Charting to Avoid October, November, December 2008 - Page 46

[MarineMommy]

Chloryphyll!! I'm goin' to get some today!! My cycle is pretty normal. Avg 28 days. As for the tampons. I would love to not use them, but I hate feeling the gush all the time it makes me ill. If I could lay in bed all day I might do that!! I do want to try a diva cup but I am worried it won't work well and I will have wasted the money. Thanks all, I really appreciate it. I will let you all know how the chloryphyll works.

[eirual]

I haven't been here in a long time, but feeling ready for a baby and DH not there yet, I came here to curse the reliability of FAM, a year and a half with no oopsies:

[AnnieA]

With regard to heavy flow, I noticed a SIGNIFICANT difference in my AF when I switched to chlorine-free tampons. They are slightly more expensive buy it made a huge difference for me. I get them at Whole Foods but you can probably find them at a local health food store.

As far has heavy/painful cramping, I strongly advise Zinc. You can do a google search for dysmenorrhea (the technical term for painful periods) and Zinc and it will give you the data for it. I take 90 mg of Zinc starting 4 days before my AF and so far it has made a huge difference. I found a tablet at WF that is gentle on my stomach and as long as I take it with food, no problems!

[eirual]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

the link to the chart would probably help wouldn't it? http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/160991

I'm a little frustrated because we had an oops last cycle. We took this entire cycle off...haven't dtd since last cycle and as you can see I have long cycles...so I could get a handle on what my BIP is. But apparently my BIP is dry/creamy so there's always a chance I could get pregnant. Dh and I aren't ready for that, we hate condoms, I'm allergic to spermicides, I had a bad experience with the IUD, my milk dries up on the mini-pill. We feel like we don't have any options and that we're stuck with a higher probability of NFP failing for us since I always have slightly fertile cm.

Shelsi, You sound a lot like me

Even though FAM says that creamy can equal fertile, for me it just doesn't. I went through a few cycles of OMG, Ovusoft is saying that I'm fertile and yada yada yada, I found taking a step back, reviewing the 'rules' and trusting my OWN body really took the shift away from obsessing over all conditions fitting into a box and focused on what my body was telling me at the moment. ...in doing this I ditched the software and went to paper-recording since I had enough experience with the software and really began understanding my body's pattern- the software telling me one thing while I was convinced of something else was just too much for me to worry about- I didn't like having a difference of opinion on such a huge matter).

Don't sweat the creamy cm if you usualy get stretchy EWCM when you're fertile. What is your fertile cm like? Take into account when you typically O and use that to help you judge (i.e. if it's CD 9 and you have creamy cm, but you don't usually O until CD 15, I'd say you're fine). I think it's okay to have dry/creamy as a BIP, given that there's some observable difference between not-fertile and fertile CM.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by MarineMommy

Chloryphyll!! I'm goin' to get some today!! My cycle is pretty normal. Avg 28 days. As for the tampons. I would love to not use them, but I hate feeling the gush all the time it makes me ill. If I could lay in bed all day I might do that!! I do want to try a diva cup but I am worried it won't work well and I will have wasted the money. Thanks all, I really appreciate it. I will let you all know how the chloryphyll works.

I was going to say that Diva cup has a one year guarantee, but looking at their website, they've discontinued that. That sucks.

The Keeper and the Moon Cup both have a 3 month guarantee.

Good luck with the Chlorypyll!

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by AnnieA

As far has heavy/painful cramping, I strongly advise Zinc. You can do a google search for dysmenorrhea (the technical term for painful periods) and Zinc and it will give you the data for it. I take 90 mg of Zinc starting 4 days before my AF and so far it has made a huge difference. I found a tablet at WF that is gentle on my stomach and as long as I take it with food, no problems!

Thanks. My cramps are really bad during my lp. Once I get AF they stop. It's backward. Also, I can't take zinc. It makes me sick to my stomach. I've tried all kinds of ways.

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

Ah, ok. I was thinking you hadn't been charting very long since you said you were trying to determine your BIP. I think if you know you go for long periods of time (weeks) with creamy CF and then have several days of watery/ew before you O, you could probably bend the rules a little. I guess, technically, that might put you at a bit of a higher risk for an oops. That's something you might be able to figure out based on what you know about how your body works. I think the creamy BIP stuff I read was in the section on breastfeeding or when you have irregular cycles PP and you don't know when you might O or if you have short, regular length cycles with only a few days of creamy before more fertile and then O, if that makes sense.

Originally Posted by eirual

Shelsi, You sound a lot like me

Even though FAM says that creamy can equal fertile, for me it just doesn't. I went through a few cycles of OMG, Ovusoft is saying that I'm fertile and yada yada yada, I found taking a step back, reviewing the 'rules' and trusting my OWN body really took the shift away from obsessing over all conditions fitting into a box and focused on what my body was telling me at the moment. ...in doing this I ditched the software and went to paper-recording since I had enough experience with the software and really began understanding my body's pattern- the software telling me one thing while I was convinced of something else was just too much for me to worry about- I didn't like having a difference of opinion on such a huge matter).

Don't sweat the creamy cm if you usualy get stretchy EWCM when you're fertile. What is your fertile cm like? Take into account when you typically O and use that to help you judge (i.e. if it's CD 9 and you have creamy cm, but you don't usually O until CD 15, I'd say you're fine). I think it's okay to have dry/creamy as a BIP, given that there's some observable difference between not-fertile and fertile CM.

See this is what I was doing and how our oops happened. I had creamy cm, we dtd, and the next morning I had ewcm. 5 days later I ovulated and 2 weeks later I had a positive HPT. I think the biggest issue with having a creamy BIP is that it's the step just before ewcm so I don't have any good "clues" that I'm beginning to get fertile, kwim? That cycle I had 5 days of ewcm before ovulating whereas previously I've had 7+ days. If my days of ewcm are starting to lessen than my chances of another oops could increase.

Oh and I we took the entire cycle off for me to re-figure my BIP just to get a really clear picture of everything. I wanted to be sure that dtd was not interferring with my true BIP, kwim?

[thatblondegirl]

sorry, but i have a quick question for you guys. Shelsi, you were saying that you have 5 to 7 days of ewcm, right? that's normal? i'm new to all of this so i was wondering. i've had it for at LEAST 7 days right now. but my temp hasn't risen yet. so i might have been fertile for a week now? i'm NOT wanting to be pregnant but this whole thing still confuses me. i'm on hold at the library for TCOYF book right now, so i'm basically going off of the info i can dig up on fertility friend.

basically, how long does the EWCM last for? and i'm fertile that whole time, likely?

[ReikiMommy07]

THanks CanidFL! I chart them separately too--last day of LP and 1st of AF. I won't know/believe I'm pg or not until I test, which it's still too early for... Meanwhile, I'm having some pretty awful cramps.

I hope you're all feeling ok, cycle-wise and here in the swing of flu season!

[eirual]

Originally Posted by thatblondegirl

sorry, but i have a quick question for you guys. Shelsi, you were saying that you have 5 to 7 days of ewcm, right? that's normal? i'm new to all of this so i was wondering. i've had it for at LEAST 7 days right now. but my temp hasn't risen yet. so i might have been fertile for a week now? i'm NOT wanting to be pregnant but this whole thing still confuses me. i'm on hold at the library for TCOYF book right now, so i'm basically going off of the info i can dig up on fertility friend.

basically, how long does the EWCM last for? and i'm fertile that whole time, likely?

I don't know the max. but mine lasts around 7 days, and YES you are fertile during that time. Basically fertile CM can keep sperm alive until you O, so even if you've avoided a week before O, if sperm had fertile mucus to live in you could conceive a week later (though I think the textbook max sperm life is more like 6 days).

[ccasanova]

I'm back ladies! I've had my baby and am in definite avoid mode! I am 99.99% sure that baby Matthew is our last and other methods of BC aren't sounding that appealling. The only concern i have though on top of not having my period back yet is that I cannot chart temps yet. there is just no way that i can take my temp with an every hour-2 hour during the night nursing 3 month old! Will that be a major problem? I've got my copy of TCOYF on it's way in the mail!

[mamaspirit]

Hi ladies! I'm new here. I've been using LAM (lactation awareness method) since the birth of my baby until 2 months ago when AF showed up. My baby is 7 months old and I was hoping I would get a bit more time without AF, oh well. I haven't really charted consistently since my first post natal AF, but I really need to as we are definantly in the avoid mode. IF we do have another we won't be ttcing until my baby is at least 3 years old! I'm already busy enough with a two year old and a baby together... lol.

I really love FAM and have been using it for years. I'd really like to start teaching it in my community as I believe more women could really benefit from it!

ccasanova - you can use LAM (lactation awareness method) with great success if you are breastfeeding at least every 4 hours during the day and every 6 hours during the night and your baby is less than 6 months old and you have not had a period yet. Keep track of your CM religiously and at any sign of fertile fluid either use protection or back off from DTD. There may be periods of fertile fluid even if you are not ovulating as your body returns to be fertile. TCOYF has clear LAM instructions... I think they are in one of the appendexes. With LAM you don't need to temp.

Anyway, looking forward to getting to know all of you!

[MarineWife]

What Tara said about using LAM and keeping track of CF. I wouldn't bother even trying to temp before getting that first PP bleed.

About how long ewcf lasts, I don't think there's any hard and fast rule. It's different for every woman and can be different every cycle. As long you have watery or ewcf you are potentially fertile and need to act accordingly regardless of how long it lasts. There's no way of knowing for sure when you will O after getting ewcf and sperm can live for several days in fertile CF.

[cahwilson]

Hi everyone! Is it all right if I join? I have a 2.5 year old dd and dh and I are just starting to CTA. So far we have used nothing for bc. I swear I just don't get pregnant. It's a little disheartning since I want more, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

I am on day 2 of charting and already confused LOL. I had a huge temp jump today, but no cm.

A little background on me, I am on what should be cycle day 3, but am not having a period this month I guess so I just jumped in and started charting. I had my hormone levels tested a couple months ago and progesterone was 0.2 and estradiol was 0.6. I am still nursing (A LOT) but my ND said it was okay to use bio-identical hormones since those levels were so low. After 2 months of using them I had a period (on cycle day 23). I also had an ultrasound before the period that showed a dominant follicle and things were looking normal.

So I am off the hormones for 7 days to have my "period" or lack thereof and then I think I will get my levels checked again and start using herbs to balance my hormones out. I think the creams were getting to be to much for me. Anyways, my questions are (if you made it this far thank you!) why no period this month and why such a huge temp jump with no CM on what should be day 3 of my period.

My chart: hopefully this works I am not sure how to link it
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/220ada

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by cahwilson

Hi everyone! Is it all right if I join? I have a 2.5 year old dd and dh and I are just starting to CTA. So far we have used nothing for bc. I swear I just don't get pregnant. It's a little disheartning since I want more, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

I am on day 2 of charting and already confused LOL. I had a huge temp jump today, but no cm.

A little background on me, I am on what should be cycle day 3, but am not having a period this month I guess so I just jumped in and started charting. I had my hormone levels tested a couple months ago and progesterone was 0.2 and estradiol was 0.6. I am still nursing (A LOT) but my ND said it was okay to use bio-identical hormones since those levels were so low. After 2 months of using them I had a period (on cycle day 23). I also had an ultrasound before the period that showed a dominant follicle and things were looking normal.

So I am off the hormones for 7 days to have my "period" or lack thereof and then I think I will get my levels checked again and start using herbs to balance my hormones out. I think the creams were getting to be to much for me. Anyways, my questions are (if you made it this far thank you!) why no period this month and why such a huge temp jump with no CM on what should be day 3 of my period.

My chart: hopefully this works I am not sure how to link it
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ttc/i...hp?interface=0

To share your chart you have too go to the share tab on the side and click on RSS feed. Click enable and copy the URL. Then others can view your chart.
As for a temp spike it could be caused by things like not enough good sleep, its hard to say.
Until it is sustained for 3 consecutive days it doesn't neccesarily mean anything. Try to look at your chart as an overall picture and not focuse on single temps.

[mommy2two babes]

Just remembered why I came here.lol
Is there going to be a Jan 09 thread starting soon?

[cahwilson]

Originally Posted by mommy2two babes

To share your chart you have too go to the share tab on the side and click on RSS feed. Click enable and copy the URL. Then others can view your chart.
As for a temp spike it could be caused by things like not enough good sleep, its hard to say.
Until it is sustained for 3 consecutive days it doesn't neccesarily mean anything. Try to look at your chart as an overall picture and not focuse on single temps.

Thanks, hopefully it is working now. Not enough sleep is a very true possiblity. I am hoping my temps are not going to be too eratic for this to work (due to dd's night nursing).

[mommy2two babes]

Originally Posted by cahwilson

Thanks, hopefully it is working now. Not enough sleep is a very true possiblity. I am hoping my temps are not going to be too eratic for this to work (due to dd's night nursing).

Nope still not working. You will have to delete the URL that is there currently and copy the one that is in the RSS feed for it to work. Make sure you check enable as well. I have been nursing two at night and I am still able to see a definite shift in my temps. you do have to look for general trends though and try not to focus on single temps.

[cahwilson]

Alright not sure why it isn't working...I went to share and clicked enable rss and it gives me my personal URL of http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/220ada/rss3975.xml

So that should work right?

[Shelsi]

I didn't totally trust the LAM method for me because I got AF back right away with ds (@ around 6 weeks PP) even though he was nursing 24/7. I think with dd I started temping and keeping track of cm at around 3 weeks. Of course it was somewhat erratic but I tried to temp when dh got up for work unless I thought I would already be up for the day before then. It wasn't perfect but I did see the obvious temp jump when I ovulated for the first time at 7 weeks post partum. However that first ovulation never would have yielded a viable pregnancy...my luteal phase that first time was 5 days (after that I had my normal LP).

Dh and I just made sure not to dtd whenever I had fertile cm and I usually waited until I had at least 3 dry days in a row before we would resume dtd.