So.... DH and I are starting to plan TTC. I am wondering what resources Knotties have found helpful?
It seems like there's an overwhelming amount of conflicting information out there. I looked up the "What to Expect When You're Expecting to Expect" book and saw reviews that it was poorly written. I don't lurk on The Bump because, well, I've heard through the grapevine here it's either dead or nutty over there. One day seafood causes birth defects and the next day it's ok to drink a glass of wine a week. I am on the American Nurses Association newsletter, which I may pay closer attention to now, as they tend to cite valid research (the latest being that too much caffeine during pregnancy is linked to childhood obesity). And what the heck side is the child supposed to sleep on now???
I did just have my annual well-woman exam and the doctor simply advised me to start on vitamins (omega 3s, folic acid and... shit, forgot.)
With so much "information" out there, WHERE do you start?
Heck you can link me to an old thread if I'm missing something on these boards.
Thanks in advance
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Re: Expecting to Expect... Head spinning
My friend and I were talking about this while hiking the other day. She was like "So...you said you're taking your temp...what is that, a normal thermometer or like a special one that comes with that book?" I laughed and said dude, we've had many conversations on TK where people thought it was vaginal temp, so you're not alone! And I'm not even charting with the intent to get pregnant tomorrow, I'm just genuinely curious about how regular or irregular my cycle is. So at this point I'm just doing it for fun. Doctor told me prenatals for 3-6 months before, and entire time during, and that's it.
God help me if I have to go caffeine free for 9 months.
sad, sad news. . . . and I say that as a TTC knottie, while drinking my iced latte. Darn!
This doesn't say whether they controlled for the manner in which the caffeine was administered--a person who drinks coffee-with-skim probably has different eating habits than a person who drinks full-sugar Coke.
I fucking hate pop-sci articles. "Doctor Whosits, who was not involved in the study, has some medical advice for you!"
Yeah, context is so important. My college town was known for having poor drinking water. "It causes cancer!" .... If you drank 75 gallons of it a day for years. No joke. Yet the student-run newspaper was always doing stories about it.
If you enjoy learning tons about this process and charting and making it a big thing by all means, but unless you've got some specific concern it's completely fine to just go do the sex thing a whole lot.
I definitely agree, and like I said I'm just charting because I'm curious to know about my cycle, not necessarily to get pregant the FIRST try or anything like that.
I can't speak for others, but I can say for myself that it is a little different being a little "older". I am early 30's. So I don't exactly feel like I have a few years to just dick around (literally) and see what happens. I'd rather be a slightly proactive so that if if does take a while, I can maybe figure out why and help my doctor see why, and help the process along.