The September CTA/FAM Thread - Page 2

[HulaJenn]

Originally Posted by katiedidbug

I've never used that particular cup before, but I'm a big user of the Diva Cup. LOVE IT! I stand up when I put it in and like to put it in the shower, because it goes in pretty easy if it's wet. Again, I'm not sure about that particular product, but I change mine in the morning and evening, and it's never even close to being full. HTH.

thanks Katie! I think it is similar to the Diva but technically supposed to be disposable.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by HulaJenn

subbing - and may i add how coincidental it is to start a new month with cd1?? lol

i was gonna start a new thread but thought i'd ask you ladies too....I am trying out an instead cup for the first time and am looking for tips or advice? I know this is the disposable brand of the diva cup, but a lot of ladies have said I can just rinse and reuse a few times? Then if comfortable I may invest in a diva.

but should i sit down or stand up to take out? How long before I should "check it"? As long as I don't feel it can I presume it is in right? I have one in right now and although awkward to insert, seems to not be leaking and can't feel it.

I have a diva cup and I want to love it. Mostly it's great but I do have some issues. I have tried "insteads" and they fit more like a diaphragm, iirc, which is much more comfortable to me. I can't use my diva on the first day of flow, it makes my cramps worse but that might be because I still have a hard time getting it in and all that poking around is jarring. I haven't figured out the magic position for getting it in easily, though I do agree with changing it in the shower
I guess I would say that I do like it, but I wouldn't want to rely on it w/o my cloth for the first day or so. I am always aware of it, and it does start to irritate me after awhile, so do pads though. I guess I like variety
I've had it about a year....

[Smokering]

Hey people! I haven't been around here very much - my charts have just been ticking along, no muss no fuss.

Anyway... in a shocking turn of events, it turns out we might be TTC as early as THIS cycle or the next one! (I'm on CD12 now; my average O date is CD22.) I'm kind of nervous but very excited - picking up folic acid from the supermarket today, as well as stocking up on some stuff for bulk cooking (to get us through the first trimester) and buying some folate-rich foods. What else should I be doing, nutrition-wise? We're TF, more or less, so I'm going to try to get lots of nutrient-dense foods in me before morning sickness hits. ...Amazingly, the thought of morning sickness doesn't totally put me off the idea of pregnancy. Life is weird.

Does anyone have any data on how much charting decreases the number of cycles required to conceive? On average I mean, obviously. Google says it takes the average couple 6 months to conceive, but that presumably includes couples with fixable fertility issues (of the boxers-vs-briefs type, say); and doesn't TCOYF recommend seeing a doctor if you haven't conceived within 6 months, for charting couples?

[capretta]

HulaJenn: Yea, like Toolip said, instead is kind of a different animal than the diva or other reusable cups.

Check out www.youtube.com/user/MenstrualCupInfo for some great videos including a demonstration of instead and diva (and just about every cup in existence, I think). This woman is awesome. She also runs a board (menstrualcups.friendhood.net) where you can find all sorts of info and troubleshooting.

I use a Fleurcup and love it. I check it about once every 3-12hrs depending on the flow. I sit on the toilet to take it out and put it back in.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Smokering

Does anyone have any data on how much charting decreases the number of cycles required to conceive? On average I mean, obviously. Google says it takes the average couple 6 months to conceive, but that presumably includes couples with fixable fertility issues (of the boxers-vs-briefs type, say); and doesn't TCOYF recommend seeing a doctor if you haven't conceived within 6 months, for charting couples?

Hey, congrats! LMK if you want me to move you to a different category!

Is it 6 months or 3? I can't recall. But yeah - totally average and it could take longer, could be quicker. GOOD LUCK!

[MarineWife]

I think TCOYF says to seek medical help if you haven't conceived in 3 cycles with good BD timing. I can't be sure, though, since I don't have my book anymore. I really do need to get another one.

[HulaJenn]

Originally Posted by capretta

HulaJenn: Yea, like Toolip said, instead is kind of a different animal than the diva or other reusable cups.

Check out www.youtube.com/user/MenstrualCupInfo for some great videos including a demonstration of instead and diva (and just about every cup in existence, I think). This woman is awesome. She also runs a board (menstrualcups.friendhood.net) where you can find all sorts of info and troubleshooting.

I use a Fleurcup and love it. I check it about once every 3-12hrs depending on the flow. I sit on the toilet to take it out and put it back in.

thanks for the great resource! Will def check it out!

[LionessMom]

thanks for adding my chart! not that it really shows anything yet. lol. i am all over the place. i set my alasrm for 6 am. but i need to take my temp if i wake up sooner instead of falling back to sleep for 15 more minutes. if i wake at 3 or 4 after having slept 3 hours, is that good? Is 1 am too early? lol. sometimes i cant sleep 3 more hours straight after that. it depends on my baby. also, maybe i should do it vaginally. does the bbt have to touch the walls? where do i stick it? this is all practice till my af returns anyway. eventually i want to try for another boy.

i dont know what is going on but i have been some mean lately. to my family. snide, rude, sarcastic comments. i have gotten to the point where i dont want to talk to them bc i am afraid i am hurting them. it has been at least 2 weeks. since we got the salmonella poisoning. either i have issues cause of that or my hormones are preparing for af? the last time i was like this emotionally was before i started taking continous level bcp. one moment i am being rude to everyone (nasty stuff coming out of my mouth) and the next moment i am crying. someone needs to tape my mouth shut or something. i was told taking extra b12 could help. any suggestions? i am starting to hate myself, and i am being a bad mom.

[MovingMomma]

jennifer: IME, the 3 hrs min of sleep is a little more flexible than it sounds. My temps come out fine when waking to nurse a baby, as long as I'm not getting out of bed a whole bunch. Even a trip to the bathroom is fine, as long as it's not immediately prior to temping. Others may have different experiences, but for me, temping close to the same time each day is much more important than temping after a certain number of hours of sleep. And for the being mean stuff. I deal w/that from time to time too, and I can't always blame it on hormones. Depression can also manifest as irritability/anger.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by LionessMom

i dont know what is going on but i have been some mean lately. to my family. snide, rude, sarcastic comments. i have gotten to the point where i dont want to talk to them bc i am afraid i am hurting them. it has been at least 2 weeks. since we got the salmonella poisoning. either i have issues cause of that or my hormones are preparing for af? the last time i was like this emotionally was before i started taking continous level bcp. one moment i am being rude to everyone (nasty stuff coming out of my mouth) and the next moment i am crying. someone needs to tape my mouth shut or something. i was told taking extra b12 could help. any suggestions? i am starting to hate myself, and i am being a bad mom.

For me the anger/crazy mood swings happens right before I ovulate, knowing that it happens makes it a little bit easier but I still have a difficult time not snapping back at DH and DD at that time.

[Smokering]

Is it 6 months or 3? I can't recall. But yeah - totally average and it could take longer, could be quicker. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks! We're going to try this cycle. Basically, we've given ourselves three months, and if we don't conceive by then we'll start TTA again until March/April. I guess I'm technically charting to TTC now - weird! Feel free to slot me into whatever thread seems best...

[katiedidbug]

Originally Posted by Smokering

Hey people! I haven't been around here very much - my charts have just been ticking along, no muss no fuss.

Anyway... in a shocking turn of events, it turns out we might be TTC as early as THIS cycle or the next one! (I'm on CD12 now; my average O date is CD22.) I'm kind of nervous but very excited - picking up folic acid from the supermarket today, as well as stocking up on some stuff for bulk cooking (to get us through the first trimester) and buying some folate-rich foods. What else should I be doing, nutrition-wise? We're TF, more or less, so I'm going to try to get lots of nutrient-dense foods in me before morning sickness hits. ...Amazingly, the thought of morning sickness doesn't totally put me off the idea of pregnancy. Life is weird.

Does anyone have any data on how much charting decreases the number of cycles required to conceive? On average I mean, obviously. Google says it takes the average couple 6 months to conceive, but that presumably includes couples with fixable fertility issues (of the boxers-vs-briefs type, say); and doesn't TCOYF recommend seeing a doctor if you haven't conceived within 6 months, for charting couples?

Congrats on the TTC!!! That's so exciting. It took me three cycles of charting to get pregnant w/ DS2. As for nutrition, I'd make sure I was eating two eggs a day, and eating at least one serving of nutrient-dense greens a day. I might even start taking Floradix to make sure your iron is up in those early weeks.

Originally Posted by LionessMom

thanks for adding my chart! not that it really shows anything yet. lol. i am all over the place. i set my alasrm for 6 am. but i need to take my temp if i wake up sooner instead of falling back to sleep for 15 more minutes. if i wake at 3 or 4 after having slept 3 hours, is that good? Is 1 am too early? lol. sometimes i cant sleep 3 more hours straight after that. it depends on my baby. also, maybe i should do it vaginally. does the bbt have to touch the walls? where do i stick it? this is all practice till my af returns anyway. eventually i want to try for another boy.

i dont know what is going on but i have been some mean lately. to my family. snide, rude, sarcastic comments. i have gotten to the point where i dont want to talk to them bc i am afraid i am hurting them. it has been at least 2 weeks. since we got the salmonella poisoning. either i have issues cause of that or my hormones are preparing for af? the last time i was like this emotionally was before i started taking continous level bcp. one moment i am being rude to everyone (nasty stuff coming out of my mouth) and the next moment i am crying. someone needs to tape my mouth shut or something. i was told taking extra b12 could help. any suggestions? i am starting to hate myself, and i am being a bad mom.

((((HUGS))) I'm sure its just hormones, mama. That's gotta feel yucky, though.

AFM: 14 dpo and no AF and no temp drop. So.... I guess w/ the bout of sickness I had, I could only be 12 dpo. I think I'm going to wait until Sunday to test again.

[katiedidbug]

Well, I couldn't wait until Sunday. I tested this morning. Drumroll, please: BFP! So, one fertile month does the trick for me, lol. I had to actually try for three months with DS2. Craziness how things work. Congratulate me, ok?? Tell me it's going to be ok? This is a total USER failure. I decided to have sex w/ w/drawl when I was in my fertile time...and then had sex twice, which I now know is not ok w/drawl wise.

Excuse me while I take a deep breath and try to calm those butterflies in my stomach.

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by katiedidbug

Well, I couldn't wait until Sunday. I tested this morning. Drumroll, please: BFP! So, one fertile month does the trick for me, lol. I had to actually try for three months with DS2. Craziness how things work. Congratulate me, ok?? Tell me it's going to be ok? This is a total USER failure. I decided to have sex w/ w/drawl when I was in my fertile time...and then had sex twice, which I now know is not ok w/drawl wise.

Excuse me while I take a deep breath and try to calm those butterflies in my stomach.

CONGRATS! Babies are always a blessing! I just looked at your chart a few minutes ago and said to myself "If she's not pregnant, then I need to stop interpreting charts!" Take care of yourself and enjoy your pregnancy!

[katiedidbug]

Thanks, Annie!!

[theboysmama]

congrats Katie!!!!
It is so hard when you weren't planning a pg and all of your concerns for tta come up with this little one. But just appreciate every moment that it is with you and the blessing that you have inside of you.

[theboysmama]

so I have a question for you moms that use NFP and do NOT use a burrier method during your fertile phase.

The only experience I have with charting is post partum and post m/c cycles so nothing extremely reliable but my cycles before having kids were really sporadic. I tend to have really long periods w/ possible fertile mucus so would have to avoid about 20+ days out of every cycle but would have to avoid even more if we went by the douring (sp?) rule. Well, that doesn't seem to work for us so we push it up till I start to notice the cm becoming more fertile then we avoid. This has resulted in several unexpected pg's. My last pg I got pg a wk after my water cm was present and the only cm that was pg was what looks like yeast discharge (i have chronic yeast) and obviously it wasn't (on that chart I overrode the coverline but now it is back for ff put it so not in the right place, I got a hpt about 13 days after o)
Here is my chart and I think you can see past charts as well.
So my question is how do you ladies go about this? If you have long cycles, random mucus, do you avoid, do you push it,? I am just feeling really frustrated as we believe NFP is what we should be doing but it just doesn't seem to be working for us. Also I am really confused right now as my last pg was really really not expected and it took my about 14 wks to come to terms with and except the little one then I lost him at 17wks. We had already figured things out and figured it would work out so I am really really wanting another one (like RIGHT NOW) but I think that is hormones. Dh is done for now but doesn't want to avoid forever so.......
Just want some support maybe someone that has btdt or something.

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by theboysmama

so I have a question for you moms that use NFP and do NOT use a burrier method during your fertile phase.

The only experience I have with charting is post partum and post m/c cycles so nothing extremely reliable but my cycles before having kids were really sporadic. I tend to have really long periods w/ possible fertile mucus so would have to avoid about 20+ days out of every cycle but would have to avoid even more if we went by the douring (sp?) rule. Well, that doesn't seem to work for us so we push it up till I start to notice the cm becoming more fertile then we avoid. This has resulted in several unexpected pg's. My last pg I got pg a wk after my water cm was present and the only cm that was pg was what looks like yeast discharge (i have chronic yeast) and obviously it wasn't (on that chart I overrode the coverline but now it is back for ff put it so not in the right place, I got a hpt about 13 days after o)
Here is my chart and I think you can see past charts as well.
So my question is how do you ladies go about this? If you have long cycles, random mucus, do you avoid, do you push it,? I am just feeling really frustrated as we believe NFP is what we should be doing but it just doesn't seem to be working for us. Also I am really confused right now as my last pg was really really not expected and it took my about 14 wks to come to terms with and except the little one then I lost him at 17wks. We had already figured things out and figured it would work out so I am really really wanting another one (like RIGHT NOW) but I think that is hormones. Dh is done for now but doesn't want to avoid forever so.......
Just want some support maybe someone that has btdt or something.

I teach NFP and we do not use any sort of barrier method or w/d during the fertile period. If we want to avoid, then we abstain. That said, I tend to have a very defined portion of my cycle with fertile CF so it usually only ends up being about 10 days that we have to avoid. Now, the cycle that we got pg, I started having EWCF on CD 6. So by the time we got to CD 14 and it looked like I had had two high temps, we went ahead and DTD. Twice. The two high temps were outliers for some reason and I ovulated on CD 15.

With all that said, two things jump out at me on your charts. I know you were taking CCL classes and I'm not sure of all their terminology but the method I teach (Harrisburg) has the Mucus Patch Rule. With that rule, you avoid whenever mucus is seen or felt but if you have a dry-up w/out a corresponding temp rise, you are safe to resume intercourse on the evening of the fourth dry day. You have some sections on your previous charts where you would have been able to use that rule for intercourse. Also, I wonder what your basic infertile pattern is. That can be determined by abstaining from intercourse for 14 days to see what your mucus pattern is. It may be that your sticky is your BIP.

[theboysmama]

thanks annie.
My sticky can be my bip as sometimes I have it throughout my entire cycle BUT I conceived dd with that same sticky cm about 5 days before I o'd so I just don't know.
We were told to avoid the entire first cycle after a m/c until we have had confirmed temp rise after the first bleed, that is a long time and obviously looking at my charts you can tell that we are not following that "rule", I just don't know if we can do this and am sooooo very frustrated.

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by theboysmama

thanks annie.
My sticky can be my bip as sometimes I have it throughout my entire cycle BUT I conceived dd with that same sticky cm about 5 days before I o'd so I just don't know.
We were told to avoid the entire first cycle after a m/c until we have had confirmed temp rise after the first bleed, that is a long time and obviously looking at my charts you can tell that we are not following that "rule", I just don't know if we can do this and am sooooo very frustrated.

Other than abstaining or doing some sort of permanent family planning (which DH and I are not willing to do), ALL forms of birth control/family planning have a failure rate. Babies come when they want to. I've heard of couples that were using hormonal BC and condoms that still get pregnant. We do the best we can but at the end of the day, as grownups, we need to accept the fact that one of the results of intercourse can be a baby.

With that said, you are still nursing, correct? Perhaps once you wean your nursling, your charts will become more predictable. You might also want to research getting your chronic yeast under control.