?'s about OPKs and DH Diet

[PrincessAurora]

Why can't I use FMU to take my OPKs? What method is best for using OPKs? I have the CB digi...


Also, I see that DH's diet doesnt really affect sway that much...I don't believe in PH levels as much as I used to but what about his estrogen levels? Should he only focus on things like wearing tight undies and doing FR and just don't worry about supps or diet?

I feel like I'm such a pest today...but i just can't seem to find some of the info i need. If its in an ovious place please feel free to just forward me the link

[LacePrincess]

I can't help you with DH's supps, I don't know much about that regarding sway. But it can only help your sway if he's willing to do the LE diet too, or at least eat what you're eating. It's nice to have the moral support anyways. But seriously, don't worry if he's also having junk on the side, it doesn't matter that much, it's YOUR diet that's the most important for the sway.

You shouldn't use FMU for OPK's because the LH hormone is secreted in your body in the early morning, which means it doesn't peak in your urine until late morning/afternoon. The best time to test your OPKs is between 10am-8pm. Actually, many of us test twice a day (late morning then late afternoon/early evening) during our fertile windows because the LH surge is very short and we don't want to miss it. If you use FMU you could possibly miss the surge entirely (because it peaks later that day and you test too early and miss it, and by next morning it's gone) or catch the surge late and BD too late. Of course if you're using the $$$$$ drugstore OPK's you really can't afford to test multiple times a day, or at least I can't!

[PrincessAurora]

Thanks Lace!

DH was following the IG diet with me and plans to follow the LE diet as well...it was his idea to sway so he is very strict on himself which is very uplifting at times (and makes me feel bad when i cheat!) I try to get him to take a little wiggle room as much as possible since he works 50 hours a week and really cannot be feeling ill or hungry all the time....

I appreciate the info on the OPKs I cant afford the drugstore tests either...I almost fainted paying around $50 for a box of sticks i'm just going to pee on but i have a super hard time reading the wondfo OPKs...I'll have to figure something else out that works for us!

[LacePrincess]

Yay for your DH! It's really nice having that support, isn't it?

I almost choked seeing the prices at the drugstore for OPK's. Gah!! No way can I afford that! The IC (internet cheapie) ones can be hard to read and peeing in a cup is a bit of a pain, but fifty cents per test versus six dollars per test - well, there's just no comparison, lol.

I do use the Clearblue Fertility Monitor too, but those sticks are pretty costly too - $40 online for a 3 month supply. Cheaper than digital OPKs but you have to invest $200 in the monitor itself. Worth it for me because I've had it since we conceived DS1, but maybe not for you.

If you're pretty good at charting and reading your CP/CM and all that, though, then the OPK's only serve to confirm what you already know and you aren't solely relying on OPK's to find your ovulation time.

[PrincessAurora]

Yeah I considered going and returning them a few times but at this point I've used 3 so there is no turning back!

I may actually start reading my CP/CM again and might start temping again, that is what I did for DS but I'm not sure that I was very good at it considering my estimated O date was bout 3-ish days off! I might have better luck though if I'm using the CB Digi along with it...I might add some ICs and maybe that might help me learn to read them a little better

I've considered purchasing the CB monitor but only if I don't get pregnant the first cycle. It may be worth the $$ for b/c if we have a nother boy DH has already said he would want to break our 'two kids only rule' and try one last time for a girl plus I'd love to get PG fast and I've heard a lot of women do concieve quickly with the monitor.

[LacePrincess]

Well the monitor just helps you find your estrogen and LH surges, but it honestly didn't help me get preggo faster once I got really good at charting/temping/CM/CP stuff. But most people out there TTC (as in, not us!) aren't willing to go through that sort of learning curve to make a baby. It's hard and it takes more commitment and effort then just peeing on a stick because an electronic gizmo told you to.

It helped me a LOT with TTC#1, because I didn't know how to chart. But now it's only a confirmation/backup method for me to find ov, it usually just confirms what I already know from checking CM/CP and sometimes it entirely misses my LH surge. So it's not perfect. Mind you, it took me years to perfect my charting techniques, so the monitor was invaluable then. Nowadays I can make do just fine with charting and using cheapie internet OPKs, the monitor is just a bit of luxury.

[atomic sagebrush]

Sorry, I'm doing my best to get all the info out there but it's just hard because it's very complicated.

I do not think DH needs to follow LE Diet (and in fact, I don't think he actually SHOULD because he needs a LOT MORE cals, pro, fat and I have not calculated any of those for a man) but if he cuts back or cuts out meat, esp. red meat, lowers intakes of healthy and saturated fat, and ups intake of soy foods, that may help.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks Lace!

DH was following the IG diet with me and plans to follow the LE diet as well...it was his idea to sway so he is very strict on himself which is very uplifting at times (and makes me feel bad when i cheat!) I try to get him to take a little wiggle room as much as possible since he works 50 hours a week and really cannot be feeling ill or hungry all the time....

I appreciate the info on the OPKs I cant afford the drugstore tests either...I almost fainted paying around $50 for a box of sticks i'm just going to pee on but i have a super hard time reading the wondfo OPKs...I'll have to figure something else out that works for us!

Also, my other concern with the LE Diet for DH is that it's meant to lower estrogen as well and for DH we want his estrogen to stay high. Go easy on the fruits and veg for him and make sure he eats a pretty high level of carbs - we don't want him to lose weight, that will reduce his estrogen.