcoyf (book mentioned above), used ovulation predictor kits (digital), and used preseed (apparently ky or other lube kills sperm?!). Worked like a charm – went from 6 months trying with my first to pregnant on the first try with my third. Good luck!
Hi Jane, I’d leave my name but it’s too early to announce my pregnancy. But I wanted to share with you what worked for my husband and me. We got pregnant on the first cycle of doing these steps.
1. I went to acupuncture to regulate my cycle.
2. I read “Taking Charge of Your Fertility.”
3. Charted temp and cervical fluid and recorded results with the Fertility Friend App on my iPhone.
4. Did the deed every day 2 days before and day of ovulation. The book recommends a different schedule.
5. Used a lubricant called PreSeed (found at CVS). It helps those little guys swim. Recommended in the book. Apparently other lubricants can kill sperm.
6. This may seem extreme, but after sex, I lifted my hips above my head for 5-10 minutes and then inserted a Softcup and left it in overnight. Softcups are menstrual cups found in the tampon aisle. Yes, kinda icky, but it worked.