TTC first timer! Advice welcome

[Yrmyfavourite]

Hello!

Nice to meet you all I’m TTC baby number two but I’ve never tracked my ovulation before. I’ve got a BBT thermometer and some ovulation strips, which I am logging on Premom but, haven’t really the foggiest what I’m doing and the instructions didn’t guide me very much! Please could someone give me some tips on where to start!

Just for a bit of background info, I have PCOS, diagnosed 7 years ago and haven’t been on any form of contraception since I found out. DH and I have been together for 10 years and figured that we would let nature run its course so, we weren’t actively TTC but, didn’t want to prevent it either. DD came along in 2019 and we are now keen to have a little brother or sister for her to play with!

TIA! X

How long are your cycles? Do you sleep in regular windows of time eg get up at same time each day, go to bed at same time, sleep relatively well?

I use this app as well. Have you never found your LH peak or BBT spike?

Simply upload your LH test strips into the app, the app will give you the results. When the highest reading appears and then goes down, the app will mark the highest one as peak, and then adjust your ovulation day accordingly. Tracking your BBT every morning and log them into the app, the app will form coverline and BBT spike for you automatically based on your logged temps.

Generally, ovulation occurs within 24-36 hours after the LH peak, and BBT spike usually occurs one-to-two days after ovulation.

Thanks for the replies!

@TheDaydreamBelievers My cycles are around 33 days but, this can vary due to my PCOS and occasionally can go on for 50+ days :( I always go to bed and wake at similar times and get 7-8 hours sleep!

@Ailie12 I've started to scan in the test strips but, I haven't found a spike yet. I will start logging my BBT too using the app. That's really helpful to know! Thank you!

x

@yrmyfavourite hey hun. Welcome 💕 make sure you are always taking you bbt at the same time every morning. I set an alarm at half 5 (even if I wasn't getting up at that time every morning- I'd just go back to sleep). I sometimes go to the gym for 6 so knew that was the earliest time I'd get up. If you are taking it orally, make sure it is under your tongue and towards the back (sounds silly but I didn't know!) Bbt won't let you know when ovulation is on its way but it will confirm by a temp increase after its happened.

OPK measures the LH hormone so if I were you I'd buy some cheapies and take every day for the first cycle so you know exactly when you get a high/peak. I thought I ovulated on cd10 after a 'high' reading which premom said was peak but luckily I kept testing and actually got even higher ones and a new peak at cd23. On LH tests the test line needs to be as dark as or darker than the control line to be classed as positive. When it is like this you tend to ovulate 24/36 hours after. When you start to get these dark LH tests this is when you want to be DTD as much as possible as this is when you are most fertile.

I have read that ladies with PCOS their LH tests can tend to be dark throughout the month but I have no experience of this as I don't have pcos so prob a good idea to bbt alongside it, as you are.

You are looking for the EWCM (thin/clear and stretchy) as well, which is a sign that you are the most fertile.

The difficult thing is that everyone's cycle is so different and they have different warnings/symptoms on the lead up but after a few cycles you will start to see patterns.

Good luck and I hope it isn't too long a journey for you❤

@Cheekymonkey3112 Thank you so much! That is really helpful advice. Especially the bit about the test only being positive if it is dark as, I have another app which asked me to log positive or negative tests and it really threw me off! Really appreciate your help xx

@Yrmyfavourite I use the premom app and when you take a photo of it, it calculates a number based on the control and test line ratio. It tells you whether they think its low/high or peak. Might be a bit easier for you xxx

@Cheekymonkey3112 thank you so much! Xx

@Yrmyfavourite As far as I know, to get the BBT spike in the app, you need to get " 6 low, 3 high" (9 consecutive temperatures) and the rise must be 0.5 degrees, so it could be a little hard to have it, but just make you take the temps right upon waking to get the most accurate BBT data.

Preparing to TTC baby two and looking for some support to get me back in the zone...

I'm 37, a healthy weight and don't smoke
About to start taking folic acid again
My diet is ok I eat plenty of fruit and veg but a bit too much chocolate. I drink moderately and have the odd night out.
I have natural cycles and track my cycles but I don't take my temp as constantly forget so will have to start that.

Anything else anyone can suggest?

Sorry didn't mean to post that here!