Question re BBT

[ineedsomeinspiration]

Hello all,

I stopped taking birth control in January in anticipation of wanted to start ttc this summer. I'm currently having my first proper bleed (not counting withdrawal bleed) and want to start charting to get to know my cycle having been on birth control since I was 17 (now 33), my first child was not planned.

I've read about temping as well as CM monitoring and these seem a good way of getting an idea of what's going on. The problem I have is with the BBT seems to be advise take your temp first thing in the morning after at least 5 hours sleep at the same time everyday.

This is not possible for me for several reasons, one I have a 3 year old who will sometimes be up in the night and can sometimes wake at different rimes, I can often have disturbed sleep for no obvious reason and thirdly I work Part time and get up slightly earlier to go to work than a home day.

Do you think it's still worth me monitoring my BBT, will I get inaccurate readings?

Anyone?

If your sleep is irratic it might not be worth it. I have an alarm that goes off at 5:00am. It takes a minute in total to take temp. No lights go on etc so I can get back to sleep after until I need to be up for work.

Hope you find a solution that works.

So would the sleep or lack of give me false readings? I have the thermometer ordered so might give it a go. Don't think I'll be setting a 5am alarm though.

You really need to temp after 3-4 hours of solid sleep. Otherwise any movements or increase in metronomic rate (which happens just by being awake etc) will increase your temps.

And it should be at the same time each day to get consistent readings

Interesting jellypi, I'm in the same position, thinking about start to track temperature but I'm a really bad sleeper. It's not unusual for me to be awake for about an hour 2.30-3.30 and then get up at 6.15 for work. If that's a consistent pattern of sleep presumably that won't matter?

I'm SO glad someone asked this! I don't sleep properly either and have wondered for some time. I'm starting fertility treatment very soon and I'm concerned they are going to ask me to track it. I think I'll have to tell him that the readings are going to be nonsense!

Have a read of toni weschler book taking charge of your fertility. It has lots of information on how to temp in different scenarios and much more. When you chart you are looking for is an overall pattern. A normal pattern with blips will be under the coverline before ovulation and above after. Toni weshler has software you can buy as a one off and she has a website as well that you might find useful as there are lots of experienced charters including some who work shifts who will be able to advise you.

Ooooo, I have it, but haven't finished reading it. I'll have a look, many thanks xxx