[Meaghan Stone]

My DH and I have been TTC for a year now... well, we've been BDing for a year now hoping it would all work out.

This month we just started charting, testing and timing everything. I'm very confused with FF and ovulation.

I was on BCP for YEARS... nearly ten before DH and I decided TTC. So for almost my entire adult life, I have not been aware of what ovulation feels like. I feel silly.

I started my LMP on Saturday 9/5 and since Monday 9/14 I have been cramping. Yesterday I had light spotting. The cramping is very light but overall uncomfortable, but not painful. Starting yesterday I have frequent urination. Sorry TMI.

Every website I've been to gives the most common ovulation symptoms, but says that everyone is different and may experience other symptoms as well. FF doesn't have me to start O until tomorrow and my OPK's have all been negative so far.

It just seems O is so far away from when I started feeling different symptoms. This is the first month I have actively noticed this or any ovulation pain.

[CandaceDianne]

Hello and welcome!! The ladies on this board are amazing, you will love it here!!
Ok, first: can you post a link to your chart?? Second: what time of day are you using OPKs? Usually women have a better result in the afternoon/evening time.
It sounds like you have all the signs to O, which is great!! Are you checking your CM or CP yet?

[Meaghan Stone]

Hello! Thanks for your warm welcome. I love JM so far, it's wonderful!

I admit, I'm having trouble checking the CP. It's not because I'm "shy" with myself... it's more like I'm only half aware of what I'm doing. lol.

I have been checking the CM, it's watery which is fine, but uh... (TMI warning) I'm wearing a pad because I'm leaky. Yuck, I know. I'm sorry.

I've been using the OPK's right after work about 5:30, 6pm.

This is the only way I know how to link....

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ttc/i...hp&interface=0

Also, DH and I tried at home insemination on Saturday night (9/12) for the first time and since then I've been a little crampy.

My body temperature has always run a little low. It seems the past few days I've woken up really hot under the covers and that started the first day my temp really dropped.

[CandaceDianne]

You will get the hang of checking CP (hopefully not because you will get your BFP!! ). Try getting a book people rave about called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. You can buy it new for about $30, or go to craigslist (bought mine for $10), or the library (but there may be a wait). Its a great resource!!!
I dont know how a home insemination tests works.....so I cant help you there!
To link your chart: log in to FF, go to Sharing, then select Home Page Setup, once you get to that page, you will see your home page website address (i.e.: 23671a Ovulation Charts).

[Meaghan Stone]

Thank you for the tip! I never would have found that on my own!

29e8c2 Ovulation Charts

[CandaceDianne]

Take another OPK tonight, the way your temps are declining, the spotting, and fertile CM...you should O anyday now!!! GL and keep Bding!!!

[Meaghan Stone]

I was worried about those temps dropping!

I really hope it can hold off until Saturday (DH is out of town until then!)

GL to you too! You'll be able to test pretty soon!


*baby dust*

[CandaceDianne]

I would keep taking OPKs. I hope your O holds off until he gets home too!!!!

[Meaghan Stone]

*crosses fingers*

[Coley]

Meaghan!! I'm Nikki!! Don't feel silly for not knowing all this stuff. Most of us didn't know it until we started our TTC journeys as well. Sadly, they don't teach you this stuff in Health Class. I never paid attention to my lower bits as much as I do now... so that's perfectly normal.

I wouldn't worry too much about the O day that FF is predicting for you right now, because this is only your first month charting. Once you've got a few charts on there, FF will start to learn about your body, your cycles and your patterns. Then it will give you much more accurate predictions.

As far as checking your CP goes... that does have a bit of a learning curve to it. The thing that helped me was this Rule of Thumb: an unfertile cervix feels firm like the tip of your nose, whereas a fertile cervix feels soft like your bottom lip. For height, I usually just gauge it by how far in my finger goes before I hit it. I am still unable to sort out the whole Open Closed thing, so I don't bother charting that.

One of the things you'll learn about this place... there isn't much that is considered TMI!! We discuss more about our private parts and their functions than you'd imagine. So don't you worry about grossing us out!!

I hope your O is able to hold off until DH gets home... but it does sound like it'll be soon. You've got all the signs!!

Best of Luck and tons of Baby to you!!!

[Meaghan Stone]

Thank you so much Coley!

I just tested OPK and it was negative again tonight, but darker than the past few days.

Do OPK's sometimes get rapidly darker or does it go from light to dark in a days time?

I'm hoping gradual... to my estimate from how they have been darkening, ovulation should be Saturday if I'm lucky.

*Fingers crossed*

[Coley]

It really depends.

For example... this is what mine did this month:



You can see I went from almost stark white for 3 days to a dark positive. It was really abrupt. However, I have also had months where it was very gradual, getting darker and darker over a number of days... so it really can vary.

As long as the test line is a bit lighter than the control line, it's still a - result. Once the test line is darker than or the same as the control line, you'll have a + and you should expect to ovulate within 24-48 hours of that + result.

[TeresaSuperMama]

You sure look like you are gearing up to O to me. Checking CP takes some practice. This is my first real cycle trying to be consistent with checking my CP. Just try to check it the same time each day and honestly don't expect this cycle to figure out to much with it. Just record what you think and after a month or two you will figure out what's normal for you and what's high and low, etc.

Oh, I should also add frequent urination is an O symptom for me and cramping too so with the way your chart looks and those symptoms I bet you will get a positive OPK soon. I might start testing twice a day with the OPKs. Good luck!

[Meaghan Stone]

Well today there is no cramping so far and my temp dropped again... 95.9. Stupid temp.

Here's hoping for a negative OPK tonight and a positive one tomorrow!

Teresa, thank you for the insight on the cramping and urination. It was VERY obnoxious, but good to know about. It's amazing how much I've learned about my body in just one week. lol.