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silly charting question

j'sgrlj'sgrl
in TTC After a Loss

I have never charted before and plan to after I get AF for the first time after  d-c.  My DH and I got pg the first cycle that we tried even though I got a negative reading on the OPK sticks during the typical fertile period.  So that makes me think that maybe I ovulated late...so now I really have no clue when I ovulate!  Some of my silly questions:

1. How do I chart the first day of AF when I don't know when she is coming? If I get AF on a Monday afternoon (for example) could i just start on Tuesday morning and count it as day 2? Would that totally mess things up?

2.  Do I do the temping to chart future ovualation cycles (like I wouldn't want to start it the month I am TTC b/c I might miss it right?) 

This charting stuff is super confusing to me!

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Re: silly charting question

  • Leah&ColeLeah&Cole member

    You can start charting whenever you want... you don't have to start on cd 1.  So, if you wanted to wait until AF started, you could just start temping the day after AF.

    I'm not sure what you mean by your second question.... I think you might be hinting at the fact that charting doesn't tell you when you are going to o, only that you did o, which is correct.  Combining charting with watching other signs (cm, cervical positions, opk) can help you get the most clear picture of what is going on with your cycle.  Once you get a few cycles under your belt, you might be able to start seeing trends in your charts, which could also help you better predict when you'll o.  Hopefully you get pg before you get that far though.

    FWIW, I charted right after my D&C.  It helped me know that I wasn't o'ing and gave me courage to ask my doc for some meds to bring AF.

    Good luck with charting... but be warned, it can be addicting Stick out tongue

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  • DandNclarkDandNclark
    Also, I started charting right after my MC. I used the first bleeding day of my MC as my cycle day one (this is what some others here told me they did). I put in that I have 28 day cycles because that's what I had before my MC. Good Luck and sorry for your loss.
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  • redshoegirlredshoegirl member

    imageDandNclark:
    Also, I started charting right after my MC. I used the first bleeding day of my MC as my cycle day one (this is what some others here told me they did).

    I did this as well. I counted the first day of my m/c bleeding as the first day of my cycle, then charted that cycle. You can start charting whatever time of your cycle you want - the only reason it's recommended that you start the day that AF starts is because that way you have a complete chart - but it's not necessary for the first one.

    If you start AF on a Monday afternoon, you can edit your chart to say that AF started that day - you can enter info for past days, not just the current day. So if it's already Tuesday, you just click on Monday and enter AF for that day as well.

    I'm also not quite sure what you mean by your second question...do you mean will the temping predict what day you will ovulate on future cycles? Yes and no - most women tend to ovulate on the same day, so in that sense it will allow you to see a pattern, but sometimes O-day will shift for various reasons (stress, etc.). And yes, you would want to start charting before you are actually TTCing - that way you have a chart history that will help you predict approximately when your most fertile time is. So even if you're not trying again yet, charting right now will help you prepare for when you are.

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  • 1stTimeMommy2Be1stTimeMommy2Be
    my first cycle charting, i just started temping the morning after i bought the thermometer... you can start your temping now and then when AF comes, FF will automatically start your cycle.... you could also wait to start charting after the day you get AF... just make sure to put in FF the fact that you started AF that day and then the next day start putting the temps in... this is my 2nd cycle charting and i started OPKs and CM this month in addition to temping... good luck and enjoy the addiction :)
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