[SD Mommy]

We were ttc for 10 cycles before I got my first bfp in January. Then after my m/c I decided to start charting. I felt more in control knowing what was going on with my body and soon after I got another bfp in March. I was just wondering if anyone else is charting.

Does anyone want to share their charts after their m/c? I'm just curious what other charts look like. Here's mine in January and my current one:
2c6770 Ovulation Charts

[Isabelle]

I'm not charting. I'm up in the night too much to chart.

Best of luck to you

[amychristian]

I chart! It's in my signature below. I've been doing this a long time (since December 2008). I've logged a lot of info even though we only really "tried" once.

After a while, charting just becomes like second nature. I don't even notice it anymore.

[MommyLove415]

I've never charted but I was thinking about doing it since I just had a m/c. Can anyone recommend a good site that explains how to do it? Is the site you use, "Fertility Friend," a popular one? I'll have to look into it.

[SD Mommy]

Fertility friend has a great tutorial and it's free. Charting is really easy and way cheaper the opk's.

[NutMeg76]

I chart. I have been charting since 1999! I originally learned so we could avoid pregnancy. Now we use it for both TTC and TTA depending on where we are in our life.

My chart is in my siggy, on the bottom.

[amychristian]

Originally Posted by MommyLove415

I've never charted but I was thinking about doing it since I just had a m/c. Can anyone recommend a good site that explains how to do it? Is the site you use, "Fertility Friend," a popular one? I'll have to look into it.

Start out with Fertility Friend (also referred to as "FF" around here: Ovulation Calendar and Ovulation Chart - Fertility Charting. It's really THE site for charting. Set up an account there. If you like the basic features, then maybe try the VIP membership. I actually got it at a discount when they gave me a trial period of it ($16.95 for three months). I actually really like the VIP features. Some women don't need all the bells and whistles, but I like the extras that I get with the VIP membership. To me it's worth it but not everyone needs or wants it. It's your call and it depends on what you want the program to do. It's extremely user-friendly, and there are women on this board who have been using it for a VERY long time. I've been using it since December 2008 so I am quite familiar with everything it does.

FF is fairly reliable but every now and then it bugs out about something, usually having to do with your data entry. They're easy enough to fix, though. If you build up enough cycles, it gives you some decent data analysis on your home page.

If you haven't already, I'd recommend purchasing a BBT (Basal Body Thermometer). This is the one I use and it's excellent: Amazon.com: BD Digital Basal Thermometer: Health & Personal Care. I've been using it for over a year and it's been very consistent and reliable. I had another one that totally sucked. This one is great because it beeps every few seconds as it's taking your temp (and it slows or stops if there's a problem, so you can start over again, like if you move it too much or take it out, it knows and the beeping will slow down), and when it's done its beeping gets faster to alert you that your temp is ready. The cool thing is, when it's done, you just hit the button and it reads the temp with a backlight so you can see it in the dark. It also has a memory function so it remembers the last temp (which is great for those of us who take our temps, go back to bed, and then record it later that morning). I'd stay away from BBTs that read to the hundredth. You don't need that much precision. Just to the tenth is sufficient enough.

And then my favorite part of charting -- OPKs! Just buy a butt-load of them off Early Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Predictor Kits for Home Use. I buy them 100 at a time to save money, and then I buy one box of 7 Clear Blue Easy Digital Ovulation Tests. I basically take three OPKs everyday from about CD 10 until they turn positive and then negative again. As soon as I get a really dark positive with the cheap ones, I confirm it with one of the Clear Blue tests. So far, in my year and a half of doing this, they've always matched. So the cheap ones are just as good as the expensive ones.

Sorry, I know that was more information than you asked for.

Good luck and feel free to ask about charting if you have more specific questions.

[SD Mommy]

Amy, how did you get your chart in your siggy?

[angel3y35]

I have in the past and think I will this upcoming cycle just so I can know what my body is doing.

[ldovey83]

I didn't chart right after my losses.. I started charting when I was given the go ahead.. I didn't temp last cycle cause I wasn't really trying, but started again this cycle.. It is in my signature as well.

[amychristian]

Originally Posted by SD Mommy

Amy, how did you get your chart in your siggy?

Okay, this is simple. Let me explain how you get your chart linked in your signature:

1.) Go to the FF home page for your chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ttc/i...hp?interface=0

2.) On the left of the screen you will see a vertical menu. Roll your mouse over on the sixth box down ("Sharing"). You will see another menu appear to the right when you roll your mouse over it.

3.) In that menu, click on the third box down ("Tickers").

4.) Click on "Customize Your Charting Ticker." That will give you options in choosing the ruler and the slider (you can see that in mine). Choose whichever ruler and slider you'd like. You will also notice that above the "Customize Your Charting Ticker" there is a URL with the link to your chart ticker. You don't need that link until you actually create your ticker, though.

5.) Once you have created your ticker, it will take you to the final page that reads, "Done! Your ticker URL is:" Below that you will see a box labeled "bbCode." Copy all of the text in that box.

6.) Now go back to JustMommies and click on "User CP" at the top of the screen (on the left).

7.) In the first menu, on the left, you will see an option under "Settings and Options" called "Edit Signature." Click on that. Now paste the text you just copied from the FF ticker generator. If you want to center it, click on the center formatting option in the pane above. You can preview your signature before saving it. Once you're satisfied with how it looks, save it, and it will be in your signature!

8.) That should be it! Let me know if you have any more questions about this.

[Servilia]

I've been charting since November and you can see all my charts, including my BFP and post m/c chart (the March 28 chart is my first post m/c chart) from the ticker in my siggy. I never stopped charting even during my pregnancy so you can see it all..

[SD Mommy]

Thanks Amy.

Great charts guys. I don't know why but it's fun for me to look at them.