Can I temp?

AlexisLA

We have been TTC for 7 months. We use the OPK's but I do not take my temperature simply because I wake up at a different time every morning. I work from home and my schedule is all over the place. Sometimes I wake up at 5:30 and sometimes 9:30! So, it would be pointness to try to take my temperature, right? Or is there another way?

danieleandwayne

I only work 2-4 days a week and get up at 5:15am. On my non-work days, I get up anywhere from 7am to 9:30am. I temp and my RE calls my charts "textbook."

The best thing to do, in your case, is to try and minimize the disturbance. For example, make sure you get the same amount of sleep every night. The easiest way is to go to bed at the same time every night, but then set your alarm for a specific time, wake up and take your temp, then either get up for the day or go back to sleep.

For me, I adjust my bed time, because I never sleep longer than 6-7 hours unless I'm sick. So I always have the same sleep duration time no matter what. And that keeps my temps reliable.

I think you could definitely chart temps...

AlexisLA

Thank you Daniele, maybe I'll give it a try.

QOTR

Hey, good question!  I was wondering this myself as one day a week I get up much earlier than my normal time.  I have one other question regarding charting BBT and I'll piggyback on your thread instead of opening a new one.

From what I've read, it is recommended that you have 3 consistent hours of sleep prior to taking the temp.   How strict is this?   I understand that it should be done immediately upon waking, before moving or talking, and that I shouldn't be up walking around in the previous 3 hour sleep window.  But I wake up often during the night, rolling around and checking the clock.  Especially in the last few hours leading up to morning.  Will this impact my charting too much you think?

 

robbensm

I was worried about inconsistent wake up times too but after charting for a few months I've found that it hasn't made that big of an impact and I can still see when the shift happens.  Just make some notes on those days that the unexpected happen and you think it may have impacted things.  I've found that the most important thing is to pop that thermometer in my mouth the second I realize I'm awake and with as little movement as possible - don't even open my eyes anymore. 

As far as TTC costs go, temping is pretty cheap & easy so it's not a big waste to just give it a try.   

danieleandwayne

QOTR:

But I wake up often during the night, rolling around and checking the clock.  Especially in the last few hours leading up to morning.  Will this impact my charting too much you think? 

I am an Olympic tosser-and-turner during the night. I'm a very light sleeper and I often talk and move around in my sleep (I used to even sleep walk!). Because I do that every night, though, so it's consistent and affects my temps the same way every day.

I think if everything is the same/consistent, you'll still get the pattern/trend showing up in the charting...

QOTR

thanks! 

Tisharp

When I temp, I set an alarm 7 days per week, at the earliest I'd wake up.  This cycle, it's 4:20am.  Starting next cycle, I'll be able to switch that to 5:20am.  I keep my phone (with the ff app) right by my head, as well as my thermometer, so I literally don't even have to pick me head up off the pillow, and can be back alseep in about 90 seconds.  That's what works best for me.  Good luck to you!

keziah23

I have not found that the variance in time effects my temps to a noticeable degree. I often wake up and go potty an hour or two before I get up and that does not seem to bother it either. I have clear patterns. No way in hell I'd set an alarm for 4am to temp, I'd never get back to sleep.