The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

What I’ve Learned About Temping – this is my attempt to fill you in on what I’ve learned, the things that you can do and etc, about temping. So many people seem to think that it’s a big deal…and it couldn’t be farther from the truth… I’m sure I’m going to be editing the living daylights out of this thread – so I’m sorry for all the edits.

Please NOTE – this is what I HAVE COME TO LEARN and EXPERINCE and not Dr. advice….

1. You need a special thermometer – the one you need is called a Basal Thermometer. You can get them anywhere, I got mine online and a lot of girls get them at CVS. A VERY good one will STORE your previous temp for you & show it before you take your next one (a great idea for those that temp early and then go back to bed on the weekends).

2. Pick a wake up time that will work for you EVERY DAY. You are supposed to temp at the same time every morning to get the most benefit. I myself, picked the time I get up for work every day and on the weekends, Dave gets up at this time (because he has to work weekends)…so I picked 8:55 AM. It is also important that you take your temp after a consecutive 3 hours of sleep.

3. Once you have your thermometer and time picked, sign up for FF. This is not required, but it’s the best way I found to track what’s going on with temps. The website itself is CRAZY OVERWHELMING at first – but once you start entering data, it’s very simple to use. I myself, found it insane, but once I entered a few temps, I was like, WOW – that’s what it does…okay! You can track EVERYTHING on this site, CM, when you have BD’d, any meds you are taking, appointments. You can keep track of your OPK’s, cramps, headaches, bloating, etc. AND – the bonus – should you get pregnant, it can switch to a pregnancy tracker..so the money you paid won’t go to waste.

4. What CD? I myself, did it the first day I got the darn thermometer, in the mail. The best time to start is at the end of your period, but you may want to choose CD1. Whatever works for you.

5. HOW TO TEMP:

a. The first, most important rule is that you cannot get up before you temp, you cannot be moving around, you must stay in bed, and rather still. If the alarm goes off, your DH or partner has to shut it off. For us, it always worked that Dave would shut the alarm off (as he has to get up for work before me anyways) and then hand me the thermometer (keeping my moving at a minimum). The entire idea of a Basal Thermometer is to keep track of your WAKING temp..not your temp after running to the bathroom and getting back into bed.

b. The thermometer (and most that I’ve read about) I have beeps every 3 seconds to let you know it’s working and when it’s done – it does 3 beeps in a row (you can tell the difference)…so once the final beeps are done, I look at it and shut it off. During the week, I’d check again before leaving the house – so I can enter my temp when I get to work. On the weekends, I would simply turn it off and fall back to sleep (since the point of waking temp is to NOT move around, this is VERY good for those of us who don’t want to be up that early) & read it later, when it was time to get up.

Now answer me this Jess – what on earth is doing this going to help me with?????

Temping is NOT a way to tell you before you’re about to Ovulate. If anything – it will tell you that information AFTER. It’s not an ovulation predictor at all – but will help you LEARN about your cycle. I now know, after 3 months of temping, that on average – I ovulate on CD15. How do I know that? I look back and every time my temp shifted upward, it was CD16.

1. Temping helps you to learn about your cycles. Before Ovulation, your temp will be funky, sometimes lower than other times, sometimes higher…BUT – it will never, ever go above a certain level. This level is different for EVERYONE. Mine is usually around 97.3 – my PRIOR TO O temp will never go above there. Once I ovulate however, I’m around 98.3…so there will be a CLEAR rise in temp to show that ovulation has taken place.

2. Once you have ovulated and the shift takes place, you should stay above your coverline (FF will draw this for you). My coverline is around 97.3…and after O – I’m usually in the 98.0 range…

3. IF you were to have an implantation drop (which DOES NOT happen for everyone) – you would see it. Your temp may drop from the high of 98.6 to 97.3 and SKYROCKET back up the next day & STAY THERE. This, combined with cramps or spotting, COULD (but does not always) lead you to a very happy BFP.

4. You may also learn, ahead of time that AF is on her way. For me – that’s what’s happened in my 3 months of temping. After my peak high temp – I’ll stay up there for a few days and then, gradually, start to fall back down… My last temp before AF shows is normally around: 98.0.. though sometimes it dips even lower. This is a major help keeping me from testing. I know darn well, once I see those lines drop – bye bye hope….

I will try to post 2 of my charts so that you can see what i'm talking about (i hope). Please, ask any questions you want and i'll try to answer (and i hope the other charting girls will too)...



Here is a Gallery of BFP charts: http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-166720-1.html

Here is our list of FF girls - you can add us as friends if you like on the FF website: http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=319325&Highlight=official#P3923424

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Message edited 9/21/2008 5:33:51 PM.

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

thanks, this is all very overwhelming but I think this will be very helpful

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

WOW! This is awesome!!! Thank you so much for this!!!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

Thanks for doing all of this work!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

If anyone does decide to join FF and gets a VIP membership - you better FM me so we can stalk each other's charts! There is a "friend" feature on there that gives you access to your friends' charts

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

Posted by maybeamommy

If anyone does decide to join FF and gets a VIP membership - you better FM me so we can stalk each other's charts! There is a "friend" feature on there that gives you access to your friends' charts

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

Posted by davenjess

Posted by maybeamommy

If anyone does decide to join FF and gets a VIP membership - you better FM me so we can stalk each other's charts! There is a "friend" feature on there that gives you access to your friends' charts

ditto!!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

bumping!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

great job jess
you have learned A LOT!!

only thing i would fix is that although you mention taking your "waking temp", you wrote it after telling to "pick a time that works for you"

this MAY be confusing because 5pm works for me but i would include in that line that you must take it when you get up

sorry - great job though

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

sorry, you did a great job and im impressed at how much you've learned!
you know ive been saying for the longest that it really is NOT hard and you get into a routine

i am the hardest person to fall back to sleep but i did it every weekend for months!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

bumping for Princess :)

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

bumping for MrsUta!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

you are awesome! Thank you

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

bumping!

Re: The 1,2,3's to Temping - What I've Learned So Far

bumping