If you are ttc (trying to conceive), you may be thinking of charting your BBT (basal body temperature). If so, here are some tidbits to get you started!
 
Keeping track of your BBT allows you to give a best guess for ovulation. Over time, you will also notice that your cycle becomes fairly predicable and consistent…….which is great for baby making! As with everything, each woman is different and her cycle is as well. The following is a “most women” kind of list!
 

1. For most women, their morning temperature is between 96-99 degrees Fahrenheit when they are NOT ovulating. After ovulation however, temperatures rise about a half a degree and stay there right before the onset of a woman’s period. The trick  is to accurately predict your ovulation day and take advantage J of the week before it occurs! You are most fertile the day before right up until the day of ovulation. So timing of your BDing (baby dancing/sex) is crucial.

2. Before you start charting your temperatures, you will want to get a BBT thermometer. These are different from a regular thermometer because they measure temperature shifts by tenths. And when you are looking for temperature shifts of a half of degree, it is important to be able to measure accurately. You can find them at any drugstore.

3. You will need to take your temperature FIRST thing when you wake up in the morning. No eating, drinking, talking, moving, trips to the bathroom….. nothing! You will probably want to put the thermometer right next to your bed as well so that you just have to reach and use. If you do find yourself moving around before you take your temp, you will probably notice that it is a little higher than usual that day! Also, you will want to try and take your temp at about the same time each morning. Changes here will also affect your readings.

4. In addition to movement and daily temping times, there are many other factors that can lead to inconsistent readings. Among them are stress, sickness, electric blankets, waterbeds, air-conditioning, alcohol, and overtiredness. You may want to make note on your chart about any possible reasons for a temp reading that doesn’t fall within your normal pattern.

5. The other thing to remember is that you need to have at least 3 hours of “good” sleep for the temperature to be accurate as well.

 
Happy charting and lots of baby dust!!!!