How to Track BBT in relation to Pregnancy

This article explains how to properly track your BBT (Basal Body Temperature) in relation to trying to get pregnant.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basal Body Thermometer
• Bed-side Notebook/Paper

1. SET UP BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP
   
   Before you can properly track your BBT you will need to make sure everything is set up for you to use before you go to sleep. Make sure the thermometer is within reach and positioned to where your movement in getting it is minimized.

2. TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE AT THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY
   
   It is very important to take your temperature at the SAME time EVERYDAY. If you normally get up at say 5:45am during the week then you will need to do the same on the weekend. Don’t worry, you can go back to sleep. You will only need to take your temperature.

3. NO MOVEMENT BETWEEN WAKING UP AND TAKING TEMPERATURE
   
   As soon as you wake up you will need to make as few movements as possible before taking your temperature. This means NO going to the bathroom yet. Your Basal Body Temperature is your body’s temperature at rest. Once you stare moving you blood pumps faster and your temperature changes.
   
   When you wake up, simply take the thermometer and take your temperature. Lay still until the reading is done.

4. RECORD YOUR TEMPERATURE
   
   Have something at your bed-side to write your temperature on. Then you are free to go back to sleep, go to the bathroom, or do whatever you feel like without worrying about messing up your temperature reading.

5. MONITOR YOUR TEMPERATURES AND WATCH FOR A SHIFT
   
   Keep track of your temperatures daily and watch for a shift of about two degrees. Once your temperature goes up and stays up for at least three days it is safe to assume you’ve ovulated. Most people follow a pattern so you may need to do this for a few months do determine your particular pattern.
   
   If you want to continue charting in hopes of ‘seeing’ possible pregnancy signs keep reading. If you simply want to know if you are ovulating you can stop reading here.

6. LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF PREGNANCY
   
   After you ovulate you will wait approximately two weeks for your menstruation. During this time you can continue to monitor your temperature for *possible* pregnancy signs. I say *possible* because everyone is different. Some show the signs and are pregnant while others show the signs and are not pregnant. At the same time some don’t show any signs and still end up pregnant.
   
   If an egg is fertilized it will typically implant between six and twelve days after ovulation (after your temp shift). Some people will notice a dip in their temperature when implantation into the uterus occurs followed by the temperature returning to the reading range from before the dip.
   
   If your temperature remains high for eighteen days after ovulation a pregnancy test should be taken as chances of pregnancy are high.

7. LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF MENSTRATION
   
   If pregnancy didn’t occur then at approximately fourteen days after your ovulation you should have menstruation. One sign to look for in you BBT charting is a fall in temperatures anywhere from twelve to fourteen days after ovulation.
   
   Note: Remember that just because your temperature remains high or because it falls it doesn't always mean pregnant or not. You will have to learn your body's pattern here too. A good rule of thumb here it to wait until your menstruation is one week late before testing. If you get a negative result wait one more week and test again. At this point you need to contact your Dr. If you are pregnant you will need prenatal care, if you are still testing negative your Dr. will want to see you.

[sue282]

on 7/1/2008 Very informative! I never really knew how this process worked and your explanation is clear and easy to understand.