Conceiving :)

[IrishBeauty]

Hi I'm in the process of trying for a baby and I'm new to a lot of this so if there's anyone out there who can explain a few things. What is Clomid? Is there anythin I can take to increase my chances of pregnancy? How do I track my ovulation? (I have slight ideas but not certain) any other advice is welcome Etc etc...

[MeAgain102]

Start by monitoring your temperature every morning to find out when you ovulate.
Your temp will rise, and stay high until period comes (it will drop back down) or if you are pregnant, it will remain high.
OPK's are telling you that your are about to ovulate (have sex) but what it doesn't confirm is if ovulation actually happened.  Your temps will confirm it.  I normally get 2 days of positive OPK, then my temp rises.. Giving us two days notice.. Then you just have sex on the days of the positives and the day if the temp rise.. Remember sperm can live up to 5 days in the right atmosphere.

the best place to learn and ask questions about charting is tcoyf *******. There is a free service where you can keep track of your temps and other fertility signs, egg white mucus.

As for me, I was timing intercourse wrong until I read  the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility.
I had a 31 day cycle .. With an 11 day leutal phase... So I was ovulating on cycle day 21!!   learned thus after charting temps!
Anyway, I was trying to get pregnant half way through my cycle.. On day 16 and 16 .... Way too early for me!!!

[cindylu33]

These two basically covered everything I would tell you. Other things I would add is ...Try not to get stressed out and discouraged. I know it is easier said than done. Just know you are not alone in your struggles :) You might also want to try yoga. It really helps you relax.

[IrishBeauty]

Thank you both so much for your advice. It will definitely go a long way. :)

[hepD]

I would like to add that using a calculator helps too, but first you should get a estimate on the length/regularity of your cycles. I did this for three months using my calender. Once I figured out my body's natural rhythm, I used this ovulation calculator in conjunction with OPK's:
http://www.babymed.com/fertility-ovulation-calendar-calculator

(If your cycles are less than 24 days or more than 36, you should probably talk to your doctor about ovulation issues)

I also made an effort to eat healthier foods and take supplements (your partner should do this also): prenatal vitamins, fatty acids and extra vitamin C and E are a good start. Mild to moderate excessive also helps with conception/fertility.

[Mrs_Priss]

Clomid is a medication that forces your body to ovulate. You should only take it if a doctor prescribes it to you after blood tests, ultrasound, or long-term charting reveal you do not ovulate on your own.
A good way to start tracking your cycles is to observe how long they are, and whether they are regular. Most women tend to ovulate in the middle of their cycle, then have about a 2 week long luteal phase in which implantation of a fertilized embryo can occur. If conception does not occur you will get your period about 12-16 days after you ovulate. Every woman is different, so it's important to pay attention to your own unique cycle. Look for wet or slippery cervical mucous, that is a big help in knowing when your body is getting ready to ovulate. I use ovulation predictor kits (because I am on Clomid--I do not ovulate on my own very often) to see when I have ovulated so my doctor can monitor how my body responds to the medication. You could also chart your waking temperature (your BBT-basal body temp) to see when you ovulate, but that can be frustrating, especially in the beginning.