Temperature Fluctuations in Breastfeeding Cycles
Question
I am trying to figure out what is going on with my cycle. I am currently 26 months post partum and still breastfeeding about 2x in evening/morning (not through the night). My cycle returned at about 20 months.
I’ve been charting for the last three cycles–I took the CCL classes a few years ago and am trying to follow those rules to avoid pregnancy.
My question/problem is that I can’t tell when I’m ovulating. It seems that I am having a fallback thermal shift, but I think there is more than that going on because my cervical mucus has usually dried up before that happens. I’ve also been wondering about the possibility of low progesterone because I had at least one short luteal phase (last cycle). To add to my difficulty in reading my charts, my son doesn’t always sleep through the night so I have semi-irregular temp times but do my best to keep it at the same time. Finally, while it appears that I have ovulated three days ago (or more), I had some pain yesterday and the day before that felt like cyst or ovulation pain.
If you would like to look at my charts, I have been using both ovusoft software and fertility friend (because it’s free… I’m following the rules that I know to make sure that it works the way I need it to).
http://www.ovusoft.com/forum/chart.asp?id=lilepad
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/e2137
Unfortunately you can only see the current chart at ovusoft.
Please advise!
Answer
Last Updated: July 24, 2013
In looking at your charts we see clear evidence of ovulation despite some temperature fluctuation. This pattern is quite typical for a nursing mom, including short luteal phases. Although we’re curious about the “S” mucus indication on days 17 through 21 of your current chart, we assume you believe this to be a less-fertile mucus because of your choice of day 16 for peak and the temperature rise that follows.
Therefore, we set the LTL at 97.5 on the basis of days 12-17, making 97.9 the HTL, and your thermal shift requirement is met on day 20. Using Rule B, Phase III begins the evening of day 20. We like to suggest to our learner couples that they return for a refresher Class 4 after childbirth. If you’d like this, or more personal help, you can find a CCL teacher listing at www.ccli.org. You’re doing a good job with charting, and we commend you for breastfeeding.
Ron and Andrea Gronsky
Answered By:
