Charting/temp question

Mmm79

I have just started using a bbt to record my temps in the morning so taht I can learn to chart over the next 2 montsh or so while we TTA so I am ready when we start TTC.  I spent time reading stuff on FF and thought I'd gotten the basics down, but now I worry I may have already screwed up.  I have been waking at the same time each day to take my temperature and have been able to keep my recording times within about 30 minutes of each other.  So far my first chart looks pretty good, with a temp dip then spike to put ovulation around day 15 (this is my first cycle after my d&c on April 30th).  Anyway, I typically get up and walk about 10 steps or so to the bathroom to take my temp.  I don't have a nightstand or really anywhere right next to my bed to keep a thermometer.  Is it really necessary that I not get out of bed to take my temp if I want things to be accurate?  Of can I walk the few steps if I consistently do it every morning?    

bananers

You are really supposed to move as little as possible, since your goal is to get your BASAL temp, which is, in theory, the lowest resting temp. Your temp starts to rise as soon as you start to move around. Can you put a little box or bag near your bed, or simply sleep with your thermometer in your pillow case?

GraceInCA

You shouldn't be walking to get to the BBT. You should roll over and pop it into your mouth as soon as you wake up. If you get up and move, your temperature will fluctuate - that's not a basal temp.

Mmm79

Ugh- that's two weeks wasted and taking it in bed is not ideal as I get up before DH and I know the beeping will wake him up and drive him a little nutty. 

Thanks for the feedback. 

MeganS313

Not to hijack your post, but do you ladies hit the snooze ever before temping?  I have a habit of setting my alarm to snooze twice before "getting up"  Can I still do this or will it also affect my temp?

Mmm79

MeganS313:

Not to hijack your post, but do you ladies hit the snooze ever before temping?  I have a habit of setting my alarm to snooze twice before "getting up"  Can I still do this or will it also affect my temp?

That's a great question.  Thanks for asking.

QuigleyCat1

Here's my routine:

1.Alarm goes off at 5:30 am; even on weekends!

2.Hit snooze and IMMEDIATELY pop thermometer in my mouth.  I don't even turn a light on.  When it beeps I stick the thing back in its case without looking at it. (My thermo has a recall feature.)

3. Hit snooze a few more times! 

4. Wake up about a half hour later and turn thermo back on and it will automatically bring up my temp from a 1/2 hour ago.

5. Record it in FF.

6. Get ready for work.

7. Arrive at work  and check FF about a billion times for "signs" of pregnancy!     

bananers

QuigleyCat1:

Here's my routine:

1.Alarm goes off at 5:30 am; even on weekends!

2.Hit snooze and IMMEDIATELY pop thermometer in my mouth.  I don't even turn a light on.  When it beeps I stick the thing back in its case without looking at it. (My thermo has a recall feature.)

3. Hit snooze a few more times! 

4. Wake up about a half hour later and turn thermo back on and it will automatically bring up my temp from a 1/2 hour ago.

5. Record it in FF.

6. Get ready for work.

7. Arrive at work  and check FF about a billion times for "signs" of pregnancy!     

Hahaha... this is my routine to a "T."

tdmd09

Ditto the other ladies that the moment you start moving around your temperature becomes inaccurate. I don't have a nightstand either, and I wake up at different times every day because I work a flex shift at work. So what I do is stick my thermometer and my cell phone in my pillowcase. I set a silent/vibrate alarm on my cell phone for 5 minutes earlier than my earliest wake-up time, turn off the alarm, check the temp (and shut it off as soon as it starts beeping so it doesn't wake DH), then stick it back under my pillow and go back to sleep until the alarm clock goes off. Then when I get up for the day, I plug my temp into FF. 

DH doesn't mind/care about my temping habit and half the time he doesn't notice my alarm or the thermometer beeping. 

QuigleyCat1

bananers:

QuigleyCat1:

Here's my routine:

1.Alarm goes off at 5:30 am; even on weekends!

2.Hit snooze and IMMEDIATELY pop thermometer in my mouth.  I don't even turn a light on.  When it beeps I stick the thing back in its case without looking at it. (My thermo has a recall feature.)

3. Hit snooze a few more times! 

4. Wake up about a half hour later and turn thermo back on and it will automatically bring up my temp from a 1/2 hour ago.

5. Record it in FF.

6. Get ready for work.

7. Arrive at work  and check FF about a billion times for "signs" of pregnancy!     

Hahaha... this is my routine to a "T."

 

AquaFlowers

I would try to move as little as possible.