Who do I believe?

[Cricket0619]

lol!
I posted the other day about when to consider the start of my period. I was spotting Fri. and Sat. ( brown and no tampon necessary) and then Sun. it was actual blood. I wasn't sure if I should chart Fri. as day 1 or Sun. So I called the nurse and she said Fri. would be day 1, but then I was looking at the Taking Charge Of Your Fertility book and it said to count the first day of actual blood flow as day 1. So, now I don't know when to expect to ovulate. I will still do an OPK test, but just still like having an idea of when to expect to O.

[jewel]

Brown blood is old blood, not new period blood.

I usually spot brown blood for a day or 2 before the red blood starts. Whether or not the red blood is heavy or light, I count red blood as the first day.

Either way, it actually makes no difference. If you are temping and using OPKs (or any other indication of ovulation), you'll get the same results, which is hopefully a good window of fertile time. It doesn't really matter whether that is officially day 13 or day 15 (or whatever). Just stay consistent with what you count as Day 1, and you'll get some consistency going.

That was a lot of reference to blood, LOL. Sorry.

[littlemisschatty]

I would say Sunday is Day 1. And yes consistency counts!

[Cricket0619]

Thank you!

[Cheesecake]

The only reason why it's important is so you have an idea of what your cycle is like. So just make sure that you count it the same way next cycle. Only if counting Friday would mean you have a real short LP I would be worried about what to count (as a short LP might have implications). If Friday or Sunday is both more than 12 DPO, it really doesn't matter as long as you are indeed consistent.

[mandapanda18]

I have heard red blood = first day. But I will let you know, for me, I start my period like 27 days 10 hours almost the minute after my first day of spotting. So if I didn't start counting on that day, I don't think I would have calculated my O day properly.

Every woman is different, just my two cents!