How to chart your waking temps like a boss
Armed with your fancy-pants BBT* thermometer, you are ready to tackle your ovulation. Right?!
Yes, well, there might be a little more to it than just having a thermometer on your nightstand. When you start thinking about it… How does a thermometer help you determine the best time to baby dance?
In three short paragraphs, I’m going to explain the reasoning behind the BBT thermometer and how it’s going to help determine your fertile window and ovulation. (Honestly, it’s just like a compass.) Buckle up, mamas in the making! Here we go.
- Your fertile window
It all starts on the first day of your new cycle. And don’t we all know the joy of that? Your bloody period. During this time and the rest of the time before your ovulation, your temperature will be at its lowest. Before your ovulation takes place, your fertile window occurs. This is the time to baby dance with your hubby to your heart’s content. During the fertile window, your chances of conceiving are highest. - The thermal shift
This is the tricky part. Why? Well, the rise in your temperature only occurs after your ovulation takes place. At this point, you are no longer fertile. This makes predicting your ovulation tricky—especially in the beginning. After a while, it becomes easier to understand when your ovulation is going to take place. And, more important, when it’s your fertile window! After all, that’s why you religiously measure your temps every morning, isn’t it? - The 2-week-wait
After your ovulation takes place, your fertile window is over and the 2-week-wait starts. During this time, your temperatures will stay up. If your temps stay up even after your expected new cycle, it’s time to find out if you get a BFP! If you don’t see a positive result yet, don’t worry. You get a new chance in your upcoming cycle.
