Spotting...

OK, so after wishing for my period to just be here already, I had the tiniest amount of spotting last night when I went to bed. I figured my period was coming, I had a terrible sleep (cramping a lot) and then this morning when I went to the bathroom I was convinced I'd be bleeding. Well, there was nothing.

So now I'm confused. Unless I ovulated later than I thought, it's too late to be implantation bleeding. I just don't know anymore. Implantation can happen up to 12 days after ovulation, so I guess it's technically possible - yesterday was June 27th, so I would've had to have conceived on June 15th. We didn't DTD that day, but we did on June 12th, 13th and 14th so to conceive on June 15th is feasible I guess. If I ovulated on June 15th then that would make today 13 DPO... And if the spotting I had last night was implantation bleeding, then all the tests I took previously would have been way too early. You don't have hCG in your system until the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall, so if implantation occurred last night, even the test yesterday morning would've been too early...

Of course that scenario contains a lot of ifs and it's probably more likely that I'm gonna get my period at some point soon. I can't completely dismiss the idea though - it's possible.

I feel as though I'm grasping at straws, though. It's not likely I'm pregnant, is it? If my period doesn't show up in the next few days then maybe I am indeed pregnant...

Lots of symptoms!

According to www.countdowntopregnancy.com, the most common signs of pregnancy at 7 DPO (which I think I am today) are as follows:

1. Fatigue/exhaustion
2. Gas/flatulence
3. Mild/dull cramps/pressure
4. Bloating
5. Backache
6. Nausea
7. Increased cervical fluid
8. Tender breasts
9. Breasts feel heavy or full
10. Headaches

I definitely have 8 of those - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

I don't have nausea all the time, but several times a day. I've been having a lot of headaches (before now I didn't really attribute those to possible pregnancy symptoms, but I've had a lot more headaches recently than I usually do). I've been so tired today, but generally for at least a few days now. Number 7 - yes, definitely! As I've mentioned before, I've had a lot of bloating and gas recently. I still feel bloated. I've been having occasional mild cramps, as I've mentioned lots. My breasts haven't been overly tender but my nipples have been on occasion, and my bra has felt tight at times.

Well, I guess I'll find out in about 4 or 5 days when I do a test! I hope this is it, I guess I'm feeling 'cautiously optimistic'. I really hope my body isn't messing with me - to have 8 out of 10 symptoms, which sounds promising, and then just to get my period... Well, that would completely suck!

Keeping my fingers crossed for a BFP!

Shopping!

This afternoon we went to Target and bought 4 First Response Early Result pregnancy tests and a book - "What To Expect When You're Expecting". I've been looking through the book this evening and it's really useful actually. It's already answered a few questions I had, and I've only been skimming through it! I'd definitely recommend it, it's very informative and easy to read. It also has a lot of pre-conception information which I've found useful.

Apparently coffee is OK during pregnancy, up to 200 mg per day (about 1.5 cups of the kind we drink). Even so, yesterday I decided not to drink any more coffee. I know that when my mom was pregnant with me she had a strong aversion to coffee, so maybe I'll have the same problem with it anyway. I just feel better avoiding caffeine, even though it's not strictly necessary.

I haven't had any alcohol for ages and I won't be now until after we have our baby! I've never smoked so that's not an issue for me.

I'll have to cut out sushi, which I love, but that's OK.

Damn, I'm so bloated and gassy right now... I feel so fat! I wonder if it's the prenatal vitamins doing it to me, I've heard they can make you gassy. I guess I'll have to get used to it then!

It's (almost) official - I'm ovulating! :)

I did more research on ovulation and it turns out the type of CM I have (and have had the past 2 days) is the most fertile! Wow, it is ovulation after all! I suspected that I was ovulating, but what I read last night confirmed it for me really. Plus, yesterday I was having left-sided pelvic cramping - during ovulation you can cramp on one side, the side that releases the egg. So that makes sense! :)

Also, nausea can be a symptom that you're about to ovulate - I had a headache and was really nauseous on Saturday and Sunday (Sunday was worse for the nausea, Saturday was worse for the headache).

It sounds silly but I honestly cried a little when I read that - after coming off birth control pills, I had no idea what my cycle would do (I thought it might be months until I ovulated) so knowing that my body is getting back to normal is such a great feeling! It also means that this could be our month to conceive, which would be the best thing ever! I've read though that you only have a 20% chance of getting pregnant with each cycle, so I shouldn't get my hopes up too much because the chances are I'll have them dashed.

A lot of women do pregnancy tests 10-12 days post-ovulation (DPO), so I could probably do one in about 10 days from now. That's before my period should be due, but the test I have is meant to be accurate up to 5 days before your period is due. I think the tests are more likely to be accurate if taken later than 10 DPO, but honestly, by then I'll probably be desperate to find out! Logically I should wait for 2 weeks from now, and if I don't get my period then I should test. I have a feeling I'll probably test a couple of days before then, which should still give me an accurate result anyway. If I get a positive result I don't know what I'll do - laugh? Cry? It would be amazing, seriously amazing!

I know that getting pregnant isn't a guarantee that you'll end up with a baby, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, but it'd be such a fantastic feeling to know my body can do something so awesome. I hope to God that we never have to experience miscarriage or late-stage loss, because we'd be absolutely heartbroken. I know people who have miscarried and it was awful for them. Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to go through that...