Time to TTC again..

[Lyanhalia]

I was pretty crushed when AF finally showed up at the beginning of the month, and now the husband and I are TTC again. But I don't really know how to do charting or anything like that. My doctor has me writing down all dates/lengths of AF, and us doing the BD every other day, but what else should I be doing?

 

[Swtshae]

I would try using OPKs so that you can pin point exactly when you ovulate and when you should be BDing. I've been told to BD every other day so that sounds about right. I don't temp or anything like that so can't advise you on that. Definitely try the OPKs. Good luck!

 

[OperationBbyO]

I chart using Fertility Friend and I use opks. I thought I would hate charting BBT but I actually love it!

 

[Lyanhalia]

I think it would be a good idea for me, I just don't really know how to go about it!

 

[ReadytoMum]

I think it would be a good idea for me, I just don't really know how to go about it!

Charting isn't that hard, as long as you have a consistant wake up time in the morning. You just need to get a Basal Body Thermometer (most drug stores sell them). You can make an account for free at Fertility Friend, and you just input your temperature every morning into the spreadsheet and it graphs it all for you. It's pretty key though to take your temperature at the same time everyday, and to have the thermometer right next to your bed, so it's literally the first thing you do after waking up.

It helps you pinoint when OV is, but you won't know when it was until *after* it's happened. After you get a temp drop and then an increase for three days consecutively, it will tell you what day OV was. If you can use temping along with OPK's you'll have a much more accurate guess as to when OV really happened. Charting is good for long term patterns, and less helpful for a quick answer.

 

[Swtshae]

I think it would be a good idea for me, I just don't really know how to go about it!

Charting isn't that hard, as long as you have a consistant wake up time in the morning. You just need to get a Basal Body Thermometer (most drug stores sell them). You can make an account for free at Fertility Friend, and you just input your temperature every morning into the spreadsheet and it graphs it all for you. It's pretty key though to take your temperature at the same time everyday, and to have the thermometer right next to your bed, so it's literally the first thing you do after waking up.

It helps you pinoint when OV is, but you won't know when it was until *after* it's happened. After you get a temp drop and then an increase for three days consecutively, it will tell you what day OV was. If you can use temping along with OPK's you'll have a much more accurate guess as to when OV really happened. Charting is good for long term patterns, and less helpful for a quick answer.

I think temping would be helpful, I just don't know about taking the temp at the same time each day. Also, is this a continuous process or once you've ovulated and is in the TWW you stop taking the temp?

 

[luna_19]

I would also highly recommend temping, you learn so much about your cycle! I'm on my second cycle temping and really I thought it would be way harder than it is. I don't stress too much about waking up at the exact same time...I get up for work at 6:15 on weekdays so that's fine and I just temp the first time I wake up in the morning on the weekends which is usually within half an hour of my usual time anyways. You can get a fertility friend app on your smart phone so you don't even have to get out of bed to record your temp.

FF also has an excellent charting course that teaches you everything you need to know

 

[luna_19]

oops double post...but I'll use this opportunity to say you could stop once you confirm ovulation but if you keep temping you can often see when af is (or isn't) about to arrive

 

[Swtshae]

So once ovulation occurs what are you looking for in with your temps? I mean, what would be the point of continuing? Thanks for helping me understand the process.

 

[luna_19]

Temp will rise usually the day after ovulation usually at least 0.2c or 0.4f and will stay up until af is nearing or if you get preg will stay up for the entire pregnancy. If you click on my current chart you can see my last month's chart which is not the greatest example but does show the rise then fall at the end

 

[ReadytoMum]

So once ovulation occurs what are you looking for in with your temps? I mean, what would be the point of continuing? Thanks for helping me understand the process.

The point of continuing to chart after OV is that you won't be able to tell when OV happens till three days later, and even after those three days it's still beneficial to keep charting because the goal of charting is to recognize long term patterns in your cycle and not just the immediate knowledge of when OV is, which an OPK gives you.

And like it was mentioned, after OV if your temps stay up high after you've expected AF to arrive, it's a good indicator that you might be pregnant, and usually the day you can expect AF to arrive you'll get a really sharp drop in temperature to let you know that it's about to arrive.

 

[Swtshae]

So once ovulation occurs what are you looking for in with your temps? I mean, what would be the point of continuing? Thanks for helping me understand the process.

The point of continuing to chart after OV is that you won't be able to tell when OV happens till three days later, and even after those three days it's still beneficial to keep charting because the goal of charting is to recognize long term patterns in your cycle and not just the immediate knowledge of when OV is, which an OPK gives you.

And like it was mentioned, after OV if your temps stay up high after you've expected AF to arrive, it's a good indicator that you might be pregnant, and usually the day you can expect AF to arrive you'll get a really sharp drop in temperature to let you know that it's about to arrive.

Ok, that makes sense. I'm going to give it a try after this cycle I think. I'll be heading back to work at the end of August so I'll be on a much better time schedule. I'll try anything to get my BFP!