Charters Anonymous : Volume 2

hippyhen welcome to charting!

It's important to make sure that your thermometer is a basal body one (sometimes called a fertility thermometer). If you have a preference for farenheit/celsius both are available but check what you're ordering.

I got one off of Amazon for about £6 along with a pack of cheapie ovulation tests and cheapie pg tests thrown in for free so there are some good deals out there.

Hi digi, thanks for your thoughts. I've still got my chart (and my three weed on tests ) and it definitely couldn't be earlier than CD12. I remember being surprised when FF said it had actually happened on CD12, I was still waiting a few days later as the temp jump was less marked than previously and I'd ovulated on CD14, CD16 and CD19 in the preceeding months.

You're right, ultimately it's the potential for induction I'm concerned about, esp as I'm booked for a homebirth which obviously I couldn't have if induced. I will refuse if I think they are trying to do it too early, but I'd rather not have a nasty fight...

Hello, I'm new to charting. Which thermometer would you suggest I get? - oh and congrats to LadyGoneGaga!

spiltthetea ovulating while on your period would be strange. Do you still have your chart? Any chance you might have ovulated even just 2-3 days earlier like cd9/10? A week's discrepancy seems quite large, can't imagine you'd want to be induced earlier than necessary if you went overdue the nhs's dates.
I've no experience of arguing against the nhs dates - but you have the right to refuse any treatment they offer eg induction. So they can't force you to have an induction when they think you're 42 weeks but you know you're only 41. I guess the only time it would be a worry is if you give birth prematurely, in which case I'd be arguing very loudly.

mummyabroad interesting though that the progesterone supplement doesn't boost your temp to as high as before.

Digi Glad you have been getting undisturbed sleep. Seems very sensible to stop charting too, that way you dont have to fret over every possible dip and wonder what it means (leave that to us lot!)

I must admit I never considered that I would keep charting after a BFP (and I DO plan on getting one eventually ) . I took Toni's advice to mean that it could be useful for women who were having very early mc's (chemical pregnancies) are werent really aware of it, but just thought that they were having a late heavy period. Charting would show them what was really going on. (Then again arguably so would a HPT)

Nice news about the CBD result . Do GP's in the UK do quantative HCG tests for reassurance? Knowing that your numbers are doubling every two days might put your mind more at rest.

I am half way through my progesterone course now, charting has become really boring. It used to give me a bit of a thrill to get a high temp, but its not the same when you know it is chemically induced!

Congratulations digi, just seen you got your BFP, so pleased for you

I hope you ladies don't mind, but I was wondering if I could pop back and ask for some advice on dating of pregnancy (before I possibly make a pillock of myself...)? I'm not sure if my antenatal bunch were quite such avid charters but I have asked them the same questions.

I have my 20 week scan tomorrow and I am kind of expecting to be told my baby is "small" for dates, but actually I think my dating scan was about a week out.

As I understand it, actual pregnancy is 38 weeks from conception to birth? (to get to 40 weeks, they add 2 weeks that in theory takes you back to your period, assuming ovulation on day 14)

My dates were:
Period started: 31/05, lasted 5 days
Ovulated: 11/06, on CD12
Usually have 10 day luteal phase so was expecting next period on 21/06, got BFP on 24/06 at 13DPO

So, counting forward 38 weeks (or 266 days) from ovulation (assuming conception was that day, or possibly the day after) gives an EDD of 04/03/2011, which is the due date I originally worked out.

However my dating scan came up with EDD 25/02/2011, a whole week earlier, so I reckon there must be a margin of error/big baby??

To have an EDD of 25/02/2011 I would need to have conceived on 04/06, i.e. CD5 when I was still on my period. Surely this would be nonsense?

Does anyone have experience of arguing dates with the NHS?

Thanks

Interesting note for you charters out there. According to my acupuncturist temp charting in pregnancy isn't that useful as temps do fluctuate in pregnancy as the progesterone and other hormones naturally fluctuate and disrupt sleep. He also said I should stop charting now.

I realise this conflicts with toni's advice about continuing to temp so that you're forewarned if a mc is about to happen but to be honest I'm stopping anyway because if it's going to happen it'll happen whether I'm charting or not.

CBD conception indicator came up 2-3 weeks today which is right on the money. So still hopeful!

glad to hear it digi :o

No bad dreams last night and slightly stronger line on the Internet cheapie this morning

brownb tcoyf is really useful if you're charting. I'd highly recommend it.

BrownB - re TCOYF: Yes!!! (or get from the library) Sorry about AF, bit of a nasty double act with a cold as well.

Digi, you have every right to fret at slightest temp change, or continually POAS. Anyone who has been through what you have will understand. :)

Digi - congratulations!! I can imagine where you're at with this though. Am ttc my first too, after a miscarriage last year. So I can imagine that when(!) I finally get a BFP, I'm going to be super excited followed by super panicky. Hope you're feeling more settled and have booked in to see your doc or something sensible like that.

MummyAbroad - thanks for the tip. Will have to see if my bleary cold filled eyes can follow the destructions..!

My period arrived. I might get to go skiing yet...

ps - TCOYF, if this something I need to own?

digi Sorry I didn't read the bit about the horrid dream before I put the

The was because you are preggers my love.

I think it is perfectly normal for someone to dream about MC's when they first find out they're pregnant. It occupies your conscious mind all day and then you think you'll switch off at night but NO it occupies your sub-conscious too. It's just your mind going over the worste case scenario.

I know how horrid those dreams are and you can't shake off the feeling they leave.

Take it one day at a time sweetie and before you know it you'll be 8 weeks and then 12 etc.

Thinking of you. Good luck. xx

Digi sounds like you have had some really good advice already, hope it has put your mind at rest. I just wanted to add, temps can dip even if you are on a chemically induced progesterone supplement! I am taking 200mg a day, I expected to see a straight line or a steady rise, but no! I just woke up to a dip too!

digi congratulations! wonderful news and what a beautiful chart.

I've stopped temping. I wake up and shove a banana in my mouth instead of a thermometer to try and stop the day-long nausea!

xxx

Digi I totally understand these fears. I think I'll be a nervous wreck next time too. I keep having horrible dreams, reliving the mc too. It's just your sub-conscious trying to sort out your fears and doesn't mean anything bad.

digi I am still doing the odd internet cheapy and I am almost 6 weeks!! I don't think you 'should' or 'shouldn't' be doing anything IYSWIM. What ever gets you thru. I was a bit of a mess for the first week and I haven't been pregnant before so I can imagine its 10 times worse if you have had a bad experience. The dream must have been awful but it is just your subconscious sorting through all your quite natural fears, its no more than that. Do what ever you need to do to reassure yourself but do try to enjoy it a little bit if you can! I completely understand the balancing act between thinking positively and being realistic 'just in case'

digi All the very best, lovey.

Thank you all, you're right I should probably stop temping for now. I know it's not a massive drop but I had quite bad back ache wake me up last night which reminded me of what happened last time I miscarried. And then dreamt I miscarried in horrible detail. I think I was just hoping my temp would reassure me, so when I saw it had dipped slightly I thought it was confirmation.

In a bid to reassure myself with more scientific evidence I did another couple of tests this morning (not with fmu) - Internet cheapie took ages to come up but first response came up straight away with same sample. I know I shouldn't be doing those either, as a positive test doesn't guarantee anything. Just wanted to enjoy it this time round, but am so worried.

Thank you so much for all your reassurance, it really helps. Sorry for being so me me me too. Can't bloody concentrate on anything.

digi your temps will just stay high (i.e. above the coverline) - as the others have said, they can't continue getting higher or you will cook! If you are going to fret about it then perhaps you should stop temping?

My chart was never as pretty as yours, but look at how mine wobble about! I even had one below the CL, but that was obviously just a one-off wierd temp. Baby was definitely there on 16th Sept!

Try not to worry about your temps, instead you have to worry about how you are going to conceal that big grin for the next few weeks!

digi as was chanted at me, a line is a line is a line. A wee drop doesn't mean anything, you are still way above the base line. Chin up, I know how worrying this stage is, just been through it, maybe stop temping if it's going to stress you out?

digi - your temps are normal my lovely ....
like ladyG says - they can't stay high all the time or you would cook! Mine did that after my BFP - thats why I stopped temping - you ARE pregnant - you don't need your temps to tell you that. It will only stress you out.Relax and enjoy your BFP ! xxx

Digi What's wrong? Your temps still fluctuate when pg (they can't go up forever or you'd be ill!) - as long as they stay above cover line you're fine. Don't panic.

When I was pg they peaked around day 14 and then dropped to a slightly lower but still high level.

MA yes, well frustrating although I feel bad posting that as I would be absolutely tearing my hair out if I'd had to wait as long as you. It's just I keep reading stuff from people who got their period on time as usual after a mc! Just want some egg laying action. Really hope this progesterone works for you.

bugger

Wish I'd bloody waited till I was late.

I just nosied on your chart too LadyG fingers crossed ov happens soon - its just pants waiting and waiting

I counted day 1 as day of ERPC (it has made my cycle 87 days long and counting!

I am a few days into my progesterone course to bring on AF. Its making my temperatures do a total uturn.