Charting to Avoid October, November, December 2008

[texaspeach]

Welcome to the charting to avoid October, November and December thread. If you would like to be added or removed (or have anything changed) from the roll call list, please let me know by PMing me. PM me if you'd like to start next month's thread.

Here's a link to last month's September Thread


If you did not post in October, November or December I have deleted your name from the list. If I mistakenly deleted your name, or you would like to be added/removed, please PM me and let me know. I can not promise to make changes requested in the thread, but I will try to get to everything.

*Charting/Using FAM/NFP to AVOID*

who we are:


* = active member

akaisha - since 04/08
AnnieA - since 12/07
Arwyn
BarefootScientist
CanidFL - CTA since06/08
ccasanova - CTA since 12/08 + 4 mos prior
cfiddlinmama -- CTA since 11/07 + more prior
DucetteMama21842 - (babymed) (FF) since 11/08
Feminine Earth since 06/04
Funky_red_hat CTA since 11/08
gardenmommy
Juliacat - CTA since 03/08 mo, +33 cycles prior from 2001-2004
ladyinred - since 06/08
Lady Lilya
MamaRhi
mamaspirit - CTA since 11/08 + more prior
MarineMommy - CTA since 10/08
MarineWife - Fertility Friend Ovusoft since 06/08
momongeon
mommy2twobabes - CTA since 7/08
nancybotwin CTA 11/08
ReikiMommy07 CTA since 08/08
Shell_Ell - (FF) (OS) since 11/04 (15 cycles)
Shelsi
Twinklefae - since 05/08
southernmommie - since 01/09
waylonsmama - CTA since 09/08
VeganCupcake

Graduates (no longer charting to avoid)
maggirayne -- CTA 02/08-10/08
JuicyPakwan - CTA 06/07 - 06/08 (?)
jul511riv - CTA 17 mo
Mrs_Lurker - CTA 11 mo
augustinem -- cta 6 mo
DanelleB - 12/07 - 05/08
Runner29 - CTA since 07/07 + 2 years previous
ShwarmaQueen - CTA since 09/07
BananaBreadGirl - CTA for 2 years
Othermother'n'madre - 02/08-10/08
sk8ermaiden - 09/07-10/08
texaspeach - 10/04 - 01/09

Happy charting!

Summary of FAM rules (sympto-thermal)

Pre-ovulation rules:

1) First 5 Days Rule: You are safe the first 5 days of your menstrual cycle if you had an obvious temp shift 12-16 days before.

2) Dry day rule: You are safe to DTD after 6PM if you have been dry all day.

Post ovulation rules:

1) Peak day rule: the last day of fertile mucous is called the peak day (the day before your mucous begins to dry up). You are safe to DTD on the fourth consecutive day after the peak day. If another patch of more fertile mucous appears, start your count over.

2) Temperature shift rule: You are safe the evening of the third consecutive day your temp is above your coverline. If your temp falls at or below the coverline during the 3 day count, begin your count again.

BOTH rules must be satisfied to be considered in your infertile phase.

How to set a coverline:

When you see a temperature shift of at least 0.2 degrees F above the highest of the previous 6 temps, draw a line 0.1 degrees F above that highest temp.

Resources

Books:

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler
Garden of Fertility and Honoring Our Cycles workbook, by Katie Singer
The Art of Natural Family Planning by John and Sheila Kippley
Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing: How Ecological Breastfeeding Spaces Babies by Sheila Kippley
Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn Shannon

Websites:

Ovusoft charting software, and brief fertility library
Fertility Friend charting software, and ttc charting guide
Author Katie Singer's Garden of Fertility website
Billings Ovulation Method info
Billings Ovulation Method Association, USA
Billings Centre, CA
Couple to Couple League (find an NFP instructor)
Creighton Model

Abbreviations:

AF: Aunt Flo, your period
BFP: what we are trying to avoid, a positive pregnancy test
CD: Cycle day
CM: cervical mucous (same as CF)
CF: cervical fluid (same as CM)
DPO: Days past ovulation
DTD: Do the deed
GIO: get it on
EWCM: eggwhite cervical mucous/fluid
LP: Luteal phase - the time from ovulation until your period, average 10-16 days

[MarineWife]

Subbing

Thanks for the explanation of the various abbreviations. Now, let's GIO!

[waylonsmama]

Just started FAM a couple weeks ago after I got my Mirena IUD removed. Will be CTA until DH and I are ready to TTC sometime next year. Glad to be apart of this thread.

[texaspeach]

please welcome Leighann79 and waylonsmama to CTA!

[Marlet]

Wow. A relatively short AF (not that I have long ones anyway)...3 days with 2 days of spotting so far. Super light too. Sweet.

That's all on my end. Dh wants to gio () but I'm a bit hesitant. I know the five day rule doesn't apply to me currently and well...I'm on day 5.

[MarineWife]

Welcome Leighann79 and waylonsmom.

Lots of people getting IUDs removed recently. Is that because they're old or because there have been problems with them? Just curious.

[akaisha]

back after a loooong absence. august was so busy with work and the move and i'm in england now! been roadtripping around the UK for the past couple of weeks and finally have time to catch my breath.

CD...uh...3? yeah 3 now. as you can see i'm slightly disorganized at the moment,

[Twinklefae]

Hello again! Still wondering about my big drop in temps... I thought the first drop was just because I'd taken my temp earlier than usual when I got up for work, but today was an at home day and perfectly normal (got good sleep, etc.) so I"m really confused about it!

Do you think my thermometre could be off?

[Marlet]

Ok I have a question...a possibly tmi one.

This AF I have been using a sponge. I have a diva cup but have never liked how it fit. The first day or so was awesome. Totally love it. However by day three I was swollen inside. I took it out and didn't use it all day and once the swelling was down (by bedtime) I put my diva in. Swollen again. I've been using a pad today which sucks. I hate them. I think they are just gross (disposable or not and mine are not) and do not want to use them. I don't want to use tampons either. I don't really have a heavy enough flow (even on super heavy days) to not get "dry" so a diva/cup/sponge was a great option for me. This sucks. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I do not want to be stuck with pads.

This has never happened with my diva before. Then againn I only got a couple uses out of it before DD2 decided to show up.

[Marlet]

Originally Posted by Twinklefae

Hello again! Still wondering about my big drop in temps... I thought the first drop was just because I'd taken my temp earlier than usual when I got up for work, but today was an at home day and perfectly normal (got good sleep, etc.) so I"m really confused about it!

Do you think my thermometre could be off?

What's you temps. like weather wise? Has there been a drop in them? I had a couple fluke low ones followed by a couple fluke high ones last cycle that got me all excited...you know o and all. Anyway turns out the low ones coincided with a sudden drop in temps. here and the couple high were from us turning on the heat at night. Once I adjusted to those two changes my temps. fixed themselves.

[CanidFL]

to the new CTAers!

Othermother - I have no idea. I use tampons and have never ventured into alternatives. Could you have an allergy to the sponge?

twinklefae - I have no idea for you either Just keep temping with that thermometer. Maybe you are just getting a dramatic pre O dip?

Marinewife - thanks for the thoughts on my chart. I am 4 dpo now and I think I will consider myself safe tomorrow. It's pretty clear I o'd.

I have been getting up earlier and earlier with DS lately. Thinking of just temping at 5:30 rather then 6:30. I really hate getting up early :

[MarineWife]

Othermother ~ I've never used a sponge but have a Diva cup. I haven't had very good luck with the cup. It leaks on me all the time. I don't know if I'm not using it correctly or if it just doesn't work for me for some reason. The first time I used it I didn't have any problems but every time after that it has leaked. I got fed up and went back to cloth pads. The first thing I thought was what Canid suggested, maybe an allergy to the sponge. After the initial reaction to the sponge when you put anything back in there like the Diva cup you were already irritated so you reacted again. Just a guess.

WB, akaisha

[Marlet]

Marinewife if you don't mind my asking....does your cervix prefer one side or the other? Both my sister and I leak too! Both of us have a cervix that tilts (dramatically) to the left/inner left thigh. We just guess that while the cup sits in there in the correct spot our cervix leans so much the cup doesn't catch it all. Make sense?

It might be an allergy. Worth checking into that's for sure. I wnder if it's just not more sensitive period because I noticed when I would check CP for more than 2-3 days it would start to sweel either. It's not like I'm constantly toolin' around in there either! I'm a once is enough sorta gal.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by OtherMother'n'Madre

Marinewife if you don't mind my asking....does your cervix prefer one side or the other?

Hmmm...I don't think so but I don't really know. I've had many, many ultrasounds that would've picked up something like that and it was never mentioned to me. How do you know your cervix does that? I thought the cup was supposed to create seal so that nothing would leak. I don't know.

What is the sponge made out of?

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by OtherMother'n'Madre

What's you temps. like weather wise? Has there been a drop in them? I had a couple fluke low ones followed by a couple fluke high ones last cycle that got me all excited...you know o and all. Anyway turns out the low ones coincided with a sudden drop in temps. here and the couple high were from us turning on the heat at night. Once I adjusted to those two changes my temps. fixed themselves.

Hmmm, this is an interesting idea. It has been chillier the last few nights but not dramatically. I guess there really is no explanation (TCOYF lives in my bathroom and I've checked a couple of times today) I'll just have to wait and see. If it is a pre O dip, it'll be the earliest O since DS was born. (And will reassure DH that I know what I'm talking about, as I was very insistant on a condom the last time we GIO)

My Diva leaks too, but not drastically. (And I tore with DS and I'm sure it's related, as DH and I didn't wait til I was all the was healed and I re-tore something. TMI? ) Not sure what's up with the swelling, was it uncomfortable? I've never checked up there during AF.

[waylonsmama]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

Welcome Leighann79 and waylonsmom.

Lots of people getting IUDs removed recently. Is that because they're old or because there have been problems with them? Just curious.

Had mine removed because I was not liking it anymore. Had it for 2 years...liked until about 6 months ago. Began to get crampy...some other side effects too. I had high blood pressure at my last checkup...always had low...did some research...learned that high blood pressure can be a side effect from the mirena. I also wanted to start charting...wanted dh to be more apart of our fertility.

[MarineWife]

Thanks for answering me, Lyndsi.

[AlbertaJes]

subbing.
on holidays this month, of course travelling right before O, so i appear to not be ovulating when i should be. which means instead of being safely past O when I get back to DH, I'll be solidly fertile. :

Had a temp dip this morning, but not sure if that's because i'm going to ovulate or because i slept in a colder bed than i have been. hoping it means O, DH gets home Saturday.


We may switch to TTC soon, and while part of me is excited for that, part of me is really liking charting and being successful at CTA.

[akaisha]

thanks for the welcome back!

OMNM-have you tried those exta thin "teen" tampons, they're pretty small. Or maybe try changing them more often to comabt the dryness? I have an extremely light AF (1-2 light-medium (and my meduium would be light for a lotta people) days usually then some spotting) and sometimes I go an entire AF without needing to use anything, but I can still use "light" tampons with no issues.

I hate pads too, haven't used anything but tampons since the summer before 10th grade.

As to the swelling thing, I've never used a cup or a sponge, but maybe an allergy? And in theory, putting a sponge up there sounds like it would cause irritation. It's not all smooth like a tampon, and could be abrassive when it goes in and out?

Just guesses though, sorry I'm not much help.

A shot in the dark: are you BFing at all right now? Lack of estrogen can cause dryness and weakening of the vaginal tissues.

[Marlet]

I am nursing but dryness has never been an issue and I have been nursing for over 3 years now. The swelling was odd since it has never happened before. And it's not really a dry thing since I would have noticed it going in or out. They do both just fine. AF is over so I guess I won't know if it was a fluke thingn until next time.

Marinewife I know my cervix leans because when I check cp I have to pull it "center" all the time. I can't just go straight in..I always have to turn to the left.