If you don't mind...

1. How the heck do you get in the routine of temping? I remember like every fourth day! Does it just get to be a habit with time? (this is my first month)

2. How many temps can you miss and still have FF give you a fairly accurate O date? I'm thinking this month is shot (I forgot for like 10 days straight!), but for future reference...

3. Will inputting my CM every day help, even without the temp?

4. Shannon, you had asked on my previous thread about my bf cycles...it kinda got lost in the thread, so I thought I'd repost the info...I'd love any insight!

Well, I guess I've only had one cycle, if you will (the time between the first PPAF and second PPAF). I started the first PPAF on April 10 and the second PPAF on May 19. So, way more than 28 days. Is that a bad sign? It was 39 days...

The first PPAF was about 8 days of heavy bleeding, although it was my first AF in 14 months. The second one was about 5 days, heavier than when I was on the pill, but probably in the range of 'normal'. However, these are my first two AFs after being on bc pills for 8+ years, so I'm not even used to a 'normal' AF.

I'd love any input and will gladly share any info; I'm not shy! I'm just really curious as to if/when I O (if I could remember to take the dumb temp in the AM)!

Amy

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1. Yes, you will get into the habit(and then like me can't get OUT of it ) Try keeping it in your pillow case or ON your alarm clock, so you can remember better.

2. Well, if you have a good 6 days in a row before you ovulate(or at least 6 out of the previous 10days) FF will generally catch it IF you temp on the DAY you O'd and the day AFTER. If not, you will see the rise, but FF will not give you crosshairs b/c it could be either day

3. Yes, absolutely, and give you a good idea of how *fertile* your fluid is, and how close to O you may need to bd.

4. Shannon, you had asked on my previous thread about my bf cycles...it kinda got lost in the thread, so I thought I'd repost the info...I'd love any insight!

It's not bad to have longer cycles and completely normal. Often with BF'ing the body can take longer to ovulate, and sometimes the first 1-3 cycles are annovulatory(most generally when they are before 6 months pp) What cycle day are you on? If you start temping now, you may still catch O, if it's late. I tend to O on cd 17-23 when BF'ing(with 2 times being later but having a very short LP). A 5 day AF is pretty normal. Some spotting on either side is also. Also, b/c you were on bc for a long time, and then had amenorreah for the last 14months, it will probably take a few cycles for your AF to regulate until it will get to a *normal* state.

Does that help?? BTW, do you have a chart to share??

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Shannon

Gotta make this quick as baby is sleeping and DH wants to BD! LOL

Here's my chart. The first few temps were early AM; then E stopped waking early, so the next temps are all 7:00 am-ish. Remember, I'm totally new and keep forgetting!!!!

20f134 Ovulation Charts

Let me know what you think! OH, and I'll respond to the rest tomorrow.

Amy

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Ok, you have a good start, now, if you can try to remember every day from now until 3 days after Ovulation, your chart should pick it up I'll be offline from now until next Wed at least(moving) but Terry Lynne should be here, or if you don't as before I go, I'll answer as soon as I get back

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Shannon

Thanks, Shannon! Take a peak at my chart! It detected my O! And we, not on purpose, but BD'ed on the day of ovulation.... FF says that's 'good'! LOL

One more question, if you don't mind. I very rarely get more 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep except for my first stretch of sleep (still bf'ing). So I have two choices...

1. Record my temp at various times but after 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep - which may vary by as much as 3 hours

2. Record my temp around 7-7:30 am every morning, even though I've sometimes been up at 5 am, although very rarely after that and usually before that.

I've been going with #2, but wanted some input...

THANKS AGAIN!

Amy

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Looks great! I go with Number 2 also, for me the TIME I take it seems more indicative than the amount of sleep I get before hand(and I pretty much never get 3hrs in a row...I've been lucky to get 1 the past few months which is probably why my chart is a bit jumpy, but it's still obvious when I O'd )

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Shannon

Hey! Thanks...

So yet another question...

If you'd be so kind to check my chart again, PLEASE, I just started very lightly spotting today. I really think it's AF, not implantation because it's dark/old (which is fine!), but I am concerned because that would be a very short luteal phase (8 days). Is that normal/common for the first PPAFs? ARGH!

I'm stressing myself out over this now! I obviously know I can carry a baby to term, but I'm so paranoid that #2 is not going to be quite as easy as #1 was!!!!

Thanks so much!

Amy

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Your temp looks pretty good still, and 8 days is a good lp for one of the first pp cycles while BF'ing. Mine have taken a while to get my lp up past that(and I'm generally pg by the time my lp gets longer than 7 days, so I really don't know what it WOULD be ) I would mark it as spotting on your chart, and not AF though, b/c AF is the first day of red bleeding, not just spotting Not sure if you knew that or not, but we get that question a lot(and it's something I didn't know until I started researching all this stuff.

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Shannon