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It's pretty easy once you know all the little rules. If you have a clear thermal shift and normal cervical fluid, then it should be an issue. I don't bother with the cervical checks b/c I don't want to damage my insides (believe me, fingernails can hurt).
I use this book like a bible personally and with my clients.
I think I was the one that suggested it in your other thread ;-)
I just got it too and so far it's great! You'll hear so many people on these boards talk about it it almost feels like a "must have" even if you don't end up charting. I'm going to start charting soon too, probably on Monday! My reason is not really either to TTC or for birth control (though more the latter than the former right now), but to get to know my body from now so when we do start TTC it's easier! :) Good luck!
TCOYF is amazing! I don't find it to be a big problem to keep track... I actually downloaded an app for my Blackberry that is called Period Calendar Delux, it has a spot for charting, tracks your cycles and cervical fluid, and it's super easy because I always have my phone around, so I can update it whenever.
Love love love it
thanks, guys! it's almost a little irritating, actually, after reading JUST the reviews on amazon - of how much, apparantly, girls have NO CLUE about their own bodies!!! it's like, c'mon - i'm 31 years old and have NO idea about some of the things that - again, just the REVIEWS talked about! i'm excited - obviously about TTC - but also to really analyze and understand my own body!!!!
Obviously I know that it could still take MONTHS or even longer (hopefully not) to actually conceive, but the idea of understanding what's going on excites me! :)
I've been using TCOYF for 4 months to avoid... And so far so good! I love seeing my temperature drop the morning I'm going to get my period so I KNOW to put a tampon in my purse! No more surprises there.
Charting isn't too big of a pain, once you learn how to do it. The first two months, I thought I ovulated about 15 times though... It would have been less pressure if we were TTC though--rather than trying to avoid! I know you're supposed to wait 3 months before you start using the method for birth control so you can learn your body first, but we're half trying to avoid and half not trying not to... so it works for us. I've read the pertinent "birth control" chapter about 15 times, and learn something new every time. Seriously, why did they not teach us these things in school? It's pretty amazing.
Honestly, the biggest pain with charting is getting up early on the weekends :) but you only have to wake up enough to put the thermometer in your mouth, then you can go back to sleep.
Good luck! I've recommended TCOYF to all my friends. My only suggestion is to download and print off the PDF charting forms online--because they're a little bigger than if you just photo copied them out of the back of the book.
I have a copy of TCOYF and it is indeed full of great information. It's pretty much the #1 book for learning natural family planning (which I've been doing for 3+ years now). Charting will teach you so much about your body. I used paper charts for many years, and there are also online programs and phone apps that will keep your charts for you.
ETA: at the beginning you should take your temperature every day to get into the habit of it, but actually once you have ovulated and seen the temperature rise it is not necessary to take your temperature again until your period begins, if you don't want to. So if there's a weekend or two after you ovulate and before your period starts, you actually do not have to wake up early---sleep on in and skip those temperatures. Just make sure you start again once your period begins.
thanks, guys!!! now i got a thermometer and i know i've read to actually do it IN bed before even getting out...which during the week won't be a problem as my husband gets up and is in the bathroom for a good 10 minutes when he gets out of bed - so i can do it then (and not bother him with any beeping)...but does it REALLY matter if - on the weekends - i were to get up and go into the bathroom instead of doing it IN bed?...i don't want the beep of the thermometer to wake/bother him.
@JuneBride_26June2010: It can affect the temperature is some women if you move before you take it, some are even affected if a light gets turned on. It just depends. For now, I'd suggest taking it while you're still in bed.
@beekiss2: well ok! thanks for that!
I read TCOYF. As I am officially off the pill we are being extremely careful as we do not want to conceive for another 6 months or so.
For me there is nothing more annoying than charting on paper... when I was reading the book I was seriously thinking "shoot me now"!!! Anyway there is an app on the iPhone called Fem Cal. It has been great! I just wake up, take my temp and enter it in, as well as any other relevant information that I should put in the app. It then charts everything for me.
I could not use this method without it... of course I just started using it so it will take a while before I actually learn my non pill cycles...etc but it is definitely easier than charting on paper every day.
I borrowed TCOYF from the library (and I've renewed it twice already!) and I have found it very helpful and not cumbersome at all. I take my temperature at 7 am every morning - even on weekends - and I think it is a great education. I keep a paper chart on my nightstand and fill it in every couple of days but I also use www.fertilityfriend.com which I've found pretty useful. The charts in the book vary because everyone is going to different. I'm hoping it pays off for us soon!
I should get this book in the mail at home today.. Im so excited and cant wait to start reading/learning!
Yeah I think I'll be buying it too... As OP says, are we really grown women if we haven't a clue how stuff works?! Time to start studying!
I received this book from one of my best friends after she was pregnant and done with it (right around the time of my wedding). I went of the pill right after the honeymoon and I started charting. I felt just like the OP...I am in my 30s and I didn't know this!! Anyway, I am happy to report that we found out Christmas morning I am pregnant! Yay TCOYF!
I bought it a couple months ago and have read it and reread sections multiple times. I am 31 and have been an RN for 5 years and learned so many things about womens bodies and cycles that I had no clue about. We are in cycle 5 of TTC, hopefully we get lucky soon. Good luck its good reads :)
This is a must have book for every woman whether you want to chart or not, because you do learn so much about your body and cycles. I am pg now, but I got pg through charting and I have successfully avoided getting pg through charting as well. I use fertility friend to chart my temps just because I like the software that keeps up with everything. I was never one for the paper charts. I can pull FF up on my iphone and show my doctor every one of my charts for the past 2 years. It tracks patterns for you and everything. So easy!
@JuneBride_26June2010: I don't see how the beep can really bother him that much. It's not that loud. Maybe just try it and see how it goes. You really should temp immediately on waking without getting up and around the same time every day. After I pretty much got into a pattern, I would cheat on the weekends and not temp at the same time, but I always knew from other signs if I was ready to ovulate or not. But when I was just starting out, I was very diligent about doing everything right. It may not matter that much, but you will seriously obsess over those temps if you are not sure. lol
@MzMarzipan: Congratulations!! Awesome Christmas present! :-)
TCOYF is also online at WWW.TCOYF.COM I love it because I am not one to write stuff down so I am able to wake up take my temp and then when I sign online to check emails just go over to TCOYF.com and enter in all my temps and symptoms for the day. Its also nice because there are the forums and groups.
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so someone suggested this book on my last thread I posted...and I'm curious if any of you have read this and used the charts in the book?
I went through over 20 pages of reviews on amazon and am just amazed from the information I learned from JUST the reviews!
It's supposed to teach you how to really listen to your body, whether you WANT to TTC or you want to use a natural form of birth control - not necessarily "rhythm" but actually learn how your body works.
if anyone HAS used the charts and all that - have you found it to be easy? cumbersome? I'm going out to buy a thermometer today and start charting. :)