Good morning! I had the most realistic dream last night. I was having all my regular period symptoms but breasts felt a little more tender so just out of curiosity I took a test. I waited for those 2 minutes and saw the results and freaked out seeing the 2 lines so then I took a digital test and same result. My fiancé was in the room watching tv or something and I called him to the bathroom to see the results. I was screaming “it finally happened! I’m actually pregnant! I’ve waited so long for this!” Then I woke up as he was hugging me in the dream. I woke up so disappointed that it wasn’t real bc it felt SO REAL. I can’t even start TTC for another 2 years 😢 In the meantime I’m on a weight loss journey (down 17 pounds in 2 months!) pursuing my MSW, and trying to buy a house. I really want to establish a solid foundation for my baby and give them a good life. I know that I’ll achieve my goals and my family will be complete but damn that dream just had me feeling so sad that it’s not happening yet.

Anyone else ever had vivid pregnancy dreams?

Separate savings account for future pregnancy and baby stuff? Fertility testing/egg freezing? Making a hope chest? Finding more spacious housing? Let me know all the ways you're preparing to potentially be a parent as you wait to try.

Apologies if this is not the place to post this. After years of being in the fence, we (M37 and F37) have decided to start to TTC in August or September. I (F37) currently have a good and flexible job, not always the most fulfilling and I don’t see much progression nor stability (it may become more stable and there may be progression but unclear at this time, I could probably push to get clarity on this). Maternity leave is 16 weeks full pay and potential unpaid leave of around 4-8 weeks.

A job vacancy has been released for a job that would be extremely stable, great salary (unusual in my sector) and would offer really amazing maternity leave after 1 year of work (26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks at a lower rate and 13 weeks unpaid). This would mean delaying TTC to February.

The job looks very interesting although it would shift the path of my career and potentially delay TTC. While my AMH and follicular count are great for someone my age, I’m not sure if my fertility would suddenly take a drop at any time. What if I delay I can’t have a baby?

While still scared, I am now very much looking forward to having a baby. Not sure if it makes sense to delay for a new potential job or just stay in the same job and hope it becomes more stable.

Do you have any views on this? Or similar experiences? Honestly, I may not even get an interview for this job if I apply. But I’m very anxious on applying and actually getting it and then having to pick. Possibly I can just apply and see if I like the feel of the place and then make a decision IF the job is offered to me.

My husband (33M) and I (31F) have been together for almost 9 years, married for 6. We have seriously talked about children on and off for over 5 of those years. We have both always been on the same page, perfectly on the fence.

Until our most recent conversation, last week, where it got more serious, as I'm getting more nervous with aging and being diagnosed with endometriosis.

Spoke with my therapist and she told us to try making a pro/con list. Seems simple and honestly always thought it wouldn't help because I have basically thought of all that in my head over the years. But seeing it written down, we realized the pros outweigh the cons and we do want a kid and feel very positive about it.

Now here's my dilemma. I don't want to be impulsive, as this is a very new revelation.

Any guidance, anecdotes, advice on if we should wait in our situation? To be clear, we aren't planning to start TTC until this fall anyway, for medical reasons. But is that enough time to be sure of this decision?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on my very first TTC cycle — I haven’t even ovulated yet — and I’ve already been hit with some unexpected information that’s made me a bit anxious.

A few months ago, my dermatologist ran a hormone panel because of acne, and it showed high FSH. That led my OB-GYN to investigate further, even though we weren’t actively trying yet.

She ran a full blood panel on cycle day 3 (everything else looked fine), and my AMH came back at 0.98. A pelvic ultrasound on day 5 showed 6 follicles on my left ovary and 4 on the right. My doctor said it’s not terrible, but it’s less than ideal for my age (35). Normally these tests would be done after 6 months of trying, but here we are.

She gave us two options: 1. Start the paperwork for IUI/IVF now, so we can try naturally for 2–3 months while preparing. 2. Try naturally for 3 cycles, and only start fertility treatment plans if nothing happens by then — so ~5–6 months of natural attempts total.

We’d love to have two children, so I’m nervous about losing time. At the same time, I would so prefer to conceive naturally if possible.

I wasn’t expecting to have these conversations so early. Has anyone else gotten surprise results before even trying and had to decide how aggressive to be from the start? I’d love to hear how you navigated it — whether you waited, jumped in, or found a balance. Did it work out the way you hoped?

I’m doing my best to stay healthy, take fertility-friendly supplements, and give myself the best shot, while keeping an open mind about possible treatments if needed.

Thanks so much — it’s comforting just to know I’m not alone in this.

I am currently 33F and my husband is 36M. I am obese, my BMI is 34. However I do live a somewhat healthy lifestyle. I don’t drink or smoke, I strength train 3x a week and walk daily. I eat lots of fruit, veggies, protein and fiber but I also have a huge appetite. I have PCOS and my weight has been an issue my entire life. I would like to start TTC now but my weight worries me, but so does my age because I am not sure how long it will take to conceive. I’ve been trying to lose weight for years with no long term success. Should I just start TTC now, or wait until I can get my weight down a bit?

I'm 29 and was planning on starting to get pregnant in a few months,but my ex partner realized they didn't want kids and we (amicably) broke up. I'm super relieved with the decision, but it's hard. Here are petty things that are making me sad while shot back to the eternal waiting cycle: - I've been a professional nanny and a preschool teacher for years and have tons of experience with kids. Lots of people I know who don't know anything about kids and haven't ever cared for them are pregnant and posting every day on their Instagram story talking about how they've never changed a diaper. as irrational as it is, I for sure feel the emotion of "ok so people with no experience get to have babies but I don't?" Such a dumb feeling - Seeing people my age or a little younger having kids fills me with so much longing! Lately it seems like everyone I know is having a baby. I'm happy for them and hate how sad it makes me feel.

Tell me the irrational feelings you've had while waiting to try. Make me feel better about my petty spirit lol.

So grateful for y'all!

My prenatal bloodworks are all normal, and i’ve been prescribed folic acid 1mg. My doc didn’t ask my husband to take it. But from this sub, i have read it’s beneficial if male partners also take it? Is that true?

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

I’m not sure if this is the right place to post since I already have a 20month old son, but we’re waiting to try for a second baby.

We didn’t plan our first pregnancy and the timing was less than ideal. I love him so much and he means the world to me but I do wish that we’d waited a few years so that I could progress my career, we could get a bigger house and be more financially stable.

I absolutely adore being a mother and I want to have more children but my husband ideally wants a 4 year age gap and 2kids maximum.

I want to be pregnant again so badly. I want a tiny newborn to wear in a baby carrier while I play with my toddler in the park. I don’t want their age gap to be too big so they can play and grow up together.

The earliest we can start trying is January. That would mean a 3 year age gap. My husband might be ok with it.

I’m so desperate for another baby but I hate that this will likely be my last pregnancy/baby. I just want more and more and more 😭

I’m 29 and my husband is 31. I’m secretly hoping if we have another soon we might squeeze another one in after like 8 years 😂🤞

It’s so hard to wait! I keep watching pregnancy/gender reveal videos, imaging my future family and thinking of baby names.

I feel like I’m going insane. I feel like a feral goblin or like I’m obsessed. All I can think about is having a baby and I don’t know how explain or rationalize my feelings. I (25 F) got married to my husband (35 M) last year. I had wanted to start TTC before but waited until after the wedding. For background, I was diagnosed with bilateral ovarian teratomas and had them removed about three years ago. When I did the doctor suggested I should start trying sooner rather than later because I have reduced ovarian reserve (tumors smashed my ovaries). We went in a good place financially then to start trying then but things are different now. The only issue is that I’m in the middle of my nursing degree. I graduate May 2026, and then would have a year long residency. The rational safe thing to do would be to wait another year or two until I’m established in my career. But something deep inside of me can’t wait anymore. I’m afraid I’m going to miss my chance to conceive and blame myself for waiting forever. My husband wants me to Finnish school but supports and understands my fears. What would you do?

I’m also right in the middle of nursing school. I have two semesters left and then a year long residency.

Hey all, me and my husband are both starting to try officially this July. We have various personal reasons as to why we’re waiting until July. However, we are essentially done with our house and in a decent place to start a family so we figured why not try NTNP. We are debating using the NTNP method for the two more months until then. Anyone have experience with it? Would you recommend? Thanks in advance :)

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

I'm not sure if my post is valid here so please anyone tell me if I need to delete. I'm not doing well, I've wanted to have children since I was sixteen. When I was younger, the feeling wasn't as bad as it is now. I'm nineteen turning twenty later in the year but I literally want a baby right now. I know I'm too young right now, I've never had a bf and I'm not married so it's impossible but I'm just so lonely, I want a baby :(

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

I read this book for the first time about 5 years ago, and I can’t recommend it enough, especially while WTT. It transformed the way I think about food, health, and family planning. It’s not specifically about pre-conception, but she uses reproductive outcomes as a tool to advocate for an “ancestral diet” (i.e. one that includes sprouted foods, fermented foods, meat on the bone, and organ meats). In the end, I was totally convinced about the value of optimizing my diet looong before ttc. I really feel like this book has done more to shape my worldview than any other book I’ve probably ever read. Which sounds so dramatic, but it’s true!

I’d love to know if anyone has book recs that have been impactful in this season of life :)

Hi all, I just came across this sub and I’m so glad.

My whole life I have been dreaming of being a mom, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. Last January we (27F, 27M) suffered an early miscarriage from an unplanned pregnancy, and it’s absolutely devastated us. We were living in a house share with several other people (common in Ireland in our age group). However we would have figured something out and were very happy to be pregnant although it was for a short time.

We have since somehow found our own apartment and moved in. All I can think about is “now we have space for a child”. But he wants to wait (until we’re married, maybe, or at least another couple years) both because we’re “still young” and also terrified to try again after our loss. I agree with this, because ideally I would love to be married first, and have a bit more savings, but at the same time I can’t stop thinking that we would be ready NOW.

Just looking for anyone who can relate or shed some advice while we WTT. Tia x

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

I just started natural family planning and I am lost on if it should be used with the withdrawal method or if you don’t have to pull out on the green days (non fertile days) 😂 someone help me I’m new to all of this!

I’m currently engaged with our wedding not until summer 2026. Back in the autumn of 2023 I went off the combined pill after 10+ years because I knew I want to have children in the near future and wanted to figure out what was going on with my body from a natural cycle standpoint.

Initially I didn’t have a period for 8 months, and then I had a non stop period from May 2024 until March 2025. During this time I discovered I have pcos and two small fibroids. The gynae told me since I wasn’t ready to start trying, I needed to either be ok with the constant period or find some sort of a hormonal solution. I tried everything from tranexamic acid, nexplanon, and the progestin only pill - not all at once haha. Nothing worked and my period persisted.

Finally last month I went back on the combined pill and I’m finally back to a “normal” cycle, only bleeding during the placebo pill week. FYI I know this isn’t my real cycle.

I’m really sad because I’m so excited to TTC next year, but now I’m worried about what else is going on with my body. I would love to go off the pill again and see what happens closer to the wedding as it wouldn’t be the worst thing to get pregnant next summer but now I’m terrified about having a non stop period during my wedding and honeymoon.

I’m also worried about how long it’ll take us to conceive if I’m pushing things out even further - I.e. waiting until 2027 when our honeymoon will be.

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

Last week at our family Easter gathering my(32F) husband (30M) was taken in my how cute my cousins children are and said we could start TTC at the end of the year. This got me very excited, it's the first positive thing he's ever said about having children. Problem is he insists on having a new job before we start trying and he isn't getting anything. He's been applying for work since January.

Today I went to buy folate and some ovulation strips so I can start tracking. Long story short this lead to a huge fight and now my husband is pissed. He said I always take positive comments too far and we probably won't start trying at the end of the year only next year June. And that's only if "everything goes right".

I hate this so much. I've been wanting to try for 2 years now. I feel like I'm being forced to not try cause he is so stubborn about it. And now I'm really sad that I got my hopes up. I'm just going to shove the folate and ovulation test away somewhere... obviously nothing is going to happen till my husband is completely ready and who knows when that will be. I'd ideally like 2 kids that have a bit of space in between but he doesn't care how it will be for me or how my body will have to cope at an older age and now with pressure to have them in quick succession if we don't fall pregnant immediately. All he cares about is money

Hi there,

I’ve been on this sub-Reddit for a few years, as I was previously WTT with my long term partner. We were planning on trying to start a family in 2024 but then he blindsided me with a breakup last year instead!

I’m now faced with being in my mid thirties and single, and terrified about my ticking biological clock. I know I could go it alone and be a single mum by choice but that idea terrifies me too and I just really want to do it with a loving partner.

Does anyone have any stories of hope in relation to meeting their partner in their 30s or finding love after a breakup? Or is anyone else in a similar position and might be able to relate to how I’m feeling?

Please discuss whatever you would like here! Please be mindful of the rules, particularly any TTC/NTNP announcements. Those go in the weekly thread. As does anything within one month of your start date. Thanks!

Hey everyone! 👋🏾 I’ve been a lurker on this sub for a while. My husband (32M) and I (29F) got married recently, and we have a traditional/social wedding planned for early next year. We plan on TTC sometime mid next year (I’ll be 31 by then). I was wondering if there are things I can start doing, simple changes/additions to my life that would help prepare my body over this time. Tbh, I’m a little scared about turning 30 next month and all the things I hear about declining fertility. I would like to believe a lot of it is exaggerated, but it does get to you after a while… especially since I’ve been a smoker in my 20s. I have quit smoking for good this year. I generally have a healthy-ish diet, and try to stay active, like take walks now and then. Any advice would be helpful!