Progesterone prevents the uterus from contracting strongly and endangering the baby, and holds off the start of labor until the baby is at term. When the baby is ready to be born, the progesterone level drops. By this time the uterus has become exquisitely sensitive to the level of hormones in the blood, so that when the placenta reduces its output of progesterone, estrogen takes over, initiates labor, and ensures that the uterus begins to contract strongly.

Soooo. Since progesterone is a heat-building hormone, and causes the basal temperature to be higher, then if you were to chart your waking temperatures toward the end of pregnancy, could you potentially know when labor is about to start, from a drop in temps? How cool would that be!

Has anyone tried this? Or want to try it?

That is if you can get a full 3 hrs sleep at a time or even feel up to it. kinda interesting idea.

That is if you can get a full 3 hrs sleep at a time or even feel up to it. kinda interesting idea.


This is what I was going to point out! ha! I think I get about TWO full hours of sleep and then it's time to get up for a potty break or *something*... I *know* there is no way I get three full hours any time during the night or morning ::snort:: but it sounds very interesting!!

I've heard that too! I might have to try it this time. FYI, you don't need to get a whole lot of consecutive sleep to get accurate temps. With using NFP, even with a partially night waking toddler, my thermal shifts were very obvious. The main thing is not to run a marathon in the middle of the night! :D