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Pregnancy and Charting to concieve
If you are trying to get pregnant and fast. You may have already heard about charting, or you may be like me, brand new to the whole thing. Basically charting is about monitoring and recording certain fertility signs in order to pin point ovulation, and hence find the best time to conceive.
There are a few ways in which to chart your cycle, and if you ask me, I think that if you want an accurate reading you should try to chart in as many ways as possible. Some people and some experts believe that charting doesn’t work, that conception is completely random; however, I am not one of those people. In fact I actually think that charting is a very useful tool for mother’s to be.
There are a few ways in which to chart your cycle, and if you ask me, I think that if you want an accurate reading you should try to chart in as many ways as possible. Some people and some experts believe that charting doesn’t work, that conception is completely random; however, I am not one of those people. In fact I actually think that charting is a very useful tool for mother’s to be.
So what will you get out of charting? Well not only will charting help you work out when you are most fertile and hence increase your chance of falling pregnant, it is also an important tool if you wish to try gender selection.
Another positive about having a complete record of your cycle and fertility signs, is that if you need to see a Doctor because you suspect you have fertility issues, you will have all the information they need up front, and you won’t have to then go away and spend three months charting your cycle for them, which really is a huge time saver.
So why do I love charting so much? Well simply because, after 20 years on the contraception pill, I fell pregnant during the first week of trying, managed to get the girl I so desperately wanted, and was able to pin point the exact date that I fell pregnant (which the ultrasound later confirmed). So with results like why wouldn’t I be pro-charting. So now that I have convinced you of the benefits of charting, let’s have a closer look at it.
Another positive about having a complete record of your cycle and fertility signs, is that if you need to see a Doctor because you suspect you have fertility issues, you will have all the information they need up front, and you won’t have to then go away and spend three months charting your cycle for them, which really is a huge time saver.
So why do I love charting so much? Well simply because, after 20 years on the contraception pill, I fell pregnant during the first week of trying, managed to get the girl I so desperately wanted, and was able to pin point the exact date that I fell pregnant (which the ultrasound later confirmed). So with results like why wouldn’t I be pro-
Once I started my research, I realised that there was a lot of information out there on the subject, so to save you some time; I have given you a basic outline below. Whilst it doesn’t cover everything on the subject, there is enough information to get you started. If you do want to do some more research on the subject, then I would recommend that after you have finished reading this article, you visit a wonderful website that I found called www.fertilityfriend.com.
Fertility Friend has loads of great information about getting pregnant and charting your cycle, as well as a fantastic online tool, which helps you chart your cycle and tells you when you are most fertile. It goes into great detail about all things related to charting and fertility and even has a free online course. The site offers a free service which covers everything I have just mentioned, or you can pay a small fee for an upgraded version. However, I found the free service enough for my purposes.
Ok, let’s get back on track. What do you need to get started? Well firstly you will need a chart to keep track of all your fertility signs. You can either use an online version at websites such as www.fertilityfriend.com or you can print one off to keep by your bed. Most BBT thermometers will come with a chart that you can photocopy. Once you have your chart you will need to begin monitoring each of your fertility signs. So let’s start at the beginning. Your temperature.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Basal Body Temperature is a person’s temperature upon awakening, before you have started to get moving for the day. Normally, before ovulation a woman’s temperature will be low, often in the low 36’s (c) or 97’s (f). However after ovulation, your temperature usually rises by several tenths of a degree and stays elevated until your next period (around 12-16 days). If you do become pregnant however, your BBT will stay high throughout the course of your pregnancy.
To accurately record and interpret your BBT, you will need to purchase a special digital basal thermometer. You can pick these up from the chemist for around $20. These thermometers allow you to get accurate reading at 0.1 intervals of your temperature (unlike normal thermometers) which is absolutely essential when charting. They will also come with a chart which you can photocopy as well as an instruction book that will explain exactly how to interpret your BBT.
You will need to take your temperature at the same time every day, and before you even get out of bed for the day, as moving raising your temperature. This may mean that you have to set your alarm clock on the weekends, but don’t worry, it only takes a minute and you can roll over afterwards and go back to sleep.
Please note that the consumption of alcohol the night before, sickness and fever or physical activity can affect your temperature, so make sure you make notes on your chart if you think any of these situations may have affected your reading.
For me - I kept my thermometer, saliva tester and chart on my bedside table so I could accurately record my fertility signs without getting out of bed. It was a little annoying having to go through the whole routine each morning, but I thought, if this is too much of a hassle, then I am not ready for a baby, because they will take up a lot more time than this does. At first I really didn’t think that my BBT records were going to be of any use. But after time, it was very obvious as to when I was ovulating, and I was able to use this information to plan a successful conception.
Monitoring your saliva
All women have the female sex hormone oestrogen in their system. Around 2 – 3 days before ovulation the levels of oestrogen in your saliva dramatically increase. Scientific research has shown that these high levels of oestrogen can be seen though a microscope, so if you take a saliva test each day, you will be able to see when you are getting close to ovulation. That sounds great, you might say, but who has a microscope just lying around the house?
Well not many of us, but the good news is, is there is a great little gadget on the market called “Maybe Baby”. It is a small microscope with a built in light which allows you to view your saliva samples in the ease of your own home. And the good news is that you can use it over and over again.
So how does it work? Well basically, each morning as soon as you wake, and before you eat, drink or brush your teeth, you spread a tiny bit of saliva on the glass plate, and leave it to dry for around ten minutes. You then look through the view finder as you press the light button. The light will basically allow you to view the sample on the plate.
The results are quite easy to interpret. If there are only small dots on the plate, then you are not fertile. If you start to see lines and dots, then you are getting closer to ovulation, and when you see what looks like big fern leaves, then you are about to ovulate and it is time for intercourse. (The baby dance)
Fertility Friend has loads of great information about getting pregnant and charting your cycle, as well as a fantastic online tool, which helps you chart your cycle and tells you when you are most fertile. It goes into great detail about all things related to charting and fertility and even has a free online course. The site offers a free service which covers everything I have just mentioned, or you can pay a small fee for an upgraded version. However, I found the free service enough for my purposes.
Ok, let’s get back on track. What do you need to get started? Well firstly you will need a chart to keep track of all your fertility signs. You can either use an online version at websites such as www.fertilityfriend.com or you can print one off to keep by your bed. Most BBT thermometers will come with a chart that you can photocopy. Once you have your chart you will need to begin monitoring each of your fertility signs. So let’s start at the beginning. Your temperature.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Basal Body Temperature is a person’s temperature upon awakening, before you have started to get moving for the day. Normally, before ovulation a woman’s temperature will be low, often in the low 36’s (c) or 97’s (f). However after ovulation, your temperature usually rises by several tenths of a degree and stays elevated until your next period (around 12-
To accurately record and interpret your BBT, you will need to purchase a special digital basal thermometer. You can pick these up from the chemist for around $20. These thermometers allow you to get accurate reading at 0.1 intervals of your temperature (unlike normal thermometers) which is absolutely essential when charting. They will also come with a chart which you can photocopy as well as an instruction book that will explain exactly how to interpret your BBT.
You will need to take your temperature at the same time every day, and before you even get out of bed for the day, as moving raising your temperature. This may mean that you have to set your alarm clock on the weekends, but don’t worry, it only takes a minute and you can roll over afterwards and go back to sleep.
Please note that the consumption of alcohol the night before, sickness and fever or physical activity can affect your temperature, so make sure you make notes on your chart if you think any of these situations may have affected your reading.
For me -
Monitoring your saliva
All women have the female sex hormone oestrogen in their system. Around 2 – 3 days before ovulation the levels of oestrogen in your saliva dramatically increase. Scientific research has shown that these high levels of oestrogen can be seen though a microscope, so if you take a saliva test each day, you will be able to see when you are getting close to ovulation. That sounds great, you might say, but who has a microscope just lying around the house?
Well not many of us, but the good news is, is there is a great little gadget on the market called “Maybe Baby”. It is a small microscope with a built in light which allows you to view your saliva samples in the ease of your own home. And the good news is that you can use it over and over again.
So how does it work? Well basically, each morning as soon as you wake, and before you eat, drink or brush your teeth, you spread a tiny bit of saliva on the glass plate, and leave it to dry for around ten minutes. You then look through the view finder as you press the light button. The light will basically allow you to view the sample on the plate.
The results are quite easy to interpret. If there are only small dots on the plate, then you are not fertile. If you start to see lines and dots, then you are getting closer to ovulation, and when you see what looks like big fern leaves, then you are about to ovulate and it is time for intercourse. (The baby dance)
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For me, Up until I decided to have a baby and decided to help my chances of conception through charting, I had no idea at to just how involved charting your cycle actually was. As a woman, I thought I knew everything there was to know about being a woman, but I was wrong. There is a lot that most of us don’t know, such as you only have a 12-24 hour window each month to fall pregnant. I know it is amazing isn’t it? Makes you realise just how unlucky you have to be to fall pregnant by accident.
For me - I really liked the Maybe Baby product, and used it every morning when I took my temperature. If I was too tired to stay awake and see the result I would just put the saliva on the glass, then go back to sleep for a while, checking and recording the results when I got up. (Though don’t leave it too long as the sample may deteriorate). Just like taking my BBT, at first I wasn’t sure if it was working right, or if I would know when the fertility signs appeared, but when I got close to my first ovulation, there was no doubt in my mind, the ‘ferns’ were huge and very easy to see.
I have read varying reports from people as to how accurate and helpful this product was for them, but it worked for me. If you want a closer look, then check out the website at www.maybebaby.com.au. There is also another product on the market called Ovuplan that you may also wish to consider.
Monitoring cervical fluid
I know this is one of those TMI (too much information) moments, but monitoring your cervical fluids will give you a great indication of your fertile times.
Cervical fluid is produced by your cervix and eventually works its way down through your cervix and out of your vagina where it can easily be observed. Your fluid changes daily over the course of your cycle, so by monitoring them, you will get a good idea of when you are about to ovulate.
Basically, just after you finish your period you will start off with no fluid at all, and you will be nice and dry. Then as you get closer to ovulation your fluids will increase going from a sticky substance, to a thick and creamy substance, through to a wet and watery substance as you get closer to ovulation. When you are just about to ovulate you will find that your fluid is very similar to a stretchy egg white substance. When you see this egg white substance, then you will know that this is your most fertile time and that it is time for intercourse.
Ok, now that you know all about fluids, you may be wondering how you actually monitor them. Well here is the little bit gross, but very essential part of charting. When you go to the bathroom, and before you pee, use clean toilet paper to wipe yourself. You then need to check the paper for any fluid. This will seem strange at first but it will eventually become second nature.
For me – At first I found the whole thing a bit gross, and whilst it did seem strange at first I can tell you that even though it sounds weird, you will actually start looking forward to seeing the changes and you will get really excited when you start noticing fluid that indicates that ovulation is approaching.
Please note that there are a few things that can affect your fluid such as recent intercourse, illness, medication, douching or STI’s. So make sure you note any of these influences on your chart. If you want to find out more information about cervical fluid, then once again, I recommend visiting www.fertilityfriend.com.
PH Levels
Basically by monitoring your PH Levels you will know when you are about to ovulate, because there will be a surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine. LH travels through your body towards the ovaries and upon its arrival basically tells your ovaries to release the egg. Once LH has arrived at your ovary, you have about 24 hours until the egg is released, a.k.a Ovulation.
So how do you monitor your LH levels? Well it is quite easy, all you need to do is use a PH testing stick called and OPK (Ovulation Prediction Kit). Simply put once you see a positive result on your OPK you have 24 hours until ovulation.
You can buy PH sticks from the pharmacy or on line, and they are reasonably cheap. I got some on Ebay for a few dollars. (www.ebay.com.au). To use the OPK’s, you need to pee in a cup, dip the PH stick into the cup, and then place it on a tissue or hard surface to dry. If the stick clearly shows 2 pink lines you are getting close to ovulation. You don’t need to use OPK’s every day, only on the days leading up to ovulation. Try starting out at about 5 days out.
For me - If like me you are starting out with no idea when your ovulation is due, then you should start using them every day from the day after your period ends until you know that you have ovulated. At first you will see nothing on the sticks but as you get closer to ovulation you will start to see very feint lines until you have your LH surge, when it is absolutely obvious that you are about to ovulate. I only had to use this method once, as my fertility signs were so accurate I got pregnant first try. So I am obviously a fan of this method.
So there you have it, the basics to charting. I know it seems like a bit of hard work now, but believe me, the benefits pay off when you know with some surety that you are about to ovulate and you can make sure that you don’t waste one single opportunity to fertilise that egg.
Good Luck!
I have read varying reports from people as to how accurate and helpful this product was for them, but it worked for me. If you want a closer look, then check out the website at www.maybebaby.com.au. There is also another product on the market called Ovuplan that you may also wish to consider.
Monitoring cervical fluid
I know this is one of those TMI (too much information) moments, but monitoring your cervical fluids will give you a great indication of your fertile times.
Cervical fluid is produced by your cervix and eventually works its way down through your cervix and out of your vagina where it can easily be observed. Your fluid changes daily over the course of your cycle, so by monitoring them, you will get a good idea of when you are about to ovulate.
Basically, just after you finish your period you will start off with no fluid at all, and you will be nice and dry. Then as you get closer to ovulation your fluids will increase going from a sticky substance, to a thick and creamy substance, through to a wet and watery substance as you get closer to ovulation. When you are just about to ovulate you will find that your fluid is very similar to a stretchy egg white substance. When you see this egg white substance, then you will know that this is your most fertile time and that it is time for intercourse.
Ok, now that you know all about fluids, you may be wondering how you actually monitor them. Well here is the little bit gross, but very essential part of charting. When you go to the bathroom, and before you pee, use clean toilet paper to wipe yourself. You then need to check the paper for any fluid. This will seem strange at first but it will eventually become second nature.
For me – At first I found the whole thing a bit gross, and whilst it did seem strange at first I can tell you that even though it sounds weird, you will actually start looking forward to seeing the changes and you will get really excited when you start noticing fluid that indicates that ovulation is approaching.
Please note that there are a few things that can affect your fluid such as recent intercourse, illness, medication, douching or STI’s. So make sure you note any of these influences on your chart. If you want to find out more information about cervical fluid, then once again, I recommend visiting www.fertilityfriend.com.
PH Levels
Basically by monitoring your PH Levels you will know when you are about to ovulate, because there will be a surge of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine. LH travels through your body towards the ovaries and upon its arrival basically tells your ovaries to release the egg. Once LH has arrived at your ovary, you have about 24 hours until the egg is released, a.k.a Ovulation.
So how do you monitor your LH levels? Well it is quite easy, all you need to do is use a PH testing stick called and OPK (Ovulation Prediction Kit). Simply put once you see a positive result on your OPK you have 24 hours until ovulation.
You can buy PH sticks from the pharmacy or on line, and they are reasonably cheap. I got some on Ebay for a few dollars. (www.ebay.com.au). To use the OPK’s, you need to pee in a cup, dip the PH stick into the cup, and then place it on a tissue or hard surface to dry. If the stick clearly shows 2 pink lines you are getting close to ovulation. You don’t need to use OPK’s every day, only on the days leading up to ovulation. Try starting out at about 5 days out.
For me -
So there you have it, the basics to charting. I know it seems like a bit of hard work now, but believe me, the benefits pay off when you know with some surety that you are about to ovulate and you can make sure that you don’t waste one single opportunity to fertilise that egg.
Good Luck!
There are basically four options when it comes to charting to get pregnant.
The first is monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT);
The second is monitoring your saliva;
The third is monitoring your cervical fluids (I know - a bit gross); and
The first is monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT);
The second is monitoring your saliva;
The third is monitoring your cervical fluids (I know -
The fourth is monitoring your PH levels.
Charting your cycle to get pregnant.