Basal Temp

[mineylee]

Okay, help me out here... what is this basal thermometer thing and how do I start using it?  Is it simply just taking it everyday and charting it?  

[mineylee]

thanks so much.  it all is a little clearer now!  

[owlbaby]

A good basic, fun, book describing all this BBT and natural conception timing (including choosing the sex of a baby) is :
"YOUR FERTILITY SIGNALS"  by Merryl Winstein
The 'bible' of all Fertility Awareness is:
"TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FERTILITY" by Toni Weschler...

Both are on amazon!
SSBD!

[owlbaby]

Here are some major ones :)
The abbreviations:
TTC - trying to conceive
O - Ovulating, ovulated
OPK - Ovulation predictor kit/test
HPT: home preg. test
DH: darling husband
BD: baby dance (sex)
PCOS: poly cystic ovarian synd.
BFN: big fat negative :(
BFP: big fat positive :)
TWW: two week wait (between O and AF)
AF: Aunt Flow
oh! the most important one of all!!!
SSBD: super sticky baby dust (good luck good luck good luck)

[mineylee]

Wow.  Yes that helps, thanks.  

I really need to get a list of all this "baby-making lingo"
OPK=O prediction kit right? SSBD?  AF?

[owlbaby]

Your BBT is a good secondary method to track your cycle. Your temps change based on the hormones that are racing through your reproductive system. At the beginning of your cycle (during AF), you have low levels of estrogen, progest., LH and FSH. In order for you body to O, your estorgen levels need to rise first, to trigger your LH (leutanizing hormone) to rise. Your temps stay low until this SURGE in LH and sudden DROP in estrogen, cause a third change in hormones: the PROGESTERONE release. So... your temps will be on the lower end (97.0 - 97.6ish) before your ovulation, but once it's OVER, and the progest. is released, your temps will shoot up at least .7 to 1.0 degree (98.0 and higher). If you see the temp rise like this, you can 'confirm' Ovulation. Your temp will stay HIGH under the influence of all that good, uterus nourishing progest., for at least 10 days (any shorter may be a sign of a problem to carry a pregnancy) -- this phase is called the leuteal phase (or here, the TWW)... it is in this time that the egg might implant! IF NOT, progest. DROPS and so DROPS your BBT, to start another round.
Long, but clear?
Charting your BBT is great, but while on clomid or other drugs (like progesterone creams) it could give you false readings. Many people with PCOS will show a BIP (basic infertility pattern), up and down and no real pattern.
Remember, once you see your BBT jump, O has ALREADY happened, so it's normally too late to BD. That's why you chould use a OPK in addition.
SSBD!

[mineylee]

I understand that.  However, how do I know when I am ovulating.  It gets higher?

[Tryingforbaby2]

Basal Body temp consists of taking your temp at the same time every day first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed. You need to do it when you have been sleeping for at least 3-5 hours they say and then yes you chart it. They sell what is called basal body thermometers and they are the best because they are accurate digital thermometers which beep when they are done.