Official Charting thread

[BookwormPrincess]

Hi everyone, I have finally taken your advice and signed up to Fertility Friend and joined the charting club. I've learnt something from the two tutorials I've read.

Here is my link:
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/bookwormprincess

I'm still in the 2WW but I thought I'd start the chart anyway. I did start taking temps yesterday so will keep on trying.

If the OPK was right, then we may have timed BD well this month, but I'm getting cramps and AF signs.

JillyMac, I had a chuckle to myself this morning as I clumsily reacher for my thermometer as I remembered your description of shuffling down the bed for your phone trying not to move! lol!

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Can anyone tell me whether there is an average post-ovulation (luteal phase) BBT? Or is it unique to the individual? Just trying to figure out if this cramping and spotting is AF coming on or early pregnancy symptoms (I think it is the former sadly).

 

[ksdedee74]

Can anyone tell me whether there is an average post-ovulation (luteal phase) BBT? Or is it unique to the individual? Just trying to figure out if this cramping and spotting is AF coming on or early pregnancy symptoms (I think it is the former sadly).

It is different for everyone, but that it jumped back up today is good. For me when they start dropping that is when I know AF is coming. Right before AF they take a straight downward fall. They don't for me start bouncing around till after AF is really really going. And by then there is a significant difference on the cahart in temps.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

It is different for everyone, but that it jumped back up today is good. For me when they start dropping that is when I know AF is coming. Right before AF they take a straight downward fall. They don't for me start bouncing around till after AF is really really going. And by then there is a significant difference on the cahart in temps.

Thanks Ksdedee. My temp went right back down this morning so I guess that is not a good sign.

 

[Jemma]

I started charting a few days ago, but I still don't quite have a clue what I'm doing. Is it okay to use a regular thermometer under the armpit?

 

[ksdedee74]

I don't know about under the pit, but I use a regular thermometer in mouth. As long as your personal temps fluctuate enough that a regular thermometer shows the up and downs of your cycle, you don't have to have a BBT thermometer. They are more sensative. If your temps don't fluctuate much you will need to get a BBT one. But you can get them online at places like ebay and most places ship worldwide.

 

[ksdedee74]

I am so frustrated, It kind of looks like by my chart that I have O'd already. And I wasn't supposed to till Sat. So even though there is a BD in the right place we didn't do all the things we were supposed to and such. We have this wonderful stuff planned for Sat, not the quicky we had wed. I know if it works it works I shouldn't question right but........I guess If I did O and I do end up with a BFP it will be another lesson for me about God's planning and mine.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

I am so frustrated, It kind of looks like by my chart that I have O'd already. And I wasn't supposed to till Sat. So even though there is a BD in the right place we didn't do all the things we were supposed to and such. We have this wonderful stuff planned for Sat, not the quicky we had wed. I know if it works it works I shouldn't question right but........I guess If I did O and I do end up with a BFP it will be another lesson for me about God's planning and mine.

Hi Ksdedee, I looked at your chart and I can't figure out when O happened, but I have only just started charting so I have a lot to learn. Here's hoping that the timing was spot on for you.

My temp went back up today, but I do feel a cold coming on so that could be why. I'm still spotting

 

[ksdedee74]

FF will say I ovulated wed. if tomorrows temp doesn't drop way back down. cd18 which is 4 days early for me. It is something stupid to be thinking about I know. if we did it at the right time who cares right. Our odds would just be better if I would o on sat instead. We didn't do anything like we would have if I had known. Well we would have done something, but there is extra stuff we do to help. GRRR!

Why am I being silly and already deciding that an early O means failure. I am just hoping my wierd temps this month don't mean annovultory either. But they are all over the place this month and if you look back I have a decently regular temp pattern. Those early high temps on cd 8-10 and this early o rise concern me. I guess I will just have to wait and see. Course I guess if I am annovultory this cycle, if i o'ed already that might mean a short cycle. Which would mean we would be able to try agian sooner than normal.

I am glad your temp went back up, bookworm. Is the spotting light. I have heard many times before that spotting at AF time is one of the reason some woman don't know they are pregnant till they are 3-4 even 5 months along.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

FF will say I ovulated wed. if tomorrows temp doesn't drop way back down. cd18 which is 4 days early for me. It is something stupid to be thinking about I know. if we did it at the right time who cares right. Our odds would just be better if I would o on sat instead. We didn't do anything like we would have if I had known. Well we would have done something, but there is extra stuff we do to help. GRRR!

Why am I being silly and already deciding that an early O means failure. I am just hoping my wierd temps this month don't mean annovultory either. But they are all over the place this month and if you look back I have a decently regular temp pattern. Those early high temps on cd 8-10 and this early o rise concern me. I guess I will just have to wait and see. Course I guess if I am annovultory this cycle, if i o'ed already that might mean a short cycle. Which would mean we would be able to try agian sooner than normal.

I am glad your temp went back up, bookworm. Is the spotting light. I have heard many times before that spotting at AF time is one of the reason some woman don't know they are pregnant till they are 3-4 even 5 months along.

Hi Ksdedee, try not to worry about Wed. You are right that the fact you BD'd at the right time is important, at least you did, that's something isn't it. I am curious as to what 'extra stuff' you would do? Do you have any secret tips?

You're not being silly! I think we sometimes tell ourselves these negative things so as not to get our hopes up. It's such a rollercoaster. I really hope it doesn't mean annovultory though. Maybe you are just having a stressful month or there are other factors affecting your temps? I have no idea if my temps will have a pattern - I'm quite nervous that they won't because of my illness etc. but I can only try.

I was glad my temp went back up, but it might not mean good news. [HaHa I just realised I have mentioned this so many times already - crazy chic! sorry for obsessing]. The spotting is a lot lighter than I would usually get before AF, but I have had to move on to a pad so that might not be a good sign. But as you say, I have read that some women even have a light period for the first month ... I am going to test tomorrow morning no matter what and then if still no heavy AF test again Monday. I bet I wake up tomorrow will full AF & cramping! Aghh!

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Yep, woke up with cramping! Temp still the same though. Spotting increased and BFN.

It'll be interesting to see a whole cycle of temps - I have no idea what is normal for me.

 

[Jemma]

Yep, woke up with cramping! Temp still the same though. Spotting increased and BFN.

It'll be interesting to see a whole cycle of temps - I have no idea what is normal for me.

I'm really sorry you have a BFN and increased spotting. God has his Hand on you, though, and this will happen in His time. Stay strong :huge hugs:

I sort of know what's normal for me in terms of how I feel, etc, but I don't really know 'scientifically' with charting. So it's interesting for me too. I only just signed up at FF about five days ago. I haven't gotten into the habit of temping at the same time each day yet, so I have a bunch of open dots.

 

[ksdedee74]

You want to know about the extra stuff huh? well I don't know if any of it helps or not but....
as I have said dh has a low count with low mobility. Although this hasn't been an issue before he is getting older and men's count is known to decrease and it has been 3 years since the last baby soooo....

well i already told you about the horny goat weed that he takes, we also bd alot the week before and then try to stop at 2-3 days before O and wait till O day to bd agian. Last month we were not able to do this but it is the goal, we were just really frisky last month for some reason. Anyway. Also dh drinks a caffinated beverage beforehand. Supposedly this gives his little guys alittle extra kick. LOL We also have certain positions we use around O time to make the distance shorter for those stubborn sperm sorry if TMI. We are not heavy drinkers but the week before O we do not have any alchoholic beverages at all. Now I just don't drink much but dh likes one once in awhile, but not O week. Also we take the Geritol complete & we both take b-6 all month. He wears boxers for the 3-4 days before he goes commando(no briefs or boxers) at night. And a bunch of other little things.
I am not sure how much of this works or not, but it is stuff we figured were not to hard to try and if they worked great if not......
I would love to hear what everyone else does. I know we all are from so many different places and I am sure different people have told us different things. We have been told about alot of foods that help and ones that don't we figure if we aren't pregnant by May then we might start trying some of the different dietary things. Some of the things are so silly they we wonder if they work because why else would people do them but we aren't to that place yet, who knows by May though.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

I'm really sorry you have a BFN and increased spotting. God has his Hand on you, though, and this will happen in His time. Stay strong :huge hugs:

Thanks Jemma, I do feel a bit better emotionally about it today even though AF arrived in full force.

The funny thing was everything just felt so different this month that I had convinced myself I was pg. You're right, it is in God's timing.

I haven't gotten into the habit of temping at the same time each day yet, so I have a bunch of open dots.

Me neither! The difficult thing for me is due to my illness, I have very disturbed sleep. I only work afternoons, so I don't set my alarm until 10:30 or 11am incase I have had a bad night (getting up earlier than this results in a lot of pain and nausea - how I'll cope with a baby I'll never know, lol!) However some mornings I will wake earlier for one reason or another, and I figure that it will be better to take my temp then because if I go back to sleep for less than 3 hours the temp I take with my alarm wouldn't be accurate - but this results in sporadic times for temps and I know that is not good either, but I don't see an alternative. If I set an early alarm and then can't sleep afterwards I will feel very ill and have increased pain for the rest of the day. I'll just have to put up with it I think and hope my temp readings can make sense.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Hi Ksdedee, thanks for all the extra stuff - definitily not TMI! Bring on all the tips!

I see how you could have felt disappointed that you hadn't done all your extra stuff now, but keep trusting.

That's interesting about BDing alot the week before and the boxers. It is better to have no support then? I know tight pants are bad (my DH would be so embarrassed if he knew I was talking about his underwear online, ha ha).

Is it TMI to ask what bd positions are best then? Obviously we need gravity to help and sticking legs in the air afterwards is good, right?

So May is a marker for you aswell, we can countdown together. If we aren't pregnant by May, we're going to our GP for fertility tests just in case there is a medical reason. I have been thinking of buying Zita West's book because she takes a holistic approach and covers diet too.

 

[Jemma]

You want to know about the extra stuff huh? well I don't know if any of it helps or not but....

This is amazing. I didn't realise there were so many non-medical (ie. not drug- or surgery-related) things one could do to help their chances of conception.

I don't know how you keep track of all that. I think I'd need a timetable on the refrigerator door!

Thanks Jemma, I do feel a bit better emotionally about it today even though AF arrived in full force.

The funny thing was everything just felt so different this month that I had convinced myself I was pg. You're right, it is in God's timing.

Aww... Sorry AF arrived this time around!

I've almost convinced myself I'm pregnant right now too. I'm praying and hoping that DH and I are right. Whatever happens, praise God. His will, not mine.

Me neither! The difficult thing for me is due to my illness, I have very disturbed sleep. I only work afternoons, so I don't set my alarm until 10:30 or 11am incase I have had a bad night (getting up earlier than this results in a lot of pain and nausea - how I'll cope with a baby I'll never know, lol!)
...

I'll just have to put up with it I think and hope my temp readings can make sense.

I don't think there are many mothers out there who really know how they coped with newborns, besides that God definitely got them through that time.

I would wake up during the night sometime, and not remember whether I'd already fed the baby or not. Sometimes it was automatic. Once I thought I had, but I hadn't. When she didn't settle immediately, I knew that I hadn't. Poor kid. But, yeah, it's really an auto-pilot thing for a few weeks.

Helps to have an older woman from the family staying for a few weeks!

Hi Ksdedee, thanks for all the extra stuff - definitily not TMI! Bring on all the tips!

There's no such thing as TMI when TTC!

I'd put that in my signature if I knew how

 

[Jillymac]

Hi everyone, sorry i've not posted, had visitors last week and was out A LOT! So tired now!

Anyway just to say i'm waiting to ovulate! My last cycle was 35 days long!!! YAY!!! My dh prayed for me and i work!! I'm still taking those vitamins and herbs too.

Hope you're all doing well.
xx

 

[ksdedee74]

Well ladies I am definatly in the 2ww although ff went back an forth on O day it tried to put it on cd 20 then went back to cd 18. bding on cd 18 was accidently right on but I did O 4 days early. which is unusual for me I usually later than anything.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Ooops, missed a temp today. Guess it doesn't matter because still in AF.

You know what is weird today though, I have only had spotting, which means only 2 days of a bleed - weird, I usually have at least 3 or 4 days bleed. Oh well, maybe my cycle doesn't like being scrutinised and decided to be different this month! It's being rebellious!

 

[Jemma]

Ooops, missed a temp today. Guess it doesn't matter because still in AF.

You know what is weird today though, I have only had spotting, which means only 2 days of a bleed - weird, I usually have at least 3 or 4 days bleed. Oh well, maybe my cycle doesn't like being scrutinised and decided to be different this month! It's being rebellious!

Are you sure you're on a BFP? That was my first thought. Sometimes my AF will do wierd things, though, like stop and start mid-AF. Annoying. I don't know if I'll bother temping today. Have been up most of the night with DD being so sick, and am going to bed in another hour or two for a midday sleep.