Starting ovulation tracking...any advice?

[drmommyDO]

I removed my Nuvaring yesterday and I am waiting on AF. I bought a Basal Thermometer and I have some awesome charts printed off from thebump. I'm super excited to start tracking in hopes that when we start TTC it will hopefully happen soon! Our goal is to get pregnant in August in hopes of a May 2013 baby (during summer break in med school). Did charting basal temperatures help any of you? Also, when should we start TTC? Do most people start a month or so ahead of the "goal" month incase it doesn't happen the first few months? Thanks for your help!!

 

[sarahfh]

Check out the thread called the big bad charters gang, you'll get all the information you will need as well as some good links to more information. Might be worth checking out Fertility Friend, they do all the hard work of chart interpretation for you after you put things like BBT and CM in everyday and there's a mobile app that syncs to your account to make it even easier

 

[puppymom]

If you don't have it yet, you should get the book "Taking Charge of your Fertility" - it is an amazing book that tells you all about how to chart, what things mean, etc.

I chart, and have been doing so for 2 cycles, since coming off the pill. It is so wonderful to know what my body is doing! At this time, I just chart my temps, and anything else that I happen to notice each day, if I have time. Otherwise, temps are the main thing I go by right now. My first cycle off the pill was 43 days or so, and had I not been charting, I would have gone crazy wondering when AF was going to show. I know now, because of when my temps rose, that I should expect AF this week.

I put my temps into TCOYF.com and Fertiliyfriend.com - they both show the same thing, but I just thought I'd do both to see if there is a difference.

As for when you should start - that's totally up to you! You might conceive the first month you try, so don't try early if you're definitely not ready then. We don't plan on trying until our TTC date, and if it doesn't happen right away (which I don't expect), then I am okay with that.

You should join us on the Big, Bad Charters Gang thread, as Sarahfh mentioned above.

 

[rachybaby85]

I agree with puppymom, that book is amazing! I thought I was pretty clued on to what my body was doing, but after reading that book I realised I really didnt have a clue ha ha. I've been charting for a good few months now and love it!