Given the plentitude of women in my life lately who have have gotten their BFP (or Big Fat Positive on a pregnancy test, for those of you who don't know all those three-letter acronyms!), I thought now would be a great time to share something that hardly anyone knows about: temping after your positive pregnancy test.
For some women, charting their cycle and tracking their temperature changes is only something they start doing when they want to get pregnant, and as soon as they're pregnant, they stop temping because...well...they're pregnant and they don't need to.
While it's true that there is no need to track ovulation anymore, since your body clearly won't be ovulating for at least nine months, it can still be incredibly helpful and even reassuring to continue taking your temperature each morning. Here's why:
For some women, charting their cycle and tracking their temperature changes is only something they start doing when they want to get pregnant, and as soon as they're pregnant, they stop temping because...well...they're pregnant and they don't need to.
While it's true that there is no need to track ovulation anymore, since your body clearly won't be ovulating for at least nine months, it can still be incredibly helpful and even reassuring to continue taking your temperature each morning. Here's why:
The rise in your temperature after ovulation is due to an increased level of progesterone. Elevated temperatures after ovulation coincide with elevated progesterone levels. So, when your temperature remains elevated even after your luteal phase was supposed to end and your temperature was supposed to drop, it can be a reliable indicator of early pregnancy. Most women make the mistake of putting away the thermometer after their positive pregnancy test.
What they don't know is that temperatures that consistently remain above their pre-ovulatory cover line in the first trimester is one way to see if the embryo is implanting properly instead of heading for an early miscarriage.
What they don't know is that temperatures that consistently remain above their pre-ovulatory cover line in the first trimester is one way to see if the embryo is implanting properly instead of heading for an early miscarriage.
Sample pregnancy chart. Note how the temperature remains elevated above the coverline well past this woman's average LP length of 12 days.
The chart above shows you what it may look like if you keep charting after implantation. Your temperature will remain elevated above your coverline, even after your luteal phase was supposed to end. (In the case of the sample chart, after 12 days.)
Just as temperatures above your coverline can indicate pregnancy, temperatures that fall below your coverline after a positive test can indicate miscarriage. Consistent temperatures below your chart's coverline after a positive pregnancy test can (and usually do) mean a miscarriage is on the way.
Just as temperatures above your coverline can indicate pregnancy, temperatures that fall below your coverline after a positive test can indicate miscarriage. Consistent temperatures below your chart's coverline after a positive pregnancy test can (and usually do) mean a miscarriage is on the way.
A sample chart showing a miscarriage scenario. Note that the temperature can start to fall before spotting begins.
Above: a sample chart of an early miscarriage. For the sake of clarity, it's all on one chart, but you may find yourself using an overflow chart if your temperatures run out of room.
What does your temperature have to do with staying pregnant? It's all in your progesterone levels. The purpose of progesterone is in the name: (pro) + (gestation) = a hormone that is needed to support pregnancy. If your progesterone levels fall, your temperatures correspondingly fall, and your body will not continue to sustain the pregnancy with the too-low levels of progesterone.
What this means for you, dear reader, is that if you find yourself pregnant, do yourself a favor and keep taking your temperature every morning. A consistently high temperature can be incredibly reassuring in the early days of pregnancy. If your temperature drops one day but is high the next, that is okay. Keep an eye out for temperatures that are below your coverline for two or more days in a row. Watch out for any spotting or cramping* in conjunction with your lower temperatures, and see a doctor if you have excessive bleeding or pain.
What does your temperature have to do with staying pregnant? It's all in your progesterone levels. The purpose of progesterone is in the name: (pro) + (gestation) = a hormone that is needed to support pregnancy. If your progesterone levels fall, your temperatures correspondingly fall, and your body will not continue to sustain the pregnancy with the too-low levels of progesterone.
What this means for you, dear reader, is that if you find yourself pregnant, do yourself a favor and keep taking your temperature every morning. A consistently high temperature can be incredibly reassuring in the early days of pregnancy. If your temperature drops one day but is high the next, that is okay. Keep an eye out for temperatures that are below your coverline for two or more days in a row. Watch out for any spotting or cramping* in conjunction with your lower temperatures, and see a doctor if you have excessive bleeding or pain.
HOW LONG AFTER MY POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST SHOULD I CONTINUE TO TAKE MY TEMPERATURE?
You can take your temperature as long as you need to. In general, the first trimester is usually the most important as far as recording BBT. Keep in mind, too, that temperatures can become erratic and fluctuate more once you are out of the first trimester (around 13 weeks). This is normal, and is caused by the placenta taking over progesterone production.
If you do decide to take your temperature every day while you are pregnant, please share your chart with me! There is very little research on BBTs throughout the course of pregnancy, and I'd love to see a pregnancy that is entirely charted with BBT.
Amazing what a thermometer can tell us about our bodies, isn't it? Now start (and keep) charting!
*Spotting/cramping is not always a sign of miscarriage in early pregnancy. See your primary care doctor or midwife with any questions about your pregnancy.
If you do decide to take your temperature every day while you are pregnant, please share your chart with me! There is very little research on BBTs throughout the course of pregnancy, and I'd love to see a pregnancy that is entirely charted with BBT.
Amazing what a thermometer can tell us about our bodies, isn't it? Now start (and keep) charting!
*Spotting/cramping is not always a sign of miscarriage in early pregnancy. See your primary care doctor or midwife with any questions about your pregnancy.
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