[Ashley P]

I have never got into charting or anything like that but I am ready to start. I need to know how to start and what to do. So far my DH decided on picking up some ovulation kits. I know this is a huge question but can all you nice ladies get me started.

[momof6lopez]

I dont have much advice, but I do use OPK's. The box instrutions will give you an idea on when to use them and when to start in your cycle. I usually start POAS on my cd7-8. I have been having shorter cycles, and usually get a + around 10-11cd. This only tells you that you may "O" within 12-36hrs. Temping is the only way to confirm that you did actually "O". Hopefully some other women have more useful advice on that part. Good luck to you.

[Ashley P]

I think my cycles are starting to go all over the place again so I would not be able to just go by a day as far as I know. My cycles use to be anywhere from 7 days to 120 days. So far I am on my first cycle after losing my baby and I am on day 35 and I got a negative blood test. I am so confused how to even start.

[krystal g]

Oooh, I love to chart!

I buy my OPKs online because they are much cheaper and I get lots because I test twice a day (usually 12pm & 8pm) starting early at like cd8 to make sure I don't miss it. This is where I get mine but I know there are lots of place out there (I buy my HPTs here too) Early Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Predictor Kits for Home Use

I also take my BBT every morning. Make sure you have a digital thermometer with 2 decimal places (you can get one at Walmart or Walgreens or most pharmacies). Take your temp first thing after you wake up, without getting out of bed or moving around too much. You also need to make sure you get at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep before you take your temp. I take mine at 4:30 every morning because that's when my DH gets up and I always wake up then....and then I go back to sleep. And try to take it at around the same time every day.

I chart on Fertility Friend and really like the site, but there are lots of charting sites out there. You can also just do it on paper, but I like to let the computer keep track of everything for me.

Personally, I like to use OPKs and temps because the elevated temp after ovulation is the only way you know for sure that you ovulated. I would start using OPKs several days before you think could be your earliest ovulation day that way you won't miss it. You want to start taking your temps as soon your cycle starts that way you can get a baseline for your pre-O temps and therefore see a post-O temp rise. If you are not at the beginning of your cycle, go ahead and start, as it's always good to have info, but it may take a full, complete cycle to really get the whole picture.

Sorry about the long post!

[momof6lopez]

Ashely, I see you have a whole crew in your siggy. A couple of sets of twins too. Your a busy woman Have you had all your babies naturally? Or with medical assistance? Im asking because your cycles are so wacky. You said your shortest cycle was only 7 days? Was this after a m/c? And your longest is 120? You would think with cycles like this you might have PCOS, but then again you have so many pregnancies, so Im sure its not that. Have you talked to your dr. about charting? Im so sorry about your losses, you have had your share of those too. I pray you wont have to chart for too long before you get your next BFP.

[Celena]

Originally Posted by krystal g

Oooh, I love to chart!

I buy my OPKs online because they are much cheaper and I get lots because I test twice a day (usually 12pm & 8pm) starting early at like cd8 to make sure I don't miss it. This is where I get mine but I know there are lots of place out there (I buy my HPTs here too) Early Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Predictor Kits for Home Use

I also take my BBT every morning. Make sure you have a digital thermometer with 2 decimal places (you can get one at Walmart or Walgreens or most pharmacies). Take your temp first thing after you wake up, without getting out of bed or moving around too much. You also need to make sure you get at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep before you take your temp. I take mine at 4:30 every morning because that's when my DH gets up and I always wake up then....and then I go back to sleep. And try to take it at around the same time every day.

I chart on Fertility Friend and really like the site, but there are lots of charting sites out there. You can also just do it on paper, but I like to let the computer keep track of everything for me.

Personally, I like to use OPKs and temps because the elevated temp after ovulation is the only way you know for sure that you ovulated. I would start using OPKs several days before you think could be your earliest ovulation day that way you won't miss it. You want to start taking your temps as soon your cycle starts that way you can get a baseline for your pre-O temps and therefore see a post-O temp rise. If you are not at the beginning of your cycle, go ahead and start, as it's always good to have info, but it may take a full, complete cycle to really get the whole picture.

Sorry about the long post!

to what she said! She summed it up simply

[Ashley P]

krystal g Thank you for the info. I guess my biggest problem would be to get 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. How important is that. I have not got that since Bailey was born. I don't even think my body knows how to sleep that long without waking up anymore. The longest I get is 2 and then one of the babies wakes up to eat but I am only up for about 15 minutes before I am back asleep. Would this make a huge difference?

[Ashley P]

Originally Posted by momof4lopez

Ashely, I see you have a whole crew in your siggy. A couple of sets of twins too. Your a busy woman Have you had all your babies naturally? Or with medical assistance? Im asking because your cycles are so wacky. You said your shortest cycle was only 7 days? Was this after a m/c? And your longest is 120? You would think with cycles like this you might have PCOS, but then again you have so many pregnancies, so Im sure its not that. Have you talked to your dr. about charting? Im so sorry about your losses, you have had your share of those too. I pray you wont have to chart for too long before you get your next BFP.

I have had all the kids naturally. I started with very wacky cycles like the ones I told you about. It took me 2 years to get pregnant with my first baby Fynn. I was suppose to go to a fertility specialist after a year but we moved around a lot. Then we where ready to get it going and we moved yet again at TTC our first for 1 1/2 years. We where then in the house we where planing on staying but we where moving stuff from 4 different states to one house. Also both of us where switching jobs. This but TTC on the back burner of 6 months. We where still trying but no doctors appointments, or trying to plan things right that just never could be planed anyways. Then at the 2 year mark we took on last test before making the appointment and I was pregnant. We lost Fynn and my cycles became exactly 28 days apart to the day. We had Jasper and the Gabby and then my cycles started going wacky again but I was not trying to have another one at the time so it was ok. Then I had Nakita and my cycles went back to being 28 days to the day until now. I really dont know what would have happened if I made that appointment with the fertility specialists. The dr. I have now doesn't know how I was before. My DH tried to explain it to her and he got it all messed up. I was always told not to worry too much unless I get less then 3 cycles a year.

[krystal g]

Originally Posted by Ashley P

krystal g Thank you for the info. I guess my biggest problem would be to get 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. How important is that. I have not got that since Bailey was born. I don't even think my body knows how to sleep that long without waking up anymore. The longest I get is 2 and then one of the babies wakes up to eat but I am only up for about 15 minutes before I am back asleep. Would this make a huge difference?

Hmmmm, that's a good question. Everything I've ever read says to get at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep, preferably 5. But in your case, what I would do is try to figure out your longest regular period of sleep that you get. For example: you wake up at 2am for a feeding, go back to sleep until 4am, wake up then go back to sleep until 5:30am, etc... - take your temp around 4am every day. Even though this is only 2 hours of sleep, it is your regular schedule and you will not be varying it before or after Oing. I'm not sure how "by the book" accurate it would be, but it seems to me it would be what is the norm for you. I really think the key is to be as consistent as possible with the times you take your temp....if you can be!. And if anything out of the ordinary (for you) happened that night, like zero sleep at all, just skip temping (or make a note of that occurrence so you will know why your temp is wonky!)

I don't know how accurate my advice is....it's just what I would do....maybe some of the other ladies have dealt with erratic sleep schedules. My DH snoring is the only thing that keeps me up at night! Although I would welcome a sleepless night if I was feeding a little one!!!

[KDD]

Krystal's already given you great advice. The only other thing that I recommend is reading the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Good luck!