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First Response fertility webchat

Midwife Sharon Trotter from First Response will be here to answer your fertility and conception questions on Mon 18 Jan LIVE between 12-1pm. Post your questions here.
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  • hi there, i used the first respnse planning ov kit and ov on day 13 when can i use a hpt
  • Hi Sharon,

    We are moving onto cycle 3 of trying (day 1 today).

    Our question is how often should we have sex to increase our chances?
    We had sex every other day up until 4 days before ovulation when we had sex daily for 6 days in a row. We are thinking of having sex every other day this cycle - would this be a better idea?

    Many thanks, Minifig x
  • Hello. It took us 20 months to conceive, does this mean there was a problem with either of us? We didnt seek help. I'm pregnant now and I'm already thinking about TTC for a second time incase it takes a long time again but I dont really want to get pregnant straight after the birth but I'm too scared to go back to using contraception.
  • Hello, I am delighted to be here today to answer your questions. My specialist subjects are breastfeeding and baby skincare but I would be happy to answer any fertility, conceiving, midwifery or parenting related queries you may have. I have been a midwife for over 25 years and have had five children myself. I would like to thank First Response for sponsoring this webchat which I hope will provide you with the advice and support you need.
  • Hi Sharon

    I have just started my 3rd period since MMC in October 2009. I was able to get pregnant within 1 month of trying last time I got pregnant, but this time I'm 3 months in and haven't been lucky as yet. Is this common with MMC ( I had medical management ) and what can I do to increase my chances of getting pregnant quickly?

    Thank you.
  • Hi There i was wondering if you could give me some advice.
    We have been TTC for 20 months & during that time i have sadly had 2 MCs, both before 8 weeks.
    As I have PCOS & i rarely ovulate my consultant has put me on 100mg Clomid days 2-6.
    Ive heard Clomid can give you false readings on OPKs & i was wondering if this is true as id still like to use them as ive not been offered follicle tracking?
    Also Ive been told to start taking low dose asprin when i get a postive HPT as ive heard this can help prevent MC if you have sticky blood, i havent been offered tests for recurrent MC either. Do you have any advise, anything would be greatly recieved!
    Thank you for your time. x
  • Hi babydust30
    In answer to your question you can use pregnancy test kits from six days before your period (First response early results test kit) is due although there is no need to try so early. The day after your period is due is a good time to start and most pregnancy kits will be accurate at this time.
    Good luck and I am sure you will soon be seeing that positive result!
    Kindest regards
    Sharon
  • Welcome to today's webchat on fertility with Midwife Sharon Trotter from First Response. Sharon who will be online very shortly to answer your questions.
    We see that the chat is already very popular and so Sharon will do her very best to answer as many questions as possible....
  • Hi Minifig
    It can sometimes take a year to get pregnant even when there is nothing wrong with either partner. It sounds as though you are doing all the right things although I do not wish to tell you when to make love as this should be a personal choice - sometimes you are just not in the mood and the stress of trying for a baby can take away some of the spontaneity! My best advice would be to have regular intercourse in the days following ovulation although there is no reason to abstain to boost sperm supply (this is a myth and new research seems to point to more regular sex being a better way to conceive quicker).
    Hope this helps and good luck!
    Sharon
  • Hi littlelyns
    Congratulations on your pregnancy and I do hope all goes well with your new baby. I hope you can relax and enjoy this wonderful time and although I am not sure why it took you 20 months to conceive (there could be many reasons) the important thing is you are pregnant now. Once you deliver there is no reason why you should have any problems getting pregnant again but this is not the time to think about number 2 because you will be too busy coping with baby no1!
    if you decide to breastfeed you will get extra contraceptive protection while you are breastfeeding (although it is not to be relied upon!) and it is ususal for ovulation not to return until a year after birth. Nature is the best judge of when it is safe to have another baby and the optimum gap is 2-3 years. I have many FAQs and information on parenting issues on my website that you are welcome to read - the address is www.tipslimited.com
    All the very best for the remainder of your pregnancy!
    Sharon
  • Hi lisarb
    I am so sorry to hear about your loss and it is not surprising that you have not yet conceived. I do not expect there will be any specific reason why this has not yet happened but it could be a combination of psychological and physical factors. Even though you lost your baby early on (not sure how many weeks?) you will still need to go through the postnatal period of six weeks before your body returns to normal. It is very hard to relax when you want to fall pregnant again but this is the best advice I could give. Book yourself in for some pampering even if this is just a massage or some reflexology (very good for helping women fall pregnant - hard to believe but true). Check that your diet is good and avoid smoking and taking caffeine (which includes fizzy drinks as well as the usual coffe and tea). You can visit the following website for expert advice on nutrition before and during pregnancy:
    http://www.foodsforlife.org.uk/
    Good luck and I am sure all will go well next time

    Sx
  • Hi PrincessStar
    I am so sorry to hear that you have been through two miscarriages and sadly, in many NHS units, you have to suffer three times before you get an automatic referral to an expert to look into your case!
    The information you have is right and taking clomid can upset the reading if you are using ovulation kits. However there is a good chance that the treatment will help you conceive earlier and your Polycystic condistion does mean you might need a little extra help. The use of aspirin is well researched and does seem to help so this is worth following but I would ask your GP to refer you to the local maternity unit so you can get an appointment with a consultant to discuss your case. Although you will be finding it hard to imagine it will all go well I can reassure you that you have an excellent chance of becoming a mum if you get the help you need now.
    Hope this helps and all the very best for the future.
    I do have a full list of FAQs on infertility issues which i am happy to email you if you come direct to my mwebsite at tipslimited.com
    Sx
  • Hi Sharon. its now 6 months since my mmc was discovered at our 12 weeks scan and have just started my period so am on to the 5th cycle since. It only took one proper cycle to conceive before (once i worked out when i was ovualting!) but am concerned it's taking longer this time, although i know for many factors it can take longer. my main concern is that i dont really seem to get much cervical mucus and am wondering what i can do to improve this as i've been reading about how important it is and am wondering if its best to try and do this naturally rather than using preseed/zestica... i eat a fairly healthy and balanced diet, dont smoke or drink and drink lots of water or at least squash... hubby does smoke on the other hand (about 8 a day although he's trying to cut down) so i want to give them as much help as i can! thanks
  • Hi Sharon. its now 6 months since my mmc was discovered at our 12 weeks scan and have just started my period so am on to the 5th cycle since. It only took one proper cycle to conceive before (once i worked out when i was ovualting!) but am concerned it's taking longer this time, although i know for many factors it can take longer. my main concern is that i dont really seem to get much cervical mucus and am wondering what i can do to improve this as i've been reading about how important it is and am wondering if its best to try and do this naturally rather than using preseed/zestica... i eat a fairly healthy and balanced diet, dont smoke or drink and drink lots of water or at least squash... hubby does smoke on the other hand (about 8 a day although he's trying to cut down) so i want to give them as much help as i can! thanks
  • Hi bxwebmaster
    Sorry, I thought I would start as there were a few questions coming in at once and I did not want people to have to wait too long for their replies!
    Sharon
  • Hi rocky_kiz
    I am so sorry to hear of your loss and it does sound as though you are doing all the right things but as all pregnancies and babies are different, getting pregnant is different everytime you try! You sound pretty sensible and have almost answered your own questions but the one thing that does 'flag up' is the fact that your hubby is still smoking - this definiteley increases the risk of problems so for all your sakes (notwithstanding his health) I would encourage him to stop altogether. The risks of sperm damage, miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth are greatly increased if the man smokes which is hard to believe but sadly true.
    Otherwsie I would expect you to fall pregnant pretty quickly although i would not advise you to do anything to affect the cervical mucus which is hard to change.
    It might be worth having blood tests (make an apt with your GP) to check your hormone levels as this is what affects your ovulation and in turn your cervial mucus. You could also use ovulation test kits (First Response Daily Ovulation Test come in 20 Tests packs - 1 Month Supply) to make sure you are actaully ovulating.
    I hope all goes well and you are soon looking forward to your EDD!
    Best wishes
    Sharon
    x
  • FYI
    Ovulation test sticks predict ovulation by testing levels of luteinising hormone (LH) which surges to stimulate the release of an egg. The sticks are simple to use urine tests and should ideally be used first thing in the morning when levels will not be diluted by fluids you have drunk. A positive result will mean that you will ovulate in the next 24 to 36 hours.
    Count the first day of your period as day one then use the table included in the test kit to work out when to start testing. If your cycle varies by a few days each month work out the average for the last 3 months. The day you begin testing is listed below the number of days in your normal cycle. For example, looking at the chart, if your period normally begins every 28 days, you should begin testing 11 days from the beginning of your last period.
    For more information or to ask questions direct to a miwife you can go to www.tellsyoufirst.co.uk or come direct to me at www.tipslimited.com
  • Thank you for your questions and I hope my answers have helped point you in the right direction or reassure you that you were doing the right thing all along (which is usually the case!). If you follow your instincts you cannot go far wrong. If you have any other questions in the future you can check out the many FAQs on my website at www.tipslimited.com
    Finally thank you to First Response who kindly sponsored this webchat and I hope to see you soon
    Sharon
    :0)
  • Hi Sharon,we've been TTC for 19 months now and I only recently started using OPK's. What I want to know is that should we have sex every other day? Right now we do it everyday and I'm worried that this might affect his sperm. Thank you.
  • Hi Monisola
    You can check out the answer I gave to Minifig but your instincts are spot on so keep doing what you are doing. It is a myth that too much sex reduces your chances of conceiving because fresh sperm is much better and more active than waiting a few days between ejaculation.
    My best advice would be to have regular intercourse in the days following ovulation although there is no reason to think that having sex in the days leading up to ovulation will help.
    I do think that considering the time you have been trying for a baby, maybe you should seek a referral to a specialist by asking your GP. I am sure there is nothing wrong but it is better to have a quick check over to make sure that nothing has been missed. Read the other replies for more tips.
    Hope this helps and good luck!
    Sharon
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