Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

How do You Make Your Fertility Chart?

Can you give me a basic outline on how to make my fertility chart?

Answer:

Charting may seem intimidating at first glance, but it's really very easy. You can chart a few different things - basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and the position of your cervix. Many women chart just temperature and fluid, and some only fluid.

I recommend you start with at least your basal body temperature and your cervical fluid (also called cervical mucus).

To take your temperature you simply buy a basal thermometer - available at almost all drug stores. Then take your temperature at the same time every morning. Put it at your bedside; it's important to take it before you get up and move around in the morning.

You plot your temperature along a graph each morning. You also watch your cervical fluid and record that daily. It will range from dry, to there but rather "sticky" on up to very fertile, which is quite fluid and resembles egg white.

You can also track the position of your cervix. These signs together give you a great picture of your fertility.

For more information and free printable charts check out this article series: Trying to Conceive - Charting Basics.