EWCM after I thought I'd ovulated?

[Nightowlagain]

Hi there, I have a question and thought where better to ask it! I hope someone can give me an insight into the ovulation process.

I'm ttc number two, last time it took a few months but was successful without any intervention. We have just started again, and I've been using a calendar app on my phone to track my dates. It is very accurate with regard to predicting my period, and I'm very regular, 28 day cycle. I'm going by when it says I'm ovulating, but I've noticed the last two months of trying that I seem to get the EWCM starting the day after I think I've ovulated according to the calendar.

We dtd the day before I was supposedly ovulating and I'm worried now that we missed it again. We've not been dedicated to it really yet, so this was the only time we dtd this month.

Does this mean I'm ovulating later than the dates suggest, or is it possible that the EWCM can come just after? Thanks if you can help, it's very confusing!

Well the main thing to know about FF is that it is totally unreliable re: ovulation dates. I don't know what system it uses, but it isn't FAM (even if you put it on the FAM settings). The main thing is that you need to see 3 temps clearly above the previous 6 (discarding any dodgy or uncertain temps). By that reckoning you do just have that over the last three days, suggesting ovulation on Wednesday; but the ewcf on Thursday plus the fact that the time you are taking your temp is a bit variable and the Thursday and Friday temps are not much above ones you were seeing before makes me a bit doubtful, so it could have been as late as Friday, assuming your temp now stays elevated. Today does look very promising though!

Re: alcohol, I have never noticed it having a particularly marked effect but it is one of the things that apparently can do. I would just add a note on today to say that you'd had something to drink last night, so that you can track back to check if you notice the same thing again.

Altogether I'd say I think it is very likely that you have now ovulated but I think it is pretty unlikely that it was on Tuesday. Whichever day it was, it looks like you covered your bases and have a decent chance of pregnancy.

Yeah to be honest I thought the 4dpo didn't look right, I couldn't quite work out how it had come to the conclusion really. I thought that I'd read that you ovulated on the last day of the low temperature before it shot up so I think it would have been most likely Wednesday too. I think this morning was a bit crazily high, I haven't seen that kind of temp over the past two months, but overall I agree that I have more than likely already ovulated. I also have a sore nipple now, which I had after ovulation last month. But I think we'll continue for a few more days though just to make sure the temps continue to stay high.

I am a bit confused about the ewcm thing though. This morning I had some of a similar consistency but creamy coloured after a bm. I think that something is causing it that I've maybe done differently. I've started on a new vitamin this month so I don't know if it's maybe that.

I really appreciate your advice :)

Yes definitely the best thing if you are ttc is to keep going until you have three unambiguously high temps and are sure you have ovulated. Good luck!

The odd cf patterns could still be a post-pill thing perhaps?

This morning was high again. Not as high as yesterday but definitely higher than it has been over the last few weeks so I'm feeling pretty optimistic now :)

Yeah it could well be. It's crazy how much it's affected me. I'm definitely not going back on the pill for a long long time!

Where about are you in your cycle now? Is this your first cycle TTC 2?

Yup, this is our first attempt at no. 2. I have truly dreadful pregnancies though (v. severe hyperemesis which begins incredibly early) so we have quite mixed feelings! I think I am about 4 or 5 dpo at the moment and quite unwell (in bed a lot so on mumsnet). Have a throat thing though so not yet clear whether that's why I'm feeling so bad or whether anything else is going on: I also had a low grade fever for a day or two at the end of the week which may have messed with my temps Time will tell! I was really unwell even with the conception that petered out at just over 4 weeks (i.e. had barely implanted) so I don't set much store by feeling unwell at this stage!

Re: the cf, my post-ovulation cf is always creamy, and there's often quite a lot of it. I think most women see more of a dry-up but I'm pretty sure TCOYF does describe various alternative patterns. Just a matter of experience obviously in learning what's normal for you, though if you are still post-pill you may not be back to your natural patterns yet anyway.

Oh no that doesn't sound good at all. I've not heard many people say that they felt rough from conception. Does it get better later on in the pregnancy?! Yeah TTC seems just be one long waiting game really. Especially when you have longer cycles!

Mine definitely seems to have gone creamy when present. It's crazy that it's coming up to my 7th month off the pill and things have still yet to settle down. Suppose some people go back to normal straight away so I'm just kind of unlucky! (I do know that it could be much worse though!)

Hope either way you're feeling better soon!