Basal Body Temp

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Basal Body Temp
4
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 8:09am
So in a previous thread a few people mentioned tracking your Basal Body Temp in order to find out when you are ovulating. So this got me thinking and I just have another random question.

According to the information I read, your BBT rises slightly when you ovulate and then drops back down once you get your period. Does this mean that when you get pregnant you BBT stays at that slightly raised level? I am going to look into getting the book that everyone mentioned I should read but I just haven't had time to get to the bookstore. (Work has been crazy this month!!) Anywho, thanks again for everyone's help!

I think I have finally calmed myself down and am not crazy and tense anymore. Which is a very good feeling :)

~Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 8:41am
Yep! That's how my twin sister knew that she was pregnant before she missed a period (with her first baby). She'd been temping and she and her DH were allowing whatever to happen when it did, and her temps never dropped back down. She had a ++ at 11 dpo (days past ovulation) and her ob/gyn actually laughed at her when she told her that she was pg before even missing a period....and ate it when their test showed ++ too.

I bought mine online. ;) It's a great book!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 9:00am
I wish I could buy the book online but alas I can't get onto alot of shopping sites while I am at work...stupid IT people ;)

Just one more question: so when your temp rises during ovulation, how big is the jump? All the info I have read said it's small...like 0.5. Basically, I need to get this book.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 10:01am
yes...I used BBT to chart my ovulation when I got pregnant with my little one in 2002....This website helped me lots.

http://www.tcoyf.com/

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 10:08am
Hi klo1335,

Yep, you really need the book. There are several temperature rise patterns: standard, stair-step, slow-rise and fall-back rise and the increase in temp. is referenced to a 'coverline' determined for each cycle. With standard rise the shift will be at least 2 tenths of a degree followed by a constant range of high temps. The stair-step will have an initial spurt, plateau for several days, another spurt and plateau and so on. With slow rise the temps might rise above the coverline only one tenth of a degree per day for a few days before greater daily increases are seen and with fall-back rise after the initial shift the daily temp. might drop back a bit before rising again giving a pattern that looks something like the cutting edge of a saw. So depending on the pattern the initial shift (above coverline) might be as small as one or as pronounced as four or more tenths of a degree. A woman usually has the same pattern each cycle so once she becomes used to seeing it she knows what to expect. You'll love the book!

Good luck,

      Jill