I wish more people talked about this part. The waiting. The wondering. The mental gymnastics that happen every single month when you’re trying to conceive.
To break it down in mathematical and biological terms, when you are trying to conceive, everything is based on the first day of your period.
That very first day is considered “Day 1”. After your period ends, let’s say on day 5 or 7, your window for ovulation begins. Everyone ovulates at different times and that becomes the tricky part; finding out which day you ovulate, IF you even ovulate, and how long your ovulation lasts for. This is when you can get pregnant.
If someone ovulates on day 15, you have sex to try to conceive that day and the days surrounding it, it then takes 10-14 days to even be able to use a pregnancy test. If you are following along with this math, that means you would take your first pregnancy test 14 days after Day 15, so on Day 29. Those 10-14 days, or about 2 weeks of wait time, can drive you crazy.
One moment, you’re mapping out a future that doesn’t even exist yet—calculating due dates, picturing a new little person at your dinner table, imagining what it would feel like to say, “We’re having a baby.” The next moment, you’re bracing for disappointment, reminding yourself not to get too ahead of things, trying not to fall too hard for a dream that may or may not come true. For a pregnancy test to say, “Pregnant”.
That psychological leap—between hope and reality, between what-ifs and what-is—is exhausting. And yet, so many of us go through it in silence.
If you’re in the two-week wait, here are a few ways to protect your heart and mind:
• Ground yourself in the present. When your thoughts start spiraling into the future, bring yourself back to today. Journaling, mindfulness, or even a simple mantra like “One day at a time” can help..
• Find a trusted outlet. Whether it’s a partner, a close friend, or an online community, talking about your feelings can lighten the emotional load.
• Stay busy (but not distracted). Engage in activities that bring you joy—whether that’s reading, baking, or going for a walk—without using them as a way to suppress your emotions.
• Limit excessive symptom-spotting. It’s tempting to analyze every twinge and feeling, but obsessing over potential pregnancy symptoms can add to the stress.
• Have a self-care plan for either outcome. Whether your pregnancy test is positive or negative, know ahead of time how you’ll care for yourself emotionally.
If you’re trying to conceive and in this place right now, just know: you’re not alone. The waiting is hard. The emotional whiplash is real. And no matter what happens, your feelings are valid.
0 Comments