TTC stands for Trying To Conceive
By: Sylvia L. Inthoughtful
Tags: Fertility, Parenting, Family, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy

TTC stands for Trying To Conceive

Photo by Nynne Schrøder on Unsplash

There are many resources and articles to read about improving the chances of getting pregnant. I have read so many that I needed to stop myself from becoming obsessed with TTC and focus on my mental well-being and happiness — by purposefully feeding myself with content to enjoy the experience instead of turning into a TTC monster.

After my miscarriage, my hubby and I have been trying to conceive for 4 months to this date. A lot goes on during this time — guessing when is the fertile window, keeping track of my ovulation cycle, trying to have sex naturally without pressure, consuming health supplements like folic acid, CoQ10, and vitamin C, exercising at least 30 minutes 3 times a week, switching my daily coffee consumption to drinking tea, eating less processed foods, reducing my intake of cold beverages, and abstaining from drinking alcohol.

The lifestyle change resulted in me getting rid of my addiction to coffee and fast food, feeling less need to drink alcohol, and improved my physical and mental state. But it gets challenging sometimes when it is difficult to get the mood on during your fertile window and face demotivation when your menstruation comes at the end of each cycle.

To manage the stress that can turn me into a TTC monster, I turn to watching television series which poke fun at pregnancy and motherhood. I also started reading books on pregnancy and working mothers for inspiration. I often found laughter and inspiration as the best de-stressors and motivators.

Sometimes, we can put ourselves in a box that we forget to look from the outside in. The TTC box is no different. If you do not manage it, you will be sucked into a spiral of negativity and helplessness. Purposefully creating a mental shift will help you to remain objective and positive about your situation.

I have also found journaling and writing to help create the much-needed mental shift by putting the situation in my own words. Most of the time, my inspiration to write arises from what I watch and read. So, purposefully feeding yourself with content that is helpful and relevant to your situation can help you process it more easily.

Here are what fed my soul in the past 4 months while TTC:

Netflix Shows To Watch

Yummy Mummies — This is a good show to learn all the pregnancy terms while watching four young mothers-to-be in Australia living ridiculously lavish lives. It makes you take life, becoming a mother, less seriously when you can see how women like that can also become mothers (sounds mean, but honestly, they can give you a good laugh). Their friendship reminds me of the camaraderie of female friendships in Sex and the City, but the narrative is about having babies. Workin’ Moms — Despite the main actress’ odd-looking mouth (which will grow on you), it is refreshing to see female characters playing out not so typical motherhood roles in a sarcastic manner. I have to admit that I was frustrated by how crazy some of the characters can be but eventually realized that it was because these were women acting in a selfish manner that we would normally see and laugh off in male characters. I was annoyed at Kate Foster at first because of her mouth and the words that came out of it, but later realized why I felt this way — I needed more of her not-giving-a-hoot-about-what-anyone-thinks-of-her confidence. Not even her ridiculous mother can affect her. Atypical — This is a heart-warming comedy-drama about Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum. Parenting a child on the spectrum can be difficult and challenging, and this show presents parenting ups and downs in an enlightening and humorous way. Sam inspires you to have courage in life and face your fears with stories of Antarctica and facts about penguins as antidotes to the chaos in his world.

Books To Read

Clemmie Hooper’s How to Grow A Baby And Push It Out: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Pregnancy And Birth — I highly recommend this book. It is filled with lots of practical information without overbearing you about the whole process. It is also filled with short stories of other mothers and their experiences, making for a light-hearted but encouraging read. This book makes me feel less afraid of getting pregnant and the delivery process. In my opinion, the best gift for mothers-to-be. Annie Ridout’s The Freelance Mum: A Flexible Career Guide For Better Work-Life Balance — If you are considering freelance work or continuing to work after having a baby, this book helps give you ideas and perspectives on how you can be an effective working mother. Even if you are not considering freelance work, the tips provided in this book can help you to achieve the work-life balance needed as a mother. It helps to feel more prepared when the day comes that a mother has to choose between engaging in work and fulfilling motherly duties. Michelle Obama’s Becoming — When you face an identity crisis or emotional crisis after a miscarriage or while TTC, this book reminds you of who you are and why becoming you is the best gift that you can give yourself every day. Reading about her life and how she became a mother and a career woman is enough to inspire you to live the best version of yourself. Michelle encourages you to own your life story because no one has the same experience as you do and live your life mindfully. This book is a mood-lifter for me when I feel disempowered.

As someone who is TTC, it is important to be realistic as well. I understand that I am over 35 and that my chances of getting pregnant are not the best. If I never get pregnant, that is okay. I can find other things to do in life.

At least, I know that my mind is ready for pregnancy, and I am hopeful for the day to come. While trying, though, it is important always to remember that your mental health comes first. Manage it, and you can live well while TTC. It makes it easier.