Intro and questions re: temping after loss

alanna3622

Hi ladies,

Have been lurking a while now - it's nice to meet all of you.

Background is that I am not yet ready to actually TTC, as I am fresh from a late loss. I want to feel more knowledgeable and in control of my body and fertility. But I am 38 years old, so need to get ready to move quickly.

First question is what temps tend to look like after m/c or childbirth? (My loss was at 33 weeks). I know that temps after loss/birth are not standard, but was wondering if anyone had more specific detail of what they have seen?

Second question: I have downloaded Fertility Friend, but it won't let me start using the app without entering a last menstrual period. When I tell the truth, which is that my LMP was last summer, it won't let me proceed. Should I just enter in a fake LMP that is more recent?

Thanks in advance. Y'all are very knowledgeable and science-y, so I appreciate your input. I have learned more about my body just in the last 2 weeks from this forum and from reading TCOYF than I would have believed possible.

PeggyOlsonFTW

I'm so sorry for your loss. I recognize you from the TTCAL board.

*loss mentioned*

I didn't start temping until about three weeks after my d&c (which was around 12 weeks, so not similar to your situation). I didn't have any temps to compare it to since before DS's birth, but my cycle was longer. Post-DS and pre-MC, I didn't temp, but I tracked my cycles and they were 28-32 days. Post mc, they've been about 37 days. This, my fourth post d&c cycle, is looking like it's finally shortening.

I personally wouldn't enter a fake LMP, because I think that might skew your stats and future cycles. I'd probably wait until your first period arrives and start temping after that.

MrsDannyOutlaw

I have no experience with this, but I wanted to say hello and welcome.
I don't know that using an artificial LMP help as @PeggyOlsonFTW stated, however you could always chart on paper. Simply for the sake of getting into that habit and for feeling constructive, for lack of better terms. A lot of BBT's come with paper charts.
Just a thought.

babymish

I personally wouldn't enter a fake LMP, because I think that might skew your stats and future cycles. I'd probably wait until your first period arrives and start temping after that.


I agree with this but maybe you could log your temps until then on a paper chart if you want to get used to it and have a rough idea of their averages

alanna3622

Paper charting it is! After the lochia ends, that is. Thanks very much @PeggyOlsonFTW @babymish @mchrisgarcia I really appreciate it.

MissAmeliaPond

@alanna3622 I am so sorry for your loss. I just wanted to say that I found this page in Fertility Friend, though I'm not sure how much help it will be from the trouble it's already been giving you, but I hope it helps! 

https://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Charting-after-miscarriage.html

m6agua

I'm sorry for your loss. I know there is a way that you can put that you gave birth in FF and it would start the cycle from there. I had to do that for a friend. I had to be on desktop. I will look later and see if I can get a few screen shots.

TheBorg7of9

Hello, sorry for your loss. I had a miscarriage in 2009 and 2015. And babies in 2012 and 2014. You can click the link in my siggy to see what all my charts looked like. After all these events, I tended to ovulate a few days later and have a short luteal phase. In fact, my luteal phase is continuing to be on the short side, even though my last loss was in October.

You can also search FF for charts marked "after miscarriage." But you might have to get VIP.

TheBorg7of9

I would personally use the date of your loss or a random recent date as CD 1. Just put in light bleeding on that day and it will do it automatically.

m6agua

Once again I am so sorry for your loss. I am a loss mom as well. Mine was an early loss though. I cannot imagine what you are going through. There are actually quite a few loss moms on this board right now. I hope you stick around or all the fantastic support.

Sorry the pics are so big. I can't figure out how to make them smaller.

Ok so if you click on settings on the left, then click on pregnancy tracker settings on the right, then under the due date setup there is a small link where you can say baby is born then just fill out everything.

Lovefor5inID

How is everything going? Are you trying right now? I am older also and don't want to wait but I don't see a lot of people who try soon after...I wish you all of the success in the world and pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

FiancB

I'm so very sorry for your loss. 

I resumed temping as soon as I started to bleed. I didn't ovulate that month, even though I did get EWCM and other signs of O. I did get a temp shift at the end so I thought I did, but then I got my period a couple days later so either it's a fluke or I had a ridiculously short LP, if that's a thing. My LP is normally pretty short to begin with, 10-11 days. 

This is my second cycle and it looks like I ovulated, but it's much less obvious than it normally is. Normally my luteal temps are around 98 but now they are around 97.7, only about .3 higher than my follicular temps. My period was heavier and lasted longer, and if I O'd I did at least a couple days later than usual. Hoping next cycle will be back to normal. 

I'm attaching my chart from this month thus far. It's much more sawtooth-ey than usual and O is not dramatic at all. Good luck. It's all a crapshoot after a loss. I was 8 weeks and always had very regular cycles beforehand. I would guess yours would look a lot like any other postpartum charts. 

AL_TwinCities

Hi @alanna3622

I am not temping yet, but I did enter the first day of bleeding as CD1, even though now it looks like I had a ridiculously long period since my MC lasted so long. I plan on starting to temp this week, because we are TTA this cycle and I want to keep an eye on any signs of ovulation, and once I see confirmed ovulation we will feel more comfortable having sex without protection. I have also seen many women on TB whose cycles are messed up (long, anovulatory, etc.) after loss so I want to keep track of things so I can go to my doctor with the information if needed.

catiecatp

Trigger warning - chart with BFP (ending in MC) attached below




I put the first day of bleeding as CD1 (not sure where I read to do that - and I indicated a MC in Fertility Friend) - this is my first cycle after my MC (it was an early loss, 6-7w - doctor cleared us to TTC) and I don't have a full cycle without a pregnancy (half a chart in October, full chart in Oct/Nov but with a BFP) - but you can see what my temperatures looked like pre and post ovulation in my October 31st cycle (with ovulation on Nov 17th) and then my temperatures pre and post ovulation in my current cycle (December 24th as CD1). This current cycle is longer, likely due to the MC - temperatures were all over the place pre ovulation (relative to my Oct 31st cycle) but look like they're more stable post ovulation. 





Also - good sale (I think) on with FF in case y'all are about to run out - I am still in my free month but the subscription was at $25/year so I bit the bullet. Apparently if we're successful then I can put my VIP account on hold. Our timing was only ok this month, not great...

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