Increased CM & pregnancy...

[RknOHMum]

I am "possibly" 8dpo & today I have noticed my cervical mucus increase like crazy...I feel like I am literally leaking! Its clear and watery. I have already had to change my underroo's once. Its insane! Has anyone had a large cm increase as an early pregnancy sign or could I just be making things up? ;p

[Jaimee]

Increased CF is dedinitely a possible pregnancy symptom, but it could also be caused by normal fluctuating hormones.  Is there any foul odor associated with the discharge?  If so, suspect an infection and seek medical advice.  If not (and ususally infection caused discharge is clumpier and colored), a lot of women experience fertile looking CF later in their LP's pregnant or not.  I noticed you also said "possibly 8 DPO" so I assume that means you're not positive you O'd.  You could be gearing up to O again now.  Not having seen your chart, I would DTD now just to be sure.  Good luck!

[vivica2]

 yeah what jamie said about the o date. 

but increased cm was my first sign of pregnancy and it continued through my 1st trimester. good luck!

[RknOHMum]

So if my cycle is a normal 28 day cycle, what do ya'll think of my chart for this past month?

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/346550

I was planing on testing tomorrow morning. 

[RknOHMum]

The temps arent super high which is what makes me think I will end up with a - PT. 

[vivica2]

i just looked at your chart. and if those temps are right, it doesnt look like youv ovulated yet. the opk shows that you built up to o...but the temps say you never did. keep bd, just in case...good luck!

[Jaimee]

Hmmm...  if you're thinking you O'd on CD 15 then you should test tomorrow morning with FMU.  If you get a negative then I would assume that you either have not yet O'd or you might have O'd on CD 26ish.  More CF data is really needed to help decipher a chart like this.

[RknOHMum]

So I got a cover line on my chart. Seems I may have possibly missed my ovulation day. Took a test this morning and it was negative. It seems  we BD the day after ovulation, no chance  for a baby huh? Meh. There's always next month. 

[Jaimee]

You got dashed crosshairs b/c FF is unsure.  If you had some CF data to add to your chart around that time you could get a more definitive result.  If you did DTD the day after then you definitely still have a chance!  The egg can live up to 24 hours plus there is always that 3 day window around the time of the temp spike that could include ovulation.  So you aren't out of the game this cycle.  I'm just curious what your temp will do over the next 3 days to make sure that you did indeed O.

[RknOHMum]

Im curious as well. As far as CF, I have been very wet/slippery most days. I dont even need to do a "check" up there. My panties have been pretty damp. I guess I should go ahead and do a check to be sure its the same on the inside as well as the outside. kwim?

[Jaimee]

There is controversy about internal CF checking.  Really just mark down what you see on your panties and toilet paper and what you feel.  No need to check internally.  If you find that your basic pattern is fairly wet then be sure to really make note of the days that things are different- stretchier, more profuse, etc.

[TenzinsMama]

What is the controversy?  (Sorry this is short-- nursing and 1 finger typing...)

[kittenbritches]

I'm curious about the controversy, too.  I've only ever really checked my CM from what I observe externally, but have read that I should be checking it on my cervix.  The problem for me was that I couldn't ever reach my cervix -- ever.  Last year my uterus prolapsed about 2cm, and now I can reach (but I'm still not a cervix checker).  I was thinking about starting to check CP this cycle.

[Jaimee]

I'll have to dig up the info, but from what I remember the controversy is really just recognizing the fact that the research that has been done on fertility and CF has all been done with external observations.  So when we talk about FAM rules and statistics it's with external observations.  This isn't to say that internal observations are wrong and when TTC it probably doesn't matter as much, but when TTA this is important to remember.  I just think that internal observations are more work and probably not worth the effort.  If you have fertile CF it's most likely going to come down and present itself on your panties or TP. 

[RknOHMum]

Temps are still up, but had a really HUGE jump today. Humm. Random? 

[Jaimee]

Well... it would be nice to see some fertile CF around CD 26, instead you had sticky on CD 25... this makes your crosshairs more suspect (and why they are dashed).  Then you had a patch of fertile CF from CD 29-31 followed by that big spike, but then followed by that dip.  Two things could be happening here.  One, you did O on CD 25.  This is definitely possible b/c your temps are slightly elevated as a group, but sticky CF around the time of O is not only less likely, but also decreases your chances of conception as sperm cannot live in sticky CF.  If you got a shot in there right around the time the egg released or after then your chances improve a bit.  Was that the time you DTD the next day... CD 26?  Or two, you O'd on CD 31 and are having a bit of a fall back pattern.  Did anything else out of the ordinary happen on CD 30?  Stress?  Injury?  Strenuous exercise?  Something else could have elevated your temp.  But hopefully your temp goes back up tomorrow.

For counting purposes, you could test at an appropriate time based on CD 25, but if you get a BFN, keep in mind that things may be off by another week.  In other words, you may need to wait another week to test again and do not be surprised if AF is "late" by another week.  Keep us posted!

[RknOHMum]

So I started my cycle again today. Which makes me think two things:

 "Sweet, I have had a period both July & August months, which is CRAZY b/c I have a period 1 or 2 times a year! Go me! Losing weight and eating hormone free is actually working! "

and second:

"What kind of cycle did I have in July? By looking at my chart its insane looking!"

Any thoughts? :)

[kittenbritches]

I think that you *did* O on CD 25, but your LP was on the short side this last cycle.  It is good to see that you *did* ovulate, though, and that your body is starting to regulate itself.  :)  Are you actively TTC or just trying to get a better idea of what your body is doing?  Or both? :)  You may want to start taking B6 to lengthen your luteal phase.  Some women take it their whole cycle, and some just take it from O-AF.  I'm taking several vitamins and supplements this cycle, and feel it is really regulating my body increasing my fertile CM.

[RknOHMum]

A first I was just trying to "fix" what  I did to my body. Now we have decided that TTC is a go (DH got a new job so more $ makes him more sure about a new LO) Currently  I am taking Vtex, B6, and Prenatals. 

[Jaimee]

Yeah, the over all pattern appears to validate O around CD 26, giving you an 8 day LP.  Did you spot at all on CD 34 (the day before AF)?  I ask b/c your temp dipped quite a bit, which usually results in spotting, indicating that progesterone is falling already and cannot be counted as part of your fertile LP.  Great that you're Oing each month, but an LP that short will not be able to sustain a pregnancy.  Hopefully continuing to do what you're doing will lengthen it quickly!  Also keep in mind that some cycles may have longer LP's than others as your body is regulating and if you catch one of those, you might get that BFP before you have a consistently longer LP.  Fingers crossed!