Charting

belinda · 04-19-2006, 01:44 PM

Help girls. I am new at this. Last month I did a chart on paper, just recording symptoms (not going by cervical position or temping). I would like to start temping and actually keeping track of that too. I have already set up an account with fertility friends to do the 'work' for me.

Here are the questions...
1) In your expert opiniion, do I HAVE to get a BBT thermometer or can I use my digital that I already have??? I'm trying to save money where possible, and if I can use the one that I have and stick with that one, I would like to. What are your thoughts?

2) I feel like a retard! I talked to Tricia this weekend about it, and she suggested temping and charting my cervical position too (to learn more about my body and when/how my body is working). Even with her explaining, I feel dumb, but, I can't find my cervix!

Is it because it could be too high for me to feel? I'm currently on CD15 and have had LOTS of eggwhite CM today when going to the bathroom. (sorry if TMI). I've been having to wipe 3-4 times! Help girls! I keep asking Tricia, and am getting the same response, that the cervix is straight up and feels like a tip of a finger. Is that right? If so, I'm not finding it. Could mine be too high at this point in my cycle or am I just oblivious as to what I might be feeling in there???

Amanda05 · 04-19-2006, 02:05 PM

First off IMO I think a digital therm is fine. I have always used one! Second I have never kept track of what my cervix is doing but I have checked it here and there. It changes position through out the month. It could feel like a finger tip or a big mushy thing

Once you find it you will have an idea of what you are looking for. GL

Terri · 04-19-2006, 02:46 PM

I agree with Amanda, using a regular digi thermometer is fine. That's what I used too and it worked just fine. As long as you are consistantly temping with the same thermometer each morning, at the same time, you'll get the same results as using a BBT.

As far as finding your cervix, just like Amanda said... it changes throughout your cycle. I forget exactly the positioning, but I think it's typically pretty low before you O and then raises up high after O, and then lowers again during your period. Chris seems to be our resident cervix expert - she'd be the best one to advise on that.

IMO finding out the position of the cervix really doesn't tell you THAT much and it's not really necesary to do. You could also irritate it and cause spotting if you nick it with a fingernail so just be careful if you continue in your search.

belinda · 04-19-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTCFamilyof4

You could also irritate it and cause spotting if you nick it with a fingernail so just be careful if you continue in your search.

Ouch! Thanks Terri and Amanda. I shall await to hear from Chris...but, have been reading some online and think I have found some answers. Thanks girls!

fyrestar · 04-19-2006, 10:44 PM

Hey there! You definitely don't need a basal thermometer - I never used anything but a regular digital one and they're no less effective than a basal (some basals measure to the nearest 1/100th of a degree i.e. 97.62 versus a regular one which would only read 97.6 but those 100ths of a degree really make no difference in your chart) If you want to buy a basal you can, and they don't have to cost a fortune. babyhopes.com has a digital basal for $10 I think.

As far as checking your cervix, it's something that definitely requires practice. It seriously took me about 3 cycles to figure it out when we were trying for #2. The best advice I can give is to check it while you're sitting on the toilet

I'm going to be really detailed so forgive me!

But it's easiest if you spread your legs pretty wide while sitting (I mean, not uncomfortably wide lol) then lean forward while you reach in with your middle finger. Your shoulders and upper body should be falling down between your legs. How far you have to lean down will depend on how high your cervix is. If you find yourself completely doubled over, then your cervix is VERY high (but unless you have an unusually long vaginal canal or short stubby fingers lol, you SHOULD be able to reach it all the time with varying degrees of difficulty). Usually when it's low you'll hardly have to lean over at all, it will feel like it's RIGHT THERE when you reach in.

To determine if it's open or not, think of it as a volcano that can close and open. When it's closed, you'll feel the ridge of it like the ridge of the mountain, but won't be able to get too far in. When it's medium, you'll feel the beginning of a little crater, just a tiny dent in it that you can sometimes get a fingertip in (especially if you've had a vaginal birth before, some women will feel it slightly open or "medium" all the time) and when it's "Open" at your most fertile, it will feel like a volcano with a crater in it. You might be able to get quite a bit of your fingertip in there (no need to go too far though

)

The texture is something that's different for every woman and you'll have to figure out how yours feels for you. "Firm" usually will feel like you've hit against your forehead, not much give. "Medium" usually will feel like you've hit against the tip of your nose, still firm but you can squish it in a bit. And "soft" will feel mushy like your lips or cheeks. At your most fertile it might be so soft that it feels almost hard to tell where your vaginal canal ends and your cervix begins - it might just feel like one big soft squishy toy

Definitely start learning about this now if you want to chart it when you officially start trying. It will save you a lot of headaches. Although if you don't want to chart your cervix you don't have to. We conceived twice without charting or using OPKs or anything so it's not really necessary. I think the best investment you can make is in OPKs. The regular Answer sticks worked best for me, you might have to experiment a bit to see which work well for your LH levels. But if you want to skip checking your cervix, I would use OPKs and be aware of your CM and that should be plenty!

belinda · 04-20-2006, 12:11 PM

Wow! You REALLY are the queen bee! Thanks so much Chris. Don't worry about being graffic...that's exactly what I was hoping for. I think you're right though. I think I'm trying to 'find' it when I'm in the middle of my cycle during ovulation, which, would explain it being soft and me having no idea that is what I am feeling. I will definitely check it out the rest of the cycle just for giggles to learn more! But, I certainly don't want to have to remember to do that everyday if I don't have to. I have started temping as of this AM just to get an idea of how my body is working. (Even though I'm right in the middle of my cycle, I figured if I could catch my body right prior to ovulation, that would be one more chart to look at when we start really TTC).

You ROCK Chris! Thanks so much!