[Natorock]

Well, if someone could please look at my chart and tell me...I think I may have had a drop in temp that is significant although I'm not sure...(first month)

Today I checked my CM and it seemed like EWCM (it was a little stretchy) but I checked this morning when I woke up after temping. And last night we BD at around 7:00ish so I am second guessing if that EWCM is really just left over semen.

ACK! can someone give some advice? THANK YOU!!!

Also, I started reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility last night. It's SOOO good! Very interesting! I can't put it down actually. If you haven't read it...YOU SHOULD!!! it will change the way I teach my daughters about their femininity for sure!

Thanks for your help.

[Husher]

I've wondered about how ladies tell after doing a lot of BD if they are having EWCM or just left overs too.

[drewbears]

I am guessing you are gearing up to O. Keep bding my friend!

[shortcake]

You could very well be gearing up to o, I would definitely keep bd'ing, at least every other day till you see a clear temp shift. I am glad to hear another woman reading TCOYF. I read it almost 3 years ago as a contraception alternative, now I am glad I read it for TTC as well. Lots of important info, and I still refer back to it. It is a wonderful book and a great reference. If I have any girls I will definitely be making them read the teenage version called Cycle Savvy. Good luck and hope to hear news of a BFP soon!


Sarah

[Natorock]

Thanks! Actually I am trying NOT to get prego yet...lol I know that's confusing. So I will take your opinion and NOT do any BDing for awhile. LOL

[Acadia]

Well, here's how you tell (for Natorock and Flipper)!

I don't think I've ever confused leftover semen for EWCM.

Seminal fluid has a distinct odor (DF's is kind of like bleach). My CM does not. Yeah, it's kind of weird to sniff things but hey, if there's any question about it, that's the easiest way.

Semen is much less stretchy ... at least DF's is. I'm not able to pull my fingers apart like with EWCM. A little, yes, but it's more like sticky CM as far as the stretchiness goes.

My EWCM is a little cloudy (yours could be clear or tinted or something else though). DF's semen is a lot whiter. Next time you BD see what his semen looks like (you could just collect some on a finger after he's done so as not to waste a whole BDing session) and then remember that for next time you're looking at EWCM.

Everything that goes in (in my experience) comes out much waterier than it went in. So when I check CM after BDing I think I'm much more likely to confuse semen for watery CM than for eggwhite. That is, if I wait at least an hour or so (and why would you check it before that? ). Try to get some out and see if it's waterier coming out. I bet it is.

Semen will dissolve in water. CM will not.

If you check all that and you still can't tell, mark it as EWCM. There is no point in missing a possibly fertile day just because you're not sure whether you're right about the cervical fluids.

[Husher]

Well, here's how you tell (for Natorock and Flipper)!

I don't think I've ever confused leftover semen for EWCM.

Seminal fluid has a distinct odor (DF's is kind of like bleach). My CM does not. Yeah, it's kind of weird to sniff things but hey, if there's any question about it, that's the easiest way.

Semen is much less stretchy ... at least DF's is. I'm not able to pull my fingers apart like with EWCM. A little, yes, but it's more like sticky CM as far as the stretchiness goes.

My EWCM is a little cloudy (yours could be clear or tinted or something else though). DF's semen is a lot whiter. Next time you BD see what his semen looks like (you could just collect some on a finger after he's done so as not to waste a whole BDing session) and then remember that for next time you're looking at EWCM.

Everything that goes in (in my experience) comes out much waterier than it went in. So when I check CM after BDing I think I'm much more likely to confuse semen for watery CM than for eggwhite. That is, if I wait at least an hour or so (and why would you check it before that? ). Try to get some out and see if it's waterier coming out. I bet it is.

Semen will dissolve in water. CM will not.

If you check all that and you still can't tell, mark it as EWCM. There is no point in missing a possibly fertile day just because you're not sure whether you're right about the cervical fluids. [/b]

This was very helpful (and entertaining ) ! Thank you!

[Natorock]

THANK YOU!!!

[NutMeg76]

Natorock (do you have a 'real' name?)
If you are trying to avoid pregnancy then you shouldn't have sex after AF for the first few cycles of charting. There are a lot more rules to using NFP to avoid pregnancy then to TTC.
Once you are more familiar with your body you can start having sex immediately after AF, but should still be conservative about it.
You said you BD'd the night before last and then starting showing signs of fertile CM, so in theory you most likely O;d yesterday or today, looking at your chart and toady's temp points to this too. So you may have seprm just happily waiting in there to fertilize the egg. Sperm can live for up to 5 days in fertile CM.
If you didn't happen to catch the egg this time, be more careful next month and don't BD after AF.
When I get home I can be more sepcific about the avoiding rules, or one of the other charting wizzes can probably get that info to you sooner.
There are a few good books about it. Taking Charge of Your Fertility, THe Art of NAtural Family Planning are two that I have heard are good. I never read TCOYF, but am planning on buying it soon. I got the other when I took my NFP class.

[Natorock]

My name is Natalie!

OOPS! Well, I'm not worried because I want to have a baby but DH doesn't. It would be inconvient at this time, but we could definitely work with it.

At any rate THANKS for your input. I am currently reading the chapter in TCOYF about using it as a contraceptive. and I've realized I've made a few mistakes.

Hopefully I don't get "lucky" this time around. But it would be a blessing if I did.

[NutMeg76]

Ok Natalie it is.....hehe

Just make sure if you do 'get lucky' this time that you explain that it was beginners errors that allowed it to happen and not the method itself. Well, that is if you want to cont using NFP/FAM in the future.

[Natorock]

For SURE! I think it's awsome and I would never discourage someone because of my silliness getting knocked up lol

Seriously though, it's great. I think I may want to get incvolved in being trained and teaching it even because I find it THAT fascinating

[Natorock]

* UPDATE *

I'm pretty sure that I didn't ovulate yet. Judging by todays temp and CM...I've been careful since!

I think I'm starting to get the hang of this...Thanks for your help! And Ablepearl I would be appreciative if you could drop in on my chart from time to time just to keep an eye on me for the first few cycles!

THANKS! YOU ALL ARE GREAT!