26/04/2010 by yourgreatlife.

When we use the acronym TLC for tender loving care, we generally mean one person to another. However, I believe that it’s also to spend some time and effort on your own behalf.  I promote self-care in all areas of an infertile person’s life, both for emotional wellbeing and to maximize the chance of conception.  It’s not as easy as saying we will make changes.  It requires a positive attitude, a desire to change and taking action. I have to work at it too. This is part my own ongoing self-development, and being aware of it helps me understand a client’s efforts and difficulties. Success requires:

• Self-awareness;
• Honesty;
• Motivation; and
• Follow-through

The self-awareness that is required in order to improve lifestyle choices is:  1) knowing your own habitual way of operating, and 2) identifying the areas in your life which have a potential to be neglected, as a result. Even if others perceive a decline regarding your health, and tell you, it won’t make much difference until you can admit it to yourself. This realization may not be triggered until the connection is made between your choices (healthy sleep, eating, alcohol, exercise, hygiene, nutrition and/or medication) and the delay or absence of conception.   

The stress related to infertility can be unhealthy in itself, but in some ways, stress can actually provoke necessary action. If your fertility clinic delays your IVF cycle until you lose weight, stop smoking or bring down your blood pressure, it will force self-awareness, require honesty and provide motivation.  Honesty is an admission of the state you are in and your responsibility for it. It’s most important to be honest with yourself.  However, honesty with someone else about your difficulty in giving up a bad habit can be rewarded with support and helpful suggestions.  Choose the person who is likely to support your efforts the most, rather than a person who will express disapproval, criticize you and say I told you so. 

Motivation is what propels you forward. If becoming pregnant and having your own baby is the paramount issue in your life, then you have a motivator that is easy to visualize. You have probably thought and talked of little else lately, so it’s fresh.  Write down everything about pregnancy and motherhood that you daydream about, starting with the line on the pregnancy-test stick, to going to the playground with a group of friendly mothers, all with your babies in strollers. Your list may include:

• Joy of telling my husband “we are pregnant;”
• Feeling the physical signs of pregnancy;
• Having a pregnant belly;
• Picking baby names;
• Shopping for cute baby clothes…and so on.

Next to each point, put a check mark if it is motivational or an X for something that won’t motivate you to work a bit harder on self-care.  If having a baby is your most important aim right now, use these motivators when reaching for a pint of ice cream, a cigarette, or a gin and tonic.

Just talking about making changes is not enough; it means nothing without follow-through. It’s one thing to identify what you need to do, another to honestly assess where you are falling short and still another to finding that which will prompt action on your part. The last piece of the puzzle is taking action, or following through on your commitment. This is where most people begin to feel like it’s all too much work. 

With infertility, you could be on this self-improvement course for months or years without yet achieving your ultimate goal: the baby.  Having only a long-term reward in sight, no matter how important, can’t always keep you going, especially when you may also be experiencing other challenges in your personal, social and work life.  Several short and medium-term rewards will work better to motivate you; so build them in to your scheme every few weeks.  Focus on one area for a while, to the point that you are satisfied that you have embedded a new habit. Reap a reward, and then add the next goal.

Ask for help. Do not just nominate a person to support you, putting the responsibility for action elsewhere, rather than on yourself. No one wants to be put in the position of nagging you and earning your resentment.  If you feel unable to do it on your own, consider partnering up with another woman who is also trying to conceive.  Alternatively, if there is an area of self-care that you and your partner both need to work on; such as weight loss, or giving up caffeine, you could have it easier if you both tackle it at the same time.  Agreeing to hold each other accountable for your commitments is a good way of keeping honest.

With the amount of hard work it takes to improve our habits and increase our self-care, it would be a shame not to sustain the positive results. In coaching clients, I have seen people who think that once they have heard something, they are capable of putting it into action.  However, hearing and learning are two distinctly different things.  You need to understand why you weren’t taking care of yourself before.  You must be equipped with the tools to counteract temptation and subconscious habits. You need to develop trust - a belief that you are deserving of TLC. This takes time to embed.

Every once in a while take a stock-check of your emotional and physical health, taking care to note where they may have declined. Go back to the beginning by reflecting on your attitude, behaviour and effort.  You will have already learned the methods needed for improvement, so a reminder will set you back on a healthy path. Use positive affirmations such as EFT techniques to embed the new learning. Why? Because you’re worth it.

Lisa Marsh is a fertility coach, working with individuals and couples to enhance their chances of conception, reduce stress and carry a healthy pregnancy among other things.  She has a fertility blog http://yourgreatlife.typepad.com, coaches in person in North London, and by phone in the UK and internationally.  You can contact Lisa for coaching on lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk .  You can follow Lisa on Twitter @yourgreatlife to get great Fertility Support and Miscarriage Support tips, as well as links to news, her articles and connect with others in the IF community.

Posted in Infertility & Stress, Fertility Blogger, EFT and Fertility, fertility coach, Fertility Tips, lifestyle and fertility, Loving yourself, doing things differently, Trying to Conceive | Print | 3 Comments »

21/04/2010 by admin.

We have had some lovely Pre-Seed success stories here in the UK over the last couple of months. Thank you so much for e-mailing them to us 

Here are the two latest ones:

My DH and I conceived first month of trying but miscarried at 7 weeks. We then tried for 8 months before getting pregnant again. Sadly this time it was ectopic. After the pre-requisite 3 month wait we started trying again. 6 months later our consultant told us my DH had such a low sperm count that it was highly unlikely we would ever conceive naturally again. We were waiting to start a cycle of IVF and still trying hope against hope. We began using a fertility monitor but it wasn’t until we tried Preseed that we finally got the BFP - first month of using preseed. Lots of things have contributed to this success but preseed definitely played a role - defying the doctors prognosis! It really does work!

Thank you so much

Karen, Chesterfield, UK 20/4/10

Hi, Just had to write to you to share my good news. Have been trying to conceive for a few years and after 2 miscarriages had nearly given up. Started using Preseed - got through one box and just ordered another when to my surprise, I found out I am pregnant! Just had my 12 week scan and all is well. I am over the moon and thought at 45 years old I was over the hill!
Thanks again.
MW 16/3/10

For more info on Pre-Seed lubricant

To read more Pre-Seed reviews and success stories

To buy Pre-Seed Lubricant online in UK click here

Posted in pre-seed lubricant reviews, Pre-Seed success stories, Pre-Seed reviews, Pre-Seed Lubricant | Print | 1 Comment »

19/04/2010 by admin.

The coupon is:  save10

Use at www.accessdiagnostics.co.uk & www.accessdiagnostic.co.uk

The coupon gives a 10% discount on fertility products when spending over £5 at either of these fertility test websites

Coupon is valid at our 2 fertility test websites above until midnight on Sunday 25th April

Coupon may be used multiple times.

Only one discount coupon is applied at any one time

Please feel free to pass the fertility coupon on the friends, family , fertility forums & ttc chat groups etc

Posted in Access Diagnostics voucher, Access Diagnostics Coupon Code | Print | 1 Comment »

19/04/2010 by amymarner.

The Fertility Solutions programme uses mind body techniques to address reproductive health.  Mind Body techniques work with the mind in order to heal the body and there is growing evidence to show that working on the mind will affect the health of the body.  Stress is a perfect example, it is widely accepted that reducing stress has a positive affect on the physical body, strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of heart attack for some. 

Fertility Solutions uses Theta Healing to address physical symptoms. A Fertility Solutions Practitioner will have experience working with couples who have physical symptoms affecting their fertility; PCOS, endometriosis or fibroids for example.  Using Theta Healing it is possible to explore the mind’s influence on the physical body and release issues which are contributing to the symptoms being experienced. 

Some people who find they have physical symptoms, which affect their fertility, will have suffered with bereavement or shock and trauma. In fact emotions such as shame, guilt, worthlessness, resentment and anger will stress the body if left unaddressed may result on an adverse effect on physical health.

As the programme uses mind body techniques it offers couples the opportunity to address their fertility without any invasive procedures and lays the foundations to give couples their best chance of conceiving.  Similarly it is useful for those who have chosen to use medical intervention (e.g. IVF) as it can address any stresses or issues that arise throughout treatment.

So Fertility Solutions supports the whole person; it addresses both the physical and emotional body. Whatever physical symptoms or emotional stresses you are experiencing on your Fertility Journey the Fertility Solutions Programme can help. 

For more details visit www.amymarner.co.uk

Posted in Infertility & Stress, Fertility & stress, Fertility Blogger, Support for infertility, Stress & IVf, Theta Healing, Guest blogger, Alternative medicine, Stress, Alternative Therapies & Fertility, Stress relief, doing things differently, Fertility Services, Natural Fertility Methods | Print | 1 Comment »

12/04/2010 by admin.

Ovulation predictor methods are many, and need not be expensive or complex for anyone with a regular cycle

Considering the last 14 days of a menstrual cycle is fixed in most women , ovulation will occur on day 14 in a 28 day cycle and day 18 in a 32 day cycle. Great if you one of the lucky ones who has  a very regular cycle, that is the same length each month.

For the rest of us with more erratic cycles the reliable prediction of the timing for ovulation gets a little more complex, so here is a breakdown of the common methods of ovulation prediction:

Cervical mucous becomes more stringy and will form ribons when opposed fingers are extended. This method is great until you have had sex in the preceeding 24 hrs and mix sperm into the equation !

BBT or basal body temperature measurment, basically get an accurate thermometer are record your temperature at a set time every morning before doing anything else. Detects a rise of 0.3 degrees centigrade at ovulation. Contrary to popular misconception you do not need a 4 decimel place thermometer and it does not have to be farenheit. What you do need is a regular regime and set waking time, so its out of the question for shift workers or the less well organised of you out there who’s days wont give up the 2 minutes you have to lie in bed with a stick in your mouth.

Urine ovulation predictors. Dip test you dip in wee and tell you when you have a surge in the hormone which makes you ovulate. Expect to use 7-10 per month especially if you are irregular or have a long cycle. Buy dip ovulation test strips as they are just as accurate as digital or mid stream test and a lot cheaperas well as being more eco-friendly (less packaging) . Only go for the very low level, higher sensitivity ovulation tests if you do not get positive results with the standard sensitivity tests. Stick with a brand if it works (there are multiple sensivities on sale and comparing results is not possible) These tests give 24-36 hrs advance notice of ovulation.

Ovulation predictor miscroscopes are simple mini microscopes which show the crystal of salt which form in drying saliva when oestrogen levels are high which occur with ovulation. Can be used time and time again, so are cheap & eco-friendly if you end up testing for a long time. Look for models with replacable batteries. Don’t expect to see anything for the rest of the cycle, it takes 2-3 cycles to get confident in using these, so best to start off using while also using another method. They are 99% accurate when combined with BBT. Can also be used in dogs and cats, so popular with pet breaders, no reason why they could not be used in pigs, horses and cattle for insemination assessment, so come on you farmers !

Ovulation predictor didn’t work ~ Don’t panic  99% is just that, but not every cycle is ovulatory either, so re-try next month. If you get no positive indicators over 3 consecutive cycles change to another method or seek advice from your doctor. Up to 1 in 4 cycles can miss ovulation, and this increases with age and is a normal physiological finding.

Click here for more info on ovulation predictors

Posted in Signs of Ovulation, Fertile Time, Basal Body Temperature, Ovulation Kits, Fertility Tips, Ovulation Predictors, Ovulation Test Strips, Discount ovulation tests, Cervical Mucus, Ovulation, Ovulation Tests, Fertility Advice, Natural Fertility Methods, Ovulation Prediction, Ovulation Microscopes, LH Tests, LH Surge, Fertility Tests | Print | 2 Comments »