It's not a secret any more that my husband and I have been trying to conceive for a long while now. We have gone through many of the items listed above and for years now have yet to see a positive pregnancy test. It's frustrating. But what has happened in our lives most likely has directly caused the delay in our becoming parents.
First I was recovering from my first back surgery and getting back in shape but the stress from work wasn't helping. Then my back and knee began causing problems again and I went through the second surgery, finally left work after becoming disabled and gained a ton of weight and became very depressed. Then came the happier part, I decided enough was enough and had to turn my life around. I am very thankful that I decided to do that because now three years later am an entirely different person. Once we had our first home on the market, our condo, the stress came back and from the middle of January through the first of May I didn't really lose much weight at all. Now I'm back on track, much more relaxed and hoping that everything will happen naturally.
We've tried many different methods but now I am about to embark on a new direction I haven't done before and what some may find questionable. Fertility Stones, meditation, green tea and other herbal supplements and food I can enjoy. Yes, Penn and Teller's Bullshit show on demand told us that many things are in fact, bullshit. That is because many organizations pull on people's heart strings and cause them to want something so bad that they believe it's actually working and helping them, while others know that it's just a load of crap. The fact is that anyone who believes in something strong enough can be subject to believing in something that doesn't actually work.
I plan on relaxing, taking it easy and trying not to stress out in the next months ahead. The first thing that we wanted for our future unborn child was a secure home, check! The second thing we wanted was space to be able to give the baby their own room, check! Now that we don't have to worry about packing, moving and doing as much unpacking we can relax and focus on what's important, us.
Not many people are as open and honest about trying to conceive as I am. However when you have been trying for as long as we have, it's no longer a secret. There is no reason to keep this just to ourselves any longer. It's not like telling people we are trying is about to jinx us. In fact it just helps people understand how important this is to us.
My first goal a long time ago was to be a mother by the time I as 25. Now my goal is to become a mom in my 30's. If I'm lucky maybe by the time I'm in my 30th year. 30 really isn't that old anymore but when I began to think of the math involved I feel aged. If I have a child when I'm 30, by the time they graduate high school I will almost be 50. I have no idea how old I'll be by the time I see my first grandchild and that's if my future babies even have children of their own.
When my husband and I first met about ten years ago, that first month we were already picking out baby names. Silly I know but that showed me right then how much we both wanted to be parents some day and that made me love him even more. We want to name our children after relatives that have meant something important to us in our lives, both living and passed on. I do not plan on saying that the names are right now as they may change once we are expecting. There is a large part of me that really wants twins, right away! I know I'm probably crazy for wishing that want but if that happened then at least I wouldn't feel stressed about having more than one child because I would have two from the beginning. I know that we'll be happy with how ever many children we have and not one will be more special than the other.
All these years I've only been a fur momma to kitty cats. Frisky was my first little girl, my mom adopted her for me in 1993 and she lived till just past my last surgery in 2006. It's almost like she wanted to stick around just to make sure I was going to be ok and then she passed away in November. Heart broken for months and still miss her like crazy but happy that I have the memories, the scars and pictures to remember her by. My second little girl is Midnight, she was adopted in 2001 and she is now a happy middle aged kitty. My third little girl is Uzume, she was adopted August 2006 and got to know her big sister for about four months before she finally passed away. I know having cats or dogs doesn't even compare to being a mom of a human child, but having these girls has given me company when I've needed it and made me very happy over the years.
Getting back to the subject at hand. I have used stones in the past when I was reading about Wicca and Witchcraft and interested in it. There are some things that, believe it or not, aren't evil. Like Buddhism it is a way of life and living. It can be very peaceful and fulfilling. Any spirituality or religion can have extreme members who give a bad name to the organization. So just because this is something you don't believe in, don't disregard it right away. Learn more about it before you decide it is something that doesn't work for you.
It is said that different stones help us with different things, and I never thought to use these stones to help with fertility before. Fertility stones are supposed to be special stones that enhance the reproductive body and help with fertility.
From http://www.fertilaidreviews.com
It states that, "It has long been believed that certain gem stones contain natural energies that can aid fertility, these became known as fertility stones."
Of course they also sell stones and bracelets. After all, everything is a business these days.
Different stones help with different things. In fact I probably have a few of these stones in my jewelry box. I know that I just love my moonstone and have received several compliments in the past. Perhaps I'll start wearing it again.
Popular Fertility Stones
Rose Quartz "Rose quartz, also known as the “stone of love”, is believed to encourage fertility in a wide variety of ways. It assists people in achieving emotional stability and well-being by reducing stress, promoting self-love and encouraging love from others. It is also believed to encourage positive energy and increase confidence, while easing fears, promoting reproductive wellness and health."
Green Aventurine "Green aventurine has long been associated with the the cycle of life. This fertility stone is known for promoting emotional tranquillity, providing a sense of calmness and is believed to be particularly helpful for those who have experienced infertility issues. This stone is also particularly helpful during troubled times to soothe the mind, bring patience and increase confidence."
Moonstone "Moonstone is a stone for fertility that helps to balance the motions and nurture receptivity. In Arabic countries moonstone is so well known as a symbol of fertility that women often wear moonstones sewn out of sight right into their clothing."
Bloodstone "Bloodstone is known for helping the blood flow properly in the body, which is very important for women with blood clotting disorders that prevent successful pregnancies."
Unakite "Unakite is associated with fertility, as well as healthy pregnancies, and has been said to cleanse and balance."
Rhodonite "Rhodonite is a stone for fertility that brings calm and inner balance. Rhodonite has also been traditionally used to ease emotional pain."
Chrysoprase "Chrysoprase is a fertility stone that helps the individual to get rid of negative mental thoughts and become less irritable. It also aids in self expression and courage and provides grace and compassion to the wearer. Believed to bring happiness, some say this stone for fertility helps to also balance energies."
So lets give in for a moment and learn about their fertility bracelets, since that is what this website is trying to sell.
Do Fertility Bracelets Work?
"If you are trying to get pregnant then you may have come across something called a fertility bracelet. But what is a fertility bracelet and do fertility bracelets work?"
What Is A Fertility Bracelet?
"In a nutshell a fertility bracelet is a bracelet that contains specific fertility gem stones that have long believed to help women get pregnant. These gemstones include rose quartz, moonstone and aventurine."
Do Fertility Bracelets Work?
"Some people swear that their fertility bracelets were what helped them to get pregnant, while others simply dismiss them as nothing but good luck charms. Whatever the case may be, it certainly can’t hurt to have one. Besides helping women to get pregnant, fertility bracelets look fantastic and make great gifts."
This website also has a testimonial section that has several women stating that it works. Of course, again, they are trying to sell you something. You can probably save yourself some money, go to a store that sells stones and make yourself a bracelet or pick up the stones. But for those who don't have the time then buying them is always an option. I don't know of many stores anymore that sell neat things like this, along with incense, and other neat things for around the house. I used to go to a shop in South County but I believe that shop has been closed for some time.
Lately the website tells us that we can make our own bracelet.
How To Make a Fertility Bracelet
"If you don’t want to purchase a fertility bracelet, you can also make your own by purchasing and combining specific fertility gem stones such as moonstone, rose quartz and earth stone. For those who don’t have the time to make a fertility bracelet, you can easily buy your own for relatively cheap. As mentioned, they make wonderful gifts for yourself or for couples who are trying to conceive."
It has been said that herbal teas can help with fertility. I plan on drinking one glass a day of green tea from now on. Most difficult task will be remembering to drink a glass a day.
According to http://www.ovulation-calculator.com it goes into the detail on how drinking tea helps with fertility, as well as other herbal supplements.
Green Tea and Fertility: "In the context of reproductive health, Green Tea is a powerful antioxidant that enhances fertility by repairing the oxidative damage that occurs as the result of environmental toxins, aging, stress, exercise, lack of sleep, and poor diet (processed foods). A study from the American Journal of Public Health found that drinking 1/2 cup or more of green tea daily doubled the odds of conception per cycle. Another study concluded that women who drank more than one half cup of green tea every day doubled their odds of conceiving."
Chasteberry (Vitex) "is probably the most well-known and widely studied "fertility herb". Vitex can be found in fertility supplements like FertilAid for Women or in tincture form. Vitex - or vitex agnus castus - is recognized for stimulating the hormones involved in ovulation and restoring female hormonal balance. It may normalize pituitary function and the balance of progesterone and estrogen levels. Vitex is used as an herbal treatment for infertility and is especially helpful for women with irregular cycles, anovulation, or a short luteal phase (a short 2nd half of the menstrual cycle)."
Red Raspberry Leaf "is regarded for its ability to tone the uterus and muscles of the pelvic region. Very popular - and used as a traditional fertility enhancer for a long time - Red Raspberry is a powerful fertility herb."
There are herbs that you can take to help with fertility as well as some to avoid when ttc. These are a few listed from their website.
Herbs for Fertility "Many women are also turning to herbs for fertility and pregnancy support. Below you will find a list of herbs to use - or avoid - to enhance fertility and increase pregnancy health."
Dong Quai "Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis root) is the noted Chinese herb that is used as a blood tonic. It contains micronutrients known for their blood building properties (iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin E). Dong Quai balances estrogen in the body, and is traditionally used in China to regulate the menstrual cycle. Dong Quai is also a blood thinner, and for this reason it should not be taken during menstruation. It may be helpful in improving the chances of implantation for women who have auto-immune problems, but should not be taken if you are already taking "baby" aspirin to reduce blood clotting."
False Unicorn Root "Used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, hormonal imbalance (balancing effect), infertility, morning sickness, ovarian cysts, spermatorrhea, threatened miscarraige, uterine prolapse. It is a tonic for the reproductive organs, expecially beneficial as an aid to getting pregnant and staying pregnant, has a normalizing effect upon the ovaries. Used in infertility caused by dysfunction in follicular formation in the ovary. Eases ovarian pain and vaginal dryness. Follow directions: Taking too much may cause hot flashes, kidney and stomach irritation, blurred vision or vomiting."
Wild Yam "Wild Yam can increase progesterone production. This can increase progesterone production for those with short luteal phases but should only be taken after ovulation. If taken before it can actually prevent ovulation."
Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy "Various sources have recommended avoiding the following herbs during pregnancy. These herbs should also be avoided after ovulation, in case you may be pregnant." "Barberry Bloodroot, Calamus Cascara, Sagrada Fennel Flaxseed,
Goldenseal Juniper, Lavender Licorice Root, Male Fem Mayapple,
Mistletoe Passion Flower, Pennyroyal (a strong uterine stimulant!!!),Periwinkle Poke Root, Rhubarb, Sage, St. John's Wort,
Tansy Thyme, Wild Cherry Wormwood, Yarrow"
It has been found that supplements and herbs help both women and men when ttc. However if you ask my doctor he'll tell you that he doesn't really believe in all of that. He does know that some supplements, herbs, eating the right foods can help with fertility; but what it all comes down to is the man, the woman and nature doing what it does best. For some women it doesn't take much work at all for them to get pregnant but with others it takes years of negative pregnancy tests and miscarriages before they are able to carry a pregnancy to term.
I plan on using everything I can to relax my mind and body with hope that what counts works and brings us a baby in the next year. This subject may be touchy to some, it is for me. But why hide this part of myself any longer? In case you hadn't guessed already, I'm ready to be a mom.
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