The Two Week Wait

On Day 7 of my cycle (CD7), I decided to start using my OPKs.  Now I know it was still very early, but I was anxious and didn't want to miss anything.  At this point we were also baby dancing 😉 every other day.  Finally, on CD15, my OPK was positive, which meant I'd be ovulating within the next 24 hours.  I also noticed slight cramping that day, followed by a spike in my temperature the next day, both signs of ovulation.

With that being said, it is time to commence the dreaded two week wait.  If you want to know more about the two week wait or want some support while you wait, check out twoweekwait.com.

Day 1

I started cramping yesterday, so I knew that my new cycle would be starting soon.  I woke up this morning and took my BBT (basal body temperature) and recorded in my app.  Less than an hour later, Aunt Flow arrived, which means time to chart!

A few tips that I've read about charting to share with you:

• The first day of your period is Day 1 of your  cycle.  This does not include spotting.  Start Day 1 on the first day that you need a pad or a tampon.  

• Be sure to take your BBT at the same time every day.  I plan to keep my thermometer under my pillow and take my temperature as soon as my alarm goes off every morning.  

• Drinking, a lack a sleep, and other variables, my give you an inaccurate BBT reading.  If you think that this is a possibility, you should mark you temperature for that day as "Questionable"

• You ovulate about 2 weeks before your period.  This won't be helpful until you've charted for a few months and have a general idea of how long your cycle is.  

• You can easily check your cervical mucus by taking a look at your toilet paper after you've wiped.  This is definitely one of those extras that you don't have to track, but the more information you track the better you can predict you're fertility.  If you're interested, read more about cervical mucus and fertility here.

• OPKs (ovulation prediction kits) are another extra.  They are little strips that you can test your urine with and they look for a hormone surge which occurs roughly 36 hours before you ovulate.  If you're interested, this is the set that I ordered.

• Timing is everything!  Sperm can live for three to five days, but your egg only hangs around for 12 to 24 hours.  This means that there are only 4 to 6 days every cycle that you can get pregnant.  To cover your bases, they recommend having sex every other day starting 5 days before you ovulate through 2 days after you ovulate.