What does all this mean, you ask? Exactly! That was my response, too, when I entered the message boards for the first time. The Trying To Conceive ones, that is. It's a whole other world out there, baby! Of course, baby is one word that isn't ever an acronym -- it's sacrosanct.

When my dear husband (DH) and I decided that our parents had waited long enough for us to try for a dear son (DS) or dear daughter (DD), I was curious to see if there were Internet tips on how to conceive. Upon entering the message boards on various sites, I was overwhelmed. The postings were written in a foreign jargon; the depth of information was mind boggling.

For some women, TTC is something they do at their leisure. They do the "baby dance" (BD: a euphemism for how Baby is conceived) and hope they luck out. For other women, however, it's a way of life. They track their temperatures on a daily basis, some even using Internet software and sharing charts with others. After most postings, it's typical to see what looks like a code for a hot stock market tip: TTC #1, CY 2, CD 4. That stands for Trying to Conceive my first child, Cycle 2, Calendar Date 4. As I'm known for my poor mathematical skills, I think I'll be keeping it much simpler.

There are numerous message boards for those interested in preconception. No matter your situation, it's covered. But with all the cliques, it almost feels like a high school environment. One site features boards for Infertility, Preconception, TTC Tips, Starting TTC, Am I Pregnant and TTC 6+ months. Another site has groups within a group. The board called Actively Trying has clusters for Waiting and Cycle Buddies (women who have similar cycles). It also has topics like TTC after a loss, TTC #2 with a toddler, Over 30, Teachers TTC, and TTC under 25. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

One of the most ironic discoveries is that after years of trying not to get pregnant, or PG, it becomes just as much a struggle to make it happen. The fertile part of a cycle is only 24 to 48 hours a month. Sex for the purpose of procreation is difficult. Sex for the purpose of a young couple's libido -- not so difficult. Consequently, once the TTC period starts, many women, myself included, start overanalyzing their bodies. Pregnancy, ovulation (O) and Aunt Flo (AF: the lovely term used for one's menstrual cycle) all have similar symptoms. What's a fertile gal to do? Post to the message boards, of course!

The mildest symptom is grounds for group speculation -- several gaggles of women will respond to one post describing one symptom, sharing their knowledge and experiences and sprinkling "Baby Dust" for luck. That's where the message boards' value comes in. During the two week wait (TWW: comes in between ovulation and AF), we have to constantly fight the urge to use a home pregnancy test (HPT). That such a place exists, where we can get a response to a message almost instantly and receive unconditional support, is invaluable.

When you finally conceive and pregnancy is a reality, do not fear; There are lots of e-communities for you. You simply "graduate" to a whole new level of message boards. There are general ones on pregnancy, and then the more specific: you can belong to one for the month you're due. Then, once the baby is born, there are boards for Baby, and later, Toddler. This can go on forever. Pretty soon there'll be boards for Parents of Teens With Blue Hair and Kids Who Never Leave Home. When we're in our 70s, we'll be posting to Parents of Kids Who Don't Listen to Their Parents' Parenting Tips.

Undertaking this next step in our lives is hard enough. For now, I think I'll tiptoe around the message boards. But if DH and I are SOL, I'll post a message before I go AWOL.

Want to read more?

• The Acronym and Abbreviation Guide
• The Preconception Glossary
• The Cycle Daily
• Talk about it!