After Period–Day 7.

Moon:  Waning Crescent

Flow/Texture:

Mood:  Grade-A

Symptoms: cravings

Mucus:  thick, opaque, elastic, normal taste/scent

The cup has once again brought me elastic mucus.  I’m considering cupping  everyday in order to obtain worthy samples of my lady goo.

I was bouncing around today–literally.  It’s time to start working out again.  Unconsciously, I used this weekend to purge both physically and mentally–curse you doritos and online gossip.  Curse you.  Yet, I’m glad I discovered some interesting things about the latter, which will make it that much easier to give up.  Not that it was all that addictive, but well, you know.

I’m thrilled to have discovered just how valuable this new kick is to my well-being and aspirations, despite my lack of knowledge and skill at this point.  I’m ready for the spiritual stuff again.  A new moon is fast approaching and I’d love to be prepared for that if only with some new candles.

I was journaling and reading everyday, really exercising my brain like I should always be doing.  Most importantly, my heart was gradually asserting itself without menstrual encouragement.

Sixth Day (May 8).

Moon:  Waning Crescent

Flow/Texture:

Mood:  fine

Symptoms:  none

Mucus:  somewhat opaque, thick, elastic, normal taste/scent, a few brown spots

I wore my cup all day–still wearing it, actually–and found myself with some thick, stretchy mucus.  Fertile mucus is thin, stretchy, and clear so I’m not doing some weird early ovulation dance.

I was confused for a little longer than I should have been and care to admit.  *tsk tsk*  I was just really excited to see stretchy mucus, so my judgment was clouded.  There, I said it.

I’m looking forward to seeing how it changes while my cup captures the evidence.

The days of blood flew by this time around.  Oh, well, at least I fed that blasted seeds.

Fifth Day (May 7).

Moon:  Waning  Crescent

Flow/Texture:  remnant drops, brown, watery, brown mucus

Mood:  just wrong, wrong, wrong

Symptoms:  nagging headache, tears, frustration

Mucus:  brown, elastic

I suppose that’s what happens when I neglect my workouts–3, solid days of day 7 emotional fragility.  Everything upset me.  Things I knew I shouldn’t get upset about I cried over.

Again, I couldn’t muster the will to do much about it:  meditation was haphazard, exercise was simply a no-go, and I didn’t get much exercise, either.

Journaling helped somewhat as well as busy work for my brain–ultimately it’s about getting my mind focused on something else.  Yeah, and being around good people dispelled some of the ache.

Instead of bouncing around, full of energy, I just bundle up loads of anxiety and anger–negative energy.  What a load of donkey poop.  However, it seems I have a goal:  Get a handle on meditation before my next period.

Despite my lack of success I believe it will work.  On the first day with the cramps, with the yoga and breathing, I felt a some relief.  Incentive enough, I’d say.  Yapple Dapple.

Hey, what’s up with the super-elastic mucus on remnant and first days?  I’m just now thinking about this while I’m writing a post (unless I’ve questioned this another post somewhere).

I’ll wear my cup a few extra days in order to explore this mucus phenomenon more thoroughly.  Perhaps my finger swabs aren’t sufficient.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

After Period–Day 11.

Moon:  Waxing Crescent

Flow/Texture:

Mood:  pretty good

Symptoms:  all-day horn

Mucus:  light lotion texture, regular, slightly strong taste/smell, white, smooth

The horn was strong all day today.  I gave into it pretty hard.

Another blob of useful info on cervical mucus:

The appearance and texture of cervical fluids will change as you move through your menstrual cycle. Also, the quantity of cervical mucus present is also a key sign: When you are most fertile, CM should be quite abundant.

Texture: During your cycle, cervical mucus may be absent or profuse, dryish or wet, thick or thin, sticky or slippery. It may “hold its shape” or it may stretch between your fingers like raw egg-white.

Appearance: The look of cervical fluids will also change during your cycle and CM may be white, creamy, yellowish, translucent, or transparent.

When It Happens: During the first part of your menstrual cycle, CM may not be present or it will be dry and thickish. The color may appear white. As you enter the follicular (pre-ovulatory) phase of your cycle, estrogen increases and you may experience “transitional” cervical mucus, marked by increased moisture, increased volume, a more stretchy texture, and a thinner feel. Transitional mucus will still be a bit tacky and hold its form to some degree. The color of transitional cervical mucus may be white, creamy, or yellowish, though it will still be mostly opaque.

Directly prior to ovulation, cervical mucus should be abundant. Fertile cervical mucus is characterized by a transparent appearance – and it may look and feel like raw egg white and stretch between your fingers without breaking (see fig 1). This stretchiness is called Spinnbarkeit and indicates that ovulation is likely imminent. Fertile CM will be thin, slippery (like lubricant), stretchy and translucent. Typically, fertile-quality cervical fluids will appear a few days prior to and during ovulation.

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Apparently, my mucus is transitioning.  The fact that it’s opaque, yet gradually coming together out of the sticky, nonexistent state signals the increase in estrogen.  The surge is upon me.

Before Period–Day 19.

Moon:  Waning Crescent

Flow/Texture: None

Mood: gloomy, negative, good

Symptoms: testy, testy, some horn, crying, ditz-head

Mucus: slightly elastic, white, normal scent, somewhat dry

I finally got some stretchy mucus!  I pressed my finger right up to what I think is my cervix then  squeezed–thick, stretchy, egg white-looking mucus was my reward.

I’ve definitely been judging it incorrectly.  Consequently, my results are inaccurate.

So, while typing up this entry, I went site hopping.  Natural Transition provided some helpful tips:

On Appearance:

This is best monitored by looking at the toilet paper before and after urinating each time you go to the toilet. Fertile mucus will often look clear and be quite stretchy, it is often described as raw egg white. Infertile mucus may have a thicker appearance and can appear absent, gluggy or claggy. It is often white or yellowish in colour.

Searching for Mucus:

If you still have trouble finding mucus another option is to give the cervix a little squeeze. This will cause the cervix to discharge a little mucus and allow you to assess the colour, stretchiness and consistency…If you…have trouble telling the difference [between regular vaginal moisture and cervical mucus] you can test to see if it is water soluble or not. Get yourself a glass of water and collect some mucus on your finger. If it is cervical mucus it will form a blob and sink to the bottom, if it is a vaginal secretion it will dissolve.

Pretty helpful.  Means more work, but helpful nonetheless.  I find that I’m progressively overcoming my cervix fear.  I didn’t feel anything strange or painful when I touched it, so I think it will be easier to scoop more directly.

Cervical Mucus.

Doing research on vaginal mucus, I found a helpful website on ovulation.

The difference between fertile mucus and sperm-killing mucus:  fertile mucus passes the finger test–stretches long between the fingers before breaking apart.  It contains nutrients which help the sperm on its way.

Right now, Day 13 of my cycle, I should be near the ovulation point–a good time to get knocked up.

According to this site, my mucus should be thin, clear, elastic (if I’m ovulating) or if I’m about to ovulate, it should be white or cream-colored.

The best way to collect mucus is to swipe it from the source–the cervix *shudders*  Barring that, get as close as you can and swizzle your fingers around and scoop some up.