We're ready to start trying soon!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
We're ready to start trying soon!
8
Tue, 12-30-2008 - 9:00pm
My husband and I have decided that we're ready to start trying for a baby in the spring. I'll be 33 in March, and he'll be 30 in May. I'm currently on the Pill and just got my last batch of refills, which should take me to the end of March. We're in the process of trying to buy a house and I would rather get pregnant after the move, which should hopefully be in the next couple of months. I do have some concerns about getting pregnant. First, my period is horribly irregular when I'm off the Pill. I can sometimes go 3 or 4 months without a period and then will have extremely long and painful ones when they do arrive. I worry that this will make it nearly impossible to tell when I should take a pregnancy test, much less be able to tell when I am ovulating. Second, I'm worried that I might not be able to get pregnant, since I've had treatment for cervical pre-cancer, an ovarian cyst, and a tentative diagnosis of endo before. I'm also obese (270lbs) and a smoker. I'm in the process of quitting smoking and have also been toying with Weight Watchers off-and-on for several months. I have an appointment with my GP in a couple of weeks to get a referral to an OB-GYN (new insurance). I don't know when I should go off of the Pill or how long I need to be off of it before we start trying. I've been taking pre-natal vitamins for several months. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2008
Tue, 12-30-2008 - 11:53pm

The prenatal vitamins are a good thing to start.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Wed, 12-31-2008 - 11:32pm

Thank you, Holly! I'm really excited for us to start trying, but nervous, also. One of my best friends has been TTC for over 2 years now and I'm scared that I'll have the same hard wait as she has had. I was wondering, though: could you give me a list of the different abbreviations that are commonly used on here and what they mean? Reading some of these posts is like reading Greek! :) My Dr appointment isn't until 01/16 and who knows how long after that before I get my referral to an OB-GYN. I figure we probably won't stop the BCP until February sometime; hopefully we'll be in a new house by then!

Again, thanks for everything!

Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-07-2008
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 1:44am
There's a post in the Intro/Newbie section called (I think)
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2007
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 7:09pm

Hey Allie!


When my husband and i were trying last year, I was (and am currently) about the same weight as you (although i don't know how tall you are :) ) I'm 5'6". My OBGYN put me on metformin right away to help regulate my periods, because i had been charting for 2 or 3 month off of birth control, and i hadn't ovulated and my cycle was all out of whack...so that will definitely be somehting you want to talk to your doctor about. I was also on a weight loss drug for a few month (highly supervised) while still on BC to try and lose a little, but trust me, you can have a healthy pregnancy while overweight. As for the smoking, you know you need to quit, so bravo on that...definitely get that under control, because that will make it harder to conceive. I second the recommmendation to get the book Taking control of your fertility - an AMAZING book, even if you aren't trying to get pregnant! lol And fertilityfriend.com is great, and charting is thoroughly explained there and in the TCOYF (the book) so that you get the hang of it :) Good luck!


Hilary

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 8:12pm

Thank you, Hilary! I am concerned that my weight will be an issue with TTC (I'm 5'5", BTW). I will definitely mention metformin to my OB-GYN once I get into see him/her. The possibility of PCOS has been mentioned to me on another board and I've been reading up on it and it does seem like a definite possibility in my case. I've stopped smoking at home, so it's only in the car & at work that I still have problems. My best friend at work is also TTC (has been for over 2 years) and is trying to get our insurance carrier to cover IVF for her, so she'll be quitting smoking soon, too, so plenty of support there. Getting my hubby to quit smoking is another matter altogether! :) I'm also in the process of cutting back on my Pepsi consumption (which will help with the weight loss) and am going to start exercising more. I just really want to throw my BCP away and get started charting and everything, but I know I need to wait until I can see my OB-GYN. Have you heard of any herbal supplements that can help regulate cycles and encourage ovulation, or are those not recommended? I've seem some things on babyhopes.com, but I don't know if they work or if they're even safe.

Anyway, thank you for your help and advice!

Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2007
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 8:47pm
I JUST started reading a book about blending western and eastern medicine for helping fertility (my husband and i are also getting ready to TTC in about 3 months :) ) so if i read anything I'll definitely pass it on!

Hilary

Hilary

Avatar for ikumi
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2006
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 9:02pm

Allie,


Your weight, combined with your history of irregular periods, means that before you start TTC, it would be a good idea to be tested for a pretty common condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2005
Thu, 01-01-2009 - 9:34pm
Thank you, Ikumi! I do plan on speaking with my OB-GYN about the possibility of PCOS as soon as I can get an appointment (which may not be until February).
Allie
Wife to Adam
Mommy to pet-babies:
Percy and Saffy (parrots)
Mia, Pita, & Nada (cats)
Mrs. Jones (goldfish)
Alllison Mommy to Eleanor, born 05/11/10 Blighted ovum 08/25/11 Due with #2 09/05/12