A mother sits in a chair at her desk in front of a laptop while holding her daughter in her lap. She poses for a photo and smiles.Last blog we talked about things the male could do to have a baby, so this post we will talk about some of the things a female can do when she desires a baby.

One of the first things you should do is chart.

Charting is a way to track what your body is doing. This helps you to see and understand if you are ovulating.

Many women nowadays don’t have regular cycles. This can make it difficult to know when, and if, you are ovulating. Ovulation is the time that the egg is released and you can become pregnant.

One great site out there that I have used and recommend for charting is FertilityFriend.com. This site has both a free section to chart and another paid section that allows you to belong to the forums. There is also an app for your phone. Another app, Kindara Fertility Tracker, is also free. Another site I’ve heard a lot about is OvaGraph.

I have to be honest and say that even though I’m an OB nurse with an extra certification in OB, and have been for almost 29 years, I learned a lot taking the lessons that they had available on Fertility Friend. I’ve worked with thousands of mamas before and after their pregnancies, but this site improved my understanding of women’s cycles and getting pregnant.

A charting example is shown.
A charting example.

By charting, you and your doctor will have a way of knowing if you are ovulating.

Some women have issues with ovulation, so this is a great starting point. Another way you can do this is to buy the ovulation kits available in drug stores. These are little sticks that you test using your urine. These tests let you know when you are getting close to ovulation.

Having charts to take to your doctor is a great thing. It’s as easy as having a basal thermometer and checking your temperature every morning before you get up. You then can go to the web site, or app, and chart it.

After ovulation, you will notice a rise in your temperature. Your temperature will usually stay a little higher, and then drop before your next cycle begins.

If you check using either charting and/or the ovulation kits, you will begin to see how your body works. Our medical textbooks tell us a woman ovulates on Day 14 of her cycle. Though this is true for some, it’s not true for many.

For conception, your fertile time is about five days long. This time begins about three days before you ovulate and lasts until a day after ovulation.

Next time we will continue with more tips about getting pregnant. Happy charting!