I have to admit that I spend way to much time on Fertility Friend during this TWW. In one of my most recent FF binges, I came across a post about OPK. It seems as though OPKs can be used to test for pregnancy… sort of. It’s not really the most reliable way to test, but it can work.
I’m not sure I totally understand the science of how this works, but I’m going to try to explain it. Here goes… The last hormone to surge before ovulation is the LH. The pregnancy hormone is hCG. Apparently these two hormones are similar. The OPKs can pick up both LH and hCG. Pregnancy tests pick up only hCG. The OPK are not as sensitive as the pregnancy test, so it really isn’t reliable to use the OPK to test for pregnancy- except for fun… or in the name of science!
Which is what I did. For research purposes only, and not because I’m antsy about the outcome of this TWW, I went out and invested in a box of OPK. I explained to my DH, who thought this wasn’t one of my best TTC ideas, that this was necessary research for my blog. I eagerly awaited the outcome of my study. It was negative. No LH or hCG in my system. I’m not ovulating and I’m not pregnant. I’m exactly in the middle of a TWW. Perfect.
This will help me wait a bit longer to POAS. I’m not sure if I want to just wait for my AF or to test early and risk a BFN. At least I know there isn’t any hCG in my system yet, which makes sense since I’m only 6 dpo.
Now, OPK are best for predicting ovulation, and pregnancy tests are best for testing for pregnancy. But, for fun, if I am lucky enough to get a BFP some day, I’ll just check the OPK to see if it works. My research will continue. I’ll keep you posted.
Filed under: Baby Worries, Pregnancy Symptoms, Trying to Conceive | Tags: LP, POAS
Today is 10 dpo. I was proud of myself for not POAS when I got up this morning. I’ve been telling my DH that I am pregnant until proven otherwise! It helps me not test too early. I had a great day hanging out with my DH. After lunch, I went to the bathroom, and I had light red bleeding. I was stunned. I didn’t expect that. My period is not due until the end of the week. A few hours later it was brown with cramps like AF is here. Could it be implantation bleeding? Am I pregnant? Is this really going to happen? Could my LP be only 10 days long? Could this be an early miscarriage? Is my charting completely off? I’m not sure what to think, so I’m just trying not to. Ugh!
My DH and I have been married for four wonderful years. We’ve really enjoyed being a couple. It’s been fun figuring out how to be a wife, and putting our life together. I feel it’s so important to lay a good foundation for a family, so I feel lucky that I had this time alone with him. I cannot wait to start a family. It is something that I feel that would complete me, and complete us, but I truly feel these four years have been an important start to that. We’ve figured out each other’s needs, how to fight fairly, balance a budget, and love each other. I had always imagined myself already having kids by now, but I wouldn’t change anything for the world.
I’m well aware that people feel differently about this. I’ve been married for awhile, so I’m used to the annoying “when are you going to have kids” questions from everyone. Apparently, once you are married, it’s no longer taboo to ask someone when they are going to have sex to produce a child. As I get older, people are getting a little tactless about the subject, which I find offending! Someone actually asked me the “when are you having kids” question, but then added a thoughtful “you aren’t getting any younger” to the end of it. I was stunned. This woman doesn’t know me that well. For all she knew, I could have been trying for years! What a terrible risk! I was insulted. I provided my stock answer of “maybe sometime this year or next year.”
Our first month TTC is coming to a S-L-O-W end. My DH and I have decided to keep it all a secret (except for my BF… and my blog). People have been so nosey about the whole thing, that we don’t feel like sharing. And, it puts pressure on us to “perform.” I’d rather not have to rehash not getting pregnant with everyone. I’ll be sad and stressed enough as it is without unwanted advice and opinions.
It’s is fun to have a secret with my DH. It’s this really amazing thing that we get to do together, and no one else is part of it. I can’t POAS until next weekend, but my DH picked up a book on baby names earlier this week. I was so touched.
TTC is so personal for so many reasons.
I’m only 4 dpo, and I already feel pregnancy symptoms. Ha! I know they are imaginary. It’s really funny how the mind can trick the body into feeling things- especially when you read and re-read early pregnancy symptoms every chance you get. I have never paid so much attention to the inner workings of my body. My lower belly aches a bit… is that the egg moving into position for implantation? I feel tired… is it normal tired, or pregnancy tired? Am I going to the bathroom more than usual? Did that smell bother me? Am I feeling lightheaded? My bbs ached a bit right before ovulation and after, but not so much now. That’s unusual- is that a pregnancy change?
I think I’m going to drive myself crazy as I wait for 15 dpo so I can POAS and get the results. I’ve decided to remain positive about getting pregnant. I know that it doesn’t happen right away, but I figure the TWW will be much more pleasant if I am positive about the experience. I’ll deal with the BFN when the time comes, but for right now, I am enjoying the fantasy that I am pregnant and all imaginary symptoms that go with it.
I have acquired the long awaited “Thermal Shift.” I ovulated. It’s comforting to know that everything works. I used an IUD for birth control for the past few years. I didn’t really get a period much through those five years, which was great when I wasn’t thinking about TTC. When time came close to remove the IUD, I became so worried that my body wasn’t working right since I rarely got a period that last year. I got AF three days after removing the IUD. I think my body was ready to get back on track. AF came each month since, which help build my confidence. I was worried this month because I was sure I was going to ovulate last weekend. I think I ovulated so late this month because I was so anxious at first about TTC. It seems like once I calmed down, my body was able to get back to normal.
My BBT chart was initially a mess, but I got my act together. Now I have to wait to see if the temperature will stay elevated. My chart on Fertility Friend suggests I wait until September 30th to POAS. September 30th!!! I don’t know if I can wait that long, but I am going to really try. It’s a long time to second guess every sensation and wonder if it’s a pregnancy symptom. But, I’d hate to test early and get a false negative. In the end, I feel good about this initial try. We BDed on the appropriate days, I ovulated, and now I have to see if my gamble is successful. I did what I could. If it doesn’t work out, I feel confident about being successful in the coming months…
