How do I figure out my dpo?

[maryjayne]

I have never done charting and will look into it but I am wondering just for now how to figure out my dpo. I started my period on May 2nd, and it ended abruptly on the 6th with some extremely light spotting on the 7th (due to having sex on the 6th). I need this explained in the easiest way possible and it's ridiculous because I should be able to let Mother Nature take her course but how can I when she keeps going the wrong way?

[SoCalTricia]

I agree with cmoretti...she's right about all of it. I used fertilityfriend also. But, I also used an ovulation predictor kit. Just some info...in general, if you have a "normal" 28-day cycle, you will ovulate about 14 days after the *first day of your last period. However...lots of people don't ovulate according to textbooks. I discovered that, although I have a 28-day cycle, I ovulate early. Day 10 or 11 of my cycle. Once I figured that out (it only took one month), I was pregnant the next month.

Anyway...good luck with everything!

Tricia

[cmoretti]

First, you have to determine exactly when you O. The only way to figure this out is to get a Basal Body Thermomitor and take your temp every morning, when you wake up, before getting out of bed or doing anything else. It must also be done at the same time each day to be accurate. Then chart your temps starting with day 1 of your cycle. Your temp will mostly go down until you O then, the very next day there will be a temp shift and it will increase. When you see the temp increase three days in a row then you know you O'd the day before the shift. The greatest thing on the planet for charting is fertilityfriend.com. They will teach you everything you need to know about charting and interpreting charts. FF also determines your O day for you. there you can see many charts and the tutorials that they email you every day and quick, easy, and very informative. The DPO starts the first day of the temp shift and would be day 1. Go to http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/26f73d to see my chart and to get an idea.