Charting to Avoid / Fertility Awareness-February - Page 3

[Toolip]

welcome! I'm about to start nursing school too (hopefully) this fall! Sounds like you had already started?

Anyway, yep, charting is fascinating! I love it!

So you are using condoms for back up? When is the last time you dtd?

If you are having cf and cervical changes you are definitely not safe! Use back up! You are supposed to use 100% back-up until you have three charted cycles under your belt!!

Welcome to MDC and CTA!

[goinggreengirl]

Well, this cycle won't be confirmed by temps. I'm sure my body was gearing up to ovulate, lots of CM but then DS got sick and I've barely gotten three hours of sleep in a night, let alone in one block. CM is pretty much gone. So... should I just go on CM and assume I O'd or not risk going condomless until the next cycle?

Here's the link.

[RaraAvis]

Hey y'all -- CD 2 here. Based on my normal LP I think I actually O'd around CD 15/16.  This was the same time I switched wake-up times to two hours earlier, which I think sort of masked my temp shift.  Anyway, no harm done (besides an extra week of waiting which is not nothing!)

Welcome to all the new charters!  I just want to agree with Toolip -- if you're serious about wanting to avoid, you really can, but you can't break ANY of the rules.  It only takes one strike and you're out! 

[JMJ]

Goinggreen, if you are confident that you are completely dry for 4 days in a row, I'd consider yourself good to go.

[TrishWSU]

Originally Posted by Devaya 

Hi, I'd like to join please! (CTA). It's my first month of charting properly. And it's quite hard so far! As PP's have mentioned, toddlers in the bed impact on the temperature taking thing, and at the moment my temperature-taking time varies anywhere between 4:20 to 7!! WHich is not good. I'm not sure which guideline to regard as more important from the Toni Weschler book - charting no more than an hour's difference in time, or having slept 3 consecutive hours before taking the temperature. The prob being, if I wake up at 4:20, I can't by any means guarantee I'll have another 3 hours uninterrupted sleep, b/c DS will most likely wake between 6 and 7, and I also wake a lot to pee in the night and early hours for some reason. TrishWSU, you mention charting using only CM and that it's 95 % accurate, so might that be a possibility for me? I don't think an alarm clock will work as it'll just wake up my son and make it impossible to take my temp! Any advice anyone?

I'm a bit puzzled because I'm on day 16 of my cycle and there's been no CM as far as I can tell, and the temperatures are not showing any pattern, just up, then down, then up again. But that could well be because of the different times they've been taken. My, this is more complicated than I thought, but I'm determined to give it a go!

I was still bf/co-sleeping when I first started charting so I went with CM/CP only and after doing that for 18 months (with no slip-ups or even possible slip-ups) temping kind of make me neurotic. I end up obessing over what my temp says when I know what my body is doing. I always check my CM and CP at the same time, so I'm going right to the source, so to speak. I usually check several times a day and record the most fertile CM...i.e. sometimes it might start out "sticky" but by the end of the day it's become "creamy".

As for being on CD 16 and no CM...totally normal. For a very long time I always O'd on CD 22 (which I never knew before reading TCOYF and charting and it's the entire reason why I got pregnant with DD-so much for "every woman ovulates on CD 14" )

 

Originally Posted by goinggreengirl 

Well, this cycle won't be confirmed by temps. I'm sure my body was gearing up to ovulate, lots of CM but then DS got sick and I've barely gotten three hours of sleep in a night, let alone in one block. CM is pretty much gone. So... should I just go on CM and assume I O'd or not risk going condomless until the next cycle?

Here's the link.

Based on your CM, I'd say if you have 4 days of dry/sticky then you're safe this cycle. O most likely occurred CD19. I'm not sure if FF has this function, but the TCOYF chart (you can do it free online) allows you to set your cycle preferences to "Cervical Fluid Only" for detecting ovulation. See my chart for an example: http://tcoyf.com/members/TrishWSU/charts/5.aspx I actually think I o'd on cd 15 because I had serious O pains that evening/night and by the morning of cd 16 my cervix was LCF and CM was sticky, but whatever-CD 16 is close enough. I could manually change it but I'm just too lazy, lol!
 

[mirpmama]

Yesterday started my second month of charting and I am so excited!! The first month went very well and I am super glad I started charting when I did. We had a slight condom mishap last week and normally I would've been in a total panic second guessing what I thought I knew about my body, but instead, I was totally able to KNOW for sure that i had ovulated based on my temps....so, so reassuring!!!! YEA FOR CHARTING MAMAS!!!! i do need some help with one thing - i only did CM and temps the first month, but would like to be able to do a bit with cervix position, not sure that is even the correct term lol, but i really need help with that - anyone give any advice, or a place where i can go for information - i do have TCOYF, but it is buried in the bottom of a laundry basket at the moment and i a sleeping toddler in my lap, so i figured i would start here with my question! :D thanks mamas!!!!

[Dixielane]

** Waves ** Hi Ladies, I am new to this thread.

I'm considering starting FAM and wanted to go ahead and just get to the source and ask my questions here, if that's okay?

My husband and I have a 9mo daughter and over this period of time we've used condoms - and our sex life has gone out the window so much it is effecting our relationship. I don't want any sort of hormonal BC, or a Mirena - basically its condoms or FAM. We've been using the withdrawal method now, but I want to incorporate FAM for extra protection so I had some questions.

1- I am busybusybusy with my 9mo DD, is this practical to think I can chart and keep up with things like temps, mucous, etc.?

2- Anyone here in my boat, a "new" baby and wanting to prevent with FAM? I am a little nervous of getting pregnant again, we want DD to be over 1.5-2yrs.. we've used withdrawal alone before and it prevented pregnancy until we stopped trying to prevent.

3- When you do FAM, do people typically just have sex "as nature intended" except for unsafe days, or do people also incorporate the withdrawal method? Just wondering, because I know the withdrawal method is supposedly fairly effective when used perfect, so combined, shouldn't FAM work really well?

Any encouragement/info would be great.. BTW, I have the book TCOYF and will be cracking it open tomorrow! OH, and I also exclusively breastfeed DD and we cosleep.. will this change how the system works?

[Angelorum]

Started my second PPAF today after a crazy cycle with weeks of EWCM and, if I ovulated when I think I did, a pitiful 6 day luteal phase.  Really strange, considering pre pregnancy it was not unusual for me to have a 16 day luteal phase. 

The good news is, these last 2 periods have been almost completely cramp free!  I was kind of expecting my body to have to work hard for it after a couple years period free.  I also haven't noticed any of my regular PMS symptoms.  Anyone else's symptoms disappear or change totally after a pregnancy?

[goinggreengirl]

Originally Posted by Dixielane 

** Waves ** Hi Ladies, I am new to this thread.

I'm considering starting FAM and wanted to go ahead and just get to the source and ask my questions here, if that's okay?

My husband and I have a 9mo daughter and over this period of time we've used condoms - and our sex life has gone out the window so much it is effecting our relationship. I don't want any sort of hormonal BC, or a Mirena - basically its condoms or FAM. We've been using the withdrawal method now, but I want to incorporate FAM for extra protection so I had some questions.

1- I am busybusybusy with my 9mo DD, is this practical to think I can chart and keep up with things like temps, mucous, etc.?

2- Anyone here in my boat, a "new" baby and wanting to prevent with FAM? I am a little nervous of getting pregnant again, we want DD to be over 1.5-2yrs.. we've used withdrawal alone before and it prevented pregnancy until we stopped trying to prevent.

3- When you do FAM, do people typically just have sex "as nature intended" except for unsafe days, or do people also incorporate the withdrawal method? Just wondering, because I know the withdrawal method is supposedly fairly effective when used perfect, so combined, shouldn't FAM work really well?

Any encouragement/info would be great.. BTW, I have the book TCOYF and will be cracking it open tomorrow! OH, and I also exclusively breastfeed DD and we cosleep.. will this change how the system works?

My son is 10 months, BF and cosleeping. It hasn't been an issue for me. I just set my alarm for the same time every day, take my temp and then enter it in the morning. It's only an issue when baby has a really hard night and I don't get three hours of sleep before temp time. But, I usually still enter the temp I got, knowing that it might be a little off. And, I just check CM on the toilet paper.

We use condoms during possible fertile times. And, since we want our kids further apart, I'm very cautious until I KNOW I O'd. I don't know about the withdrawal method.

[justKate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixielane 

1- I am busybusybusy with my 9mo DD, is this practical to think I can chart and keep up with things like temps, mucous, etc.?

2- Anyone here in my boat, a "new" baby and wanting to prevent with FAM? I am a little nervous of getting pregnant again, we want DD to be over 1.5-2yrs.. we've used withdrawal alone before and it prevented pregnancy until we stopped trying to prevent.

3- When you do FAM, do people typically just have sex "as nature intended" except for unsafe days, or do people also incorporate the withdrawal method? Just wondering, because I know the withdrawal method is supposedly fairly effective when used perfect, so combined, shouldn't FAM work really well?

Hi there.  Charting is SUPER easy once you get the hang of it.  Has AF returned?  My DD is 2, and we generally cosleep, but it hasn't affected my temps at all that I can tell.  Like goinggreengirl, I just set the alarm for the same time every day, take my temp, and either get up or go back to sleep.  Easy.  Just take note of your cervical fluid on your underwear and when you wipe.  Also easy.

I don't know what most people do, but we use withdrawal from CD6 until about 3 days before O is expected, abstain 3 days prior and 1 day after O, then withdrawal from then until the evening of the third DPO.  No condoms here.  Probably more complicated than it has to be, but that's the general guideline we use.  Basically, if there's some chance of fertility, we use withdrawal, and then abstain on the days that will (most likely) be most fertile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelorum 

Started my second PPAF today after a crazy cycle with weeks of EWCM and, if I ovulated when I think I did, a pitiful 6 day luteal phase.  Really strange, considering pre pregnancy it was not unusual for me to have a 16 day luteal phase. 

The good news is, these last 2 periods have been almost completely cramp free!  I was kind of expecting my body to have to work hard for it after a couple years period free.  I also haven't noticed any of my regular PMS symptoms.  Anyone else's symptoms disappear or change totally after a pregnancy?

I'm much less crampy post-pregnancy.  Nothing like the back cramps I got as a teenager/early 20's, and significantly more comfortable than pre-DD.  But I wonder how much of it has to do with me knowing what's going on in my body better than I did before, and knowing what "real" pain is after labor.  Either way, it's been a change for the better!

[RaraAvis]

Originally Posted by mirpmama 

Yesterday started my second month of charting and I am so excited!! The first month went very well and I am super glad I started charting when I did. We had a slight condom mishap last week and normally I would've been in a total panic second guessing what I thought I knew about my body, but instead, I was totally able to KNOW for sure that i had ovulated based on my temps....so, so reassuring!!!! YEA FOR CHARTING MAMAS!!!! i do need some help with one thing - i only did CM and temps the first month, but would like to be able to do a bit with cervix position, not sure that is even the correct term lol, but i really need help with that - anyone give any advice, or a place where i can go for information - i do have TCOYF, but it is buried in the bottom of a laundry basket at the moment and i a sleeping toddler in my lap, so i figured i would start here with my question! :D thanks mamas!!!!

I still second guess myself a lot with the cervical position, but it does help to corroborate the other signs.  Everyone is (I suppose) different -- and you change after you have kids as well.  I think the best way to get a handle on your own cervical changes during the cycle is to check it for a month really carefully.  There is a major difference right after you O, when it sort of closes and firms and lowers. . . but it's only noticeable if you can compare it to other times in your cycle. HTH :)

[Devaya]

TrishWSU, thanks for the feedback. I see what you mean about the temps - on FF the interpretation says my temps are varying too much, and I have started doing them much  more consistent times lately (tho still find I can't do it bang on the same time as an alarm would wake my son up and then I'd be up at 5 every morning...) I have started getting CM the last few days, but it's post ovulation so not sure about it...also still getting the hang of deciding whether it's creamy or sticky! I actually got a bit worried I was pregnant a few days ago as I was feeling sick consistently in the morning and very 'wiped out', repelled by certain smells etc, but the test was negative. Hhmm. Using withdrawal so the risk is pretty low. It's hard to wait three complete cycles though, but opportunities are very scarce anyway since my BF lives 50 miles away ;)

I'm also flying to another country (2 hours ahead of this time zone) on Sunday, for a month, so wondered how that will factor into things. At least it will be light earlier (since its summer there) so I wont be fumbling around in the dark using my mobile phone as a torch to read my temp in the early hours! I would like to try just CM charting as you mentioned, TrishWSU, but dont feel confident enough with my interpretations of it and the fact that I am still BF and co sleeping yet. I kinda want to see what the temps do over the next couple months and then see.

[miss_honeyb]

Has anyone else experienced this before???

About the time that I expect AF to start, I begin spotting. I have a bit of spotting for one or maybe 2 days and then NOTHING for a day or two. THEN I start AF full force. It has happened twice and each time I was freaked out because AF normally starts out heavy for me right away...never have had spotting until the last day or two of AF. I was convinced the first time that it was implantation spotting!! FF keeps those days of spotting part of the previous cycle, but TCOYF says to start a new cycle with the spotting days, which is what I have been doing. If I kept the spotting and then dry days as part of the previous cycle I'd have a 14 or 15 day LP which I've never had before - usually 11 or 12 days. It's so weird! Perhaps my body is still adjusting to cycling again???

[lactatinggirl]

Hello all! I feel like I shouldn't even be joining this thread because I'm on the same chart as last month! First post-Mirena cycle is 45 days so far and it's driving me crazy! My CM is all over the place and I thought my temps were too, but it turns out my thermometer was just awful. Got one from Walgreens and after reading the reviews, I'm not the only one that kept getting 97.2 over and over. So my new thermometer is in the mail and at day 45 I'm having EWCM again. I think my body is just trying to get back to normal hormone-wise, but I keep thinking I'm pregnant and it's freaking me out. Gah! 

[justKate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss_honeyb 

Has anyone else experienced this before???

About the time that I expect AF to start, I begin spotting. I have a bit of spotting for one or maybe 2 days and then NOTHING for a day or two. THEN I start AF full force. It has happened twice and each time I was freaked out because AF normally starts out heavy for me right away...never have had spotting until the last day or two of AF. I was convinced the first time that it was implantation spotting!! FF keeps those days of spotting part of the previous cycle, but TCOYF says to start a new cycle with the spotting days, which is what I have been doing. If I kept the spotting and then dry days as part of the previous cycle I'd have a 14 or 15 day LP which I've never had before - usually 11 or 12 days. It's so weird! Perhaps my body is still adjusting to cycling again???

 Hmm.  If it were me, I would count the spotting as the end of your LP if it's brown; count it as the beginning of your next cycle if it's bright red.  But that's just me.  Is this the first month you've had that?  It might be your new normal, time will tell....

Originally Posted by lactatinggirl 

Hello all! I feel like I shouldn't even be joining this thread because I'm on the same chart as last month! First post-Mirena cycle is 45 days so far and it's driving me crazy! My CM is all over the place and I thought my temps were too, but it turns out my thermometer was just awful. Got one from Walgreens and after reading the reviews, I'm not the only one that kept getting 97.2 over and over. So my new thermometer is in the mail and at day 45 I'm having EWCM again. I think my body is just trying to get back to normal hormone-wise, but I keep thinking I'm pregnant and it's freaking me out. Gah! 

I'm thinking about getting a new thermometer too.  I really need something with a light behind it, because it's a PITA to put on my glasses, turn on my phone, and squint at the thermometer.  I've had 2 walgreens thermometers--one was smallish and white with pink lettering, and it always gave me 97.2.  The one I'm using now is bigger, flexible, and pink all over. It has been pretty good, although sometimes I wonder.  I'm going to go read the reviews...  What did you order?
 

[TrishWSU]

Ok, weird...this was suppose to quote miss_honeyb, but I guess that didn't work out right. This is in regards to the spotting pre-AF: It's been happening to me since I took out my Mirena...for the few days (it's been as much as a week) before AF starts I'll spot or "wipe pink."  I use the TCOYF online charting program and when I enter it as spotting they mark it as part of my current cycle; the new cycle doesn't begin until I enter "Menses."

[JMJ]

Premenstrual spotting is called "irregular shedding."  According to The Art of NFP 4th Edition, it is a sign of an inadequate LP.  Count CD 1 as the first day of temperature drop.

CD 1 again for me... a 3rd 8 day LP in a row.  If anybody has any ideas on how to increase LP's while breastfeeding, I'd love to hear them... reading about night lighting.

[jenmegc]

Question, I have been charting for a month now, since Jan 29. It was the 2nd 1/2 of cycle, period, up to day 18 of the current cycle. I am not getting above 97.7. Lowest temp is 96.5, but 80% are 97 to 97.5. Shouldn't I have had a spike in temp by time? Thanks! 

[jenmegc]

Here are the charts.

[justKate]

jenmegc, for those of us who use FF, we can't see your charts (our own show up instead).  To link your charts, go to the "my home page" button on the left when you're looking at FF.  There should be a web link at the top of that page, like www.fertilityfriend.com/home______  with a bunch of numbers or letters after it.  Copy that link and paste it here. :)  HTH.