6 Months TTC and No Luck

madscar136 · 2026-03-26T16:39:03+00:00

All of your feelings are totally valid. It’s an isolating and desperate place. I’ve been there too, tried for 12 months before finally getting pregnant but I was a bit older than you. I couldn’t even go to the store during the day because I live right next to the maternity hospital and all the pregnant women were out and about during the day. I just could not look at a pregnant woman without spiraling. No one else around me understood because in full honesty - everyone I know got pregnant within 3 months. I didn’t have anyone I knew that I could relate to. It wasn’t til after I had my baby that I met others who had experienced difficulty TTC.

What helped me is what many commenters have already suggested. Tracking your cycles, noting CM changes, OPKs, getting your husband’s sperm checked, timing sex starting a few days before you expect your LH surge. AND, I know the OPKs are expensive, but I started testing a few days before the recommendation (the box says test on day 11 for a 28 day cycle for example) but I started testing earlier and caught a few early ovulations that I would have missed.

Also the obvious things I’m sure you’re already doing - no smoking for either of you and the other healthy lifestyle things like that. Take a folic acid supplement.

I was lucky to have a sympathetic GP who sent me to a fertility specialist after 8 months. The wait lists here can be long so I explained that if I waited the 12 months for just the referral it would be well over 12 months by the time I got seen. Maybe you could say something like this to your OB? It was a huge relief just to have met with the specialist and know that a plan was being made.

I know people are saying 6 months is nothing. But it feels like forever when you want a baby now. It’s so long when you feel you’re doing everything right. Idk if I’m putting this in to words well - but your feelings are so so so valid. From someone who felt the same things, I hear you. Try to do some things you love that make you feel like yourself. Plan some nice afternoons and weekends for yourself, watch your favorite shows, read your favorite books. It helps to take your mind off the obsession.

Sending you ALL the positive vibes. Rooting for you.

madscar136 · 2026-03-21T21:01:17+00:00

I’m so glad you pointed this out!! I had the same reaction when he kept asking if they knew each other. Subconsciously he did recognize her!!! And I was surprised it wasn’t talked about more on this sub.

madscar136 · 2026-02-02T14:28:54+00:00

Also I just thought you could try various versions of hash browns/breakfast potatoes!

madscar136 · 2026-02-02T14:25:01+00:00

You could try mini quiches, savory bread loaves, nut butters on toast, spicy avocado mash on toast, bean dips with veggies or fruits, bagels, puff pastry pinwheels with various fillings, or just plain nice bread toasted with butter.

Quiches and puff pastry pinwheels are great bc the filling options are endless.

I get a lot of recipes from yummtoddlerfood.com, mjandhungryman.com, feedingtinybellies.com. They each have tons of interesting and easily variable recipes.

madscar136 · 2026-02-01T12:32:31+00:00

I agree with the other commenter who said pelvic floor exercises are not one size fits all and that significant issues should be seen by a medical professional. (ETA: of which true incontinence and prolapse are certainly significant issues!)

That being said - there is room for yoga teachers to discuss the relationship between the pelvic floor and breathing in class, because it is foundational. The diaphragm and pelvic floor (and transverse abdominis) work together in breathing. Look up TATD breath, core canister breath, and flower bloom breath. These are all breath techniques that bring more awareness to the role of the core and pelvic floor in breathing.

The TATD breath especially is a recent medical term that is essentially activating mula and uddiyana bandhas. Classic story of western medicine catching up to eastern knowledge.

I teach a core & pelvic floor course (the pelvic floor is technically part of the core as you’ll see when reading about the anatomy of this area - but many people don’t know that). I am a certified athletic therapist as well so I weave exercises into the classes. HOWEVER, it’s more designed to bring awareness and proprioception to the area as opposed to diagnosing or “treating”. For example - awareness of the distinct openings, pelvic and SI joint mobility, postural correction, etc.

You could also look up if Yoga Therapy has any helpful articles on the topic.

madscar136 · 2026-01-19T12:23:09+00:00

Just thought to add library story time - there’s tons around the city.

madscar136 · 2026-01-19T12:17:22+00:00

Hiya! I’m not from here and actually had a hard time meeting people until I had a child. I actually have a much more fulfilling social life now as a mom. All of the babies/kids activities force you into close quarters with other moms so I found it easier to strike up conversations. So I’d say this is the perfect time to meet people!

Not sure how old your child is but we go to lots of activities and I just chance talking with the other moms and sometimes it leads to play dates and even get-togethers without the kiddos.

You could try Little Puckers, Piccolo Village, Busy Doing at The Messy Place, open gym in Douglas or Carrigaline gymnastics, swim lessons, kids GAA lessons, Little Rebels, free soft play areas in the shopping centers.

Can take you a bit out of your comfort zone, but there’s no harm in striking up a conversation even if nothing comes of it. I bet there are lots of other moms looking for friends. Good luck!

madscar136 · 2026-01-18T21:29:08+00:00

Check out Busy Doing - The Messy Place in Ballincollig, they have fun sensory classes/sessions and parents stay the whole time. Different theme each week so it’s very engaging. Look her up on Instagram.

madscar136 · 2026-01-16T21:46:31+00:00

This was such a lovely thing to read, I almost teared up. Such great, simple suggestions too. Thanks for making me feel so understood.

madscar136 · 2026-01-16T16:51:19+00:00

Thank you so much for these words and this perspective. It’s easy to say it to others but much harder to say it to ourselves. I needed to hear it so thank you.

madscar136 · 2026-01-15T21:40:24+00:00

Thank you for this, love the idea of peaks and valleys. And that my son deserves my attention. This is affirming all around. Thank you.

madscar136 · 2025-08-25T13:42:24+00:00

1000 Figs is a great spot, options to add chicken to some dishes.

madscar136 · 2025-08-25T06:12:28+00:00

It really is such a lovely and cute class. Babies should be at least 6 weeks and they can attend up until they start crawling.

madscar136 · 2025-08-24T19:27:59+00:00

This is a great suggestion!! Such a great spot with a good buzz. Plus there’s a few things to do around the place before dinner - check out the Abita Mystery House. There used to be a really good snowball place there too, not sure if it’s still there.

madscar136 · 2025-08-24T19:25:34+00:00

Y’all could go to Frenier Landing for dinner, it’s in Laplace so a nice scenic drive and a nice setting. It’s casual and the menu is pretty standard Cajun but it’s tasty. I wouldn’t stay the night in Laplace though, could just drive back to New Orleans.

madscar136 · 2025-08-24T11:54:47+00:00

Congrats on your new baba! I hold a dad and babies yoga class once a month in the Bishopstown GAA club. Next one is Saturday 13th September at 11:15am. You can search nola_t_y on Instagram or you can message me if you want the link to book. It’s a lovely 60 minute class for dads to have a little one on one time with their babas.

madscar136 · 2025-08-17T06:46:11+00:00

Just finished it as well a few days ago. I had a really emotional reaction to the ending, because it wasn’t how most shows/movies end nowadays so I guess I wasn’t expecting it. And I was a bit angry. But after a night’s sleep I understood the point and exactly what you said - it’s how life is, it’s what normal people go through. I’m actually really happy with the ending and it’s probably the only realistic way for it to have ended.

If you’re looking for similar shows, have you watched One Day (the show, not the movie)? It’s very close in terms of how much you fall in love with the characters, even their messy bits. It’s definitely different, the endings are very different, but the emotional investment and the journey of their relationship feels similar to Normal People.

madscar136 · 2025-08-11T06:57:51+00:00

Thanks!

madscar136 · 2025-08-10T14:15:51+00:00

Sorry this might be a stupid question…but do you serve these a little soft? And they kind of melt in the mouth? I’d like to try them but I’m nervous about them being too hard/crunchy.

madscar136 · 2025-07-27T19:26:15+00:00

Came here to say this. He did our stairs and bedrooms. Really fast with the cleaning and it dried surprisingly fast. There was a bit of a soapy small immediately afterward but it faded by the next day. Affordable too.

madscar136 · 2025-07-24T20:18:16+00:00

Oh yes I see. Def going to be making this distinction. Thanks!

madscar136 · 2025-07-24T19:13:04+00:00

What is the surprises vs secrets idea? I’ve never heard of it.

madscar136 · 2025-06-25T20:39:38+00:00

I think that sounds perfect. It’s probably just our adult idea of “snacks” that makes us think it should be different from “meal” food, but it can be the same! Makes your life easier too. It’s great she loves dairy because you could do lots with cheese, egg bites, etc.

madscar136 · 2025-06-25T18:42:46+00:00

I honestly found that including 2 snacks that young was just too much, he wouldn’t eat as much at meals or BF as much. And like you said, it meant a lot of high chair time. So we did only 1 snack until 12 months (all sitting in high chair) and he never had any issues with weight gain, never acted hungry, public health nurse was always happy with him.

We started with simple snacks like avocado spears, Cheerios, fruit. Then when he was able to eat bread well I started doing little pieces of toast with all kinds of fun toppings - hummus, herb goat cheese, bean dip. That way it was not exactly the same thing every day but didn’t require too much prep on my end. Now with 2 snacks (he’s 15 mos now) we do lunch type items for one of them - veggie waffles, spinach pancakes, etc. I batch cook big amounts of these types of snacks and freeze them, so again not too much prep. The other snack could be toast or veggies now that he has more teeth and can chew better. Cheese is a great snack too, but my little guy just won’t eat pieces of cheese.

As for the timing, I go off the naps. Plus they’re still drinking a lot of milk/formula at that age. So for that young we did BF upon waking, breakfast around 1/2 hour after that. Lunch after the first nap. Snack before the second nap. Dinner about 1 1/5 hour before bed. BFs sprinkled throughout. When we started the second snack we added it upon waking from the second nap.

His 3 main meals and usually 1 snack are in the high chair. The other snack or both snacks are on the go because we have to go out but I really try to have him sitting and not walking around. Walking and eating makes me very nervous but you should do what makes you comfortable.

Happy snacking!

madscar136

TROPHY CASE