Basal Body Temp Charting

It worked for us, twice. Good luck

It does take some practice. I use Naprotechnology designed by Dr. Hilgers. My temps. don't really give me any idea about fertile times. My mucus does. If you can find someone that teaches Napro. they can get you a book that shoes all the kinds of mucus. You very well could have a hormonal issue that is causing the irregular periods and you may not be ovulating every month. It also takes time to get the Pill out of your system. Sometimes it can do more harm than good.

For Naprotechnology resources and to find an instructor near you get on Pope Paul the VI institute. Dr Hlgers in none all around the world for his work in fertility.

Hi S..
Are you using a good chart so you can clearly see with a glance at how your temps are moving?

We charted for 4 months before conceiving. (We had actually been "trying" for about 8 months.) I couldn't always read my charts all that well every month either. Although, I'm pretty sure we were timing it right it still took 4 months to get pregnant with charting. I continued charting for a month after conceiving (because I was worried about miscarrying) but it was so stressful that I quit. We did end up miscarrying a month and a half ago at 11 weeks. So now we're trying again but I'm going to hold off on charting for now. It is too stressful to me. So I just keep an eye on my cervical fluid and time our "tries" around that......

I also found the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" VERY helpful. It taught me signs to watch for other than charting as well as how to chart. And gave a very good sample of charts in the back to copy.

Good luck.

I've used the Creighton Model of natural family planning to avoid getting pregnant and to conceive (just had baby #2). You can find info on it at http://www.creightonmodel.com/. It did take awhile to recognize fertile-type mucous (the egg white you mentioned), but once I did, it was pretty easy to use the system (although I print charts off online rather than paying for them).

The tricky part was recognizing the difference between fertile type mucous and natural lubrication from arousal (thinner) or semen (not as stretchy). Fertile-type mucous is clear, slick, and stretchy (if you put some between your fingers, it will stretch in a strand--sometimes an inch or more). In figuring this out, it is helpful to limit intercourse so that you can figure out by timing of your observations what is what.

To learn more, you can certainly read on the web or in books on natural family planning or call around to Catholic churches to find classes (even if you're not Catholic).

I will say that it took some time to conceive my first child, even using this system and working with a fertility specialist. I recommend also making sure that your diet and other lifestyle factors are optimal for conceiving. Hope this helps and good luck!
S.

Taking my basal body temperature was the only thing that worked for me. A lot of people swear by the ovulation kits, but they can be expensive and I never got the pink line (even though I knew I was ovulating). There will be some small ups and downs throughout your cycle, but when ovulate there should be a significant increase - although it might take a couple days to see because the temperature will go up for a couple days. Might be worth a chat with your doctor if you aren't seeing the pattern. It took me a couple of months to get the hang of it.

I also could not tell when my cervical fluid was "egg white," but I had other signs of ovulation (some cramping and sore breasts). Good luck!

I suggest you check out the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." It is great with charting your temps and explaining the cervical mucous.

I'm curious, however, to know how long it took you to conceive your son. Why are you so worried about it this time? No matter what, good luck, and just have fun trying! :)

It's been awhile since I charted my temps but like the others said, Taking charge of your fertility is the best book. I also used the website www.fertilityfriend.com and they have some great resources.

Good Luck!!
N.

yep--works like a charm for me. The easiest time I notice the egg-white cervical fluid is after a BM. The book "Taking Charge of your Fertility" by Toni Weschler is an excellent resource for this topic!

I charted my temp and cervical fluid for 6 months before getting pregnant. I too, had very irregular (and often non existent!) cycles when not on hormonal birth control.

My temps seemed to be all over the charts when I first started charting and I could never tell what kind of cervical fluid I was having. But after a month or two I started seeing patterns and just realized my temps/fluids weren't text book patterns. But I eventually figured out my body's own patterns. It was successful for me since I didn't get pregnant when I didn't want to and did get pregnant when I did want to!

Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility? It's like the bible of Natural Family Planning. I highly, highly recommend it!

Sorry I'm not much help. Good luck!

A good chart is the best way to see. You need to see a few weeks laid out to the tenth of a dergree!
I had very serious medical reasons for not conceiving. Child # 1 we weren't using this. It took a very long time to conceive. This worked beautifully for child #2. First time! When we started trying for #3, it also showed that I was no longer ovulating. My body was done. Our wonderful #3 is adopted!

i know a few have already said it, but i tell EVERY WOMAN I CAN....'taking charge of your fertility' is just the book u need! it explains all you'll need and works better than any possible treatment or drug a dr could give, because its natural and most healthy women can totally conceive on their own without medical intervention.
the most important thing is to check your temp every morning, before you move or even speak in bed. tons of things can change it... if u got up to go to the bathroom in the night, if you had alcohol the night before, all sorts of things. but this book will help you know what it all means. theres even a cd-rom that can do all the work for you. you just enter you info and it tells you whats going on! theres a small window each month that a woman can get pregnant and most of us (even doctors) don't realize when that is so by charting for months you can see what a potential problem is if there is one. but you could also be pregnant on the first try like i was! good luck and have fun!

Once you start keeping track, it will all become very clear. You'll recognize all of the predictors and wonder why you never noticed before. I did it for two years, so got to be a pro. Turned out we had a different problem, but now have two great little boys.
Good luck.

Have you tryed Ovulatiion kits?? I have many friends that they worked great for! Good luck!

Hi S.,

I recommend a great book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It explains basal body temperature charting and even shows pictures of different types of cm so you can compare and see if yours is what they consider eggwhite. I have found it so educational, I think it's the best one out there.

Best of luck to you!