New here and had a few questions

LadybugMT · #1 July 31st, 2009, 06:17 PM

Hi,
I am new here and DH and I were going to start trying this coming month. My cycles are pretty regular about 28days and I usually O around 12-14 days after. I just got the clearblue easy fertility monitor to help. Now I was wondering how often should I check my OPK? I heard twice a day. Should that be morning and late afternoon? Should it be the done at the same time everyday? Thanks for the help!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #2 July 31st, 2009, 06:41 PM

Hi! Welcome to the charting board. Are you going to start temping too? I would highly recommend temping and checking your CM too because it will help confirm when you ovulated. Also you can stare at your chart during the 2ww and get an idea of if you might be pregnant by what your temps are doing.

I use OPKs twice a day. You shouldn't use OPKs with first morning urine. I use mine around 10 am and 4 pm but I get up really early. I think 11am and 5 pm might be better. You want to take them twice a day. Oh and at the same time every day if you can. I don't always take mine at exactly the same time but I try.

Also OPKs take a little practice. You don't want to jump the gun on calling one positive. The test line needs to be as dark or darker than the control line. Mine usually get gradually darker before I finally get a positive.

Welcome to the charting board! I hope you will be sticking around. We are having a BFP challenge in August and I would love it if you were on our BFP list!

LadybugMT · #3 July 31st, 2009, 07:28 PM

Ok call me retarded but what is BFP?

lol sorry! I am still trying to get the hang of the lingo around here. So I should do temp along with the OPK? I thought the OPk was all that was really needed. So I guess I am going to have to go get a BBT.

AmandaEliz · #4 July 31st, 2009, 07:45 PM

Hi Ladybug! This is only my 2nd month charting, so I'm kind of a newbie, too. I used the OPKs while TTC #1 & didn't find them particularly helpful. Tracking my temps and CM has been much more informative.
Welcome & we'll all try to answer as many questions as we can!
Oh, and BFP is what we're all hoping for... a Big Fat Positive!!

LadybugMT · #5 July 31st, 2009, 07:54 PM

Thanks

.....I thought it was something along the lines of a postive pregnacy test (PPT) but couldnt figure out what BF stood for. This monitor I thought was suposed to take all the guess work out of charting.......I know it will should one line, two lines and 3 lines when you are most fertil and O'ing. I was going to keep track of my CM but wanted to skip taking my temp. So I now I have no idea what to do when I take my temp. and what I am looking for. I know I should take it twice a day at the same time. I thinking 11-5 will work perfectly. But other then that I am clueless. Thanks for the help!

AmandaEliz · #6 August 1st, 2009, 04:31 AM

I don't know about every one else, but I only temp once a day. First thing in the morning; at the same time every morning. Its usually a little off on the weekends; I mean who wants to get up at 0530 if you don't have to? And you're looking for a definite thermal shift. You temp will go up the day after you ovulate & stay up until you start your period or get a BFP. Most of us use fertility friend. You can also record the results of your monitor & CM there & its free.
This is my current chart using fertilityfriend.com See how my temp was only 97.33 on cycle day 15 (CD15) then it hops up to 97.87 on CD16? That's what you're looking for. After you have a shift & 3 temps that stay up, fertility friend (FF) will put your O date on there for you (the cross hairs). Sometimes if you've been having issues with temping (skipping days, temping at random times) it won't be perfect. But that's what we're here for! To stalk your chart & give you expert (or not so expert) opinions on what day you O'ed. We all also obsess over the two weeks after O... waiting on the BFP.

sweatshirtgirl · #7 August 1st, 2009, 05:03 AM

Welcome! I agree with AmandaEliz. I never got a positive OPK this month - must have missed the hormone surge, but I could tell by temping and charting CM that I did ovulate. And other than the thermometer purchase, temping is free! Definitely doesn't hurt to try the OPKs though as they will tell you BEFORE you O.

You can look at my chart in my siggy too, if you want to see the temp increase after O. This is only my 2nd full month charting temps and I LOVE it. It's also the only way to tell that you are truly ovulating and can help detect issues with your body that may be keeping you from getting pregnant (thyroid, anovulation, short luteal phase). There's tons of info online (fertilityfriend.com is great) and I also got out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which was a great help!

Sorry, don't mean to overwhelm you, but wanted to throw everything out there, lol!

Coley · #8 August 1st, 2009, 05:45 AM

I'm Nikki and

with everything that's been said. Loads of great advice there!!

I hope you stay with us through your TTC journey and let us help you navigate your way to your BFP!

Admin-pattyandthemoos · #9 August 1st, 2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadybugMT

Ok call me retarded but what is BFP?

lol sorry! I am still trying to get the hang of the lingo around here. So I should do temp along with the OPK? I thought the OPk was all that was really needed. So I guess I am going to have to go get a BBT.

Here's the thing. OPKs are great BUT you don't always ovulate right after getting a positive OPK like you are supposed to. If you only use OPKs then you may think you ovulated at a certain time when you actually didn't. I have seen on my charts that sometimes I get a positive OPK and then don't ovulate till four days later. If I relied on my OPKs alone I would really mess up my timing on bding (baby dancing).

Also you can look at your chart to see signs of pregnancy which is kind of nice. AND as the other girls said temping is free (once you buy your thermometer).

And P.S. Here is a link with all our lingo to help you keep it straight. It is a sticky thread over on the Am I Pregnant board if you want to refer back to it.
http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f2...-and-info.html

LadybugMT · #10 August 1st, 2009, 04:04 PM

Quick Question......I started FF and am charting there. So this will be my 1st month charting. How soon do you usually O after you see EW CM? Can EW CM last a few days. How do you know when you O'ed.....you see the temp. spike. So you always know you O'ed when you see the spike......so you can still DTD and get pregnant right? Sorry so many questions.....just when I think I get the hang of it......I have a whole new set of questions.

Coley · #11 August 1st, 2009, 04:27 PM

As for EWCM, it's different for everyone. It's perfectly normal to have patches of fertile CM after O. However, it's recommended that you continue to BD until you see a temp spike followed by three consecutive high temps.

You will know you've O'd when you see a temp spike along with three consecutive days of temps that are higher than the temps during your non fertile part of the month.

Once you see the temp spike, DTD after that will generally not result in a pregnancy. Once you see that spike, that's letting you know that ovulation has already taken place and any bd'ing after that is really just for fun.

No worries on all the questions. That's what we're here for!! Hope that helps!