[MamaLacey]

Hello, new here. I posted an intro last night. But I had a few questions ...

So tonight I got a basel thermometer & a 20pk of OPK's.

I've been browsing some of your charts and I see that temps are usually all over the place ... So how do you know when your ovulating? What sort of tempurature jump would I be looking for?

And I'm on day 3 of my period. When should I start temping & when should I start the OPK's? Should I start temping right now?

Oh and based on temps, how would you know your pregnant?

Thanks ladies!

[lovemama]

Welcome! I am relatively new here. I am only on my second month of full time charting. There are many really helpful and knowlegable ladies here, always willing to help!! Here is what I know...

I would start temping right away. I would temp vaginally. This is the most accuarate way to temp. You don't have to worry about sleeping with your mouth open, or having a stuffy nose. So keep your BBT by your bed and take your temp each morning at the same time. Record it on a piece of paper. It's amazing after only temping for a few months the temps tend to all blend together in your head if you don't write them down. Make sure it's the first thing you do, don't sit up or anything. Just reach over to your bedside table and pick up your BBT, that's it.

I would join Fertility Friend.com. You can set up an account for free. The account allows you to record your temps and any other fertility signs you plan on keeping track of. You can also access a free online tutorial that answers most questions and gets you going. This will also tell you what FF bases ovulation on. The more data you enter in FF the more accurate it is.

So in a nut shell...you won't really know when you have ovuated until after you actually have. After your thermal shift (3 increases temps in a row) you will get something called crosshairs. That shows the day you have ovulated.

I would suggest keeping track of CM as well. This will help you pinpoint O. As far as the OPKs. It really depends on how long your cycle is. I am pretty typical. I Oed last month on day 14. It was my first month using OPKs. I didn't really know when to start. I started on day 8 and saw very, very faint lines. I though I would never see a positive. I took one at noon of day 13 and it was super faint and then at 5pm I took another one and bam it was super dark. The next day at noon I took another one and it was darker than the control. So that combined with my temp increase and CM, and CP voila...I ovulated.

For my first three kidos I never did anything like this and got pg first or second shot...Not really sure why I am doing this now???? maybe because I don't want to potentially waste any time...I am 37 now!!!

Here is my chart: 2bfd7d Ovulation Charts
Christy
Wow, that was long!!! Good luck and please ask away...the ladies here are super helpful.

[lovemama]

So now I am sitting here in tears after reading your Landan's Memory page. M y heart breaks for you. I can't believe that you have had to go through something like that. You must be one strong woman!!! Good luck.

Christy

[MamaLacey]

Christy - Thank you for the lengthy explanation! I never used anything either until now either.

And thank you for your condolences, it really means alot! <3

Oh, and wanted to add that I did set up at FF! It's the link under my sig. I'm totally new to it but going to see how this goes

[LifesGood]

Christy did awesome explaining.

I would start using OPKs when you start getting creamy CM, then hopefully you will catch a + when you CM is watery or eggwhite like.

Start temping now. Vaginally or orally, but now. Your temps rise maybe 2-3 tenths above average for 3 days before FF gives you your exppected O date. If AF comes most girls have a temp drop below the coverline the day she comes or the day before she does.

If you are preg your temps stay up but I recommend not continuing to temp after you know you are preg or you go nuts

[MamaLacey]

Thanks Carrie!