Sorry if this is a common question in this section?

I know that in most preg and parenting sections there are the same few questoins that pop up regularly so I do apologise if this is one of those in the TTC section...anyways, I have an 8 month old who we didn't really TTC we just let nature take it's course. Now we are starting to think about number two and we know we want the next one to be somewhat close in age to our daughter. So basically, can anyone give me the rundown of the best ways to aid conception... I mean I know about cycles and ovulation but what about this temperature thing I often see... how does that work?

Any info you can think of that might be helpful would be great.

Well so far i've not been successful in TTC i'm 8 cycles into trying and still no baby, but maybe just maybe this might be my month!!!! Anyway you asked about the temperature thing.....I didn't find that it helped at all. If you don't take your temperature at the EXACT same time EVERYDAY, which is normally before you get out of be in the morning, then it will be altered. If you have the slightest cold or an infection then it's altered. There are soooo many factors in why your temperature is not correct so when that happens you really don't know when you ovulate. If I were you I would start using OPK's (ovulation predictor kits). The instructions are very easy to follow, and I would also start taking note of your CM (cervical Mucus). At ovulation time it will be more like an egg white and stretchy (EWCC...egg white cervical mucus). Make sure you have sex during your most fertile time which is where the OPK's come in handy. Once you get your positive OPK then make sure you have sex the next 3 nights. Once you find out more of when you ovulate then I would start having sex at least every other day during your fertile WEEK. Good Luck and I hope this was informative!!!

usually when you are in your fertile time, your temperature spikes a little bit. this is why women take their temperature to test for when is the best time to conceive. good luck!

Charting your Basal temperature won't necessarily improve your chances of pregnancy, but it's been so informative whilst I've been TTC in terms of having an idea of what's going on down there! I recommend you either use Ovulation Prediction Tests (OPKs) or chart your BBT. A combination of two is handy and what I do, just as back-up verification. Basically, doing this will give you fore-warning that ovulation is imminent (You get a + on the pee stick variety 12-24 hours before ovulation), whereas temping will verify that you have indeed ovulated when you see a sustained rise of 0.2-0.4 degrees on your chart.

Fertilityfriend.com is an excellent way of keeping your temps organised and helps you to see patterns emerging. It's really very simple once you get into it. All you need to do is purchase a Basal thermometer that measures to 00.00 format and take your temp each morning at the same time, before even getting out of bed. This is your "Base" or waking temperature, so set that alarm - even at the weekends! It sounds like a chore and some women prefer to do without, but I'm one of those women who feels as if they need to have some sort of control over TTC and this is one way to keep me happy! :-)

NB: - I buy my OPKs and Basal Thermometer cheaply on ebay. Your best bet, if you choose to go with the OPKs is to buy them in bulk as you want to be testing from a couple of days before you ovulate to the actual day itself. Sometimes I've been known to take two in one day, just to catch my Lutenising hormone surge. Fertility friend is a really useful site. Sign up and they give you tonnes more info on charting too :-)