Tracking my temperature

[lisab82]

Hi Ladies, I am ttc for number 2 and I want to start tracking my temperature( I have never had to do this before). I just don't know when to start. 2 weeks ago I got a positive urine ovulation and I thought for sure I would of been pregnant as me and my husband had sex 3 days straight after from the time I got the positive. Yesterday I was super nauseous and my boobs were very sensitive so I took a pregnancy test this morning and it came back negative. During the day I know why I got my negative and that's because AF came to visit me today...light...but its there :-(.

Anyways when do I start charting my temperature now that I am starting a new cycle. I know I have to take it in the morning but that's about all I know. What numbers am I looking for? What is the normal and what is the high? Clearly I need some help with this.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

[pokeyAC]

You could start tomorrow morning.  You just need a basal body thermometer and a chart.  There are lots of ovulation charts you can print out on the internet.  You should take your temp first thing when you wake up in the morning before you move around much or get out of bed.  I keep my thermometer right next to my alarm clock.  I turn off the alarm and then stick the thermometer in my mouth.  You should try to temp at about the same time every morning. 

There are no magic "normal" numbers to look for, you want to look for a pattern that develops after a few months, and you also want to see a rise to confirm ovulation.  Before O your temps may be around 97 degrees, mine is usually around 97.2.  After O it would probably be at least half a degree higher, mine averages 97.9.  Temping won't predict when you will ovulate, but it will confirm that you did when you see the rise in temps that stays up.  You can also chart online.  Lots of women on here user fertilityfriend.com.  They have a free version.  Good luck to you!

[lisab82]

Thank you so much Pokey for responding back. I hope this works.