Charting, Trying, Hoping to Avoid: December 2005 [Archive]

Kerriemoe

12-09-2005, 09:33 PM

This is the thread for everyone who is charting, trying, or hoping to avoid pregnancy (CTA/TTA/HTA). Everyone is welcome!

Here's last month's thread. (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=365475&page=1&pp=20)

I don't think I ovulated this month. :( I felt very lube one day last week, had a lot of creamy, but never got to EWCM. Then on Day 14, I got a stomach bug and now, Day 23, still no thermal shift. I think it may have gotten scared off.

I'm nervous, because it took my body 8 months to recover from the Pill last time. I'd assumed, since I was having 28 day cycles this time, that it wouldn't be a problem, but I guess I may have been wrong. I know, I'm getting myself worked up for no reason; no way to know what's going on until we go through a few cycles.

Here's a Q: does cervical position change even if you don't O? Like in the above situation, would my cervix have moved anyway? I think I need to start charting that, because I'm not so good about checking CM.

Thanks for any advice; still very new at this.

Alison

12-10-2005, 05:59 AM

Subscribing!

Sorry, I can't help you much with your questions Kerriemoe! I haven't been bothering with CP, since I'm so totally regular that it's not funny! I'm even getting lazy about CM I'm so regular. I know, I know, famous last words! But combined with withdrawal, it's worked so far, and DS is now 32 months, and AF returned when he ws 6 months old.

Alison

MizLiz

12-10-2005, 07:00 AM

subbing here.

I haven't really paid much attention to CP either... I was fairly on track with temping but I hevn't gotten around to replacing the missing thermometer yet so I'm kind of playing with fire these days!

In TCOYF it mentions how many factors can affect when and if you ovulate... do you have a copy of this book? You might find it useful to answer your questions?

rosie29

12-10-2005, 07:11 AM

subbing :)

Kerriemoe

12-10-2005, 09:02 AM

Thanks, yes, I've read the book. I looked up what may have caused an anovulatory cycle and got scared off, there were so many possibilities! :bigeyes

I've calmed down now; I can feel my period coming, so I know soon enough I'll just begin a new cycle and see what happens. I know that's why I'm charting, after all, to find out what is going on with my body so I can be better prepared whenever we start TTC next time. Last time we just DTD every other day all month long for 5 months. As much fun as that was :lol I'd like to approach it with a little more knowledge this time.

Oh, another Q: which chart do you all use? The one I printed for this cycle just turned up in a Google search and I'm not really crazy about it. Do you use one of the charts from TCOYF? Or is there another one out there that's better? I definitely want a new one for this next cycle. Thanks!

Alison

12-10-2005, 09:33 AM

I use fertilityfriend.com online. There are charts available on the TCOYF website as well to print out

Alison

mamato2boys

12-10-2005, 05:21 PM

subcribing...CD 22 waiting for AF; nothing new....

onlyboys

12-10-2005, 05:27 PM

Well, I'm back here after a short (well, not so short) baby hiatus.

We had Ivan 10-18-05 and he was our TTA baby. He was conceived via sex 5 days pre-ovulation. Definitely no unprotected sex for us till dry up!

I wouldn't be back here right away except that I believe I might have gotten my first PP period at almost 8 weeks. I think that 56 days is the cut off for it being normal, so, we might be fertile again. Which is a minor miracle because I am tandem nursing, a very active toddler and a sweet little nursling who gets nothing but my milk.

I'm starting my chart tonight! I use ovusoft.

mamato2boys

12-11-2005, 10:35 AM

Welcome back onlyboys~! Our third was concieved while TTA. Wow, 5 days pre O--that makes me nervous !

onlyboys

12-11-2005, 01:53 PM

Yeah, it makes me nervous too! Here's (http://www.ovusoft.com/forum/chart.asp?id=zapata) the chart from that cycle.

+stella+

12-12-2005, 06:14 PM

Hello again gals.
I am at CD 30 with no AF in sight, but thats ok, I know I cant be preg, no sex even close to O day. It was my first cycle pp and I didnt expect to be back to "normal" so fast. I had like, about 12 days of really wet or ew CM tho. I dont know if I was close to O and I didnt have enough estrogen or if I was just stressed or what, but it was really odd. I know I finally did O 3 days ago with the rise in temps so now I am just curious as to my LP length.

boring stuff... I just wanted to sub to post and check in. I printed off some of the TCOYF charts to use but I really like the ovusoft one I just saw. hehe thanks.

I wish I could ttc already but honestly I am scared of having 2 young ones, but then I dont know if Ill want to go back to square one all over again if I wait 4 or 5 years between. Not really on topic but anyone have any oppinions?

Hope everyone is doing well. :)

Kerriemoe

12-13-2005, 08:41 AM

Hi, waiting for AF to show up tomorrow so I can start over again. If I could stop shoveling food in my face I'd be happy. :) Stella, I have a friend whose DDs are exactly 1 year apart, and she's been exhausted for 3 years. I don't think she'd recommend having them that close together, but if you were to get pg now, you'd have 2 years between, and that's not bad. Of course, now the youngest is 18 months and they're debating another. On one hand, if they stop now they'll be completely done. She's always said it's nice to have everything over more quickly. And her oldest DD never really got used to being an only, so the adjustment wasn't too bad.

I always knew I wanted about 3 years between, so hopefully my body will cooperate. Obviously only you can decide what's best for you.

mamato2boys

12-13-2005, 09:07 AM

Stella-

I've done both! I have a 5 year difference between my first two and a 16 month difference between my second and third. The 5 year difference made things really easy for DH and I, but the boys don't have anything in common and I think my oldest feels like he's alone a lot---there's the parents, the babies, and him :( The 16 month difference wasn't too hard in the beginning -my middle child was already sleeping through the night and has a really mild temperment. As they get older though I think it has gotten harder--disagreements over toys etc. goes on everyday and it really wears me out!

We had wanted about 3 years between the first two; but it took me a LONG time to get PG; I still think that's good spacing!

+stella+

12-15-2005, 12:22 AM

thank you for your thoughts! My sister and I were 4 years a part and I think it was a good length, we werent best friends really but we are pretty close now and talk about important things, and we werent in high school at the same time, which was nice for both of us I think, but maybe I just think that because I didnt know it any other way.

My son was an oops, but a perfectly ok oops, my husband and I are both the type to analyze forever, and never act, so I am really glad things happened the way they did then, or I might still be on the fense about kids. Although I love motherhood and think I do an alright job at it, haha.

Maybe this tta thing will work well then, and maybe "fate" will take over as it did for onlyboys, lol. I am just a bit of a control freak sometimes so Id like to have some say in it, but I wouldnt doubt if I just fretted and worried till it happened on its own anyway, lol.
But thanks for responding. I have a few girlfriends with kids from one year to 3 years apart and they are all having "i want to spend time with the newborn and the older child is at such a onery age that they are annoying me" problems and I really would not like to be there, but .... I cant see me ever thinking my son annoys me either, lol.

so far no AF and I am CD 35 ( I was wrong the other day) and no AF! I thought for sure today would be the day but nope.

Hope everyone is well!

Angierae

12-15-2005, 11:14 PM

Hi!

Just joining in here (I know a little late) but I have to post somewhere and this looks like the place. I've just started charting again the last few months since return of AF (DD2 is 19 mo). I would say we have been TTA, but you wouldn't know it by our actions this month! 2 days before O we just lost our minds and went for it. Then I freaked out hoping that it was way too early to get pregnant. A few days later I freaked out again hoping I would be pregnant. Now I am 10dpo and got a neg test. But I don't expect AF until monday, so anything still goes.

The part that is driving me crazy is that I don't know how I feel about it! I have my hands pretty full already with 4.5 and 1.5 yo girls. And the toddler is incredibly high need. We were planning on having a third in a year or two...I HATE THIS WAITING.

Sorry, just had to vent a little bit. How can I really not want another child right now and be sad that the test tonight was neg at the same time?!

ladyelmo1

12-16-2005, 10:47 AM

subbing

Starting to get the hang of this; have to say that seeing a completed chart at the end of the cycle and knowing exactly what was going on is really cool!

mamato2boys

12-17-2005, 02:20 PM

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of AF--she's two days late :scratch The only time that DH and I "got together" this month was 7 days before my temp spiked so I'm really not all that worried (but I'm kind of worried, KWIM?!) I'm thinking maybe my LP is just trying to get back to normal. My LP hasn't been longer than 11 days while I've been charting and BFing; but when I was TTC it was always 14-15 days. Hopefully AF will show up by tomorrow :thumb

Kerriemoe

12-17-2005, 02:55 PM

Ditto, Nicole, but I'm even later. I was due Wed; nothing yet. But it looks like I finally had a temp shift 7 days ago, which was 7 days after the last time we DTD, and we had used protection, so I think I'm safe (now don't laugh for how seldom it happens! :blush This has been a busy month.)

Fortunately, since I'm charting, I know I'm not pregnant and am not wasting $$ on test after test. I'm just annoyed at being late for the first time since going off the Pill, and relieved to know at least I o'd this month. Oh, well. Looks like my period should arrive Tues. or Wed., so I won't be TOO far off my TTC schedule. I think we're going to try in Feb. According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, that's when I should conceive a girl! :lol

mamato2boys

12-19-2005, 09:01 AM

CD1! :jumpers: I don't think I've ever been happier to see AF! I didn't really think I could be PG, but I started to freak out a bit last night. My LP went from 11 days to 14 days in one cycle, I figured that would happen more gradually than this but I'm not complaining, I'm just glad AF is here :thumb

midwestmeg

12-20-2005, 09:39 AM

Oh, another Q: which chart do you all use? The one I printed for this cycle just turned up in a Google search and I'm not really crazy about it. Do you use one of the charts from TCOYF? Or is there another one out there that's better? I definitely want a new one for this next cycle. Thanks!

I use the one from TCOYF and it seems to work fine.... but then again I'm to lazy to look online for one (and dialup is too slow!!!)

-meg

muttix2

12-20-2005, 01:55 PM

Still trying to avoid this month although I want a baby soooooo bad, its not the time right now (money issues, etc) plus, dh isn't ready :( We're using the pull out method but for us its not really dangerous b/c we used it before for 10 months straight and now my youngest ds is 11 months and nothing yet. I kind of wish there would be an "oops" but since dh is so against it I don't really, I want the next baby to be wanted by both of us (ds #2 was a BIG oops :lol but a :love :throb one!). Anyway, just joining in again this month :)

Undercover Hippie

12-21-2005, 01:41 AM

Darn it, I thought I posted yesterday. :scratch

Thanks for starting the thread Kerriemoe. Life got busy and I didn't even realize it had been so long or that a new thread was needed!

CD 20ish and just starting to get some EWCM. Hopefully it will be like the previous two cycles and take a while before I actually O because DH and I were not very careful this weekend... my long cycles and short LPs have tempted us into being less-than-responsible. :bag: That is not really the Christmas present I was hoping for though so it's time to get back on the TTA wagon!

On an interesting-only-to-TTA'ers-note: I'm training my DH to write down my temp for me each morning. :D A long time ago we got in the habit of him giving me the thermometer in the morning before he left for work. Unfortunately I would temp and go back to sleep and often be a bit foggy about what my temp was (and the memory function on the thermometer doesn't work). So since I'm finally cycling and getting back to normal I convinced him that I needed more help in order to be truly responsible. He jokingly said it sounded like more work for him and too easy for me so I asked which was more work, writing down my temp or caring for a third child? :lol Then I pointed out that if I wanted the easiest solution for me he would get the vas. So now he's jotting down my temp each day. :lol :thumb

Kerriemoe

12-21-2005, 08:30 AM

:lol Tara! Great way to get him involved. My DH doesn't do anything yet, but he's very interested in what I've been teaching him about this.

Finally got my period, am on CD 3 now. It was neat when I temped Monday morning and saw that my temp had gone back to baseline. I knew I'd get my period that day. OK, I'm a geek, but I thought that was pretty cool. :nut

I did go with the TCOYF TTA chart, and I do like it a lot better than the other one, so thanks for the recommendation! I particularly like how the BSE spot is already marked. So much nicer than any other reminders you get on the 9th of the month or whatever, that just fall in the wrong time of the month for me.

Oh, well, have to run. I'll check in later!

muttix2

12-23-2005, 01:42 PM

Undercover Hippie

12-28-2005, 05:03 PM

So I am freaking out that we're going to have an accidental pregnancy this month! Here's my chart (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/a6360), what do you think?

My last cycle was so long and I have a history of short LPs so we were overconfident and had unprotected sex on CD 23. I know, I know, that was stupid and didn't follow any of the TTA rules. :bag: Now it looks like I O'ed around CD 27 (I thought maybe it was more like CD 29 but Fertility Friend and the FAM rules place it on CD 27) and instead of my previous short LPs I'm already at 7 DPO...

Please, if anyone could send AF my way I would be thrilled. Think of it as a belated Christmas present. :o

momtokay

12-28-2005, 09:51 PM

hmmm, tara, looks like your temp fell today. if it continues down af may just show, but if it jumps back up tomorrow, i'd be a little worried if i were in your shoes. 7dpo would be just about the right time for an implantation dip. good luck to you! if af shows here i'll send her your way, but i'm only a couple days dpo so you should see her first.

Undercover Hippie

12-28-2005, 10:58 PM

It looks like AF is starting! :banana

I do solemnly swear to be a better TTA'er in the future... LOL.

momtokay

12-29-2005, 01:09 AM

that must be a relief for you. :thumb

dynamicdoula

12-29-2005, 01:50 AM

Here's a Q: does cervical position change even if you don't O? Like in the above situation, would my cervix have moved anyway?

Yes it does! Even if you didn't O yet, you might still be trying to O, and I would definitely say with confidence that if your cervical fluid is changing you can assume that your CP is as well- but start charting it!

I am new to the thread- we are TTA until May, and then will be TTC #3! :jumpers: I have been charting since 2000, (holy EWCF, batman!) off and on, and recently went to just charting CF to determine fertility because I found that the more detailed charting I did, the more obsessed I was all the time that i was pregnant. :W

Now I just finished a 90 day cycle (no joke) wherein I did actually ovulate but not until like day 75 or some crazy thing. I'm back to charting everyting- temp, symptoms, CF and CP, because I want to get an idea of what the heck is happening, why my cycles are so dang long and then of course to eventually TTC.

I am also hoping to take a training and start teaching FAM/NFP to women in my area. :love

Kerriemoe

12-29-2005, 08:46 AM

Thanks! And welcome, dynamicdoula. I'm still working on remembering to check CP and CF. Temping is no problem, at least. But it would be good to know if I'm approaching O day, of course.

Monday, on CD8, we took advantage of the fact that DH had the day off and DS was napping. However, we completely forgot to use BC! I remembered, oh, about 3 seconds too late. :blush And of course I'd forgotten to check CF that day, so I have no idea if I was still dry or getting into sticky or creamy. So now I'm anxiously temping, hoping maybe to be delayed again this month. At least I won't be panicking until I get AF!

Well, it wouldn't be the end of the world, of course. I'm mainly putting off TTC until I can drop a few more pounds, and hoping for better timing--we're planning to move next summer, so being due at the end of Sept. would not really be fun! We're hoping to start TTC in Feb.

muttix2

12-29-2005, 01:25 PM

never mind

midwestmeg

12-29-2005, 10:13 PM

Hi...

Just thought I'd start checking out this thread a little more often. I've been charting for a few cycles now, using TCOYF and those charts. I like it, and it's working well for us (I just hated paying for bcp's when I know I want more children) but it's nice to hear about what's going on with others and to have a place to ask questions. I'm still trying to figure out all the abbreviations right now- lol!