[FAM] Is for Family

Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)

Some time last year, when the realization hit me that I was well past the age I had in mind to start having a family, I began to research on books and other information about prepregnancy.

I had such little knowledge on the matter having only a few friends who had actually given birth and not many of them talk about the time before the pregnancy. It's as if that period in their life never happened. They were living their lives one day and poof - they're preggers!

I suppose that's usually how it goes. Majority of couples don't really plan out and strategize on the timing of their pregnancy. It just sort of happens for most women. If I had a choice, I would love to have a "surprise" pregnancy, but that wouldn't suffice for this super control-freak.

It wasn't til I started perusing Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control and Pregnancy Achievement by Toni Weschler, I discovered FAM, or Fertility Awareness Method.

Because I was so impatient, I just purchased the book and then started researching on FAM online. Had I done it the other way, I probably would not have bought the book. Although it is very informative, there's just so much info on the web and with great resourceful websites such as FertilityFriend.com, you really don't need to be that educated on it.

What is FAM? It's a method of following your cycle from Day 1 to ovulation and beyond. By taking your daily basal body temperature, you will be able to chart and see what your temperature pattern is and determine when you ovulated in that cycle. You can also keep track of your cervical fluid and check the position of your cervix to help give accurate assessment of the big O day. I don't check my cervix, but I do keep a note with my daily temps on my cervical fluid action.

If you do it right, your chart will reveal:
-when you've ovulated
-how long your luteal phase is

These are super important if you want to conceive. It will give you and your doctor insight into any potential fertility problems if you and your partner have been trying for longer than six cycles with no + sign on that HPT.

I started officially charting at the start of the year. Let's see how it goes~