Cycle Charting Confusion.

Knowing when, how and what exactly to chart can be a very difficult and stressful task. The first thing to know is that there are several things you will need to look for every month concerning your body.

One of the easiest things to keep track of it your cervical mucus (CM). Your CM will change throughout your cycle and there are certain CM consistencies and colours that you should be aware of. When you are close to ovulating and on the actual ovulation day(s) you will notice that there is an increase of CM and it will be thin, clear, stretchy and of egg-white consistency. Once ovulation has pasted, you will notice that your CM either becomes dry or thicker that during ovulation.

The next thing to do is keep to buy an ovulation prediction kit (OPK). These are useful as they pinpoint your exact ovulation day(s) 12-24 hours before hand so that you have time to prepare for your ovulation.

Another easy but sometimes inaccurate way of charting your cycle is to keep a track of your body basal temperature (BBT) which will be at its lowest point while you are ovulating. After your ovulation days have passed, your BBT increase by about a tenth of a degree. Please note that tracking your BBT shouldn't be used as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s) - it is only use to confirm that you have actually ovulated. If you track your BBT every month, then you may be able to use it as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s).

Cramping is also another sign of ovulation and could be a useful method of charting your cycle (if done correctly). You may feel a twinge of pain or abdominal pains which is thought to be the release of an egg from an ovary. So make sure you pay close attention to and pains in the lower part of your tummy!

Getting to know your cervix is yet another method of charting your cycle. As ovulation occurs, your cervix will high, soft and slightly open which makes it easier for sperm to travel through it. You should check your cervix daily using one or two fingers to feel for changes and be sure to chart/ record the positioning of your cervix.

Last but not least, you can use a calender to keep a track of the day(s) you will be ovulating. As different women's cycles vary from month to month, you should rely completely on ovulation calendars as they are just a rough estimate based on the pattern of your period.

I also recommed you visit www.fertilityfriend.com as they can gie you tutorials on how to chart your cycle with accuracy.

Hopefully this information is useful!

Good luck and happy trying!

Annoying Husbands/ Boyfriends.

I've heard many women complaining that their partners aren't sharing the same passion as them when trying to conceive (TTC). It can be frustrating when your partner says he's too tired or isn't in the mood especially when he knows how much TTC means to you. The most important thing is not to get stressed about it. Don't let it plague your mind, because when you are trying for a baby, stress is the last thing you need on your plate.

A lot of men don't understand or share the same passion for trying to have a baby and to put it simply, it's probably because women are the ones who go all out when TTC. For example we will go and buy softcups, chart our cycles, buy ovulation prediction kits, chart our basal body temperature (BBT) etc. and because we do all of this, the experience of TTC is much for intense for women as desperation, frustration and impatience creep in regularly.

It's easy for women to get frustrated at their partners for not committing to TTC as much as they should be, but don't get upset. Instead, the most effective thing you can do is talk to him and let him know how upset you are about his lack of enthusiasm towards TTC.

The other vital thing to remember is try not to make sex a chore because sometimes we can indirectly cause men to be put off sex when we keep on mentioning babies and TTC. If you get angry with him, he will more than likely get angry with you and it will become a vicious and unnecessary cycle. Remember that you're not alone with how you're feeling. Many women get emotional and upset because of their partner's lack of willingness towards TTC. Try and make sex interesting and try different things to make it more exciting for the both of you. You might find that he sees TTC as less of a chore if you spice things up a bit!