to not take any more pregnancy tests early! It is making me crazy! We have been trying for 2 months now and this month I did ovulation strips (never was ovulating on the 9 days I tried, what's up with that?) and the 2 early tests I have taken were negative. I am due to start tomorrow I think. I say I think b/c my cycle was screwy last month, but the spotting that eventually turned into a period started on the 20th. So tomorrow will be 28 days. Anyhow, we didn't "try" exactly for our first and this is making me nuts! I'm up for advice on how to stop the head games I am playing on myself.

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That's awesome you're so eager to expand your family!
You should try and relax since you're so anxious, because stress can stop your period too.
There's other pregancy tests that allegedly recognize the pregnancy hormone five days in advance... I think it's First Response.
Good Luck!!

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You must be the change you want to see in the world ~ Gandhi

I don't have any great advice, but I'd like others to pitch in for me too. So far I've wasted three tests.
I have had really weird things happening since I've gone off the pill, but hopefully that will even out soon. We are just ready to be pregnant!!!!

I suggest that you start charting your waking temperature. Start the day that your cycle starts and mark down your temperature everyday. Your temperature will rise the day after you ovulate. If it stays high for more than 16 days, then you are probably pregnant. I've been "trying" since March and this helps a lot because it keeps you from running out and testing too soon.

I got all of this information from the book "Taking Charge of your fertility"

I have also been using the Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor because my cycles are never regular and it helps on knowing when or even if I am ovulating since I have no clear pattern.

Girl I know what you are going through! We've been trying for #2 for two years now and it messes with me so bad sometimes. I was actually 12 weeks late for my period this past spring and I was POSITIVE that I was pregnant. When I found out I wasn't, I sunk into a depression. We need someone who's had a baby recently sprinkle some baby dust our way!

QQ.. Charting your basal temp.. if it tells you the day after you ovulate, how does that help you to do the deed when you're ovulating? Wouldn't you miss it?

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Charting your basal body temperature alone won't tell you when you're going to ovulate, but you can use it to prove that you have ovulated. Charting your cervical fluid is actually key to predicting ovulation. Around the time you ovulate it takes on a "slippery, egg white" texture and feel. Oh, and it's a myth that everyone ovulates on day 14 of their cycle.

I would strongly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. I ordered it from Amazon.com last week and I'm already probably 2/3 finished. The information is incredibly enlightening.

kmGA - The issue of ovulation predictor kits is addressed in this book. Basically the author says that while they can be useful, for a number of reasons they aren't successful in predicting ovulation in many women. Just because you can't get the kit to tell you you've ovulated doesn't mean you haven't ovulated. Know what I mean?

My suggestion? Go to your library and check this book out!

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

Yes, this is very frustrating. Thanks for everyone's input! Another question: I spotted some Monday, then nothing for a few days. Now I am spotting again on day 29 of my cycle. I would be wishful that this was implantation bleeding, but I did this last month. I suppose I could look in the book you guys suggest, but does anyone know why this would happen? What day do I count as the begging of my cycle? I haven't been on the pill since July. I was very regular before my son (17 months ago) and it has been crazy ever since!

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Yes, kmGA-

It is very frustrating. I'm going out to check out the book today too. I've done the little spotty thing too. I was on the pill much longer than these girls though. I was regular before, but got on the pill to even out my periods because they got wacky when my mom was dying of cancer and I was stressed out.
Now I'm off, trying, like you, and still a bit wacky. We'll see! Good luck to us!

Okay so I was curious about the Taking Charge of Your Fertility book so I looked on Amazon.com to read the little excerpts they have. I was drawn to the reviews and there are over 900 five-star reviews on this book! (and 35 four-star ones and there were only 950 reviews total) I'm going to the library to check this book out tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation

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Good for you! No lie - it will change the way you look at your body and your fertility! Good luck.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)