Charting To Avoid-FAM/NFP November 2012 - Page 3

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

One of the things I love about NFP is the communication that you get out of it. It's a bit awkward at first, but you do develop a way of talking about it that's comfortable for you both. ...I'll get out my chart and show him where I'm at... giving details about how likely I think getting pregnant is along with comparing my signs to the objective rules, sometimes guessing as to when I'm likely to be infertile again. Then, it's not a yes or no answer, but a mutual decision whether to accept that probability of conceiving a child together right now. 

(bolding mine) I think this is important.  I won't give DH the gory details, but I can tell him I've noticed fertile cm, remind him what that means, and leave it at that.  He looks at my chart, sees temp shifts or whatnot.  It does help me feel like he is more involved, much more so than when I was on the mini-pill.  Rather than a totally abstract risk (i.e. what if the pill fails?), I can give him some empirical info to make a decision.  We decide together, and JMJ is right - it is helpful to keep a dialogue about fertility/preventing/etc.  

[HeatherB]

One of the things that appeals to me about the LadyComp is the ability for both of us to simply look at the light and know where we are. I'm really hoping we'll get to a place of more communication and joint understanding of the whole process. I know a lot of it squicks him out, but I'd rather have him understand the actual dynamics than to have him start making senseless decisions on his own. (Why P&P when there's NO chance of being fertile?!?)

Funny, I think my biggest sadness is just that my body would start working up to PPAF *already*. Did I mention DD just turned 2? I should be counting my blessings! But it's still disappointing when I was hoping it would hold off for awhile - mostly because NOT worrying about fertility is so much easier! There was definitely a lot of hormone shifting a week ago, though, so I know we're gearing up, whether that was actually a pre-PPAF O or not.

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by HeatherB 

(Why P&P when there's NO chance of being fertile?!?)

EXACTLY! This is my favorite part of the cycle - guilt-free. 

Funny, I think my biggest sadness is just that my body would start working up to PPAF *already*. Did I mention DD just turned 2? I should be counting my blessings! But it's still disappointing when I was hoping it would hold off for awhile - mostly because NOT worrying about fertility is so much easier! There was definitely a lot of hormone shifting a week ago, though, so I know we're gearing up, whether that was actually a pre-PPAF O or not.

I can totally understand that (got mine at 18 months) - and why it might lead you to want an easier approach.  You don't want to dive in and have in-depth discussions when you are still a little irritated you have to do it at all.  I think you get a while to pout, and do whatever works for you both to best ease you back into it (if that means delegating a bit of work to the LadyComp, so be it!). 

AFM - I have a question - how much can sleeping with your mouth open affect your temps?  I ask because last night and two nights ago, I had to do this because of a cold, and my temps the next morning were 97.9 & 97.73 (CD 17 & 19).  In the middle (CD 18) I didn't mouth-breathe and had a temp spike of 98.62.  It was also my best temp of the three (best time, best sleep, took it right away).

Could mouth-breathing have pulled down those other two temps significantly?  One was taken late, one early (I have to aim mostly for after sleep and no activity, vs. same time of day - my toddler has been waking me up at odd hours).  I haven't had any fever with the cold (checked daytime temp - normal).  I can't think of anything else.  Just seems like a weird pattern to me. 

eta correct temps

Edited by pickle18 - 11/21/12 at 7:31am

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by HeatherB 

One of the things that appeals to me about the LadyComp is the ability for both of us to simply look at the light and know where we are. I'm really hoping we'll get to a place of more communication and joint understanding of the whole process. I know a lot of it squicks him out, but I'd rather have him understand the actual dynamics than to have him start making senseless decisions on his own. (Why P&P when there's NO chance of being fertile?!?)
Funny, I think my biggest sadness is just that my body would start working up to PPAF *already*. Did I mention DD just turned 2? I should be counting my blessings! But it's still disappointing when I was hoping it would hold off for awhile - mostly because NOT worrying about fertility is so much easier! There was definitely a lot of hormone shifting a week ago, though, so I know we're gearing up, whether that was actually a pre-PPAF O or not.

Just going to jump in!  I'll do an intro in a second!

That monitor looks amazing but is just so expensive!  A few dollars on a basal therm and a free account on fertility friend will really help you track your cycle with reliable results.  Your hubs could totally learn how to read the chart and peek when he's curious.  It really isn't difficult to do!!  

Hi all!  I'm Carrie, been around awhle and tried to CTA a few months ago but got off track b/c baby just wasn't sleeping well enough.  But, now we are good to go!  Can I be added to the group?  Here is my chart link.

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/1966df

 

Currently 31, and bf'ing my 15 month old son, Finn.  I seem to O around days 15-18 most cycles, and have a 28 day cycle.  I'm quite a few cycles in postpartum (got my AF back when Finn was 9 months).

If that link doesn't work, lmk.  Thanks!!

[JMJ]

Pickle, yes, mouth breathing can have a big affect on your temps. If it's just every once in a while, you can throw out those temps. If it's something you normally do, you might consider taking temps vaginally. Illness can affect temps in many ways, like raising your temp slightly, too, so I'd be cautious of any temp rise that coincides with being sick. I'd guess the 2 low ones might have been related to mouth breathing, but 98.6 sounds high, even for a post-O temp.

[slammerkin]

Hum, I'll have to see how the rest of this cycle (first post-BC, and first full charting cycle period) goes regarding temps and mouth-breathing. I'm a mouth-breather all the time, so I figured it would just be consistent. 

In other news, I am a week and a half off BC (would have been off for that first week for my period anyway, but whatever). I dunno if it's really hormone changes yet (I doubt it) or just the sort of "taboo" feeling of being off BC and having that risk of pregnancy, but I have been pretty horny, haha! Hubs has been feeling it too, so I think we're both just titillated by the idea. We are of course still not trying to get me pregnant, but it's an acceptable risk right now since we're going to be trying in a few months. :)

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

Pickle, yes, mouth breathing can have a big affect on your temps. If it's just every once in a while, you can throw out those temps. If it's something you normally do, you might consider taking temps vaginally. Illness can affect temps in many ways, like raising your temp slightly, too, so I'd be cautious of any temp rise that coincides with being sick. I'd guess the 2 low ones might have been related to mouth breathing, but 98.6 sounds high, even for a post-O temp.

Thank you, JMJ!   I conducted a not-at-all scientific experiment this morning.  I had been mouth-breathing all night, and took my temp when I randomly woke up at 5:40 am.  It was 97.60.  Then I fell back asleep, and as I was waking back up, I remembered to shut my mouth - fell in and out of sleep for a couple minutes - then when I really woke up, I took my temp at 8:15 am - it was 98.34.

Now, the odd times could have affected that, too (like I said, not scientific) - but it seemed to indicate a difference with mouth-breathing vs. not.  If I had been nose-breathing all night (instead of for just a couple minutes), it could have been even higher, I suppose.

Anyway, I agree with you, JMJ - the temps are weirdly high.  I have had the cold since CD 15, and that could be part of it.  Ditching the low temps, and just looking at CD 18 and this morning (CD 20) - it almost looks triphasic (especially if those discarded temps would have been similar).  I'm just going to keep temping and see how it plays out - my temp time is pretty erratic, too (a few days this month were all right around 7 am, the rest mostly 8:30-9:30 am). Multiple factors.

You can link my chart, mt_gooseberry: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/3ff9d0  Thanks!

[JoyFilled]

Say I just went with no sex on any days with mucus and 3 days after any mucus.  Do we think this would guarantee no pregnancy? 

[mt_gooseberry]

Technically, there are no guarantees short of hysterectomy.  Even menopause...my grandma got pregnant with my aunt 7 years after her last period!  IUD's, sterilization, definitely not condoms or the Pill, none of them are "guaranteed."

That said...you should be safe.  Sometimes there are cases of "hidden mucus," where there was internal mucus that wasn't noticed.  Sometimes a couple will DTD early in the day, and mucus will appear later in the day (which is why some methods have an "end of day only" rule during phase I).  Sometimes there will be a "double peak," where the body gears up to ovulate, with all of the signs, and then for some reason doesn't (stress, illness), only to go through a real ovulation later.  If you DTD after a false peak, not realizing you still haven't ovulated, this can result in pregnancy. Fortunately, most methods have rules established for preventing these accidents.  That is why, if you are serious about avoiding a pregnancy, you should learn a method inside and out, and follow its rules.  That is the only way to get the 95%+ accuracy that FAM/NFP is capable of.

But still...you are very probably SAFE.  

[slammerkin]

I saw some EWCM today! Kind of exciting since I haven't had that in few years because of the pill. :)

[pickle18]

Originally Posted by slammerkin 

I saw some EWCM today! Kind of exciting since I haven't had that in few years because of the pill. :)

Isn't it funny - I was totally psyched by this, too!!!  Who knew I could get so excited over something so gross??   Especially since we aren't TTC!  Loved seeing my temps shift, too.  On toward freedom (aka luteal phase)! 

It just feels awesome to be off the pills.  No more nausea, more milk supply, etc.    And as this first cycle of charting is winding down, I'm almost looking forward to AF (it's like a gold star...we did it right! haha).

[lactatinggirl]

Originally Posted by JMJ 

Lactatinggirl, that sounds like a probably anovulatory cycle, though if you do not have confirmed ovulation, days of bleeding are not considered to be infertile (though if they are followed by dry days, the dry days are considered to be infertile).

That's very good to know! Hopefully I can see an obvious temp shift this month. Sadly, I've been sick the last couple of weeks and had a fever through part of it, so my temps aren't making much sense at the moment. :-/

Originally Posted by HeatherB 

One of the things that appeals to me about the LadyComp is the ability for both of us to simply look at the light and know where we are. I'm really hoping we'll get to a place of more communication and joint understanding of the whole process. I know a lot of it squicks him out, but I'd rather have him understand the actual dynamics than to have him start making senseless decisions on his own. (Why P&P when there's NO chance of being fertile?!?)
Funny, I think my biggest sadness is just that my body would start working up to PPAF *already*. Did I mention DD just turned 2? I should be counting my blessings! But it's still disappointing when I was hoping it would hold off for awhile - mostly because NOT worrying about fertility is so much easier! There was definitely a lot of hormone shifting a week ago, though, so I know we're gearing up, whether that was actually a pre-PPAF O or not.

That line just made me laugh! DH has told me that he prefers that I say cervical fluid instead of mucus. :-P 

Originally Posted by pickle18 

AFM - I have a question - how much can sleeping with your mouth open affect your temps?  I ask because last night and two nights ago, I had to do this because of a cold, and my temps the next morning were 97.9 & 97.73 (CD 17 & 19).  In the middle (CD 18) I didn't mouth-breathe and had a temp spike of 98.62.  It was also my best temp of the three (best time, best sleep, took it right away).

Could mouth-breathing have pulled down those other two temps significantly?  One was taken late, one early (I have to aim mostly for after sleep and no activity, vs. same time of day - my toddler has been waking me up at odd hours).  I haven't had any fever with the cold (checked daytime temp - normal).  I can't think of anything else.  Just seems like a weird pattern to me. 

eta correct temps

I have to remind myself not to talk to my girls before I take my temp in the morning so it'll be correct. Even just a quick "shhh!" to my toddler can throw it off! 

[Baby_Cakes]

I'm having a wacky cycle!  

Thoughts?  http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/1966df

Normally I O around day 16, so this late with no ewcm is just strange for me.  I did have a cold, so maybe that could explain the lack of cm but, temp isn't really up and I'm still having awful O pains.  C'mon ovaries!  Lets get this show on the road!

[HeatherB]

Well, I don't think I'll be investing in ladycomp anytime soon. Apparently I fail at TTA. :/

[lactatinggirl]

HeatherB are you announcing something?

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by HeatherB 

Well, I don't think I'll be investing in ladycomp anytime soon. Apparently I fail at TTA. :/

OMG what are you saying!?  Are you pg!?  

[HeatherB]

It's looking that way. :/

(nothing public yet, should anyone I know see!)

[slammerkin]

Ooh, HeatherB, sorry you're not thrilled about a possible pg! Must be kind of a shock.

AFM, crosshairs showed up on my chart today! Woo! A little nervous that we had unprotected sex on Friday and I appear to have ovulated on Tuesday. I dunno if his swimmers were still hanging around then! 

[JMJ]

Originally Posted by HeatherB 

It's looking that way. :/
(nothing public yet, should anyone I know see!)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

... and peace as you adjust to the news.

[pickle18]

HeatherB - wishing you lots of peace with this, and sending lots of hugs! 

slammerkin - it's certainly possible (within the 5 day window) but less likely since you were dry the day you dtd and the day after - good luck!