To Chart or Not to Chart

[lactatinggirl]

This will be my second child and I most definitely didn't have problems conceiving the first (I was on birth control!). My problem is that I would ideally like to get pregnant in a 3-month window so that I'm delivering while I'm not in school. Earlier in the the time period is better so that I can spend time without school with my newborn. If I don't conceive during that 3-month window it will be okay because I'm planning on taking only online classes for the next 2 semesters and staying home, but it would definitely be nice if I wasn't in school at all when giving birth and having a newborn. It'll also work out better for being able to take my future child to the preschool on campus when he/she is two because I have to go full-time for my last year (going to school to be a teacher and the blocks must be taken all together).

So if this were your situation, would you chart? I was just going to take my IUD out and throw caution to the wind, but I don't know if that's the best way to go. I like the idea of being involved in the process of my ovulation cycle, but I don't want to stress myself out too much. If I do chart, I've already told my husband that I'm not going to tell him about it. If I do chart, how many months ahead of time should I start?

[TrishWSU]

I know that for me, the first time I had a Mirena my first 3 cycles were really weird and I'm now on my second cycle post-mirena (yes I got another one after I hated the first one!) and it's been weird as well, so I wouldn't want to TTC right away.

If it were me, I'd probably take the IUD out 3 months prior to my TTC window and use condoms or withdrawl or whatever during that time (cause it's not like an "opps" would be that terrible, right?) And I'd probably loosely chart-meaning maybe just take note of my CM/CP to get an idea of what my fertile symptoms are to make sure we DTD during that time.

I've been a surrogate twice and it was really important for me to know exactly when I was going to ovulate so we could time the inseminations right and charting got kind of stressful and all consuming. You can definetly get obessive about every little thing!

Good luck when the time comes!

[HulaJenn]

I would chart - especially if you want to ttc within a certain time frame - that way you are upping your chances by getting to know you fertility. Like PP said - I would remove the IUD well in advance and start charting right away so that when your 3 month window comes along, you will be well armed with your fertility info and hopefully be successful. Now that being said, caution to the wind works for a lot of women too! LOL

[lactatinggirl]

I'm thinking I will remove my Mirena next week at an appointment I have set up and starting charting (possibly to avoid until we're ready, possibly in conjunction with another barrier BC). Thanks everyone!