bbt charting

i just dont get it.. any of it.... is your temp supposed to be higher in the morning or lower? i started charting this month after af got here... forgot to take temp the first 2 or 3 days of my cycle, but since ive been taking my temp, its been all over the place.. high, low high low high low.... i dont understand why it does that... i mean is that normal? im only on cd 9 or 10 i think...

can someone just please explain to me how to do this right... i just dont understand any of it really... why take temp in morning... what should my temp be at right now? how low does it dip at ovulation and how high does it peak after ovulation.... just generally speaking of course.. i know everyones temps change and no 2 charts are the same... but any help would be great....

i dont know how to post my chart for y'all to look at.. so if someone could direct me there too lol... im on fertility friend.... anyways.. help? please..

you take it in the morning since you've been resting, that way its more precises and taken the same time every day with no outside factors (drinking a cold drink etc) to give you a bad reading. really every woman is different. you might have to chart a few months in order to see how far you spike and all that. it might only be like .5 degrees. I always forgot to take my temp, and really never charted, so I'm not much help...but some women who might read this will be able to help you a lot more than me

Charting BBT is hard! I would recommend checking cervical mucus instead. With that said, the key to it is consistency. There is the best probability of your temp being the same every day right when you first wake up in the morning because outside factors are so limited. If you want to get accurate readings, I recommend putting your thermometer on your night stand and the second you wake up, take your temp. Don't go pee first, don't eat breakfast, don't even get out of bed, just take your temp the same way and the same time every day. The change in temp can be very small and this is the only way to notcie the change. Also, use a BBT thermometer if you aren't already.

I love temping and opks, they are a great combination.

Basically you are looking to observe your resting body temperature, it is supposed to be lower pre-ovulation. Within 48 hours after ovulation your temp spikes dramatically. This tells you that you have ovulated.

Also, the number of high temps shows you your luteal phase and if it is long enough to sustain pregnancy (anything over 11 high temps). The luteal phase stays the same length within 1 or 2 days, so it also lets you know when to expect AF. Your temps generally drop a day or 2 before AF is coming so its a good warning. 18 days of raised temps usually means pregnancy  

Now the important bit:
1) You must temp as soon as you wake up at the same time each morning. 2) You should temp in the same place in your mouth (or vjay) each time,
3) after the same amount of sleep each day.
4) Do if before you move or get out of bed, you mustnt eat, smoke or speak before you do it either or it will be invalid.

Simply put it beside your bed, as soon as you wake reach over and pop it in your mouth. Rest still whilst it is doing its thing. They usually beep once the final temp is registered. As far as the same amount of sleep and at the same time - i think a difference of 2 hours is still reliable. Anymore and the results are totally invalid.

It is normal for your temps to be a bit wacky during AF. I personally dont start temping until CD 10 each month. This gives me a bit of a break from it because it does get annoying sometimes, especially the days you forget lol.

Example: My pre ovulation temps are from 97 degrees to 97.6. My post O temps are from 98 degree to 98.6. So after O i can clearly note a temp spike of over 1/2 a degree.

After the first cycle you know what day to expect O, so the following month you can take OPK from 4 days before you expect O. Then match the positive opk to the temp spike and it tells you if af is late or not, and when you can start testing. The more familiar you get with it the more likely you are to catch that eggy!  

In saying all that, i hope you get your BFP straight away  

ETA: i think long term use of BBT is best for irregular cycles. If you are regular than do one or 2 cycles, then just OPK and CM should be enough to know when you are O'ing.

Quoting twinmami:“ I love temping and opks, they are a great combination. Basically you are looking to observe your resting ... [snip!] ... irregular cycles. If you are regular than do one or 2 cycles, then just OPK and CM should be enough to know when you are O'ing.”

ugh, this is why I hate temping, SO many rules! lol  

I worked nights when I tried to use this method, so the chances of me sleeping at the same time or for the same length of time were zilch. My results were not accurate...to say the least!

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ ugh, this is why I hate temping, SO many rules! lol   I worked nights when I tried to use ... [snip!] ... of me sleeping at the same time or for the same length of time were zilch. My results were not accurate...to say the least!”

Yeh my sleep timings are crazy too, as you know im in hospital heaps and at totally random times too, and often just awake worrying (ie like now its 7.40am and ive not slept yet!).Plus hubs doesnt get home till 3-5am from work so i wait up for him. I learnt that all my 5am temps were 96.9- 97.2 and if i didnt sleep till the afternoon (then up all night) they were 97.3 - 97.6. But whether i sleep from12pm till 5amor 4 till 10pm my temps after ovulation are always over 98.1.

It took me a few cycles and getting to know my body before i figured this stuff out though. I think for someone just starting it could totally confuse them and give them inaccurate results. But then most 'normal' people do sleep around the same time each day so it is fine   I just find it so reassuring to know when and if i have O'd  

aaaaagh!!!

i keep my thermometer right next to my bed, first thing in the morning i reach for it... sometimes ill lay there in a half sleep thingy for a little while then ill give up and take my temp and roll out of bed... my sleep patterns are weird too... sometimes im up till 4 in the morning, sometimes im in bed at 2.... but i always wake up around 11-noon every day, between there anyways.. at least since i started temping i have been...

will my just laying in bed trying to get back to sleep before i temp change the result at all? i dont do anything, barely move... i just lay there....

anyways i have pretty irregular cycles.. well my last one was really irregular anyways.. 3 months late.. so ive decided with vitex and bbt and opks im just gonna chart the first couple months (starting this month) on through august probably... and if i fall pregnant then AWESOME.. if not then oh well, thats what august and beyond is for... just to get to know my cycle and see how regular it really is...

i dont know if my body makes much ewcm... but ill find out soon enough lol...

thanks for the answers everyone...  

Quoting mariposa0283:“ aaaaagh!!! i keep my thermometer right next to my bed, first thing in the morning i reach for it... ... [snip!] ... is... i dont know if my body makes much ewcm... but ill find out soon enough lol... thanks for the answers everyone...  ”

Yeh you have to temp as soon as you wake, because over time our temp increases just from being awake. Im sure if you are temping at the same time each morning and roughly the same hours sleep it will be fine. You will see a pattern im sure.

Ive been using the same stuff, vitex and bbt, opk.My cycles are irregular too and I also dont get ewcm- iwas using evening primrose oil and the cough syrup for that. It hasnt worked well for me, but ive heard soo many great stories from others and im sure itl work for you too. Sounds like you have a really good plan in place, best of luck  

I give credit to you ladies, I think I'd go nutty trying to track all those things. Baby dust to all who wish to receive it! =)

so even in my half sleep.. i dont wake up at the same time every day either, sometimes ill wake up at like 10 or something, wich is an hour or 2 off of when i normally temp so i go back to sleep.... maybe i should just temp then eh?

hmmmmm so much stuff to digest...

i should try the primrose oil for the ewcm... i dont know if they have robitussin here or not.. i havent seen it.. but then again i havent really looked..