How many of you that are pregnant did the charting/temping/OPK and how many just winged it?

MNturnsVA · July 2015

Just wondering what people's experience has been. We are on 3rd cycle of trying, so I know we very new to the game. Feeling frustrated because I've read the best thing to do is NOT chart or keep track of anything but to do the BD every 2-3 months throughout your cycle.....I can't help but to wonder how well that works for people vs charting. Thanks for sharing!

NLewis1 · July 2015

Lurking....

We tried for our first for 7 months. The month I temped and charted, was the month we conceived. Everybody is different though, and just because you chart and temp doesn't mean you will get pregnant, and just because you don't, doesn't really mean anything either.

I like temping and charting because I feel like it gives me a little bit of "control" in something that you don't have any control over. It lets me see exactly what my body is doing, which I find reassuring

Edit: words are hard

MNturnsVA · July 2015

Yes, I also feel the more sense of control by doing the charting. Plus being a female and TTC, the first question out my dr's mouth if we were to go see somebody for issues with TTC would be when was was your last period? have you been doing XYZ? So I'd much rather be able to give answer to their questions than start from scratch if we were in that boat.

oneblessedmess · July 2015

We planned to start trying (temping, charting, etc) in January. We ended up getting pregnant by surprise in October, the one day we didn't use any protection.

Rabbitheart15 · July 2015

I got pregnant my first round of charting (just luck, similar timing before). It does not negatively affect your odds.

thisiskate · July 2015

First time charted for about 6 months before we started trying. Bfp first cycle. Second time started chatting when TTC. Bfp first cycle.
We were very fortunate

thisiskate · July 2015

I also like to know what my body is doing ttc or not. I'm Never going on hormonal bc again. Our kids will be 3 years apart almost and I have been off bc for 4+ years with no accidents

Mamabeagle · July 2015

MNturnsVA said:
Just wondering what people's experience has been. We are on 3rd cycle of trying, so I know we very new to the game. Feeling frustrated because I've read the best thing to do is NOT chart or keep track of anything but to do the BD every 2-3 months throughout your cycle.....I can't help but to wonder how well that works for people vs charting. Thanks for sharing!

If you are only having sex once every 2 to 3 months, I would imagine it's going to take a very long time for you to get pregnant.

Having sex every few days is great, but you can get worn out. It really is best to temp and opk to pinpoint your fertile window, and have sex every other day during that time. If you don't temp, you can't confirm ovulation and if that happens to be an issue you have, you will want to know sooner than later.

I didn't temp but that is because I didn't know about it. I came on TB during my third cycle trying, and happened to get pregnant with opk use.

nlwz123 · July 2015

We winged it for the first couple of months, then I started using ovulation tests, then I started temp charting AND using ovulation tests (and was put on progesterone) and then boom.

yodapup · July 2015

With our first, we didn't chart for the first 3-4 months because I thought it would happen easily. The first month I started charting, we got a BFP. Second time around, I started charting right away and got BFP for my first cycle. Part of it is luck but it can't be too much of a coincidence.

satuttle1014 · July 2015

I got off the pill and I apparently ovulated later than I should have since my body was all out of whack once I stopped the pill. I got pregnant first try and didn't even realize it. Then I was like I will start temping, I actually started temping a couple of days after I conceived. My first couple of temperatures were normal then I noticed a slight jump and I kept watching it and my temperature stayed high so I was like hmm maybe I did conceive? and I did. Because I ovulated later I actually took a pregnancy test the day I conceived and it was negative(thinking I ovulated already) so I was like oh guess I will wait until next month but then I ovulated later without realizing it. My body was going crazy.

The next baby I will most likely try to chart and temp so I know when I am fertile or not.

MNturnsVA · July 2015

Thank you for all of your input!!! Makes me feel better about what I'm doing!! I know its not a guarantee, but overall I do feel better knowing what is going on. And while I love my BC symptom control AF, I can see myself stopping BC completely after first baby. I've been on BC for I don't even know how many years total. So now that I"m off it, I can see that I would stay off it from here on out.

delujm0 · July 2015

I got pregnant my third month of charting.

Charting was very important for me bc my cycles were unpredictable. The first 2 cycles off the pill I ovulated on day 20 but the third month it was day 31. If I wasn't temping, I probably would have assumed I ovulated day 20 and stopped the EOD sex, and then gone crazy when my period came 2.5 weeks later than "normal."

Instead, we kept up EOD sex until ovulation was confirmed, and i knew exactly when to test bc I knew my ovulation date. I also knew when to schedule my dating ultrasound (dr tried to get me to go in at 8w from LMP but knowing I'd only be 5.5 weeks then, I pushed it out so we'd actually be 8w when it happened).

amama3 · July 2015

My SO and I had unprotected sex for about 10months. I've always been very in tune with my body/ cycles and I've never charted. I had an early mc in Feb (1 period in March) We had intercourse on my bfs birthday and a few days later when I was ovulating, then I tested positive (In April). I was so in shock yet overwhelmed with happiness when I seen those two lines. I couldn't help crying. Now I'm expecting my first child in Dec! Soo excited. I hope that you receive your BFP soon @MNturnsVA !!!

Monilee1017 · July 2015

I got pregnant in my third cycle trying. All I did was pay attention to my CM.

mrspepper05 · July 2015

I charted with my first baby just to become more aware of how my body works. After charting for a while, I realized that I have incredibly regular cycles. I ovulate between day 12-14 and AF starts 14 days later. And the EWCM is very obvious when I'm ovulating. Because I was so in-tune with how things work for me, I didn't bother charting this time and got a BFP the first cycle we tried.

Kristin712 · July 2015

I began temping immediately after getting off BC. I got my BFP on my second cycle. DH and I are not a sex EOD couple, so by temping/charting we were able to pinpoint ovulation. We had sex in 4 out 5 days fertile days around O and we were fortunate to get KU.

CaitRoss14 · July 2015

I charted my cycle and learned how to tell from CM when I was fertile. I did not do any crazy temps, ovulation tests or microscope. We had sex once during the fertile mucus time period a I was pregnant the first month. I wanted to do it a more natural way and felt like hyper planning took the fun out of it. I was prepared for it to take a few months but it happened right away! I'm 29 my husband is 38 and this is our first.

PugsandKisses · July 2015

I charted for my first two. My cycles are all over the place.

Right now we are NTNP but I am charting to figure out my cycles.

Other wise I would never know if I could be pregnant or even ovulating.

Latina211508 · July 2015

I'm pregnant with my fourth baby. We just started trying and I got pregnant immediately. I never personally tracked with any of my pregnancies.

MNturnsVA · July 2015

The only time I've been certain about anything related to my cycle was on BC. When I was younger and first got AF, the only thing that was something I could count on was that during my competitive swimming season, I wouldn't get AF for 3 months because of how hard I was training for the season. When I turned 18? I was on BC off and on, but mostly on, especially over the last 6 years? I've been using nuvaring pretty consistently for the last 5 years easily. So I do feel reassured that at least by charting/temping/using OPK's I'll get a better understanding about what is going on with my cycle.

Jilly82 · July 2015

I got pregnant on my second month of charting and using OPKs

foreverlove1027 · July 2015

I had my IUD taken out in the end of Februrary and for the next few months I just found out my predicted ovulation date and winged it, but stressed over it every month. It wasn't until the 4th cycle I gave up stressing, and wouldn't you know it I had my BFP in June! So I would definitely agree to not stress over it and let it just happen, worked for me!

Haye1 · July 2015

I used the ovulation app! I was on depo (birth control) for well over 4 years. It took 2 plus years to get my cycle back. I became pregnant in 2014 and miscarried at 8 weeks. I tried and tried again soon after! My hubby was getting exhausted as we were intimate every 2-4 days! We are now 9.5 weeks and due in Feb. 2016.....everything is great so far!

FunnyGal18 · July 2015

I didn't keep track of anything. It truly was a surpise!

Alykat587 · July 2015

We got pregnant on the first try. I was off of birth control for a month and put all the info into an app that told me when I was most fertile. It also told me when to take a pregnancy test. It was the Ovia app.

1drmom · July 2015

Went off pill at beginning of April and used alternate protection for two cycles. Determined that my cycle is 28 days. Did BD on day 9, 11, 13, 14, and 16 of cycle in June. Worked the first month. Wonder if baby will be a girl or boy based on the TTC days?

emzie54 · July 2015

I went off the pill after 16 years of being on it and realized I didn't know anything about my period anymore, so I started using the Ovia app to track. I temped one month and then intermittently (I found it hard to remember to do consistently) so that I could get a sense of what a normal range of temps looked like for me. I wasn't trying to get pregnant at that point, just learning about myself.

During the first month of trying, we were on vacation, and had lots of sex during the fertile window that Ovia indicated. When I came home from vacation I started temping to see if the pre-period dip would come (usually a few days before my period). It didn't come, and I had been feeling very emotional, fatigued, hungry and nauseous, so I took a test and got an incredibly faint positive 7dpo (according to Ovia). Since it was so early, I was nervous about a chemical, so I kept temping to see if the dip would come. I'm 13+2 at the moment.

So I guess I didn't using temping in the strictest sense, but did feel empowered to have the data I had.

Bellebeauty26 · July 2015

My husband and I just winged it and hoped for the best. Our first child was unexpected as I was told it would be nearly impossible for me to have kids (without treatments, even then it would be difficult) but it happened and we were so happy. Now we are pregnant with our second child, the only difference was this time I took prenatal vitamins and watched my caffeine intake. Best of luck!

Karaandalan · July 2015

I tried for 2 mos not charting and then got pregnant the first time charting. I highly recommend using the Kindara app. The community is amazing and can offer tons of advice. I also think using preseed helped me conceive.

mommytobof3 · July 2015

I was just marking down my period, I stopped and decided to stop trying and found out I was pregnant and have pcos. I didn't mark down for more then one cycle I set it at 28 day cycle but most women don't cycle 28 I read. I'm 11 Weeks due January 24th

peppercorn16 · July 2015

Our first couple months of trying I used OPKs to no avail. After that I just tracked my period, no luck. Finally I just said let's have sex every other day and it worked the first month of that. There were of course other factors and methods in there, but that's the gist

Took a year, but hey, we're here so I'm not complaining!

GigLag1227 · July 2015

Tracked my periods/ovulation using an app on my phone called "My Days". Only took me one month of tracking. Did the deed a couple times when I supposedly was ovulating (according to the app)... and BOOM! Pregnant. CRAZY!

MrsEtheridge324 · July 2015

I didn't track our first month I just used ff and it told me when I should o and we did the bd around that time and a few days preceding but nothing. This month I did everything, opk's, bbt, and charting and I was just very excited to keep doing the bd so I think it was just luck like pp said.

Jellybeanqueen13 · July 2015

I did charting/OPKs, but also was doing a fertility treatment cycle, so I wanted to make the most of it and make sure we got it right. 5 weeks today, EDD 3/13.

Fidgette · July 2015

We decided to start while on vacation in May. I had read that we only needed to have sex every other day, to conserve on sperm and because the sperm could live and attach within that time period.

Perhaps it was because we were on vacation and just relaxed about it. I had assumed it would take us longer. Anyways, we got pregnant on vacation.

I also had been tracking my periods through an app, so that told me when my most fertile days were so we had sex within that time period.

pettycrocker · July 2015

I charted pretty religiously for 3 years.. But we'd long stopped temping, after 3 years you just freaking know what your temps are doing. The cycle I got pregnant I just put in the day my period started and the day I got a + OPK, no clue what we did for it to stick- but we were convinced we could never conceive naturally anyway. (Tube issues)

feelnSicky · July 2015

I didn't chart or temp. Just baby danced every other day. Got Pregnant right away.

mamabear119 · July 2015

We tried for 6 months (using OPK, charting etc) then this month we both lost our jobs and decided we weren't going to try. Well, we got pregnant. Funny how that happens. I always wanted to punch people in the face when they said stop trying and they were right. All we did was BD 2-3 a week from end of period until 5 days before my missed period. I think we conceived CD 17-19 so not exactly day 14. Good luck! Stop "trying"

and enjoy it!

lilcutiepie0256 · July 2015

I would love to get in on this discussion! I just NEED to vent this out to people who understand. Me and my husband have been trying to get pregnant for 4 almost 5 months now. It has been the most frustrating thing. I've never taken birth control or any type of it. So when we officially started trying. I thought it would be no sweat. Because you hear those comments people say on how it takes a little longer to get pregnant once you stop taking your birth control. So I was feeling good and positive on the whole thing. But now, I just feel we are missing a step. I have been constantly tracking my cycles, and my ovulation periods and everything. I feel like nothing is helping. It doesn't help that 5... yes 5 of my friends are ALL pregnant right now, some of them were lucky enough that they weren't trying, or they just had better luck than I did. I feel like it's a huge slap in the face to me. I can't escape from it! I keep just getting my hopes up! Help, am i doing something wrong? Has anyone else felt like this? If you found reassurance please tell me!

euromom · July 2015

In my experience with talking with a lot of people over the years, the best thing to do is not worry about it, try to forget about it and just let things happen. I know or have heard about so many couples that really really really wanted a baby and they let it totally occupy them, tried really hard, and it never happened. The minute they let their hopes and expectations go., bam... pregnant. My husbands mother had him at 43, prior to that they thought they couldn't have children and they adopted 3. Turns out they were able to have children. Same type of thing happened to a friend of mine recently and she's 42. But these are really extreme cases. I had another friend trying for years and she said eventually they just gave up and convinced themselves it wasn't possible and then it happened. One girl I know was doing all the fertility stuff because they wanted one so bad and they thought it wasn't possible naturally and then got twins, but then when they let their guard down, after the twins, she ended up getting pregnant again just a couple of months later, without the fertility treatments. They had to get a bigger car so it would fit 3 car seats

On the other extreme I have a few friends who were just kind of indifferent to it. Weren't exactly trying to have a baby but decided it was time to go off the birth control even though they didn't quite feel prepared, and then they got pregnant on the first try. Literally 2 of my friends got pregnant on their honeymoons. I was in this group. The hubby and I didn't exactly feel prepared for a kid yet, so I actually thought it would happen on the first try, but it took me 4 months :-).

Want a personalized experience?

How many of you that are pregnant did the charting/temping/OPK and how many just winged it?

Re: How many of you that are pregnant did the charting/temping/OPK and how many just winged it?

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

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