Is My Temp Accurate After Poor Sleep?
Question
I am a breastfeeding mom of a 5 1/2 month old baby who just started rice cereal a week ago. I go to school full-time and wake up at random times in the morning from four to seven on most days. My temperature has not been very consistent. I am nervous about charting right now but I don’t want to give up. We are not ready for a third child at the moment.
Please help, thank you!
Dianne
Answer
Last Updated: September 1, 2022
Dear Dianne,
Temperatures can fluctuate during breastfeeding before the return to fertility and always must be taken at regular times to give an accurate pattern. If your husband has a regular waking time before yours, we would suggest that he take your temperature – (you may even be able to sleep through it). Otherwise you may need to set an alarm for a regular temp time regardless of when you plan to arise. If you are waking before the usual temp time only to nurse the baby, it’s all right to take it at the usual later time if you remain in bed and restful.
You don’t say if your periods have returned or what other fertility signs you are observing. If you are still in breastfeeding amenorrhea and/or cannot take your temperature consistently, our recommendation would be to rely primarily on mucus and cervix observations. If you are not familiar with the interpretation of these signs postpartum, it would be important to meet with an NFP instructor or attend a postpartum class. Couple to Couple League offers these classes and an NFP Postpartum Student Guide. If you have taken the main CCL course, you should find the guidelines in the book easy to understand. Information about both of these may be found at www.ccli.org.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! We commend your determination to continue charting during this busy time.
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Temperatures can fluctuate during breastfeeding before the return to fertility and always must be taken at regular times to give an accurate pattern. If your husband has a regular waking time before yours, we would suggest that he take your temperature – (you may even be able to sleep through it). Otherwise you may need to set an alarm for a regular temp time regardless of when you plan to arise. If you are waking before the usual temp time only to nurse the baby, it’s all right to take it at the usual later time if you remain in bed and restful.
You don’t say if your periods have returned or what other fertility signs you are observing. If you are still in breastfeeding amenorrhea and/or cannot take your temperature consistently, our recommendation would be to rely primarily on mucus and cervix observations. If you are not familiar with the interpretation of these signs postpartum, it would be important to meet with an NFP instructor or attend a postpartum class. Couple to Couple League offers these classes and an NFP Postpartum Student Guide. If you have taken the main CCL course, you should find the guidelines in the book easy to understand. Information about both of these may be found at www.ccli.org.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! We commend your determination to continue charting during this busy time.
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Answered By:
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Andrea and Ron Gronsky, PhD, Professional Members of CANFP,now retired, taught the Sympto Thermal Method through the Couple to Couple League, in the Oakland Region.
