Quick charting question

[Lousli]

The first day of your cycle is the first day of actual flow, right? So when does spotting become flow?

I know that in March I had some spotting before my period (I often do) and I don't really recall which day was my actual first day of flow. I'm just practice charting right now to see patterns in my cycle, probably not even going to temp yet, since I'm not actually ttc until July. I just want to be practicing correctly, so I want o make sure to get CD 1 correct this time.

[MaerynPearl]

It's sort of different for everyone but a general consensus is if you need a pad (or your cup or a tampon) and get more than a little blood on/in it... It's flow. Sort of up to you to decide, depending on how heavy your flow normally gets.

[Lousli]

Thanks. It has been so long since I read TCOYF and charted. I was here when The One Thread first got started, lol.

My cycles now are extremely regular and predictable. When I was trying for my first two, I was coming off the pill both times, so I don't think my cycles ever settled into their natural timing. Now I'm pretty much 26 days on the dot. The only thing that worries me a little is that I seem to have a fairly short LP, about 10 or 11 days. I'm going to try not to obsess about that though considering that I have conceived twice before without too much difficulty.

Wishing everyone babydust and great luck!

[MaerynPearl]

10 or 11 days can be fine. Most doctors I know of won't even bother treating you unless it's 9 or less.

[Lousli]

With my last pregnancy, my LP was about the same the 3 months I charted as it is now.

The thing is, I had a blood test that was an hcg of only 4 on 10 DPO, so she implanted pretty late. That's the only part that worries me a bit. That and I'm getting up there in age, so I don't take anything for granted anymore.