Period and Charting Questions

[rachel817]

Hello! I have some questions... okay quite a few.

1. I always spot for 3-7 days before my period actually starts, I am wondering if its normal, and if that actually counts as period days, or just spotting? When I track, should I count them as period days?

2. What is ferning?

3. How do you determine your luteal (sp?) phase and what is it?

4. My period is ALWAYS brown, with a day of normal bleeding and the rest is just a bit more then spotting. At the end of all butone or one and a half days of my period I don't even need to change my pad once (I do anyways, don't worry ) Is this normal?


Thanks so much!