This is the new thread stemming from the previous "OFFICIAL TTC" threads (found here and here) All TTC ladies are welcome to join us and chit chat!
Good luck ladies on getting your BFP's! And **tons of baby dust**
-TTC Info and FAQ-
When is Day 1 of my cycle?
Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of red menstrual flow, not any spotting that may precede
AF.
If everything spills out after intercourse, is conception possible?
This is the "most frequently asked question" so here's the scoop:
If you stay prone (lying down) for 20 minutes after intercourse, the only thing that "spills out" is seminal fluid and abnormal sperm.
Normal sperm is ejaculated into the vagina and immediately travels into the cervix (safe haven from the acidic environment of the vagina). (vagina - cervix - uterus "VCU")
Seminal fluid is the medium that carries the sperm out of the body.
Abnormal/malformed sperm are not able to advance through the net-like mucus (ferning) which we know as Egg White Cervical Mucus EWCM).
How do I chart my basal body temperature?
Your
BBT is taken first thing in the morning before getting out of bed, after a minimum of three consecutive hours of sleep. Your temperature should be taken at about the same time every morning, preferably within an hour or so. It is usually taken orally, but can be taken vaginally. By charting your
BBT’s you can determine if you’ve ovulated and how long your
luteal phase is. Temperature ranges very tremendously but are typically between 96.5 - 97.5 before ovulation and 97.5 - 98.6 after ovulation. The high levels of estrogen causes the temperatures to be low before ovulation. Following ovulation, progesterone levels rise causing temperatures to rise as well.
What is a thermal shift and what does it mean?
The thermal shift will occur the day after ovulation due to an increase in progesterone levels. The temperature will rise 0.2-0.5 degrees. The presence of the thermal shift is a good indicator that ovulation has already occurred.
What is a slow-riser?
In some women, the thermal shift may be gradual over several days. They a called slow-risers, which means that it took a little longer for progesterone levels to rise high enough for temperatures to become elevated. This is a normal finding and does not affect fertility.
What is better - a glass or digital thermometer?
Either thermometer is acceptable to use as long as it is a basal thermometer and not a fever thermometer. Digital thermometers measure to the one-tenth degree whereas most fever thermometers measure in two-tenth degree increments. Glass thermometers must be kept in for 5 minutes, digital thermometers will give a reading in one minute. If you are getting erratic temperatures with digital you may want to compare them to a glass thermometer, since the glass thermometer can be more reliable.
What is a “fallback” temperature?
Some women may see a drop in temperature the day or two after the thermal shift. It is likely due to a surge of estrogen. This is normal and does not affect fertility. It should rise again the next day.
If I’m not pregnant, when will my temperatures drop?
If conception and implantation did not occur in a cycle, the
BBT will drop near or below coverline the day before or the day of the start of
AF. This is due to the degradation of the corpus luteum and the subsequent drop in progesterone levels.
Is it necessary to take BBT’s during AF?
No, it is not necessary to take
BBT’s during
AF. Most women will do them to stay in the habit of charting. Temperatures can be erratic during
AF due to residual progesterone levels.
How do I determine my coverline?
Following the thermal shift, look at the preceding six temperatures. Take the highest of these six temperatures and add one-tenth to it. This is your coverline.
Why is my coverline important?
Once the coverline is determined, you will be able to differentiate between preovulatory and postovulatory temperatures. While it is not critical to determine your coverline for pregnancy achievement, it will allow you to see more easily when you ovulated.
What is a triphasic BBT pattern?
A triphasic pattern is when a second thermal shift is seen around the time of implantation of the embryo. The second thermal shift is due to increased progesterone levels from the presence of the embryo.
What does 18 days of high BBT’s mean?
If your temperature has remained above your coverline for 18 or more days, you are most likely pregnant. Rarely, a corpus luteum cyst will cause elevated temperatures in a cycle where conception did not occur. It is important to make sure you knew exactly when ovulation and the thermal shift occurred so the count will be accurate. Not all women ovulate on Day 14!
What is green tea used for?
Green tea contains chemicals which are antioxidants. We hope by drinking a cup or two every day to ensure a healthy egg and embryo. Green tea contains very little caffeine.
What is Robitussin used for?
Robitussin is a brand name of a product that is based on guaifenesin, an expectorant. There are other guaifenesin based cough syrups also (Equate also has one). It is used in
TTC to thin the
CM mucus to make it more sperm-friendly. 1-2 tsp. twice daily until ovulation. Make sure the product only contains guaifenesin without added decongestants or antihistamines, which could dry your
CM.
BEWARE extromethorphan, an ingredient in some cough medicines, may cause birth defects.
What is vitamin B6 used for?
B6 is used while
TTC to normalize hormonal levels and may increase your
LP. The dose is 100 mg once daily. You may want to check with your doctor before taking megadoses of any vitamin.
What is Evening Primrose Oil used for?
EPO is used to increase the amount of
EWCM. The dose is 3000 mg once daily. Discontinue EPO when your thermal shift occurs as it can cause uterine contraction which may hinder implantation of the embryo in the uterus. It can be found at most health food stores, grocery stores, and here in "The Store" on the Vitamins and Herbs page.
What is the luteal phase?
The
LP is the number of days from ovulation until the start of
AF. Typically, it is 12-16 days in length and does not vary by more than a day in each person. An
LP shorter than 12 days is called LPD (
luteal phase deficiency) and is due to early breakdown or the corpus luteum. LPD is a cause of infertility and your doctor should be consulted for treatment options.
Can I use artificial lubricants?
The use of artificial lubricants should be avoided while
TTC. They maybe harmful to sperm. Some women suggest using raw egg-white as a lubricant, although it may pose a risk for infection if it is contaminated. Drinking plenty of water and taking Robitussin and/or EPO may help you produce more
CM. (Another thing to consider buying is pre-seed)
What positions are best for TTC?
The missionary position with man on top is reported to be the best at depositing the sperm close to the cervix. Other positions include “doggy style” with the man entering from behind. Woman on top is the worst position due to the effects of gravity.
What should I do after DTD?
Some women suggest staying in bed with a pillow under their hips or legs raised in the “bicycle” position for at least 20 minutes after sex. Others say it makes no difference if you get up right away. The choice is yours!
Why are Kegel Exercises important?
Besides increasing vaginal muscle tone, Kegels can be performed several hours after sex to expel any residual sperm in the vagina, which may make
CM analysis confusing. Kegels are done by contracting and releasing the vaginal muscles (as you would if you had to stop urinating).
How do I check my CM?
Cervical mucous can be checked either externally, at the vaginal opening, or internally, at the cervix. Rub the
CM between two fingertips to evaluate its texture and consistency.
CM is absent or sticky after
AF. Then, as ovulation nears, it will change to creamy or lotiony, then to the consistency of raw egg-white.
EW CM may be stretched one or more inches between your fingertips and is considered the most fertile of all types of
CM.
How to I check my CP?
Your cervical position should be checked daily (or more often at or near ovulation). It is firm (like the tip of your nose), low, closed, and dry during your infertile days. As ovulation nears, it will become soft (like your lips), high, open, and wet (SHOW). When this happens, your are considered very fertile, especially if you have
EWCM as well. It will quickly return to its infertile state after ovulation and remain there for the rest of the cycle.
CP can be checked while sitting on the toilet or squatting in the shower, just be consistent how you check. Insert one or two fingers in the vagina until the cervix can be felt and evaluated.
How often should I BD?
This is a tough question and it depends on you and your
DH’s combined fertility. Generally, if your
DH has a normal sperm count and quality, you can
BD every day you have fertile
CM. If he is marginal or low, or you fail to conceive after several cycles of this, then you may want to try every other day. One theory suggests you abstain for 3-5 days before your fertile days, then
BD every day beginning two days before
O’ing (or you get a positive
OPK) for 3 days in a row. There is no right answer to this question, except you should
BD on your peak day.
How do I use OPK’s?
OPK’s are used to help predict when ovulation will occur. The day you start testing depends on the length of your cycle. Women with a 28 day cycle are urged to begin testing on Day 11.
OPK’s detect and increase in
LH, which will “surge” 12-36 hours prior to ovulation. It is important to test at the same time every day after not urinating for 4 hours. It is best not to use first morning urine but to test between 10 am and 8 pm. Because the amount of liquid you drink can affect your urine’s concentration, it’s important to be consistent about the amount you drink during the days you are using
OPK’s. An
OPK is not considered positive until the test line is the same or darker than the control. Once a positive is seen, there is no need to test on subsequent days. It is important to remember that ovulation may not occur after an
LH surge. Stress, illness, travel, and other causes may delay ovulation. You can only be certain that ovulation has occurred once the thermal shift is seen.
Should I take prenatal vitamins before becoming pregnant?
Yes, although it doesn’t have to be prescription prenatal vitamins. An over-the-counter multivitamin with 400 mcg folic acid and no megadoses of other vitamins is recommended in women
TTC. Folic acid is crucial to prevent neural tube defects in the developing embryo. The neural tube is formed at a time when most women do not even realize they are pregnant, so it is a good idea to be taking supplements as soon as possible, preferably beginning up to 3 months before
TTC.
Can I ovulate more than once per cycle?
Yes, it is possible to ovulate twice but it will occur within 24 hours of each other. Some experts suggest
BD the day of your thermal shift in case a second ovulation has occurred.
How can I conceive a girl?
To improve your chances for conceiving a girl, you should
BD a 4 to 2 days prior to ovulation, and abstain two days before and day of ovulation. This will allow the slower, longer-lived, female sperm to be ready for fertilization when ovulation does occur. Conceiving a girl is more difficult since you are abstaining on your peak fertility day.
How can I conceive a boy?
Time
BD to occur the day before and the day of ovulation. This will allow the faster male sperm to get to the egg first.
(All info ^^^ found here *click*)
Trying to Sway the gender?
Here are a few helpful links.
http://www.hormonalforecaster.com/gender.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shettles_Method
http://pregnancy.about.com/od/genderselection/a/shettlesmethod.htm
http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/shettlesmethod.htm
Best pregnancy test? Or looking for info about pregnancy tests? Then check out
http://www.peeonastick.com/ for a ton of helpful info!
Feel free to snag!
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