Some what long questions

[Jody Pellerin]

Sort of a question I can't seem to find any real answer to... In a matter of
eight months to a year, my boyfriend and I will be engaged. At some point,
children will be an option for us. I'm on the pill, Marvelon to be exact. I
know it's best to stop taking it and wait for my cycle to regulate, but how
long does it take to stop working? What's the waiting period after the last
cycle of use, till your body will be functional again to ovulate correctly?
I've heard three months, six months, right away, up to a year. I've been
back on the pill for about four months now after taking a nice break from it
for at least a few months. The last pill I was on, Tricyclen caused my
period to not show up for three months when I stopped taking that. Blood
tests and a few PG tests were done, but I wasn't pregnant. A good thing at
that time.
I'm taking Iron and vitamin D pills as well as multivitamins. I do smoke and
have the patch to quit. I also heard smoking reduces fertility. I'm 19 now,
working full time, and will be 20, possibly 21 before children will be an
option for us. I'm not sure if I'm leaving out any details here but will
answer them if they would help. My main question is, any suggestions before
we try? And how long do I stop taking the pill before we do try? I don't
want to stop the month we start trying, because that could lead to quite a
few months of TWW's and a lot of disappointment that may have been
avoidable.
I am new to this group but I keep educating myself on pregnancy and
preconception as much as possible. www.babycenter.com is an excellent site,
btw. :)
Thank you ahead of time for your replies. You can reply here or to my email
address.
-Jody



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[Ericka Kammerer]

Jody Pellerin wrote:

> Sort of a question I can't seem to find any real answer to... In a matter of
> eight months to a year, my boyfriend and I will be engaged. At some point,
> children will be an option for us. I'm on the pill, Marvelon to be exact. I
> know it's best to stop taking it and wait for my cycle to regulate, but how
> long does it take to stop working?


It stops working right away (as evidenced by the fact
that if you miss pills you're at increased risk of getting
pregnant).

> What's the waiting period after the last
> cycle of use, till your body will be functional again to ovulate correctly?


You never know. Many women ovulate and are regular
again immediately. Some other women take a bit longer. You
don't really *have* to wait any amount of time before getting
pregnant. It won't harm the baby in any way if you get pregnant
right after going off the pill. However, it's usually advised
you wait until you have a normal cycle or two just so that
it's easier to date the pregnancy.


> I'm taking Iron and vitamin D pills as well as multivitamins.


Folic acid is particulary important in the months
leading up to conception and in early pregnancy.

> I do smoke and
> have the patch to quit. I also heard smoking reduces fertility.


Quitting would definitely be a good idea before trying
to get pregnant.

> I'm 19 now,
> working full time, and will be 20, possibly 21 before children will be an
> option for us. I'm not sure if I'm leaving out any details here but will
> answer them if they would help. My main question is, any suggestions before
> we try?


You might also get tested to see if you still have
immunity to rubella. If you are Rh-, you might want to
verify that you're not sensitized if there's any possibility
you could be (through previous pregnancy, miscarriage,
abortion, or any blood transfusions or other blood products).

> And how long do I stop taking the pill before we do try? I don't

> want to stop the month we start trying, because that could lead to quite a
> few months of TWW's and a lot of disappointment that may have been
> avoidable.


Given your history, you might just want to wait until
you've had a normal cycle or two. That should let you know
you're back on track. You might also get Toni Weschler's
book _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_. That will help
you know what's going on with your body.

Best wishes,
Ericka

[Sue]

Hi Jody,

The recommendation I was told by my doctor was to wait three months before
trying to conceive. Everyone will say that you don't have to wait that long
and it is just for the doctors convenience for dating purposes. Whatever, I
wanted to wait. I wanted to make sure that my cycles were regular and I did
know my dates.

If I were you, I would quit smoking now. Lots of birth defects and/or
problems can occur with the baby if you smoke during pregnancy. Now would be
the best time to do this. Also if you still smoke after the baby is born, it
increases the baby dying of SIDS. Also, start taking folic acid now as that
decreases spina bifida and neural tube defects in the baby. Having a check
up with an OB would be helpful. Have a pap smear if you haven't had one in a
year (when you start trying to conceive) and check to see if you are immune
to Rubella. Rule out any sexual diseases. Also check to see what blood type
you are. The Rh factors is what you want to look for. Start eating healthy
and exercising. Good luck :o)
--
Sue
mom to three girls

Jody Pellerin > wrote in message
...
> Sort of a question I can't seem to find any real answer to... In a matter
of
> eight months to a year, my boyfriend and I will be engaged. At some point,
> children will be an option for us. I'm on the pill, Marvelon to be exact.
I
> know it's best to stop taking it and wait for my cycle to regulate, but
how
> long does it take to stop working? What's the waiting period after the
last
> cycle of use, till your body will be functional again to ovulate
correctly?
> I've heard three months, six months, right away, up to a year. I've been
> back on the pill for about four months now after taking a nice break from
it
> for at least a few months. The last pill I was on, Tricyclen caused my
> period to not show up for three months when I stopped taking that. Blood
> tests and a few PG tests were done, but I wasn't pregnant. A good thing at
> that time.
> I'm taking Iron and vitamin D pills as well as multivitamins. I do smoke
and
> have the patch to quit. I also heard smoking reduces fertility. I'm 19
now,
> working full time, and will be 20, possibly 21 before children will be an
> option for us. I'm not sure if I'm leaving out any details here but will
> answer them if they would help. My main question is, any suggestions
before
> we try? And how long do I stop taking the pill before we do try? I don't
> want to stop the month we start trying, because that could lead to quite a
> few months of TWW's and a lot of disappointment that may have been
> avoidable.
> I am new to this group but I keep educating myself on pregnancy and
> preconception as much as possible. www.babycenter.com is an excellent
site,
> btw. :)
> Thank you ahead of time for your replies. You can reply here or to my
email
> address.
> -Jody
>
>
>
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>
>

[annafine]

Jody,

I'm not sure that there is a "right" answer to the question you are
asking. I would suggest asking the doctor that gave you this
particular pill...he/she would be the best person to tell you how long
before trying to conceive to stop taking it.

As for myself, I had very irregular periods for several years. I
started taking the pill (sorry, I don't remember what it was called)
and my periods became very regular immediately. I remained on the
pill for about a year. I stopped taking the pill about 3 months
before my husband and I started trying to conceive. After 6 months of
no luck, we made an appointment with an infertility specialist because
we had read about something called PCOS and thought that it could be
possible that I had it...

At 7 months after trying to conceive, we saw the fertility doctor who
did a basic (routine) ultrasound exam to check my ovaries and
stuff...At the time of this exam, I was ovulating; the doctor told us,
"go home and have lots of sex." A month later we were pregnant.

So, after taking the pill, it took me 11 months to get pregnant.

Now, some factors that could be partial blame for why it took us so
long to conceive:
1) My husband and I are both much older than you. When we first
began trying, I was 31 and him 40.
2) I mentioned PCOS; that is Polycistic Ovarian Syndrom...a condition
of the ovaries that overweight women sometimes get. I had all the
signs for it, but found out that I did NOT have it. (Both my husband
and I are overweight).
3) Stress and "trying too hard" can make it difficult to
conceive...my husband and I REALLY wanted a baby and that was our
focus nearly every time we had sex for several months.
4) The fact that my periods were VERY irregular for many years could
have been a factor.

I'm happy to say that our baby (girl if U/S is right) will be here
sometime this October.

Anna

EDD 18 October 2003

[Shannon]

I dont know the rigth answers to most of your questions but i would say that
one year before you ttc is best because then the meds are out fo your system
adn your body has a chance to get back into gear. It would be safest for you
and the baby you will conceive. If you really arent sure it is best to talk
to your doctor or a couple of them even.

Shannon

[Circe]

Shannon wrote:
> I dont know the rigth answers to most of your questions but i would
> say that one year before you ttc is best because then the meds are
> out fo your system adn your body has a chance to get back into gear.
> It would be safest for you and the baby you will conceive.

Do you have *any* evidence to back up this statement? Because I have *never*
seen any information to suggest that conceiving a baby immediately after
coming off of the birth control pill represents any risks whatsoever to
either the mother or the baby. Doctors *do* sometimes recommend waiting
three months, but that's primarily to be sure the mother's cycles are more
regular before trying to conceive, thus making it easier to pinpoint the
EDD.
--
Be well, Barbara
(Julian [7/22/97], Aurora [7/19/99], and Vernon's [3/2/02] mom)
See us at http://photos.yahoo.com/guavaln

This week's special at the English Language Butcher Shop:
"He [Gray Davis] be allowed to serve out his term." -- Letters to the
Editor [probably a typesetter's error, but too funny to pass up]

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider,
its corporate executives or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is
itchin' for a fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman

[Jody Pellerin]

Well thanks for the advice. I also got my boyfriend to read it. I got out of
him that we'll be engaged in six months :) And we can try any time after
that. Next month, I'll probably start taking Folic acid, Im going to start
building up the courage to try to quit smoking again and at some point
within the next eight months, I'll be going off of the pill. Given,
everything keeps going as well as things have been. I'll keep everybody
posted of updates.
-Jody

"Circe" > wrote in message
news:meQZa.9302$2g.4584@fed1read05...
Shannon wrote:
> I dont know the rigth answers to most of your questions but i would
> say that one year before you ttc is best because then the meds are
> out fo your system adn your body has a chance to get back into gear.
> It would be safest for you and the baby you will conceive.

Do you have *any* evidence to back up this statement? Because I have *never*
seen any information to suggest that conceiving a baby immediately after
coming off of the birth control pill represents any risks whatsoever to
either the mother or the baby. Doctors *do* sometimes recommend waiting
three months, but that's primarily to be sure the mother's cycles are more
regular before trying to conceive, thus making it easier to pinpoint the
EDD.
--
Be well, Barbara
(Julian [7/22/97], Aurora [7/19/99], and Vernon's [3/2/02] mom)
See us at http://photos.yahoo.com/guavaln

This week's special at the English Language Butcher Shop:
"He [Gray Davis] be allowed to serve out his term." -- Letters to the
Editor [probably a typesetter's error, but too funny to pass up]

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider,
its corporate executives or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is
itchin' for a fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman




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[Erin]

Actually, my doctor told me that the whole "wait 3 months until your cycle
evens out" advice for those ttc after being on the pill is kind of bogus, so
waiting a year seems even more unnecessary!

They say that the very first month after being on the pill, your
ovulation-suppressed ovaries often respond to being fertile again by popping
out extra eggs. After the first month or so, your body goes back to its
normal cycle. But that means you actually have a higher likelihood of
getting pg right away after stopping the pill than you do later on, since
more eggs = more chances to conceive.

Many women accidentally get pg while on the pill if they mess up taking it,
and the babies that result aren't hurt by the drug. In fact, women taking
fertility drugs often are put on the pill for a month or two and instructed
to go off it when they want to try to conceive, precisely because their
doctor wants to take advantage of this "rebound effect" with ovulation. If
there were an issue with birth defects, then fertility specialists certainly
wouldn't do that.

Erin, edd 10/26/03

"Shannon" > wrote in message
...
> I dont know the rigth answers to most of your questions but i would say
that
> one year before you ttc is best because then the meds are out fo your
system
> adn your body has a chance to get back into gear. It would be safest for
you
> and the baby you will conceive. If you really arent sure it is best to
talk
> to your doctor or a couple of them even.
>
> Shannon
>
>

[Em]

"Erin" > wrote in message
> Actually, my doctor told me that the whole "wait 3 months until your cycle
> evens out" advice for those ttc after being on the pill is kind of bogus,
so
> waiting a year seems even more unnecessary!
>
> They say that the very first month after being on the pill, your
> ovulation-suppressed ovaries often respond to being fertile again by
popping
> out extra eggs. After the first month or so, your body goes back to its
> normal cycle. But that means you actually have a higher likelihood of
> getting pg right away after stopping the pill than you do later on, since
> more eggs = more chances to conceive.
<snip>

The doctor I saw for my pre-conception visit actually told me that the first
month of the pill might be my best chance to conceive (she was worried that
I might have some endimetriosis, which I really don't think I do) and to
start trying then. As it was, we conceived on my fifth cycle off the pill.
It was kind of interesting because during the fourth cycle, trying got
completely "missed" due to holidays, so it is almost like it *did* take
three real cycles before my body got to a "place" where it was ready to
conceive. (The cycle we got pregnant was during Christmas and trying
opportunities weren't abundant then either).

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(34 weeks)

[KR]

Hi Jody,

Glad to hear that you are planning so far ahead! I guess you could
give it up any time and use an alternative method like condoms until
you are ready to try.

My Dr. told me 3 months. I have heard from other women (women who
took a year of ttc to get pregnant mind you) that it can be a year.
In my case, I was taking Alesse, I stopped taking them in October
mid-package, period was regular right away, may or may not have had a
very early miscarriage in January, got a positive pregnancy test on
March 1'st! So it was about 4 months from stopping the pill to
succesfully conceiving!

You are taking a few of the right steps, taking vitamins and hopefully
eating well. Before ttc you should really knock that smoking habit
for 3 months or so, long enough to know you are quit. You should also
try to get into the habit of a walk every second day or something (if
you are not exercising now) that you can continue through pregnancy.
Nobody can stress how important healthy eating and exercise are before
and during pregnancy!

Best of luck,
Katherine

"Jody Pellerin" > wrote in message >...
> Sort of a question I can't seem to find any real answer to... In a matter of
> eight months to a year, my boyfriend and I will be engaged. At some point,
> children will be an option for us. I'm on the pill, Marvelon to be exact. I
> know it's best to stop taking it and wait for my cycle to regulate, but how
> long does it take to stop working? What's the waiting period after the last
> cycle of use, till your body will be functional again to ovulate correctly?
> I've heard three months, six months, right away, up to a year. I've been
> back on the pill for about four months now after taking a nice break from it
> for at least a few months. The last pill I was on, Tricyclen caused my
> period to not show up for three months when I stopped taking that. Blood
> tests and a few PG tests were done, but I wasn't pregnant. A good thing at
> that time.
> I'm taking Iron and vitamin D pills as well as multivitamins. I do smoke and
> have the patch to quit. I also heard smoking reduces fertility. I'm 19 now,
> working full time, and will be 20, possibly 21 before children will be an
> option for us. I'm not sure if I'm leaving out any details here but will
> answer them if they would help. My main question is, any suggestions before
> we try? And how long do I stop taking the pill before we do try? I don't
> want to stop the month we start trying, because that could lead to quite a
> few months of TWW's and a lot of disappointment that may have been
> avoidable.
> I am new to this group but I keep educating myself on pregnancy and
> preconception as much as possible. www.babycenter.com is an excellent site,
> btw. :)
> Thank you ahead of time for your replies. You can reply here or to my email
> address.
> -Jody
>
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 8/4/2003

[Vijay]

> "Jody Pellerin" > wrote in message >...
snip
> > I'm 19 now,
> > working full time, and will be 20, possibly 21 before children will be an
> > option for us. I'm not sure if I'm leaving out any details here but will
> > answer them if they would help.

Hi! I know this isn't exactly what you are asking, but since nobody
else mentioned it, I thought I'd put my two cents in. Maybe this is
just my perspective because I happened to be living with my husband
for 6 years, married for 6 months before ttc (at age 30) but reading
your post I thought, "what's the rush?"

Let me make it clear that I am not one of those people who think all
young people are not ready for parenthood, My best friend in HS was
born when her mom was 16 and she turned out great. I applaud you for
reading about pregnancy and parenting. I read everything I could get
my hands on and was still unprepared for some things.

You say you are working but you don't say if you enjoy it. If you do,
I would respectfully suggest that you consider working and enjoying
being married for a while before ttc. You are so young, and your life
will never be the same again. You may envision going back to work
after baby comes, but many women change their minds about this, so you
may want more time to save up a nest egg in case you decide to stay
home.

Please know that I am someone who has had "baby fever" since my late
teens and it was hard to wait as long as I did, but I'm glad I did.

-V.