CB Fertlity Monitors

[susan_1981]

Just wondering if any of you have one of these and how good they are? I'm tempted to buy one but they are so expensive. I would definitely have bought one if it was just a one off payment but then I realised you have to buy the test sticks which are quite expensive. Am I best to just stick to the IC OPKs?

 

[honey08]

hiya susan, ive got a persona monitor, same signs as CB one but its cheaper, even same sticks ...... but if IC opk wrk well enough for u i wud stick with them and save ur money

 

[becky77]

i personally did not bother before and probably wont again. i will probably use the smep method again as that worked for us first time last time, and hubby thought he had died and gone to heaven lol.

x

 

[Rumpskin]

Hey Susan

I have not used a fertility monitor before even though I have a Boots one. I found using CB OPK fantastic as a starting point.

xx

 

[susan_1981]

I think I'll give it a miss then. It's too expensive. I wouldn't mind if you just paid £100 and that was it but then you have to buy the test sticks which I think cost £20 for 20. I think we'll just try every other night when my bleeding has completely stopped.

Then after my first period, we may try the SMEP method. I'd never heard of it until becky mentioned it. Googled it and sounds good to me.

I'm not sure if OPKs work for me. The month I got pregnant, I knew the day I was ov'ing because I had the cramps and all the usual signs and I'm sure that was the night I got pregnant but I did an OPK that morning and, although the test line was dark, it wasn't as dark as the control line. Although I have read if you do get a result like that, you should try testing again in the evening because that can make a difference. I suppose the more we try, the more likely we are to succeed. I can feel myself getting obsessed again. Must try and relax this time! I can't go through all that again, which is why I don't think (assuming I'll be lucky enough to get pregnant again) I can go back into first trimester again. I just feel like I would be really negative in there. If anyone is having bleeding and thinking they are miscarrying, my answer would simply be "well I had no signs of a miscarriage but miscarried" - not very reassuring to some people!

I'm gonna have a glass of wine soon. That will calm me down!

 

[becky77]

i know what you mean i can feel that little niggle of obsession ,but am trying very hard to stay cool and just let it happen , but i know i wont be able to help myself.
also i will be staying out of ttc and first tri cos i wont want to tempt fate if and when it happens again.

i think i might join you in a drink to calm the nerves.

good luck hun

x

 

[Lyns]

I actually love my CBFM and it has so far got me 2 x BFP's. I figured that was a small price to pay. I am not using it htis month as I didnt have a 'CD1' so to speak, but will be back to it soon!

You don't need to use all the test sticks in a month,...I use about 5 a month (although it say 10 there are very easy way around that)

And ther eis a huge clinical studt going on at the mo that loads of BnBers are partaking in...

https://www.babyandbump.com/cycle-buddies/44977-clearblue-clinical-study-buddies.html

So you can pick up some info there.

And if you do decide to try it....for goodness sake don't by it at Boots. That is very expensive!

Try www.accessdiagnostics.co.uk and keep an eye out here for extra discount codes....they pop up regularly! Sticks are only about £17 on there and I got my last lot on ebay for £13 (unused and sealer of course!)

 

[honey08]

aw dont get me wrong i love my persona monitor aswell, and it gives me the pleasure of POAS everyday !! lol i got mine off ebay very cheap,and i got pk of sticks of sites thats were doin like 2for3 !!!!!! they are good and if opk dont wrk then maybe these will, also tho,dont think u can beat charting ! 2min in the morning and its as good as free !!!!!!!!! goodluck susan, nothing more i wud love to see u and others in birth annoucments

 

[susan_1981]

Haha, I did think I'd avoid Boots. I looked on Ebay and you can get them for around £65. I know it's strange, but I kind of want to buy one because I know, knowing my luck, once I spend all that money, I will fall pregnant straight away without even having used the thing. Sods Law. But I thought it would be good for in the future as I do plan on having more than one child, but if I only get one, then I'll be grateful for just that! I'm hoping for twins next time round!!!

Also thanks Honey. My only problem with charting is that weekdays, I take it at around 8am but on the weekends, I don't usually get up till gone 10 and I know that can put your temps out. And I also worry that charting will mean I'm obsessing again.

 

[tansey]

You can also sell them on ebay for a good price if you decide you don't need it any more. I love mine and it takes all the other worries away. Good luck hun! xx

 

[honey08]

yeh,dont buy a new one anyways ! get one from ebay....OR ask the preggo girls if there selling one !!!

 

[susan_1981]

I gave in (knew I would) and bought one off of Ebay! I also bought the test sticks as well, all brand new. In total it cost me £70. It still seems like quite a lot of money but, like it was said before, I can sell it afterwards, but we plan on having more than one baby so I'll get some use out of it. Also, it means I don't have to harrass my husband every night as I can know my most fertile days.

 

[Lyns]

Well done you.....£70 may sound like a lot, but if it gets you a baby then its worth every penny!

I've used mine TTC twice now...and will again in a couple of months if I haven't gotten my BFP by then. Mind you, the one thing you will find out is that it really helps you learn your cycle too, so you may not even need it to know your peaks before too long....but still well worth every penny.

Just a heads up. Do exactly as the monitor say for the first month. It needs to know your levels exactly. Don't be disheartened if the first month you see several highs, and possibly no peak...it doens't mean you haven't ov'd it just means your bodies levels we slightl different than the pre-programmed ones it comes with. You will have Ov'd in those highs somewhere....so like mad!

After that it is a bit smarter...it is then working off YOUR levels...as it got to know them the previous month...clever huh?

Now here the money saving bit. Once it has determined your surge, the monitor then gives you 2 days of peak, followed by one of high and back to low again....always. Cos thats what happens after a surge, to everyone....3 fertile days. So from the second month onwards, you could dip the test strip in orange juice once its detected your first peak and it would still tell you a second peak, a hgh and low. Sooooo, to save sticks, re-use the same stick from the first peak, until it says no more. That way I generally only need 5 sticks a month....6 tops.

Genius huh? And am here if you have any questions....cos I know this little beastie pretty darn well by now!

 

[susan_1981]

All sounds so unfamiliar at the moment but once it arrives, I'll be able to get used to it then follow what you have said. I'm actually hoping that I won't even get to use it because I'd doubt I'd be able to use this month because of my miscarriage and hopefully I'll be pregnant again by this time next month. A girl can hope! Thanks for your money saving tips Lyns xxx

 

[Omi]

Yeah, i wanna second Lyns answer. Mine too has given me two bfp's and i love that it resets itself depending on your cycle- well, after the first mc it said cd 99 on it when i turned it on again, lol! Also, if your cycle changes it does follow you so it really is a great little machine...i wouldnt be without mine for the world. I too am waiting for af to come back and i'll set it again. And as very cleverly said by Lyns (she's a clever'un ) you can get around using every stick it asks for once you've used it for a few cycles. Its pre- programmed you see to ask for sticks after you've got a peak...so you can reuse an old stick....but im getting ahead of myself, lol!

I got the same deal as you and have now had mine for a year and a half!!! Yes, sticks cost about £20 but you average a pack over 2-3 months so its not too bad all things considered You can get optimal bd in and no trying to read those damned opk's- although having said that you can read cbfm sticks as well but much easier!!

Good luck and have fun, Suz!!

 

[Mercury]

I bought my CBFM in October and got my very first in mid December. Funny thing is, I was expecting it to take longer and so bought a whole year (maybe more) supply of test sticks.

If anyone is interested in buying some test sticks, let me know!!!! I've got LOADS!