More talk about ferning

FiddleFit

FiddleFit

Cathlete
Hi again,

Today is day 29 of my cycle, and I have not yet got my period. For the past couple of days I've been feeling mild cramping on occasion, and had some other very mild feelings of PMS. However, my cycle, for the past 18months or so, has actually ranged from 3 weeks to 7 weeks, without any kind of consistency. This is making it difficult to get pregnant, because I never know when I'm ovulating! I could have sworn I ovulated 2 weeks ago, based on how I felt at the time. Last week I bought the Maybe Baby ovulation tester, that uses your saliva to indicate ovulation. Today, since I still haven't got my period, I decided to check whether it is possible that what I'm actually feeling is ovulation, rather than PMS. Well, this little device showed me a *lovely* fern pattern!! I can't believe that I'm only ovulating now, on day 29, but given my chaotic body and the miscarriage a couple of months ago, maybe my hormones are still all nutty. So, I'm not really sure why I'm writing this post, because I guess I don't have a question per se. I'm just wondering if any of this sounds logical to anyone? I'm still feeling mildly crampy. Is it possible to ovulate and menstruate at the same time?

Thanks for any comments,
Sandra
 
That's a good question. I've been trying over a year to get pregnant and now I'm thinking I actually ovulate closer to the actual start of my period. I actually found I "spot" for up to 24 hours when I ovulate. (my hubby and I think this is why we are "missing" the window because I always seem to get upset thinking my period is coming and then we don't do anything) Any day now I should be ovulating again so this in interesting to me.

Here's to good luck to both of us!!


Denise
 
Oh, the female body is a mysterious thing, isn't it, Denise? As it turns out, about an hour after I posted my message, I actually started my period. So go figure!! I'm very happy about this because it means I appear to be back to having regular 28 day cycles. I'm not sure why my Maybe Baby test looked the way it did yesterday. It didn't look anything like ferning when I tried it again this morning. Yesterday I may have had lint or something on the lense, I don't know. I really cleaned it well with a lint-free cloth before using it this morning, so I imagine today's results are more accurate. Denise, if you are having trouble figuring out when you ovulate, you may want to pick up an ovulation test like the Maybe Baby.

Good luck with your trying!
Sandra
 
Hi ladies,

The only way I figured out when I ovulate is by temping and charting as outlined in the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. I'm so glad that I started doing this.
Denise, the spotting you get when you ovulate is considered to be highly fertile as some women do "spot" when they ovulate. Check out the website www.ovusoft.com and visit their forums. Lots of interesting info. I think it was someone on these forums that told me about that website and the book and I've used it as a useful resource.

Janna;)
 
ok this is two funny, I'm on day 30 today! We're on the same cycle practically! Hay have a drink for me, k? I'm still in limbo today, but think AF is almost here.
 
Keep an eye on that ovulation. Take an opk, if you can. If you ovulate too close to af, the body does not have enough time to produce adequate progesterone to build he uterine lining to sustain a pregnancy.
If you think this is your situation, I would consult your dr. - they can give you clomid to force you to ovulate earlier in your cycle. You need that good 14 days between ovulation & implantation or you end up w/a problem called luteal phase defect.
I'm sure you can check that out on the net!
Good luck!
Lynne
 
Gosh, Lynne, thank you for such a knowledgable comment! This is the kind of information I can't seem to find very easily, but really want to know. What does "af" stand for? I think you are referring to the start of menstruation, but would like some clarity on the term you are using.

BTW, I have finally ordered the "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" book that many people here have recommended. It's an online order, so I should be receiving it in the mail early next week.

You have made me very glad to have purchased the Maybe Baby kit. I can easily check every day, and keep a close eye on things.

Cheers
Sandra
 
Sandra,

You will be happy you ordered the book. In the mean time, (just a suggestion) you may want to start taking your temperature in the morning so when your book comes you can have your temperatures to put on your chart. Just be sure that you take it at the same time each morning and that it's the first thing you do when you get up. (ie: take your temperature before going to the bathroom or doing anything else).

Janna
 
Yes, Janna, that is something I've wanted to begin doing for a long time. The problem is, I'm so out of it first thing in the morning that I always forget until I've used the washroom and am half-way through my morning cup of coffee!! But I will have to make an effort. Maybe repeat it to myself as I drift off to sleep "Take my temperature.......take my temperature....." (while kegelling at the same time, of course!).

Sandra
-finding the very *idea* of making a baby to be very time consuming!:)
 
Ha! You make me laugh.
It is very time consuming, isn't it? Who would've thought that something that should be so "natural", takes so much calculation and timing and planning.
But I like what you said in a previous post...."remember to have fun".
My husband sure thinks it's fun, that's for sure.

Janna
 
Hi Girls!
There is a great website w/lots of message boards on these subjects!
Try bbs.babycenter.com
AF = Aunt Flo = beginning of your period. Sorry for the confusion!
Also, I purchased a Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor. Excellent for tracking your cycle. It is like $200 new, but I bought mine on ebay for $66 plus shipping.
It clearly tells you what days are your most fertile, when you are having your "peak." I actually ovulate right on time for my 26 day cycle.
I have had a few losses & am having a bunch of testing done. There is so much more that they can pin down these days. Anyway, tonite I actually start taking a progesterone supplement just in case my body is not producing enough.
Good luck & let me know if you have any more questions!
Lynne
 
>Hi Girls!
>There is a great website w/lots of message boards on these
>subjects!
>Try bbs.babycenter.com

Thanks! I'll bookmark it.

>AF = Aunt Flo = beginning of your period. Sorry for the
>confusion!

LOL! You gave such knowledgable information about progesterone, etc. that I assumed this had to be a medical term. I was racking my brain: Antiganositcating Fertilabilidactory? Anterior Functioning?
Active Fibrosities? (disclaimer: these phrases are meant for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual medical diagnoses is coincidental, and not meant to infer any association with the female menstrual cycle).

>I have had a few losses & am having a bunch of testing done.
>There is so much more that they can pin down these days.
>Anyway, tonite I actually start taking a progesterone
>supplement just in case my body is not producing enough.

Wow! You have been through a lot. I hope the progesterone does the trick for you.

>Good luck & let me know if you have any more questions!

Thank you. I appreciate your comments!
Sandra
 
Hi Sandra! <Antiganositcating Fertilabilidactory?> LOL!!!! This is my favorite, speaking from as a nurse and Med Term instructor. :) It is great that you are getting back to a predictable cycle. This is just my opinion, but I agree with Janna regarding temp taking. The rise in temperature is the only sign that CONFIRMS ovulation. OPKs (ovulation predictor kits), ferning, cervical position changes, mucus are signs of possible ovulation. TCOYF will cover lots of helpful information

Yep, Lynne is correct about short luteal phase, which is defined as less than 10-12 days depending on the source. Treatment is dependent on the cause and may include Clomid, progesterone, and HCG.

Lynne, I wish you the best of luck. Yep, they can do a lot to pin point days. I had lots of vaginal ultrasounds... I started referring to the ultrasound machine as my boyfriend. :) I know... sick sense of humor.

Take care ladies!

Autumn

Edited for spelling.
 
>Hi Sandra! <Antiganositcating Fertilabilidactory?> LOL!!!!
>This is my favorite, speaking from as a nurse and Med Term
>instructor. :) It is great that you are getting back to a
>predictable cycle.

I agree!! :)

This is just my opinion, but I agree with
>Janna regarding temp taking. The rise in temperature is the
>only sign that CONFIRMS ovulation. OPKs (ovulation predictor
>kits), ferning, cervical position changes, mucus are signs of
>possible ovulation. TCOYF will cover lots of helpful
>information

I'm looking forward to reading it; I'll have to take the week off work - it looks like a big book! I was going to start taking my temperature today, but then forgot to put the thermometer on the nightstand before I went to bed! DOH!!

>Yep, Lynne is correct about short luteal phase, which is
>defined as less than 10-12 days depending on the source.
>Treatment is dependent on the cause and may include Clomid,
>progesterone, and HCG.

See, this is the important stuff that you need to know! Women are done a huge disservice when the medical community hoards all this information to themselves. I tell you, my daughter is going to be the most educated girl in her high school by time I get through with learnin' her about her cycle! (After I've learned it all from you guys, of course!)

>Lynne, I wish you the best of luck. Yep, they can do a lot to
>pin point days. I had lots of vaginal ultrasounds... I
>started referring to the ultrasound machine as my boyfriend.
>:) I know... sick sense of humor.

LOL!! I can relate.....

Janna, my husband is the same way: "Practice makes perfect!" is his usual warning sign that he's got nookie on his noggin'. Given the first child we created, I think he's right!

Take care,
Sandra
 
<See, this is the important stuff that you need to know! Women are done a huge disservice when the medical community hoards all this information to themselves.>

It is our way of keeping the non-medical population dependent on us. }( No, I totally agree with you. It is one of the reasons I love working in the public health.... client education is my biggest responsibility... I take informed consent serious. I know education is lacking... my 50 something year old mother, an intelligent woman, didn't know that a pelvic exam included a ... ummm.... rectal. Many of the women I see think a pelvic is a pap... a pap smear is used for uterine cancer screening and infection checks... lots of misinformation or lacking information that could be easily explained even with the typical time constraints in a private practice. It frustates me that a doctor, NP, etc. would not take the time to explain what he/she is doing to another human... or the effects of a treatment, med, ect. I've know ladies taking Clomid that were told NOTHING apparently... they weren't instructed to use OPKS, chart temps, and weren't being followed with ultrasounds... no clue the pain they were experiencing could be related to ovulation from the Clomid taken 10 days earlier. I am alotted 15 minutes per client, and I am educating the whole time and even have had ladies make appointments just to come in and discuss concerns, questions. I know offices that schedule every 10 minutes plus double or triple book... not much time for care. I think all doctor offices need a patient/client educator. oh, I could go on and on... but, I will get off my soap box. ;)

<"Practice makes perfect!">

I am praying for a third child and hope it happens the good ol' fashioned, not tryin' way. :) Sad to say, our love life became a science project (microscopes, meds, inseminations, you get the picture)... I was knick named the mad scientist with my slides and microscope... I am giving too much info. At least we kept our sense of humor. :)

Take care ladies!
Autumn
 
Hi all!

I have been taking the opk's since day 11 of my cycle (I'm on a 28 day cycle, last period started October 17th, Sunday). Yesterday it was almost there and today it read exactly what I'm looking for. (plus I was feeling signs of ovulation). Now my period is due next Sunday so I'm at day 20. Hubby and I haven't missed a day this past week so wish me luck. Plus hubby and I read on the internet about a massage therapist who helps women with infertility due to blockages, etc. I'm not sure if I have that but for 7 days straight hubby would really massage my tubes, etc for about 20 minutes each time. (to the point of mild discomfort) I usually have mild pain prior to ovulation and this month has been great (since the massaging). I'm not sure if that did it or not, but I was grateful for less pain.

I find all the stuff you all share so interesting. Thanks for being so nice!!! :)


Denise
 
Very, very interesting, Denise. I am very impressed that your hubby massaged your tubes for an entire 20 minutes for a whole week. He sounds like a keeper! And this devotion will come in very handy when your feet and ankles are swollen from all the pregnancy water retention.

Keep us posted on your progress! It sounds like things are going well!

Cheers,
Sandra
-has actually remembered to take her morning temp 2 days in a row.
 
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