Going to start charting temps...need advice?

Question

I want to try and figure out when I'm going ovulate so I just got a BBT today. I'm supposed to start AF on Saturday should I start taking temps on CD1 or the day after I stop seeing blood flow? (sorry tmi) Also how can I tell if I ovulated or about to ovulate?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Try www.mymonthlycylces.com or www.fertilityfriend.com  they will help you a lot on the charting.  Take your Basal body temp every morning at the same time before you get outa bed or walk around. Also check your cervical mucus, when it becomes watery you are close to fertile and when it becomes kinda like eggwhites...or like snot and you get it on your fingers from a check of the cervix and can spread it aart in your fingers about an inch before it breaks, that's the most sperm friendly mucus.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hey!

So you start taking your temps on CD1, the first day of 'normal' flow.

The first time you chart you can't really tell when you are about to ovulate, but you can tell after you ovulated.  You should notice a sudden rise in your temps the day after you ovulate.  They should stay high for 3 days to be sure of ovulation.  After your first cycle (assume you are fairly regular) you should be able to guess the approximate day you will ovulate.  

Other signs to look for around the time you ovulate are eggwhite cervical mucous and sometimes slight cramps in your ovaries.  These (especially the mucous) can help you know when you are about to ovulate!  

I highly reccomend fertilityfriend.com to help you chart your bbts.  It's a great tool and is full of information!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Hey! Welcome to the world of BBT! :)

The other people who answered pretty much said it all. But I recommend using ivillages.com fertility planner. I couldn't make heads or tails out of fertility friend and found ivillages MUCH easier to handle.

Take your temp on CD1, which is the first day of full flow. Take your temp first thing in the morning before you get out of bed to pee or do anything else. You need to take your temp at the same time every day, including weekends! If you normally sleep in on the weekend, then just wake up, take your temp, record it, and go back to sleep.

Taking your temp at the same time every day is super critical.

Your temps before you ovulate will be lower then they are after you ovulate. For this reason, I use temping in conjunction with OPKs, checking my CM, and checking my cervical position.

I know this is a dorky thing to say, but I sorta look forward to waking up each day to take my temp and see it what it is! What a dork I am! Lol. I know you can be a POAS addict, but what about a BBT addict?? :)

Let us know how it goes and feel free to email with any charting q's...