Charting your BBT (Basal Body Temperature)

Basal body temperature is the temperature of your body at rest. Taking your temperature first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed, eat, drink or go to the bathroom will give you the most accurate basal body temperature. When charting your bbt (basal body temperature) you will want to purchase a special thermometer called a basal body temperature thermometer. It records temperatures to the tenth degree and is the most precise thermometer. By charting your temperatures you can see patterns in your menstrual cycle and hopefully determine when you ovulate.

Do's and don'ts of basal body temperature charting

Do take your temperature at the same time every day.  You may want to set your alarm clock to wake you up each morning.

Do take your temperature consistently. You can take your temperature orally, rectally, or vaginally. Whichever method you choose, make sure you are consistent.

Do keep a chart beside your bed. Keep JustMommies fertility chart beside your bed at night with your thermometer and pen ready. It is important that you take your temperature while your body is at rest and rummaging around the house looking for your thermometer or pen may be the best way to get your temperature rising.

Do take your temperature after at least three hours of restful sleep. Try to get a good night's sleep before taking your temperature. If for some reason you did not get a lot of sleep or you woke up frequently through the night, you should still take your temperature. Just make a note of it on your chart.

Don't get upset if you oversleep or forget to write a temperature down. The purpose of charting is to help you determine when you ovulate and to hopefully help you have a baby! If you forget to chart one day, just plot your temperatures anyway. Make a note of what time you took your temperature or if you skipped a day.

Don't drink, smoke or eat anything before taking your temperature. Hopefully, you won't be smoking if you are trying to conceive. Eating or drinking can affect the temperature in your mouth if you are taking your temperature orally.

What to look for on your BBT chart

During the first part of a woman's menstrual cycle basal body temperatures will be lower. The first half of your menstrual cycle is called the follicular phase. Right before ovulation you will have a slight drop in temperature followed by a sharp rise in temperature. Not all women will have a drop in temperature before ovulation but if you notice your temperature drop, you should start having intercourse then.

Around the time of ovulation, you will see a rise in temperature. By the time you notice this rise in temperature, you have already ovulated. That is why charting works best when done for a few months. What you are looking for is a rise in temperature of about .4 degrees or more after ovulation. If you have ovulated your temperature will remain higher. If your temperature remains higher for three days or more, then you can assume you have ovulated.

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8 comments

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By Futuramom on 10/25/10 at 8:13 pm

Hello everyone! I am new here and need help! I have been charting my temp yet do not understand my chart, would someone help? I took Provera and clomi  ...

By MRussell08 on 07/13/10 at 5:59 pm

I found a site that you can log on every day and just do it there. I also write it down so I have it in 2 places. Its ...

By johannasweet on 06/25/10 at 5:00 am

I would highly recommend a fabulous website that does all the hard charting for you, and estimates your ovulation date is ...

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