Trying to Get Pregnant
Marasmommy0611
member
Fertile Focus
Marasmommy0611
member
Hello!
DH and I have been TTC for 6 months now. With our daughter, we conceived very quickly, so this time around has obviously been much different. I've been using an OPK and recently started using Fertile Focus too. I was getting frustrated after not EVER getting results from the OPK, despite other ovulatory symptoms.
On Friday, I finally observed a ferning pattern on the microscope and was so excited! Since then, I've still seen the pattern, but it's definitely changing.
Im curious: how long can I expect to see the ferning pattern? I'm worried about missing the fertile window! I felt like it had already occurred, but now I'm second guessing myself.
See pic. This is from the sample I took today.
Thoughts?
DH and I have been TTC for 6 months now. With our daughter, we conceived very quickly, so this time around has obviously been much different. I've been using an OPK and recently started using Fertile Focus too. I was getting frustrated after not EVER getting results from the OPK, despite other ovulatory symptoms.
On Friday, I finally observed a ferning pattern on the microscope and was so excited! Since then, I've still seen the pattern, but it's definitely changing.
Im curious: how long can I expect to see the ferning pattern? I'm worried about missing the fertile window! I felt like it had already occurred, but now I'm second guessing myself.
See pic. This is from the sample I took today.
Thoughts?
Re: Fertile Focus
I'll be interested to see what other people say.
edited for typo, whoopsie daisy.
Me: 31 | Husband: 32
Married: September 2014!
TTC #1: January 2016 BFP 5/16/16 Quinn Born 1/27/17
I would Google images to compare. (No?) very few posters use saliva as a sign of O. Most people temp, use opks and chart cm and cp.
DS: 5 years old
TTC #2 since August 2015
July 2016: Testing cycle with 100 mg Clomid = BFN
August 2016: 50 mg Clomid + IUI = BFN
October 2016: IVF#1 - 13 retrieved / 12 mature / 9 fertilized / 2 blasts
November 2016: FET#1 = chemical
January 2017: FET#2 = chemical
March 2017: IVF#2 - 18 retrieved / 18 mature / 16 fertilized / 5 blasts
May 24, 2017: FET#4 - BFP! - Beta #1 151 - Beta #2 503 - Due date 2/9/18
then 3 failed IUIs, and finally a successful IVF FET.
Due with #2 5/2/19 after HIO once in my FW,
because apparently that's how life works now. Team Blue!
*bfp mentioned
I used the salavia fernering microscope for about 4 months before my bfp in december. I would have partial ferning for a couple of days leading up to when I would turn an opk positive. The key is to start to look where it turns to full ferns. The photo you show looks pretty close and it could be full ferning.
I would use the ferning as a sign to start testing with opk's and to start HIO. I would still get partial ferning for a few days after ovulation as well. I get pain with ovulation and pretty clear CM so I was able to catch ovulation with ferning and opk's.
It should be pretty clear when the ferning turns back to dots and you will see it ramp up to a full fern and ramp down to dots in about a 5-7day period. Once I got full ferns and a positive opk I would stop testing the saliva for the most part.
I found it very helpful and I was sucessful using the method. I was motivated to use it because I really didn't want to chart BBT because of sleep issues.
Good luck!
This pattern is what I saw yesterday. I would consider my full fern to have taken place on Friday. I think this was my "ramping down" pattern. My CM has become much drier, and I experienced what I believe to be O pain last week. I guess it just threw me off a bit.
TWW, here I come!
I can't temp accurately, as I rarely get a good nights sleep and my preschooler is my alarm clock. Just doesn't work for me. I do pay attention to and log CM, though.
I have found this tool to be helpful, so it's definitely worth checking out!
My sister used ferning when TTC #2. I know it worked for her. She said she found it better suited to her lifestyle as opposed to temping. This is the first time I've seen a pic though, and it's pretty cool I gotta say! Good luck. interested in reading opinions from those who also use it
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 08-25-07
DS: 11-20-09
Name change alert: Formerly Lisswastaken
i tried the microscope, but didn't like it for a variety of reasons. And I never really saw it discussed here. I would definitely seek out a community specifically for that as PPs suggested.
**siggy warning**
TTC #2: April 2018 ~~ BFP: May 2018 ~~ EDD: January 2019
Might go microscope next cycle.
My Personal, Frequently Changing Gif Party>>>
DS born 3/11
Angel Baby 3 6/28/11 9/5/17 BFP!!
divorced October 2014 9/6/17 hCG 88 progesterone 9.1 (prometrium started)
Married DH 10/15 DH's DS born 6/09 9/8/17 hCG 242!!!
Not preventing since 11/15 EDD 5/8/18 Adjusted 5/15/18
TTC since 1/1/16 9/27/17 we have a heart beat!
I attempted this but with a regular microscope and saw a whole lot of nothing even though I confirmed O in other ways. It's an interesting experiment, but I think far more difficult and less definitive than other methods. As far as how long you expect to see it, I would guess it's kind of like OPKs in that some people have longer surges than others.
*ticker warning*
@Marasmommy I would chart what you posted as partial ferning. As to how long you can expect to see partial ferining/full ferining before you ovulate... that's hard to say. I've found that for me trying to predict ovulation based only off ferning is pretty much impossible. I'll attach some of my charts so you can see my ferning patterns. The last chart is just this month so far so it's less helpful.
Basically to summarize what I've found to be true: I have partial ferning more often than not. The February 14 chart I lied about when I got full ferning because otherwise FF wouldn't give me solid CHs. I got the first day of full ferning at CD19 but the full ferning marked on CD21 was a flat out lie. I actually had a barely there partial fern. I've found ferning, for me, to be very poorly predictive of ovulation.
Just going to throw out a general TW as some charts contain BFPs/chemical pregnancies.
TTC#1: January 2015- September 2016
Infertility, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Rainbow baby born June 6, 2017 ❤️
Baby #2 due June 12, 2018
**Lurker**Trigger Warning**
I used the ferning microscope to get pregnant. The first month I used it I never got full ferning- I only got partial ferning which looks like the picture you posted. At the time I thought it was full ferning because I hadn't seen full ferning yet. I wasn't using any other tracking method for that cycle, so it is possible that I never ovulated that cycle.
The next month I used it as well as OPK's. I had a few days of partial ferning and then got full ferning. I did have a picture but DH deleted it but it looks like the second picture that FinacB posted. Once I saw that I stopped checking. I got a positive OPK the same day. That is the cycle I got pregnant on.
I never tried temping because I felt I didn't have the discipline for it (waking up at the same time every day is a mission for me- I start work early during the week and didn't want to sacrifice my sleep in on my days off). I think if I hadn't got pregnant that cycle I would have probably attempted it in addition to the microscope.
Little boy due July 31st 2016
Today, I see very sight ferning. I had read this may happen if you conceive, but I'm obviously not getting my hopes up.
I really like the microscope and will definitely continue to use it if this month doesn't prove successful.