Charting/Temping Basics

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   I thought I might just steal this from my other forum to give you girls that want to chart a bit of a boost.

 creamosa wrote:

First you need a digital thermometer, about $10 if you don't have one already.  2 decimal places is better but 1 will do.  Take temp at same time every day when you first wake up.  The thermometer will store the temp until you are more awake/have time to yourself to record it.  If I were you I'd record a few weeks worth before joining up to www.fertilityfriend.com as you get VIP features on your charts for the first month.  So to get the maximum benefit you want to enter at least a months worth of temps when you first join so it has some history to help it pinpoint likely fertile periods.  I tried to join ovusoft but couldn't get through the process but Tulips managed it, so take a look at the charts and see which is best for you.  

Don't worry if you get up (baby/toilet) and forget to take your temp, take it as soon as you remember and note down the circumstances.  It does take a couple of cycles to get relaxed about taking temps, there are a heap of posts by stressed out first time charters, but it becomes a habit after a while.

You can temp orally or vaginally (known here as "a la Daisy").  Daisy wrote a beauty post on how she does it, but it doesn't come up in the search thing :mad:

There's heaps to read on either website, what to look for, how to record, how to tickle your cervix ;) ....... And you can always ask us - we are known to be right occasionally.  :hat:

 Tulips wrote:

There is some good info   here if you want to know more about Ovusoft and charting there you can ask me as I am a Mod over there.

 DaisyGirl wrote:

Okay, for those of you who haven't heard me say this all before (!!!)....

Before I started vag temping (or temping Ah La Daisy as Creamosa so nicely put it!!), I was waking every few hours, stressing about my temp which would change every 5 mins it seemed - and I thought I had the most screwed up body as temps were all over the place.  

Then read about vag temping on FF and thought I'd try it. Trust me, is not that bad/hilarious..whatever - and well - you can clearly see the difference in my charts.  

The first month I still woke up alot during the night as was in a bad habit by then - but my temp didn't alter during the night when taken Ah La Daisy.  Didn't matter if I got up for the kids, to the loo, the cats or tossed and turned all night....whatever.

For those who wonder, I just clean the thermometer everyday with savlon liquid on cotton wool.

So for those who stress about their temps being erratic, and not seeing Ovulation clearly - I highly recommend switching to vaginal temping....  :afraid:

DaisyGirl xxx

PS - For those who squirm ..is there much difference between placing a tampon or a thermometor up your fanny??????

 DaisyGirl wrote:

I clean the thermometer everyday with liquid savlon on a cotton wool ball...I've done it for 4 months now and have never had a prob with infection!!  My thermometer is VERY CLEAN!!!!!!

 DaisyGirl wrote:

The Nitty Gritty... 

You can feel it just as the metal end pops through the opening of your vagina (and it's quite cold!!!!), it stops there naturally anyway I find.  No probs with losing it LOL!!!! 

It can be a bit difficult to hear - I have to lift the covers a bit - and tell DH to be quiet!!!  

I have found that the beeps on the thermometer saying it's finished happen much quicker A La Daisy, so you don't have time to go back to sleep anyway!!

I use one of those pink "BD" (Basal Digital) thermometers from the chemist.

DaisyGirl xx

 DaisyGirl wrote:

PS.. Obviously you don't need to temp "Ah La Daisy" during AF - so that's a plus - you can have a week off temping each month which helps break the bad waking up habits too....