So like I said previously, I’d like to start a weekly question regarding pregnancy and parenting.
As I go into this journey, I am reading a ton of books, but what books can only tell us is the medical facts, but what i want to hear is the experience of normal people all around me, mothers who went through this.
Each week I will post a question that I have been wondering about.
This weeks question is:
How long did it take you to conceive?
Write as much or as little about this as you’d like. I would really appreciate if EVERYONE could answer even if it’s a short answer or an approximation.
I know statistically it takes a healthy couple on average 6 months to conceive, with some couples taking a year, but what I’d really like to know is your experience. We’ll be starting in May and I am setting my hopes as low as I possibly can so that my perfectionist self wouldn’t get frustrated. I know my ovulation well ( iphone charting), my husband’s sperm count is perfect , but we will be doing Shettles method to try for a girl. We know it’s not a sure fire way, but the method seems logical and we just re9ally want to do anything that will increase our chances of making a baby girl. 🙂
I am VERY impatient when it comes to trying to get pregnant, so I used ovulating stripes and charted my temp every day for both babies. With my son, I got pregnant after 2 months of trying. With baby #2, I had 6 total periods post partum, due to breastfeeding. We tried for 3 months, without charting but using ovulating strips. We took a break for 2 months due to schedule conflicts, during which I started charting, and I was pregnant the first month we started trying again.
Charting is a great tool, for understanding your cycle, and for us, has made getting pregnant very quick, for us. Ovulating strips, are also very helpful, and can speed up the whole process. I was a freak about the whole thing, and wanted to get pregnant as soon as possible. I feel a little bad for my poor husband, but it worked, and we (I) didn’t have to think about it for very long.
well again since i’m wasn’t a huge planner i’m probably not the best for advice on this… in july of 2009 we decided we were ready and we started in august. we weren’t in a big rush, just wanted to chill and have fun with it… i didn’t do any charts or anything but i always have a pretty good handle on my cycle. september we were pregnant!
i was actually pretty surprised because i totally thought it would take us a few months to conceive but we got abby right away!
It took us a very frustrating year and a half. When we got to the year mark, we went to the doctor to see if they had any advice. They tested both our fertility. I wasn’t ovulating every month and hubs had a reduced sperm count. They wanted to put me on clomid. I wasn’t ready to shell out the bucks or give up on my body. We decided to wait three more months. We weren’t even going to ‘try’ those months. We were just going to give ourselves a mental break. Within the next two months, I was pregnant with Miss Chloe! I’m hoping that the next time we decide to have a baby it won’t take so long; after all, we ARE taking much better care of our bodies which I’m sure had an impact.
We conceived within the first month both times. I don’t know what it is. Maybe we are both just breeders. Maybe we were just lucky both times, but it happens the moment we even think about trying.
Grrrrr!!! My super long comment was just erased – forgot to enter the code – darn!
OK, here are my stats: 1st baby – age 26 – unplanned
2nd baby – age 29 – conceived after 2 months
3rd baby – age 34 – 2 YEARS!!!!!
I gave all this additional info….but have to run….
Best of luck to you!!! ?
Aaawww that’s no fair! I wanted your super long comment!!!!! Boo!
Oh, and I typed a smiley face at the end of my comment….but it seems it turned into a question mark – LOL!
That was “best of luck to you!!!” (insert smiley face)
It took us 8 solid months of trying and a couple of false positives to get pregnant. Our baby is a miracle baby because I was told I would likely never be able to have children. Haha. We proved those doctors wrong!
It took me about 3 months to get pregnant the first time, and I think about 2 months the second time. My husband and I weren’t “actively” trying – I had gone off birth control with the intention of getting pregnant whenever it happened.
My husband … well, boyfriend at the time had been together for 4 years, all years of unprotected sex. We just made sure to be careful on “timing” when we did the deed. (if that makes sense). After 4 years, he got a job across country and I stayed back because I was starting grad school. We were apart 4 months before he came back to visit me and in that time we got engaged. And I got pregnant (obviously on accident) … and it turned out to be twins. I firmly believe that our bodies were so ramped up with hormones from having been apart for so long that we did what we were genetically programmed to do; make babies. I think all those hormones also caused me to hyper-ovulate which is what led to the twins!
So, we never really tried. But we never took not having babies THAT seriously obviously because I wasn’t taking any contraception. Everyone’s bodies are different! Some couples (with no reproductive issues) can try for months and months, others it happens on the first try!
When we first decided we wanted to TTC, I came off of BCPs and we just started trying – I also purchased Taking Charge of Your Fertility…a great book for TTC, trying to avoid and to just get to know your body…right now I am using temperature and cervical fluid (sorry TMI) to avoid…but I really feel like I know my body now more than I ever have. At any rate with our first child we started TTC right away after BCPs and I only had three cycles in 6 months…but finally after the 3rd cycle, we conceived our first…it seemed like a long time to me, but it wasn’t at all, considering it takes the average couple about a year. Our second we conceived the day after I stopped breastfeeding our first 🙂 We didn’t chart or anything for him, it was just luck
My baby was ‘unplanned’ however we have a good chance it would happen when we threw the birth control away 4 months prior. Secretly we wanted a baby and we where planning for it, even if we don’t always admit it. LOL. Baby girls are wonderful!!!
Oh boy! I was only off the pill for a short time- maybe a month before I was expecting my first. Granted we were both between jobs & I was 19- so SUPER fertile & we had a lot of time on our hands. Completely irresponsible. Seemed to happen pretty quickly. The second I conceived about 22 months later- we had far less time & energy on our hands so we were not so active in trying. Actually we never set out to try to conceive. They all just happened when the Lord wanted them to. The 3rd also the same situation another 20 months later. So I was fortunate that they all have birthdays just under 3 years apart. When I actually was hoping & trying for it- it never did happen. Often think about giving it a go for a 4th- just now that I am older & more responsible- I actually am thinking about the practical side of it all for the first time ever.
I’m 23, healthy and active and all that, and it took me 3 months to get pregnant. I started charting after not getting pregnant the first month because I was so impatient! So yeah, 3 months!
Well I am very fertile…. LOL. I was ON Birth Control, took it the same time EVERY DAY faithfully, but I still got pregnant. About three weeks later….. LOL!
I was off birth control in August and pregnant the middlish of November. We were not planners and figured it would happen whenever. I was surprised it took such little time. Hope it all works out!
Hi Elena,
I’ve been a fan of your Selfie Blog for a while (but have never participated-shame on me), so I thought I’d pop over here and answer your question.
I got married in 2008 and we decided not to have kids for 5 years because we were both starting grad school. I started taking the pill in June, got married at the end of July, and was pregnant (the biggest shock of my life!) in January-found out in February. I never missed a day on the pill, or smoked, or took antibiotics, etc, so I have no idea what happened, but it has been the biggest blessing in my life. I love being a mom!
We decided that since we already had one baby, we’d have another! We might as well get all the baby years over at once. Last August, when my son was just under a year old, we started trying again. I was still nursing, but I quit taking the mini-pill (the pill you’re allowed to take while nursing). I didn’t get pregnant for a few months. I’m sure it was just because I was nursing, because as soon as I quit in October, I got pregnant! I’m due with my second boy in July. They will be about 22 months apart, which is perfect for me!
Good luck with your journey. It must be so nice to have so much time to get prepared!
-Shondra
http://www.walkwithmeblog.com
Well, I was one of those that “thought about it” and I got pregnant! Only one of my three was planned…the middle one…and it didn’t take any time at all. I had a miscarriage before I got my pregnant with my second one, and within two months after that I was pregnant again. My third was a suprise baby!
For our first we started trying in January and had our baby girl in December, so it took about 3 months. I was 23 and I’d been on the pill for about 6 years before that.
For our second we weren’t trying but we weren’t exactly not trying, lol. I had a horrible 1st pregnancy (I won’t scare you with the details haha!) and I wasn’t sure I could handle going through it again but REALLY wanted another child so we just decided to see what happened. I fell pregnant just after our daughter turned 2 🙂 And it was completely awful again but I knew it was coming so I handled it a little bit better, lol. Even though the pregnancies were difficult we had 2 perfectly healthy bubba’s 🙂
And hubby had a vasectomy on Friday so it will never happen again!
Well we started trying in Feb and I was pregnant in May (I took temps, charted, checked my cervix, CM, all that good stuff), we went in for our 8 week appt and had a heart beat and then right after I hit the 9 week mark I started spotting and we went to the dr and I was having a miscarriage. I had to have a D&C and we took 2 months off for me to heal. Then we started trying again the end of August and got pregnant right away and we now have a healthy 11 month old baby girl.
Unfortunantly people don’t talk about miscarriage although 20 to 30% of women will have one and it is very hard to go through. I am not telling you this to scare you, you said you wanted info so that is mine.
Oh and I really wanted a girl too and I knew exactly when I ovulated so we had sex 2 days before and viola a girl!
I went off the pill on my 27th birthday and was pregnant within 6 months, no charting methods used.
We got pregnant with Nate before we were even trying. I went off the pill a few months before we were going to start trying in order to “clear my system” and avoided sex around day 14 of my cycle and… 2 weeks later I was pregnant. With Mia, I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility and knew what was going on and it took 4 months. I was charting cervial fluid and position and using an ovulation monitor. We did shettles method with her and it worked but it took a little longer to get pregnant.
I know my experience doesn’t always happen and that we were lucky, but OUR story is this:
I had read tons of books and my husband and I had thrown the idea around a bit about trying to get pregnant so one day in May when I was almost out of birth control, I said, “Hey, since we’re going to be gone for a week, should I pack birth control or do you want to start trying for a baby when we get back.” He said, “Skip it. Lets try.” and I got all giddy… Well half way through the week, he changed his mind. I was a bit miffed, but when we got back I forgot to go back on birth control for about 2 1/2 weeks. But by that point we were already pregnant. WE WERE SO EXCITED AND HAPPY!
I kind of was trying without him knowing. The day we got back I knew I was ovulating and … well I had read the books on tips: no lube, spit, etc should interfere with the sperm, elevate the pelvis afterwards and possibly during to help the “flow” or whatever… etc… basically I knew what I was doing and kinda just wanted to see if it would work. It did. THE FIRST DAY.
So yeah, maybe TMI, but you asked! (kinda haha)
Well, we have three girls and only the last time did we actively “try” for a baby. We decided on it and just stopped being careful. We got pregnant in three months. In our case we just let go and let nature take its course. I wish you the best of luck, I will try and follow closely and see how it goes for you. Whatever you do… don’t turn it into a chore, have fun! 🙂
When we knew we were going to try for another one I started keeping track of what days I was ovulating and we managed to get pregnant on the first try. Unfortunately my body wanted to play the cruel “your baby stopped growing but I’m going to make you think you’re still pregnant” game on me. So I ended up having a miscarriage by the time I would’ve been 10 weeks or so.
2 months of “we’re not trying to get pregnant but we’re not trying to avoid it”. It takes the stress and anxiety out of making a baby IMO. I’m not going to knock you for trying for a girl, but remember that in the whole scheme of things you are blessed 1. to even get pregnant 2. to have a healthy pregnancy and 3. to deliver a healthy infant. I also wanted a girl and after having my little boy I wouldn’t trade him for anything. I recently had a patient who delivered a stillborn at 23 weeks due to infection. It was heartbreaking and it made me feel so silly for every “wanting” either sex. I am so lucky I have a healthy baby. Some people don’t even get that. Just keep that in mind. 😉 Good luck!!
Took about 6 months after we were married to conceive Lucy. Trying to have another little one now for about a year and a half. Good luck to you, very exciting!
Wow, you, guys! I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the response! Thank you so much! It’s amazing to be able to hear what it’s like in real life rather than read about it in the books.
I can’t wait to start trying now! I’ll keep you all updated.
I am very fertile and it only takes once. For the first baby it was within the first 6mths but then i worked out that i fall about 1 week after my period stops so each time after that I knew when it would happen if i wanted to fall pregnant.
I also find blackmore preg and breast feeding very good for before during and after baby 🙂
Is your hubby 41yo?? He doesn’t look it. Sorry just been reading back through all your Prego posts 🙂
yes, he’s definitely 41. It’s a combination of good genes, excellent diet, exercise and young mindset.
Hi Elena! I was on NuvaRing before we decided we wanted to stop using birth control and let nature take its course. We weren’t “trying” but not preventing but it still only took us about two months to conceive. I’m curious about this Shettles method and I’m going to do some research on it now. I have a girl already but I’d love another!
xx
With my first born, we were pregnant the first month we tried. Couldn’t really believe it. WIth my second, it took much longer – about 7 or 8 months, I believe. The thing to remember is that it’s different for everyone and to not get stressed out if it doesn’t happen immediately. The stress can actually delay conception. And that’s easier said than done because when you’re ready for something to happen, you’re ready right then. But try to relax and enjoy the process!
I’m definitely not stressing out since I’m way too scared of pregnancy, birth and our lives changing to want it bad. I expect we get pregnant within 6 month, if not then within a year. It’s not a do or die situation for me, luckily. So I’m determined to make this fun and full of sex for sex’s sake! 🙂
Both times we were “not trying/not preventing” and were prepared. I am very aware of my body and cycles so I can pretty much pinpoint my ovulating cycle. Right now we are “not trying” and I haven’t been on BC since after I had my first son in 07. My youngest is going to be two next week. I knew it the second we conceived him! 12 days later I had proof on the stick.. #truestory 🙂
We went off birth control sometime around May 2008. But we still continued to time it out to avoid ovulation week for about 8 months. Sometime around Jan-Feb of 2009 we decided that we’d just stop avoiding my “fertile” times kinda said that if it happened, it happened. I got pregnant in May 2009. So… I would say it took us around 4ish months is a good number. I always wonder how long it would have taken if we had actually planned out it. Best of luck in your journey!
Sounds like you are well prepared! That will help so much! It took my husband and I one month to get pregnant. However, we miscarried our first baby. One month after the miscarriage, and with my doctors approval, we started again. Took 2 months the second round. The only thing I really ever paid attention to was my cycle. Ovulation. You know. Everything you seem to know, which is awesome! Good luck and have fun making a baby!!!!!
Went off birth control and 3mths later i was pregnant …happened a lot faster than I expected
Looks like we need a little bit of perspective on here. It’s great there are several fertile woman but I speak for many when I say it’s not the case for all. I’m approaching 3 years of TTC. It’s horrible. Watching family and friends lap you by with the first and then the second is a feeling that you can’t possibly understand unless you are were I am. TTC isn’t always as easy as drinking too much one night and “whoops! now we have a baby!” or just “relaxing”. I’m happy that so many women don’t have issues making babies but there are a lot of out there on 2 years and more of trying. Oh and as much as I want to adopt some day it isn’t the cure for infertility.
Hi again!
You might get sick of my comments. haha Anyway, I got off BC in Feb ’09 right before my period that week. We were hoping we’d get pregnant THAT month but knew it was a low possibility. We didn’t get pregnant, but we did get pregnant the next month! I don’t know exactly what we did that was able to get me pregnant right away, but I feel that it was suppose to happen then, and so it did.
It’s seriously incredible the science, techniques that go into TTC. I learned so much just by studying online and what not. There are positions that help best, timing, etc. I never charted, but I knew my body very well so I knew exactly when I was ovulating etc.
It’s so fun and free not having “fear” of possibility getting pregnant during sex! haha Now you can have fun and hope that it did its job. haha Sorry if TMI.
Now, I just wanted to say that this was my personal experience. I have friend that tried for over a year and was looking into doing IVF and right before she started her treatments, she found out she was pregnant! So keep at it, don’t be frustrated if it doesn’t happen right away and enjoy the moments you have! Best of luck to you!
Oh honey, I’m never sick of nice comments, especially about pregnancy experience.
TTCing is definitely fun and exciting and sexy 🙂 Noone ever really knows how long it will take them to get pregnant. So it’s best to be hopeful but not too hopeful 🙂