TTC FAQ'S #1

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HOW DO I CHART MY BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE?

Your BBT is taken first thing in the morning before getting out of bed,

after a minimum of three consecutive hours of sleep. Your temperature should

be taken at about the same time every morning, preferably within an hour or

so. It is usually taken orally, but can be taken vaginally. By charting

your BBT's you can determine if you've ovulated and how long your luteal

phase is. Temperature ranges very tremendously but are typically between

96.5 - 97.5 before ovulation and 97.5 - 98.6 after ovulation. The high

levels of estrogen causes the temperatures to be low before ovulation.

Following ovulation, progesterone levels rise causing temperatures to rise

as well.

WHAT IS A THERMAL SHIFT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The thermal shift will occur the day after ovulation due to an increase in

progesterone levels. The temperature will rise 0.2-0.5 degrees. The presence

of the thermal shift is a good indicator that ovulation has already

occurred.

WHAT IS A SLOW-RISER?

In some women, the thermal shift may be gradual over several days. They a

called slow-risers, which means that it took a little longer for

progesterone levels to rise high enough for temperatures to become elevated.

This is a normal finding and does not affect fertility.

WHICH IS BETTER - A GLASS OR DIGITAL THERMOMETER?

Either thermometer is acceptable to use as long as it is a basal thermometer

and not a fever thermometer. Digital thermometers measure to the one-tenth

degree whereas most fever thermometers measure in two-tenth degree

increments. Glass thermometers must be kept in for 5 minutes, digital

thermometers will give a reading in one minute. If you are getting erratic

temperatures with digital you may want to compare them to a glass

thermometer, since the glass thermometer can be more reliable.

WHAT IS A " FALLBACK " TEMPERATURE?

Some women may see a drop in temperature the day or two after the thermal

shift. It is likely due to a surge of estrogen. This is normal and does not

affect fertility. It should rise again the next day.

IF I AM NOT PREGNANT, WHEN WILL MY TEMPERATURE DROP?

If conception and implantation did not occur in a cycle, the BBT will drop

near or below coverline the day before or the day of the start of AF. This

is due to the degradation of the corpus luteum and the subsequent drop in

progesterone levels.

SHOULD I TAKE MY BBT DURING AF?

No, it is not necessary to take BBT's during AF. Most women will do them to

stay in the habit of charting. Temperatures can be erratic during AF due to

residual progesterone levels.

HOW DO I DETERMINE MY COVERLINE?

Following the thermal shift, look at the preceding six temperatures. Take

the highest of these six temperatures and add one-tenth to it. This is your

coverline.

WHY IS THE COVERLINE IMPORTANT?

Once the coverline is determined, you will be able to differentiate between

preovulatory and postovulatory temperatures. While it is not critical to

determine your coverline for pregnancy achievement, it will allow you to see

more easily when you ovulated.

WHAT IS A TRIPHASIC BBT PATTERN?

A triphasic pattern is when a second thermal shift is seen around the time

of implantation of the embryo. The second thermal shift is due to increased

progesterone levels from the presence of the embryo.

WHAT DOES 18 DAYS OF HIGH BBT'S MEAN?

If your temperature has remained above your coverline for 18 or more days,

you are most likely pregnant. Rarely, a corpus luteum cyst will cause

elevated temperatures in a cycle where conception did not occur. It is

important to make sure you knew exactly when ovulation and the thermal shift

occurred so the count will be accurate. Not all women ovulate on Day 14!

WHAT IS ROBITUSSIN USED FOR?

Robitussin is a brand name of a product that is based on guaifenesin, an

expectorant. There are other guaifenesin based cough syrups also (Equate

also has one). It is used in TTC to thin the CM mucus to make it more

sperm-friendly. 1-2 tsp. twice daily until ovulation. Make sure the product

only contains guaifenesin without added decongestants or antihistamines,

which could dry your CM.

BEWARE:Dextromethorphan, an ingredient in some cough medicines, may cause

birth defects.

WHAT IS VITAMIN B6 USED FOR?

B6 is used while TTC to normalize hormonal levels and may increase your LP.

The dose is 100 mg once daily. You may want to check with your doctor before

taking megadoses of any vitamin.

CAN I USE ARTIFICIAL LUBRICANTS?

The use of artificial lubricants should be avoided while TTC. They maybe

harmful to sperm. Some women suggest using raw egg-white as a lubricant,

although it may pose a risk for infection if it is contaminated. Drinking

plenty of water and taking Robitussin and/or EPO may help you produce more

CM.

WHAT POSITIONS ARE BEST FOR TTC?

The missionary position with man on top is reported to be the best at

depositing the sperm close to the cervix. Other positions include " doggy

style " with the man entering from behind. Woman on top is the worst position

due to the effects of gravity.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BD?

This is a tough question and it depends on you and your DH's combined

fertility. Generally, if your DH has a normal sperm count and quality, you

can BD every day you have fertile CM. If he is marginal or low, or you fail

to conceive after several cycles of this, then you may want to try every

other day. One theory suggests you abstain for 3-5 days before your fertile

days, then BD every day beginning two days before O'ing (or you get a

positive OPK) for 3 days in a row. There is no right answer to this

question, except you should BD on your peak day.

SHOULD I TAKE PRENATAL VITAMINS BEFORE BECOMING PREGNANT?

Yes, although it doesn't have to be prescription prenatal vitamins. An

over-the-counter multivitamin with 400 mcg folic acid and no megadoses of

other vitamins is recommended in women TTC. Folic acid is crucial to

prevent neural tube defects in the developing embryo. The neural tube is

formed at a time when most women do not even realize they are pregnant, so

it is a good idea to be taking supplements as soon as possible, preferably

beginning up to 3 months before TTC.

CAN I OVULATE MORE THAN ONCE PER CYCLE?

Yes, it is possible to ovulate twice but it will occur within 24 hours of

each other. Some experts suggest BD the day of your thermal shift in case a

second ovulation has occurred.

HOW CAN I CONCEIVE A GIRL?

To improve your chances for conceiving a girl, you should BD a 4 to 2 days

prior to ovulation, and abstain two days before and day of ovulation. This

will allow the slower, longer-lived, female sperm to be ready for

fertilization when ovulation does occur. Conceiving a girl is more

difficult since you are abstaining on your peak fertility day.

HOW CAN I CONCEIVE A BOY?

Time BD to occur the day before and the day of ovulation. This will allow

the faster male sperm to get to the egg first.

HOW CAN I TELL IF I AM HAVING AN ANOVULATORY CYCLE?

An anovulatory cycle occurs when an egg is not released. The BBT's will be

erratic and show no thermal shift. The length of the cycle can be normal,

long, or short. The menstrual flow can be light or heavy. Causes for an

anovulatory cycle are illness, travel, stress, coming off of birth control

pills or Depo Provera, strenuous exercise, and sudden weight loss or gain.

WHEN DOES THE EMBRYO IMPLANT IN THE UTERUS?

Typically, implantation occurs from 7 -14 days after conception. Symptoms

can range from none to cramping and spotting.

HOW EARLY AFTER CONCEPTION CAN I TEST?

Most urine tests will detect a positive on the first day AF is due, although

the more sensitive tests will detect hCG as early as 10 dpo (Equate brand).

Blood tests can detect hCG levels as early as 7 dpo.

Hart

~ Mom to 4 Great Children ~

Arianne (16) ~ a (8)

(5) ~ Bean (1)

Glory to God and Many Thanks to Dr. Levin!

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