The Official TTC Thread!

[E B]

Fisher,

I'd use the lower temp (97.7, the one you took after going to the bathroom. I know it's tempting to use the higher one, but you don't want a false reading that might give you a false ovulation date.

 

[peonygirl]

GUYS, I''m freaking out! Look at my chart!!! W00t! I don''t want to get my hopes up, but I''m cautiously optimistic.

 

[E B]

Are you thinking a CD 29 ovulation date, Peony?

 

[peonygirl]

Hey Ebree. Nope, I''m thinking today. The green plus means positive OPK. From my earlier charts (this is last cycle, and the previous one was almost identical), I think I tend to ovulate partway through my rise. Is that normal?

 

[E B]

LOL, I didn''t even notice the positive OPK! I was just looking at the temps. Well, that''s exciting! As for ovulating partway through the rise, that''s a DD question.

 

[peonygirl]

LOL, Ebree! You were probably thinking, "wow, this girl is pretty desperate to see ANYTHING that looks like ovulation."

Also, on the matter of OPKs, I think that I was using mine too liberally before. I mean, at only 80 cents each they aren't too pricey, but I was driving myself nuts staying in the bathroom for 10 mins in the middle of work staring at them and getting disappointed day after day. I looked at my last two charts, and I noticed that I got a positive one around 9.5-9.7, and that they were preceeded by a slowish rise. That's why I tried today. I almost wonder if it's worth BDing twice today, since we have a dinner party until probably midnight tonight. Then again, if we do it once there may be more spermies in there.

Edited to add: nevermind, I just looked it up and we probably have 36-48 hrs of fertile time from this point on, so there isn't a huge rush to do it RIGHT NOW. Hehe.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Fisher put in the lower temp girl. If you really ovulated, time will tell there''s no need to rush it!

Peony I am not wild about OPKs from what I have read they can be so off for many women, but yo uare covering your bases either way so it doesn''t really matter! Using a FAM interpretation of your Aug. 7 chart and ignoring the OPK, I would have used the rule of thumb to ignore the temp from CD 15 and then I would have placed your ovulation on CD 19. If you remove the OPK data from your old charts, where does the advanced and FAM put your ovulation? It typically occurrs at the day before the first temp that is at least 1?10th higher tha nthe previous 6 according to FAM. I wonder if those OPKs are messing with you

Looking at your chart for this month if I ignore the OPK and if TOMORROW is a temp at least as high as todays, or higher, then I would put ovulation on CD 30, as CD 31 is the firs ttemp that is higher than the previous 6. My point is, don''t just rely too much on the OPKs, since you may actually be ovulated a few days before you get the OPK surge. Read up on those puppies, they are not favoured by TCOYF and some other sites I read. Anyways, looks promising, hopefully tomorrows temp is high too!

 

[robbie3982]

Peony, I think it DD may be on to something. Either way, your timing is good though!

Fisher, that''s too funny about Mr. Clean. I''d put in the lower temp too. It''s better to assume it hasn''t happened yet and keep BDing. Even if later it still looks like it could be this date or a later one, tell yourself it''s the later one so you don''t get your hopes up when AF doesn''t show or so you don''t test early. That method helped me to be a bit more patient last cycle.

So, we were really going to take a break from the BD marathon on Friday, but something just wouldn''t let me. Yesterday I went to this huge craft fair with MIL, DH''s aunt and his cousin''s wife an hour and a half away. I was out of the house from about 9 to 5. I was sooooo tired when I got back that I just went right to bed. I figured we''ve BD''d the last 7 days, my cervix is low and medium, so skipping tonight won''t hurt. Well, looks like yesterday was O day, which would give us the same exact BD pattern as last cycle: 7 days leading up to O, but missing O day. I think I might wake DH up to get in just one more time. My temp could be trying to fake me out again too. Who knows. Only time will tell.

Going by this cycle and last cycle, it seems like I O when my cervix is low. Weird.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Okay, today is CD 19 in my world. On my last cycle, this was the day I got my "fake out" ovulation crosshairs on FF. Here''s hoping for no repeat of that.

Today''s temp still not in the 98 range yet, but dang tootin close!! 97.92.

If tomorrow''s temp is 97.95 or higher, I get crosshairs that I ovulated on CD 17 (Friday). If it dips toward the lower 97.9s, then goes up again the following day, I get crosshairs on CD 18 (Saturday).

I''m hoping one of these plays out, as that would be ovulating several days before last cycle''s O day (26) and because if it is CD 18 that I ovulated on, well then we did the deed that day and the day before, and I just recently read in here that that''s the way to go. So, thank goodness for weekends!!!

And just in case this isn''t an ovulation (because I''m forever wary of those corsshairs now, I''m pretty sure), and I end up ovulating today or tomorrow, I''m going to not do the every other day thing but continue the every day thing.

Yay for maybe ovulating! I can''t wait to see what temp I get tomorrow!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 10/12/2008 10:18:44 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Okay, today is CD 19 in my world. On my last cycle, this was the day I got my ''fake out'' ovulation crosshairs on FF. Here''s hoping for no repeat of that.

Today''s temp still not in the 98 range yet, but dang tootin close!! 97.92.

If tomorrow''s temp is 97.95 or higher, I get crosshairs that I ovulated on CD 17 (Friday). If it dips toward the lower 97.9s, then goes up again the following day, I get crosshairs on CD 18 (Saturday).

I''m hoping one of these plays out, as that would be ovulating several days before last cycle''s O day (26) and because if it is CD 18 that I ovulated on, well then we did the deed that day and the day before, and I just recently read in here that that''s the way to go. So, thank goodness for weekends!!!

And just in case this isn''t an ovulation (because I''m forever wary of those corsshairs now, I''m pretty sure), and I end up ovulating today or tomorrow, I''m going to not do the every other day thing but continue the every day thing.

Yay for maybe ovulating! I can''t wait to see what temp I get tomorrow!!

Fisher your plan sounds really good! Although you didn''t get fake-out crosshairs this time, it is totally possible that like last month you will have a slightly higher temp pattern for a couple days tha tdrops again for a while before real ovulation. SO if you can, keeping up the every day marathon until you have had at least 4 or 5 high temps over the cover line (or every other day, really, if fine too) is probably the safest course! I hope this is it hon, that would be a really nice short cycle!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

It would be a 32 dayer. I''d be ecstatic!!!!

Luckily, Monday is a holiday for both of us, but we just don''t always have the time during the work week to BD every day, but at least tomorrow will give us one more lazy morning.

Yay!

Hey DD, have you posted a belly shot lately? I''m off to check the preggo thread....

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 10/12/2008 12:53:23 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
It would be a 32 dayer. I''d be ecstatic!!!!

Luckily, Monday is a holiday for both of us, but we just don''t always have the time during the work week to BD every day, but at least tomorrow will give us one more lazy morning.

Yay!

Hey DD, have you posted a belly shot lately? I''m off to check the preggo thread....

Hah, no not lately, I guess it''s time again, I haven''t been that great at taking them regularly.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

A friend of mine with a three year old and a newborn (well, she''s almost 8 months now) has this big block of paper that her daughter and she used every week, to trace mom''s growing profile. Ellie (the three year old) loved it and really thought she was helping along the process. I bet that will be something the baby (Noah) will really like once he''s older.

It''s so hard to keep on a schedule of documenting a growing tummy, I can only imagine.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Peony, Robbie...

How did today''s temps work out?

Paul and I are sleeping downstairs on the pullout sofa tonight for a movie night (no DVD upstairs). I''m excited!

Crazy the little things that make you feel like a kid again (it was only *really* special occasions that Mom would let me sleep on the pull out couch).

Don''t worry, though, I have the thermometer downstairs, too. Always thinkin, that''s me!

 

[Sabine]

Awe, I hope you had fun Fisher!

I got crosshairs!!! I''m so excited, since this is my first month charting.

I hope today''s temp isn''t too far off. I woke up at my usual time and took my temp, but it had not been 3 hours of sleep, and I had been really restless form 3 till about 5. Then I fell back asleep and was in a deep sleep until about 7:45. When I woke up then, I tried to look at my previous temp (in hopes of taking it again and comparing it) but in my sleepy state, I kept thinking it was telling me my temp was 88.8. I kept trying to look at the stored temp, and that is what I kept seeing, so I gave up and just took it again. Now that I am fully awake, I realized I wasn''t holding in the button long enough, and 88.8 is what it says before it goes to 0 to show it''s ready. Duh!

In other news, I did order a bbt thermometer online that should be here before my next cycle starts!

Here''s my crazy chart...

 

[robbie3982]

My temp stayed the same as yesterday! One more day and I''ll have crosshairs! I feel like doing a little dance. Haha. I have a good feeling about this cycle. My O date gives an EDD of 4th of July, which has special significance for DH and I. A mutual friend told me once on the 4th of July that I was going to marry DH and even though DH and I weren''t dating yet, I kind of just knew he was right. Every year on the 4th of July I think about that. Plus, this would put me out of the first tri on 12/20, just in time to tell everyone at Christmas & Hanukkah (I believe Haunukkah falls on the 22nd this year). Oh, and not to mention that DH would get his July baby that he''s been saying he wanted from the beginning...

The magic 8 ball can''t seem to make up its mind...

 

[iwannaprettyone]

I really hope I am doing this temping/charting thing right. My temps seem low (96-97 range) and I am on CD 15 and FF says I am most fertile even though CM yesterday and so far today is either S or -

Any tips for a newbie charter?? Here it is, not really sure it shows anything! hehe...this is so addictive Robbie, I can see how people go from TTA to TTC fairly quickly. lol

I am about 1/2 TCOYF.

 

[robbie3982]

Iwanna, I think it might be telling you that you''re most fertile because this is your first month charting. I''m pretty sure that part of what it bases its fertility rating on is where you''re at in your cycle. Since you have no prior info, I think it''s giving you the general 14 day ovulation info. It could also be that you marked watery cm a few days ago. I just checked mine and it says my CM is "most fertile" even though I marked it down as "sticky" today. Hmmm, not sure why it says that. Usually it will tell me that I''m "most fertile" at cd18 no matter what my cm is doing since that''s right around my average O date. You can''t really trust it though since it''s basing it''s info off of previous cycles. Every now and then I O a few days earlier than I normally do. That''s why it''s so important to pay attention to your other signs when you''re TTA. My pre-O temps range from 96.4-97.5. I think your temps sound pretty normal.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Hi Ladies,

Another new charter question here. What kind of thermometer do you all use? When I first started temping, I got an 8 second thermometer from the pharmacy. Then, I dropped the thermometer, wasn''t sure if I broke it, because the day after I dropped it, I was 96.8. Then, I am sure I ovulated on 10/6. I then got a BBT thermometer, the one that beeps every four seconds and started temping with that on Saturday (skipped Sunday - forgot) and this morning. My temps have been very high with this new thermometer -- 97.8 on Saturday and 98 this morning. Huh? What does this mean? I will try to attach my chart here. What does it all mean? Is my temp supposed to stay elevated? Is it the different thermometer? Can they vary that much? I will try both thermometers tomorrow morning. I did try the old thermometer this morning too, but it was after I had been up a while and it was still high.

Thank you!!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

The idea behind temping is that once you ovulate, your temp remains elevated until your next period starts. There is usually a dip the day of your period beginning.

It could be that your temps have risen that much, because you have ovulated.

It''s always a good idea to use the same thermometer throughout the cycle, but things do come up. I had my thermometer stop working last cycle, too. It was slightly varied, but just a tiny bit.

Good luck on charting. It''s very interesting, indeed!

 

[InLuv101]

Loves Vintage- Is this your first month charting? It's my second month and I believe your temps are supposed to stay elevated after ovualtion. That is how you know that you did in fact ovulate. Then the temp drops to indicate AF is arriving or stays elevated to indicate pregnancy. If AF arrives, the temps stay low until after you ovulate again. I'm using a bbt thermometer that measures 2 decimal places. Hope that helps answer your question and I know some of the other pros around here will chime in soon

ETA: CD9...

 

[Loves Vintage]

Fisher,
Ohhhh, thanks for the explanation. I was under the impression that it was supposed to immediately come down after ovulation. I will be sticking with the same thermometer now. I wasn't too serious about the temping at first, so wasn't very particular about the thermometer. But, yes, I am now hooked!!!
Thanks,
LV

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Well all I can say is GRR for today''s temp. I think maybe my body does do this weird gear up for O, then really do it about 5 days later (like last cycle). Hmph!

Today was 97.35, so it may have been the fact that I was sleeping somewhere different, that we didn''t sleep as well because the sofa bed just isn''t the same as a "real" bed, or because the dogs kept whimpering because they could see us (they sleep downstairs, we usually are upstairs) last night.

I checked off "sleep deprived" even though it wasn''t a restless night, it still wasn''t the norm.

Oh well.

Hope this doesn''t mess up my chart too much.

I did play around and add a few temps in the higher range for the next couple days, and it makes it so that today was O day, not Saturday. Two days isn''t any big deal. So, here''s hoping for a higher temp tomorrow.

At this point, I don''t really want to stress over the temps, though. A baby is the goal, as Paul keeps telling me, and one or two temps that are off isn''t going to do anything in the long run.

Have a wonderful day, ladies. Is this a holiday for anyone else?

I just love how we celebrate Columbus Day when really, it''s overrated and was already "found" by many people.

Hey, it''s a day off. Who am I to complain?

We''re either going to see "Fireproof" (an awesome movie about marriage and the gift it is) or take a mini trip up to the mountains. Yay for fall colors on the trees!!!

 

[Loves Vintage]

InLuv,

Yes, this is my first month temping, so I''m learning as I go. I thought for sure elevated temp was a sign that I had conceived, but it''s not until after AF should have arrived. Gotcha.

Thanks,
LV

 

[Sabine]

Iwanna, I'm guessing it marked you fertile because you had watery cm around cycle day 14. It is possible that you ovulated if your temps continue to stay up around yesterday's and today's temps, but it could also be a while yet. Did you just come of bc? If so, that could also make this cycle different than what will be a typical cycle for you.

LV, it's good that you got a bbt. I've been looking for one for forever, and they are much more accurate. Just try not to be too disappointed if your chart this month has some quirks since you switched thermometers halfway through.

Fisher, sorry your temps are frustrating! Sometimes I wish I could just take my temp for a few days in a row without looking at them, and then analyze them all together to see the pattern. I know it's crazy, but sometimes I even feel like my expectations/hopes for my temps each morning affect the results!

Peony, any update? Did you confirm O?

 

[Loves Vintage]

Hi Sabine,

I got mine at drugstore.com. Arrived in a few days.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=40512&catid=9701

I think they also have the one that goes to 2 decimal points. I didn''t like the review for that one.

I don''t find the beeping every 4 seconds of this too annoying. It seems very quiet to me, and I''m glad to hear that it''s reading while I''m waiting for that final beep-beep-beep!

 

[robbie3982]

Most likely it means that you ovulated, but it could be due to the change in thermometers also. You really shouldn''t make any changes (wake time, thermometer used, where you temp, etc) during a cycle. If you have to make changes you should try to do it at the start of a new cycle.

I had a BBT thermometer at one point, but apparently I''ve been using a fever thermometer since we moved. If I don''t get a bfp this cycle, I''ll be buying a BBT to use next cycle.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Sabine looks to me like you ovulated! I think next mont hwhen you get your BBT thermometer things will be a lot clearer. The problem with regular thermometers is lots of error in their mesurments, which can lead to lots of spikes and ips in your temps. Don''t be surprised if you get some dips post-O which are based on your thermometer. Fever ones are really really not the same, so this month you may need to go more by your CF than by your temps. If today your CF is drying up, then CF suggests that yo uovulated somewhere between CD 25 and CD 27. Honestly, I would trust the CF more tha nthe temps at this point since you are using the fever thermometer, so perhaps be sure to keep up the BDing until your CF is totally totally GONE that way you won''t miss ovulation in case the temps are wrong.

Iwanna are you using a BBT thermometer? See my comments above about why its important. You chart looks good, but no sign of ovulation yet! If you are TTA then getting the hang of your CF will be really really important because it is the sign you use to decide when BD is not safe anymore and when it is safe again! So better get the hang of the two finger technique!

LovesVintage Charting is awesome! If you have time, it would help to read back through this thread to learn more about charting and what it tells you... starting around April of this year is when the charting maniacs became more common around here, so that''s a good place to start. Also, as I mentioned to Sabine, fever thermometers suck and you need to use a BBT, so chuck the old one (or keep it for when you have a fever

) and stick with the BBT from now on. As you can see from your chart, your pre-ovulation temps are all over the place, and that is most likely due to the fever thermometer which has a lot of error in its estimates (a lot in charting terms, it''s find for diagnosing as realf fever) . When you switched to the BBT thermometer, you temps started getting more even from day to day, which means your thermometer was more accurate probably. An ovulation chart will have lower temps pre-ovulation (ranging around some average) and then a shift occurs starting after ovulation and your temps will stay high until AFF arrives. Read trhought this page: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/ it will really help make things clearer.

Fisher Girl you know you don''t ovulate until later in your cycle! You know this because you have an approximately 13 day LP (based on last cycle) and an average cycle length over the last 9 months of 40 days. That suggests you don''t ovulate before CD 26. So don''t get so discouraged about these temps! They are faking you out! Be patient, your O will come

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Date: 10/13/2008 11:06:52 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Sabine looks to me like you ovulated! I think next mont hwhen you get your BBT thermometer things will be a lot clearer. The problem with regular thermometers is lots of error in their mesurments, which can lead to lots of spikes and ips in your temps. Don''t be surprised if you get some dips post-O which are based on your thermometer. Fever ones are really really not the same, so this month you may need to go more by your CF than by your temps. If today your CF is drying up, then CF suggests that yo uovulated somewhere between CD 25 and CD 27. Honestly, I would trust the CF more tha nthe temps at this point since you are using the fever thermometer, so perhaps be sure to keep up the BDing until your CF is totally totally GONE that way you won''t miss ovulation in case the temps are wrong.

Iwanna are you using a BBT thermometer? See my comments above about why its important. You chart looks good, but no sign of ovulation yet! If you are TTA then getting the hang of your CF will be really really important because it is the sign you use to decide when BD is not safe anymore and when it is safe again! So better get the hang of the two finger technique!

LovesVintage Charting is awesome! If you have time, it would help to read back through this thread to learn more about charting and what it tells you... starting around April of this year is when the charting maniacs became more common around here, so that''s a good place to start. Also, as I mentioned to Sabine, fever thermometers suck and you need to use a BBT, so chuck the old one (or keep it for when you have a fever

) and stick with the BBT from now on. As you can see from your chart, your pre-ovulation temps are all over the place, and that is most likely due to the fever thermometer which has a lot of error in its estimates (a lot in charting terms, it''s find for diagnosing as realf fever) . When you switched to the BBT thermometer, you temps started getting more even from day to day, which means your thermometer was more accurate probably. An ovulation chart will have lower temps pre-ovulation (ranging around some average) and then a shift occurs starting after ovulation and your temps will stay high until AFF arrives. Read trhought this page: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/ it will really help make things clearer.

Fisher Girl you know you don''t ovulate until later in your cycle! You know this because you have an approximately 13 day LP (based on last cycle) and an average cycle length over the last 9 months of 40 days. That suggests you don''t ovulate before CD 26. So don''t get so discouraged about these temps! They are faking you out! Be patient, your O will come

Yes, it''s a BBT...pink digital. Two finger technique is proving a little difficult! lol

 

[peonygirl]

Fisher, thanks for asking about me! Here is my current chart. I''m surprised that my temp hasn''t gone up higher, but I guess that this actually follows the more normal ovulation pattern (temp not going up until at or right after O). At least that''s what it would be if my temp goes up tomorrow!

Good luck to everyone!! I have another midterm coming up next Monday, and I''m studying hard to make sure I get enough sleep that night.