Is it too late to chart?

[Anonymous]

I'm new to this whole TTC thing....so I'm looking for advice from some pros. Not sure what will even help me, since my problem does not seem to be getting pregnant, but staying pregnant.

My period ended a week ago today. I did not chart this month. It is too late? If I start tomorrow AM taking my temp in the morning, what should I look out for?

Or should I just go out and get an ovulation test? I'm going to have sex each night this month and add an extra session in in the mornings when I "think" I'm ovulating. However, I would like to know when I'm ovulating just in case all this sex wears me out

[Anonymous]

You are too late to start temping/charting this month, but you could certainly buy an OPK kit and you may want to start in a couple of days so that you don't miss the window. Just make sure you don't get a UTI from so much sex

[Anonymous]

i don't think it's too late to start charting if you're only a week out from your period, you'll probably still be able to see a thermal shift, unless for some reason you tend to ovulate on CDs 7-10 which i doubt!! but just remember charting is only used to CONFIRM ovulation ... by the time you can see a thermal shift it's too late. OPKs will give you the warning you need, which is that you're about to ovulate and it's time to have lots of sex!!

i love charting though b/c it really helps you "see" your cycles and identify any potential problems, plus if you're really regular you'll be able to figure out when is the best time for you, even without OPKs (but i ALWAYS used the OPKs).

FYI i'm 19 weeks pregnant, i ovulated on CD26 and I had sex on CDs 23, 24, and 25. Did not have sex on O day. That was the pattern that worked best for me both times I've been pregnant ... hope that works for you, or that you find your own sweet spot!! GOOD LUCK!!

[Anonymous]

It is not too late to start charting.

But based on your post I am a little confused. If your problem is not getting pregnant - but staying pregnant, what are you looking for charting to help you with?


When you do chart, I would recommend charting both CF and temp. These together are what helped me.

Also - I believe you can still conceive after the thermal shift. But that is not the day to start trying to conceive. When you see the thermal shift - if you want 1 last shot - go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not too late to start charting.

But based on your post I am a little confused. If your problem is not getting pregnant - but staying pregnant, what are you looking for charting to help you with?


When you do chart, I would recommend charting both CF and temp. These together are what helped me.

Also - I believe you can still conceive after the thermal shift. But that is not the day to start trying to conceive. When you see the thermal shift - if you want 1 last shot - go for it.

My sanity. After 4MC, one gets a bit paraniod. I want to know everything about my cycle. Also, after the 4th MC it is now taking me longer than normal to get pg again. All 5xs I've been pregnant it took one shot. Now, I'm not pg after 3 mos. For me this is a bit odd.

[Anonymous]

Personally, charting drives me crazy. My temperatures go up and down all the time and it always makes me worry. I am always second guessing my chart: did I ovulate? Did I not ovulate? Why is my temperature up or down?...etc. I would not recommend charting for sanity. It can be very scary to see a temperature drop during the luteal phase for example. Anyway, if you want to do it, it's not too late. Check out the website: www.fertilityfriend.com, where you can chart online and they have lots of tips and q&a about charting. If you have recurrent miscarriages, it might be a good idea for you to go see a specialist to look into why you are having those miscarriages.

[Anonymous]

No, it is not too late.

But also use the OPK always.

After ovulation has been detected, you can check your lutheal phase lengh...since your problem is keeping the pregnancy, maybe the underline cause is a short lutheal phase, what is easily corrected with progesterone.

And in the even you do get pregnant, continue charting so you can keep an eye in your progesterones level... like, if you see a high drop in your basal temp after DPO 18, you should call your doctor immediatly - he might be able to still save that pregnancy giving you progesterone.

I would suggest you read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility."

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