Temping and Charting

jb123111

HELP!! I see some of you talking about temping and charting and because this is all new to me, I wouldn't even know where to start.  I am going to talk to my DH about stopping BC at the end of this pack and just use another barrier method until we start TTC.  Can anyone offer support in this area?

Ducktale

Sign up for Fertility Friend and take the tutorials. The app is nice for tracking temps. Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

jb123111

Thanks!

barely

I'm not sure I'd temp/chart right after getting off BCP. It can take a while to ovulate and you may just get discouraged thinking you won't ovulate at all. I'd probably wait until at least your first AF after stopping BCP.

barely

AFwifelife said:

Barely5feet said:

I'm not sure I'd temp/chart right after getting off BCP. It can take a while to ovulate and you may just get discouraged thinking you won't ovulate at all. I'd probably wait until at least your first AF after stopping BCP.

I disagree with this completely.  You should temp right from the beginning.  If you don't, you won't know when you ovulated and would be in the dark as to when AF is coming or if you should take a pregnancy test. 

But she's saying she's going to use another form of BC after getting off BCP until they are ready to TTC...so she shouldn't really need to take a pregnancy test anyway unless she thought her other barrier method failed

barely

AFwifelife said:

Barely5feet said:

AFwifelife said:

Barely5feet said:

I'm not sure I'd temp/chart right after getting off BCP. It can take a while to ovulate and you may just get discouraged thinking you won't ovulate at all. I'd probably wait until at least your first AF after stopping BCP.

I disagree with this completely.  You should temp right from the beginning.  If you don't, you won't know when you ovulated and would be in the dark as to when AF is coming or if you should take a pregnancy test. 

I guess, but I still don't see how it'd help you to understand when AF is coming. You can ovulate at any time in your cycle and it can vary from month to month. Charting would help you to avoid pregnancy in The beginning, though. But she's saying she's going to use another form of BC after getting off BCP until they are ready to TTC...so she shouldn't really need to take a pregnancy test anyway unless she thought her other barrier method failed

...Exactly.  If you aren't charting/temping and just come off BC, it's possible to have a long cycle.  So when you assume that you would AF comes and passes, you would think that you are possibly pregnant.  With charting, you can see when you ovulated and when to expect AF.  Charting isn't just for TTC.  It's also used to understand your cycle and what is going on with your body.

barely

Sorry @afwifelife....that got all messed up somehow

Jags8

Ducktale said:

Sign up for Fertility Friend and take the tutorials. The app is nice for tracking temps. Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Hey @Ducktale - I just downloaded FF the other day. Yesterday would be CD1 since AF came (right?), but even though I recorded that, it's saying CD1 is tomorrow. What is going on and how do I fix that?

Ducktale

Jags8 said:

Sign up for Fertility Friend and take the tutorials. The app is nice for tracking temps. Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Hey @Ducktale - I just downloaded FF the other day. Yesterday would be CD1 since AF came (right?), but even though I recorded that, it's saying CD1 is tomorrow. What is going on and how do I fix that?

The first day of your period (not spotting) is CD1. Under the data section, make a selection under "menses". FF will make that CD1.

jb123111

Thanks for all the great information.  Is there a special thermometer I need to buy for temping?  If yes, where would I get one?  Also, I just started taking prenatal vitamins today and they are making me really nauseous, has anyone else experienced this?  If so, how did you find relief?  (side note: there is no chance I could be pregnant) 

Jags8

Thanks @Ducktale ! I recorded yesterday as "spotting" but I changed it to "light" now, and now it says yesterday was CD1. Thanks again!

MrsMac613

@jb123111 you need a basal body thermometer

I use this one

https://www.amazon.com/Mabis-Healthcare-15-639-000-Display-Thermometer/dp/B000O6YCZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360805309&sr=8-1&keywords=mabis+thermometer

You can also get them at most drug 

I take gummy prenatal vitamins , they don't make me nauseous. I think some people who get nauseous from their prenatals take them before bed. Or you could always try switching to another brand. 

jb123111

@MrsMac613 Thank you.  Is it okay to start temping while still on BC? 

Jags8

jb123111 said:

@MrsMac613 Thank you.  Is it okay to start temping while still on BC? 

Well the point of temping is to see when you are ovulating. If you're on bc, you shouldn't be ovulating.

MrsMac613

Jags8 said:

jb123111 said:

@MrsMac613 Thank you.  Is it okay to start temping while still on BC? 

Well the point of temping is to see when you are ovulating. If you're on bc, you shouldn't be ovulating.

What she said. I finished my BC in October and started temping immediately after. We just started TTC in November. 

Ducktale

jb123111 said:

@MrsMac613 Thank you.  Is it okay to start temping while still on BC? 

It's true temping on BC won't show ovulation or an indicator of what your cycles will be like when coming off BC but many start while on BC to practice, learn, and get in the habit

Ducktale

jb123111 said:

Thanks for all the great information.  Is there a special thermometer I need to buy for temping?  If yes, where would I get one?  Also, I just started taking prenatal vitamins today and they are making me really nauseous, has anyone else experienced this?  If so, how did you find relief?  (side note: there is no chance I could be pregnant) 

You'll want a "BBT" thermometer. Many here like the Mabis brand that you can find at Walmart or Amazon, but really any drug store should have one.

Try taking the prenatal vitamins with food. Regular vitamins made me nauseous if it wasn't with a large meal. I switched to New Chapter prenatal vitamins. They don't have artificial fillers so t hey can be taken on a totally empty stomach and not cause nausea. The downside is they're expensive and they have to be taken 3x/day, but that way your body is able to absorb more than if taken at once and they're high quality. Personal preference though, many people take other kinds and are happy with them. Many on TB take the Vitafusion gummies, I have no experience with them.

It is also recommend taking a DHA supplement. Many complain of a fishy aftertaste though. I take Nordic Natural DHA strawberry flavored, so no fishy taste.

toribrite

Ducktale said:

It is also recommend taking a DHA supplement. Many complain of a fishy aftertaste though. I take Nordic Natural DHA strawberry flavored, so no fishy taste.

One thing that can help with the fishy taste is putting the bottle of capsules in the freezer. 

Or you can take the DHA in your prenatal. I take the Nature's Valley (I think? It's like $12 at Walmart for 60) Prenatal with DHA and it does not have a bad taste. I take it before I go to bed and have no tummy upset. 

jb123111

Thanks for all the information...I have been taking the gummy ones with DHA in them and they don't have iron.  I found that taking them on a full stomach after dinner was much easier with no upset tummy.