NWR: Ladies who chart, rec your BBT?

CASK85 · April 2013

Hey loves. I know some of you chart your cycles (stillwell?) and wanted some words of wisdom. I am thinking of going off my birth control pills. I've read TCOYF and I want to try my hand at charting my cycle to naturally to avoid pregnancy. I need to buy a basal body thermometer and would love some recommendations other than the average rating on amazon.com. Any other tips/insights are more than welcome.

thejucheidea · April 2013

I don't use a BBT -- I just track at mymonthlycycles.com. I have a really dependable, regular cycle though, so that charting method may not work for everyone.

CASK85 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-ladies-who-chart-rec-your-bbt?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1468956f-8fe9-4229-a371-03569b3f850dPost:b1a263ce-cbcc-4be4-b913-ee543706b56a">Re: NWR: Ladies who chart, rec your BBT?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't use a BBT -- I just track at mymonthlycycles.com. I have a really dependable, regular cycle though, so that charting method may not work for everyone.
Posted by ahstillwell[/QUOTE]
Oh I had no idea you just tracked like that. I'm really amazed that works. I've been on bcp for so long I have no idea how regular I would be.

cu97tiger · April 2013

I have this one: CLICK HERE

It has worked just fine for me for almost a year and was only $10. I'm just now starting to chart CM and cervix position. Part of me wishes I had started that last year, too. Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions!

I had been on BC for about 15 years when I went off. I'm fairly regular. If you want a link to my charts, PM me. I think it makes a lot more sense when you can see examples!

thejucheidea · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-ladies-who-chart-rec-your-bbt?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:1468956f-8fe9-4229-a371-03569b3f850dPost:80ad18a5-6234-4d53-991f-401cfdc4a91e">Re: NWR: Ladies who chart, rec your BBT?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: NWR: Ladies who chart, rec your BBT? : Oh I had no idea you just tracked like that. I'm really amazed that works. I've been on bcp for so long I have no idea how regular I would be.
Posted by cschiano[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I keep it pretty simple. I might get a thermometer next year when we're trying to conceive, but only if we have issues despite my tracking.

suzie211 · April 2013

So glad you posted this! I started having issues with my bc in the last month. The plan was to go off bc this summer right before the wedding. Because I didn't want to take 2-3 months to regulate to a new hormonal bc, FI and I decided to just stop now and start charting.

I stopped at a pharmacy the other day meaning to get one and they were sold out:( So I was going to research on Amazon. So I've been using the Fertility Friend app without temps until I get one.

desertsun · April 2013

I bought mine like 2 years ago at Wal-Mart for like $10. It's white and pink. Works great!

You can PM me here or on FB if you want access to my fertilityfriend charts. I just started charting again a few days ago.

CASK85 · April 2013

Thanks Tiger and Desert. I will need to join FF I suppose and then I'll PM you. Basically it sounds like a cheapy model is fine. Any annoying beeping models I should avoid?

I just started my last pack of BCPs this week (the last one in my prescription, at least). I want to talk to my doctor about it. . . I"m really scared to go off and accidentally get KU. We're not ready (we'd get ready if we had to, but I'd prefer not to right now).

desertsun · April 2013

Do you guys hate condoms? B/c I think they're a good temporary back up between going off BC and your cycles getting regular/you feeling comfortable with charting.

desertsun · April 2013

I don't know of any specific models to avoid, but just read the packages carefully. I wanted one that only beeped when done, and that would store at least one temp in memory. I often set my alarm for early, wake up to temp, then go back to sleep. (B/c I get up earlier on work days than on off days, and it's helpful to temp at the same time every day.) And then I log my temp later in the day. You can also log it right away in your phone if you keep that by your bed, since FF does have a relatively functional mobile app. I just find I prefer as little disruption as possible before going back to sleep.

CASK85 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_nwr-ladies-who-chart-rec-your-bbt?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1468956f-8fe9-4229-a371-03569b3f850dPost:0ac0d105-f6c6-4b01-a37d-55c4aec6488f">Re: NWR: Ladies who chart, rec your BBT?</a>:
[QUOTE]Do you guys hate condoms? B/c I think they're a good temporary back up between going off BC and your cycles getting regular/you feeling comfortable with charting.
Posted by desertsun[/QUOTE]
No, we don't hate them. It wouldn't be a problem to use them. I'm just paranoid. But the science is solid, so if I do it right I should eventually feel confident and not paranoid any more.

jorja86 · April 2013

I just have a cheap one from Walgreens.

I gave up on taking my temp, though, because working night shift, it's pretty impossible to do it at the same time of day AND upon first waking, since I get up at 5pm on days I work, and between 9am and noon on days I don't.

My cycle is really regular as well, though, although it did take about 6 months to get that way after going off BC (I was coming off Depo, though, so it likely took longer than usual). We've successfully used condoms and charting to avoid for about 1.5 years now (knock on wood).

polkadot111 · April 2013

Mine is the pink one from Walmart too. I used to chart, and it worked great- and was cheap.

Dewey12 · April 2013

I started charting after I had my son. I couldn't stand the way I felt on BC after being off of it for so long. I just use an app for my phone to chart and I now can tell when I'm ovulating. It's pretty sweet. GL with it!

tessajdhSMC · April 2013

I tried charting BBT, but if there are any interruptions in your sleep, or you don't sleep regular hours...your charts are going to be off. Also, when coming off BCPs your cycle is probably going to be screwy for 3-6 months. Once you get used to charting, you can usually tell where you are in your cycle with CM. You can also get the cheap Wondfo OPKs from Amazon to give you a better idea of your ovulation when you're first starting to chart.

Good luck!

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