how do you chart your bbt?
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how do you chart your bbt?
| Sun, 08-10-2003 - 11:25pm |
I am TTC #1 for 4months. My first month ended in a chemical pregnancy which I'm still not sure why. This cycle we used a opk but that didn't work. I hear everyone talking about BBT. How to you know when you are ovulating and when to have BD by takingBBT's?
Please help. Thanks in advance!
Jen

I am new to all of this too...this is cycle 3 for me ttc#1. The first two cycles I didn't really know what I was doing, we didn't rely on anything to help us determine ovulation. This cycle I started charting and taking my bbt. It pretty easy to learn about. Check out www.fertilityfriend.com They offer a free place for you to chart. They have an option of paying for a membership which offers more perks, but for the most part everything is free, including a chart gallery and a message board. They have a really great how to, which explains how to do the charting and temping. There is also a great book on the subject called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. Toni also offers software called Ovusoft which goes along with the book, though its purchased seperatly. I have tried both the Ovusoft and the Fertility Friend, and I happen to prefer the Fertility Friend. I have found the chart gallery to be very helpful.
Anyway, as a basic overview...you get a BBT thermometer (I found one at Target by the pregancy tests and such). The thermometer is different than a regular thermometer. You have to take your temp every day at the same time to get an accurate reading. A cycle begins on the first day of your period. You will be able to tell that you ovulated based on a thermal shift. The website I refered above will help determine ovulation for you, when you chart there.
A word to the warning, it takes a little bit to tell when you ovulated the first time. I am realizing that I have low BBT temps, and that I have a slow rise after ovulation. So, it took 9 days past ovulation to determine when my ovulation was. I suspected when it was, but the software took a while to figure it out for sure. They say that after you chart a few months you will have a better idea of when to expect ovulation. Also, in addition to temping, you can and are suggested to check your cervical fluid on a daily basis. This can also give signs as to when you will ovulate.
Good luck!
Valerie