How do you chart

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
How do you chart
3
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 4:13pm
This is my 4th month TTC. I want to try to chart. What do I need. Today is CD 1 so I am going to go and by a thermometer today. What kind? When do I test? What if I wake up 2 times in the middle of night with other children? I am going to by Robitussin too. I have to watch my CM? What do I watch for? Any and All suggestions will be used. Thanks Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2003
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 4:25pm
go to a website called www.fertilityfriend.com and you can start a chart there. You need a basal thermometer not a regular digital. Take your temp as soon as you wake up in the morning before you even get out of bed, try to take it at the same time each morning. For an accurate reading you need at least 3 hrs of uninterupted sleep. By the Robitussin that doesn't have any letters after it(the plain one, the others may dry up CM. When your checking CM, you're looking for EWCM around your fertile time for O. Good luck

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 4:42pm
Hi, Melissa. Charting is a great idea. It gives you lots of information and gives you something to do while you obsess. :) As far as the thermometer, many experts recommend a basal body thermometer, but they're expensive. Personally, I have a cheap grocery store brand digital and it works just fine. You'll want to pick a specific time in the morning and take your temp at the same time every day. (Yeah, easier said than done.) There are ways to adjust it if you temp at different times, but it's not very accurate. What you do if you have to get up at night is up to you. If you can lie back down a get a couple more hours of sleep before your regular time, then just test at the regular time. If it's close to your regular time, then just temp before getting up. This is my own personal opinion, but I think that it's easy to get too hung up on what your EXACT temp is every single day. What you're really looking for when you temp is the overall pattern. Your temp does not necessarily jump ON the day you O, however, if you are having nice temp jumps and 12 or so days of higher temps, the it's a great indication that you are, in fact, O-ing. So try not to get too upset if you miss a day or mess up a temp. As for the CM, you're looking for it to change from nonexistant or very thick and sticky at the beginning of the cycle to progressively thinner, more watery, stretchy (egg white-like) and abundant around O and then after O it dries up again. There are several classifications of CM: sticky (like rubber cement, very thick), creamy (white, and lotiony), egg white (thin, stretchy, clear or clear with white streaks), watery (kind of self explanatory, huh?), etc. Egg white and watery mean you're very fertile and about to O. These categories sometimes take awhile to get used to, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it at first. Before long you'll start to really know your body and what it is doing. There is a LOT to charting, but the information that you get from it is well worth it. If I were you, I'd set up an account at www.fertilityfriend.com if you haven't already. On the left side of that page under the heading "Info and Help" there is a link to the "Fertility Friend Handbook." Take a look at it. It is VERY helpful. Also, I bought the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Welschler (sp?) and it is fantastic. Your library might have a copy if you don't want to buy it. It explains everything in detail and answers all of the "what if's..." Ok, I think that's enough to digest in one sitting. I hope it helps and GL charting. Hope this cycle is yours!

-Anne

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Wed, 09-10-2003 - 11:29pm
THANK YOU so much Heather and Anne. You two are the best. Your information was so helpful. I am going to put your responses in my favorites and pass it to anyone TTC. Thank you for taking the time to put all that information in such a simple understandable format. Wish me luck.. I bought the Basil Thermometer and Robitusin type medicine. It only contains Guaifenesin. I will start taking that on CD 11. I am going to ask my OB how much. Baby dust to everyone. I am going to keep the boy baby dust for myself though. My Chinese baby chart say Male for September. Much love and thanks again.

Melissa