Temping novice looking for help

[HairyToe]

Hi I'm just starting to temp and wondered if any experienced 'tempers' here would mind answering a couple of quick questions?

I have a normal digital thermometer from Boots but it only has one decimal place - is that ok for temp charts or do other people use readings of two decimal places?

Also my first three temps have been 36.7,36.6,36.6 - I am post ovulatory at the moment and these temps seem a little low?

CD 23 at the moment. Thinking I'm either not pregnant (in which case I'm quite excited at charting the next cycle and confirming what I think about my cycle) or I am pregnant and won't need to worry about it!

Hmmm. I'll await the response to this one with interest. Mine are that low - they definitely go up, but nothing like the e.g's in the book - so I'll be intrigued to see what other people say.

I have a question also - and I have looked on FF but can't find the answer - ONce I have ovulated, should my temperatures remain high until I get my period?

Hi HairyToe, come and join us on the temping buddies thread if you like!

I personally use a thermometer with 2 decimal places, and I think if you are doing it in celsius, it really does help you to see the difference on the charts. That being said, I know some of the ladies who temp in celsius only use one decimal place. The thing is, with celsius measurements, you could be looking for a shift of as little as .1 degrees, so it may be harder to see with only one decimal place and temps being rounded up or down.

If you temped in farenheit (as I used to), the shift you look for is about .4 degrees, so a regular thermometer is okay (IMHO).

Boots does a fertility thermometer that cost about £40 when I bought it two years ago. It also has an alarm to make sure you take it at the same time, and it records the temp so you don't fall asleep again before you write it down (something I did frequently when I first started!). I blather on about it constantly so here's a link: Boots Digital Fertility Monitor

Don't think your temps seem low at all, even for post-ovulation. There's a huge variation between women, the most important thing the temps show is a shift from lower temps to higher temps at ovulation. The actual temp itself doesn't matter as much. But keep doing it to get yourself in the habit, and you'll be ready for next month if you need it (here's hoping you won't!).

Good luck!

Hi hairy (great name )

I use a thermometer with one Dp - but I temp in Fahrenheit which does make a difference I think you should have 2dp if you temp in Celsius.

You need to work out what is normal for you - I wouldn't say it was low though.

Have a look at the charts here you might get some ideas or join us on the charting thread

beanie in theory once Ov your temp should remain high until AF but you can have an implantation dip or a slow rise.

Its never really very easy to see what's going on until you've charted one full cycle!

Hi girls we all got there together!!!

LOL at Lottie and me giving totally opposite advice on thermometers. . .oops

Beanie, I think a lot of us find that our temp starts to drop a day or two before AF comes. I usually have the highest temp just before it starts to head downward.

Thanks londonlottie and sarah76 - really helpful advice from both of you. I think I'll stick with my 1dp thermometer for now and see how I go. Re temping buddies thread - yes I would love to join you. I have been tentatively dipping my toe onto that thread recently but thought I'd better see how well I keep up with this temping lark before I committed iykwim! See you over there

Just wanted to add with the .1 degree thing....that's Fertility Friend's opinion, not mine! I believe they also say most people get a shift of .2 degrees celsius, but their software is set to watch for .1 degree shifts in the advanced mode, as some women apparently don't see those big leaps (no one I've met though, and certainly not me!)