[Blackbyrne]

On Tuesday (CD29/9dpo) around 4pm, I had one tiny/almost microscopic spot of red blood on my TP.
Then nothing.
Yesterday evening (CD30/10dpo) I had 2 tiny spots of red blood on my TP.
Then nothing, but a little EWCM around 2pm.
Then tonight (CD31/11dpo), a little over 24 hrs. later, I've had one instance of pink mucous on my TP.

I've NEVER had spotting before in the 21 yrs. I've menstruated, not even in the years I was on BCPs. So this is all new to me. My period usually starts out light but consistent and gets heavier by the end of day 1- it always lasts 5 days.

AF usually comes between CD 30-34. I have had - HPTs yesterday and today.

IF this is AF and not IB, and it continues, do I start charting from the first day I saw the first spot of blood or from the day it becomes heavier like my normal period? I'm not sure which day should be day 1.

Thanks, ladies!

[Coley]

You won't start a new chart until you have a proper amount of red blood flow. Until you can tell "This is AF", and only you know what that is for you... you should carry on with this chart.

Are you temping? That will also help, as your temp should drop below your cover line when AF is here.

[Blackbyrne]

Thank you! That's what I thought, but I wanted a 2nd opinion.

I tried to temp, but I just can't. I maybe only sleep 3 hrs. straight maybe once a week. I usually get up to pee every 1.5-2 hrs. and it's always at random times, since some nights I go to bed at 11pm, some nights it's 6am. I have been this way since I was 17 and all my doctors said there's nothing physically causing this. So, my temps are just not reliable. And it stinks, b/c they could answer these types of questions for me if they were.

[Admin-pattyandthemoos]

You should chart it as spotting until you get a red flow. That would be day one of your next cycle.

I agree that temping would help. I get up to pee at night and I still can read my chart. You just need to find the time when you are most restful and try to use that consistently as your temp time. Even if you don't always get enough sleep you should be able to get an idea of what is going on. You could also try vaginal temping which sometimes helps if you aren't consistent with the amount of sleep you get.

[Coley]

Oooh there ya go... maybe vaginal temping would work for you. Might be worth a shot for a month, just to see what kind of results you get.

[Blackbyrne]

Ooh, I never knew that would make a difference. I am willing to try anything and everything. I never thought TTC would make me feel so crazy. lol