When should I bother testing?

[MrsWhite]

After a miscarriage I know our cycles can be out of whack and can ovulate late, early or not at all. That being said, we have started out this month being "relaxed", not temping, no OPKs etc. I feel like maybe I ovulated around 10-12 DPO but that is just by mood/CM etc so I have no idea for sure. Now I'm wishing I had because I had some pretty intense cramping yesterday, like AF but no bleeding, and the day before I had low back pain. Now there's nothing, and no bleeding. Not to mention I am only on CD 20, putting me at CD 18 with back pain and CD 19 for the cramps. Maybe it's implantation cramps, or maybe AF coming early, or nothing at all. I have read that after implantation you can test positive 2-5 days after. I don't know if I should do that though, seems a bit crazy to start testing on CD 21, a full 8 days before my expected period (but again, who knows since I have only had one period since the miscarriage and of course that was a long cycle, I have no idea what to expect this time around). Anyone else in the same boat? Thoughts? Would you test or hold off? I'm thinking maybe it wouldn't hurt to test every few days but I doubt anything will show up. The cramping was just so weird, and I have had implantation cramps before but not nearly that intense! With my first two pregnancies I felt little cramps for a half day maybe but not much at all, and with my miscarried little one I never noticed anything during that period of time where implantation would occur. It was really weird, I thought for sure AF was coming....Oh well now I have written a book.

 

[Dill]

You'll have the most foolproof answer on the day you're expecting AF, of course, but I know how easy it is to get caught up in early testing (I've been testing since 7dpo this cycle). While it is sometimes possible to test positive as early as 7 dpo, for all intents and purposes, it's better to wait until 10dpo or later. (Do as I say, not as I do, haha!)

 

[tcinks]

I say wait until you miss your period. I'm terrified of the thought of a chemical pregnancy since my miscarriage, and I think the chances are less likely once you actually miss AF. But that's just my thought, and I know it would be tempting for me to test early! Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[MrsWhite]

I always have gotten caught up in testing early. I think I need to relax a bit and quit symptom spotting as well. I want to start using OPKs and maybe temping next month though, If nothing happens this month. At least then I will have a better idea of when it would be ok to test, and time things better as well.