My Miracle Family: Part 1

Author’s Intro: As my first birthday as a father is coming up, I have been doing a bit of thinking about life and about the birth of our daughter Kayla this past year.

With that of course comes all the thoughts about how Kayla’s birth was a long time coming … over six years in fact. And for some time now I’ve been wanting to write about it.

I haven’t figured out yet “why” I feel so compelled to write about it. I’m not sure it’s too important, and I am guessing that the “why” will eventually come to me. In the meantime, I am looking forward to writing these “My Miracle Family” articles. I hope it’s fun and enjoyable reading for you which also sheds some light in the things couples can face while dealing with fertility challenges.

Ten years (and some months) in the future …

On a nice sunny afternoon, a father is sitting on his porch enjoying a drink and reading a book. He is starting to doze off when his lovely ten year old daughter bounds in from playing in the yard and promptly plops down on his lap.

Daughter: “Daddy… ”

Daddy: (still half dozing) “Yes honey?”

Daughter: “Where do babies come from?”

Daddy opens his eyes warily. Uh oh. It’s _THE_ question. Daddy straightens up and smiles down at his daughter.

Daddy: “Well honey, that’s a good question. Let’s see… well, first two people fall in love and then decide they want to start a family….”

Daughter: “Like you and mommy! Right?”

Daddy: “Yes honey, your mommy and I love each other very much. Anyhow, so two people decide they want to start a family. They first start trying the ‘natural’ way….”

Daughter: “What’s the ‘natural’ way?”

Daddy: “Umm.. Never you mind that now, we can talk about that later. Moving on quickly now they then start trying other ways. In this case, with a doctor’s guidance, mommy starts taking drugs to stimulate her ovaries and then daddy goes into a special room with a little cup…”

Daughter: “Little cup?”

Daddy: “…and then there’s this big turkey-baster looking thing the doctor uses to put into mommy the ..ermm..contents of the little cup..”

Daughter: “What’s in the little cup?”

Daddy: “Never you mind that now. Okay so then the mommy and daddy start trying even more advanced methods where mommy has to take even more drugs to overstimulate her ovaries followed by mommy having surgery to extract her eggs…daddy then goes again into a special room with a little cup …”

Daughter: “Daddy, this doesn’t sound right..”

Daddy: “And then after that, with the mommy and daddy still are wanting to have a baby, the daddy takes a few more tests and from the results they see that a certain surgery may help the situation. So the daddy has the surgery, but they have to wait a year or so before they can try again..”

Daughter: “A whole year?”

Daddy: “Yes honey, a whole year…”

Daughter: “Daddy, this story is getting kinda long isn’t it?”

Daddy: “Well, honey, it was quite a long story for this specific mommy and daddy. There were years of natural attempts, IUI attempts, IVF attempts, not to mention the surgery and recovery for the daddy. But after the surgery, this mommy and daddy were full of hope for their third IVF attempt. They went to a new doctor who had some new ideas, though one of those ideas included daddy having to give mommy shots in her butt cheek every night for like three WHOLE weeks… with a big two-inch long needle.. This daddy couldn’t even poke a boba drink with a straw properly and here he was having to give shots into mommy’s butt… but I digress…because finally the big day came for mommy to get her eggs extracted again, so mommy had the surgery again …”

Daughter: “And then daddy went into the special room with a little cup?”

Daddy: “Umm.. yes, honey. Daddy then went into the special room with a little cup. This was followed by days, weeks and even months of prayers as six little teeny weenie super tiny babies were transferred back into mommy. Then mommy and daddy prayed and prayed that hopefully just one of those teeny tiny babies could latch on and claw on to mommy’s uterus and hang on like there was no tomorrow. And then their prayers were answered …because nine months later this mommy and daddy were blessed with a little miracle.”

Daughter: “A miracle?”

Daddy: “Yes, a miracle. And we named that miracle Kayla”

Daughter: “Hey! THAT’S ME!!!!”

Daddy: “Yes honey. That’s you.”

Well, it’s not your traditional birds and the bees talk of where babies come from…

Or maybe it soon will be, as many “birds and bees” stories these days need a little help from technology, drugs to stimulate the hormones, needles, shots, surgery, special little cups, and other little adventures.

But it is still one of the many stories that could be told today about where babies come from and how families are started. The above version just happens to be our story.

I find it interesting that even though I “knew” that there were many different ways to start a family, I didn’t really truly “KNOW” this until after our own fertility challenges. Meaning being truly aware of the various ways families can be started besides the “traditional” way of boy meets girl, boy marries girl, and the-birds-and-the-bees happen and the baby arrives. These new stories include IUI, IVF, adoption, and maybe even other ways I’m not exposed to. I just know after our own “adventures” the one thing I have to come to realize is that no matter how families are started, it definitely is a miracle.

It wasn’t always that way, my thoughts about miracle families or even my total love of being a dad weren’t always like this. There was in fact a time where I was quite hesitant to be a dad and to start a family. Which brings me to this: the point of this article (or articles) is not so much about being a dad, but rather the challenges of starting a family and the miracle of becoming a family, and for me the miracle of BECOMING a dad.

Again, I’m not sure why I personally am writing these. Maybe it’s just to record my thoughts for posterity. Or maybe it is just to get the word out to those couples who went through what we went through that you’re definitely not alone. I’m sure there will be many “why” reasons I’ll discover during my writing. In the meantime, I hope it’s both educational and fun reading for all of you.

End Part 1 …..

Want more info on IVF pregnancies and infertility treatments? Check out more of Ben’s articles. Emil “Ben” Yau is an engineer, blogger, dance teacher, and after six years of fertility challenges, a proud father. Thankful for his new family, Ben enjoys writing about their first hand experiences with fertility challenges.

Funky Maternity Clothes That Last

Why should you have to change your style from funky to drab just because you are pregnant? While that might once have been the case, there are now many funky styles of maternity clothes available for your wearing pleasure.

There is no need to hide yourself when you are pregnant. Instead you should be out and about, enjoying life to the fullest. In order to do this you need to have clothes that not only fit comfortably, but also show off your personal style and personality.

With a variety or designs, prints and materials available, there is no need to be stuck with shapeless, dull maternity clothes. Add some funk to your wardrobe with chic patterned maternity tops with flowing sleeves or baby-doll styling. Or in cooler weather choose a comfy hoodie, or a cardigan that layers well with a stylish v-necked top.

For bottoms you can choose from slimming leggings to boot-cut jeans without sacrificing pregnancy comfort. Walking shorts, mid-length pants or even short shorts can be found designed with the pregnant woman in mind.

If you prefer skirts you can choose from full length to knee length skirts. There are wrap-around styles and flowing materials, or stretchy fabrics that accentuate the beauty of your baby belly. Dresses also range widely in style with formal dresses both designed to accentuate the positives of your pregnancy while drawing the eye away from places that are less flattering in the maternal figure.

Many designers that create funky maternity clothes make an effort to produce garments that not only work well for pregnancy, but also look good as every-day wear. Some are designed with panels for breastfeeding so that they can last well after your baby arrives.

Maternity clothes should not just be cover-ups for your expanding maternal figure. They should offer you comfort and style that lasts. Pick clothes that not only compliment your current figure, but that can be used during the transitional months after your baby arrives and before your body returns to it pre-pregnancy size.

Robyn Rae is an author for all-maternity-clothes. Be sure to check out her articles on maternity clothes and look fashionable during your pregnancy.

Could I Be Pregnant? Am I Pregnant?

As soon as you miss your monthly periodical cycle, you could believe: Am I pregnant? Any late or perhaps a skipped cycle might be a good hint of pregnancy. It does not necessary indicate you are an expectant mum. Your woman’s body may respond to stress symptoms or various other external criteria with a missed period, whilst you’re certainly not expecting a baby. Until you’ve done some assessments, there’s no need to worry and wonder: Am I pregnant?

Therefore, how do you find out that you’re expecting a baby? You can try out an ‘Am I pregnant quiz’, to begin with. An ‘Am I pregnant quiz’ allows a lady to recognize symptoms of being pregnant before she misses her menstrual cycle. In order to find out for sure, is to undergo a pregnancy check. Make sure you delay this until you are a couple of days after your missed cycle for a more accurate result. Remember to take the test very first thing at dawn when your hormonal levels are their largest. if you have a negative result, but nevertheless believe that there’s a chance you’re currently pregnant, have a further test a couple of days later. Should your test still be negative, visit your health practitioner to get a blood examination.

All women go through totally different symptoms while pregnant. Some ladies can have completely different complaints with different pregnancies. For everybody who is suffering from some of these signs, accompanied by a late menstrual cycle, should obtain a maternity check to see if you are really pregnant.

You may have already been pondering about this conception for ages, or it could be actually unplanned. Now that you’ve realised that you are actually expecting a new child, there are specific details you need to foresee in the first periods of expecting. The 1st stage trimester is particularly by far the most challenging for pregnant women in terms of exhaustion and morning complaints. Yet, the majority of these will reduce when time advance.

The hormonal levels may probably change extremely when you’re pregnant. Your current system is actually functioning extra to develop a safe environment, designed for the foetus to develop. You may find that you’ve become a difficult rollercoaster. Having a ‘little one’ is often an mind-boggling experience. By talking to your pals, concerning all your worries, would possibly ensure to keep your emotions under control. Go and seek a solid aid program to assist you through this thrilling situation.

It is essential to care for your current body system throughout maternity, for your infant’s health. In case you’re not using prenatal vitamin supplements, then you should start taking them now. This will be helpful for your baby’s enhancement and also for yourself.

Want to find out more about Am I pregnant, then visit Anna MorTis’s site on how to choose the best Am I pregnant quiz for your needs.

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Information About Infertility Stress

The most stressful situations that any couple must deal with is infertility. Even treatments for it can contribute to the stress that the couple goes through. In addition, their infertility can further worsen just by realizing that they themselves are stressed.

But what are some of the factors behind infertility stress? What causes it?

Firstly, it can begin from knowing they are infertile. After having sex for a long time, the couple is unable to have child and they seek medicial attention. One or both could very well end up feeling depressed and inadequate when the specialist diagnosis say it is due to infertility.

Secondly, should the couple decide to undergo infertility treatments, doing so can further add to their stress. Such treatments can prove exceedingly and prohibitively expensive depending on the treatments required. (Patients, though, may be able to avail of financing options and fertility insurance if they qualify for it.)

And the process itself – having to go in and out of doctors’ waiting rooms and hospitals, among other places, waiting with bated breath for results, and so on and so forth – can also contribute to stress immensely.

Thirdly, even the act of lovemaking itself may contribute to the stress. Many couples may not be able to get past the fact that they are unable to bear children through “the usual way”, through making love, and this can make things very hard for them because if they are unable to consummate the sexual act, they may have to make recourse to more medical procedures.

In addition, sex may feel forced and even something of a chore for the couple, since they would have to be doing it according to a schedule and in order to produce children instead of simply enjoying one another and/or giving each other pleasure.

In addition, having to undergo fertility treatments may be even more demeaning for men, who may very well feel emasculated and feel that they are responsible if they are unable to produce babies with their wives. Plus it may prove extremely embarrassing to have to produce semen in doctors’ offices, for instance – or to have other people aside from their wives learn that they have low sperm count or, worse, erectile problems.

Some couples can simply take it in stride and be positive even in the face of potential failure; others can be negative right at the outset even if the future for them might not be so bleak, and immediately contemplate having to adopt children while agonizing over how unfair things seem to be, and so on and so forth. This can result in a drastic lowering of self-esteem for couples and individuals. Therefore It is extremely important to consider how the couple responds to such stress in the first place.

Infertility can cause many couples to go through extreme strain. Many couples buckle under this strain, and many of them end up breaking up. There are some who end up stronger couples after going through this experience.

If you are struggling to get pregnant, then you need to discover about a holistic and ancient chinese system for getting pregnant and having healthy children. Reverse both female and male infertility issues and improve the quality of your life dramatically!

Cure Infertility With Two Easy Tips And Tricks

Infertility is one of the biggest obstacles a couple can ever go through. Especially since most people who gets in a relationship plan to have their own families in the future, this kind of condition can be very frustrating.

Here are two ways to cure infertility if you are seeking for it.

1. Focus on your lifestyle. Your lifestyle largely affects your infertility as it is a major factor in your health. So, paying some attention to your lifestyle can be a good way how to cure infertility.

The first thing you must do here is to look at what you eat. Your diet plays a big part in being infertile so if you can avoid quite a number of food items that are not ideal for increasing your fertility, please do so.

Basically those food that you should avoid are soy based products and meat with estrogen. You should consume more natural food that are rich in calcium, vitamin B6, and omega 6.

Also, avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol is another way how to cure infertility. Remember, your body needs to be at its best to produce another life form, so make sure you do everything you can to help it.

2. Seek medical attention. Due to the advancement in medical science, there are many treatment for infertility available from the doctors. It is a good way to cure infertility as it has been medically tested and proven to work and it is safe.

You have many selection to select from like surgery, drug treatments, and many other artifical ways of getting pregnant.

Other than these two tips that we discuss above, there are still many natural ways to become pregrant. Ensure you do a detailed research and find out more about infertility. There is surely a way to get pregnant.

Get pregnant quickly and naturally within 2 months and give birth to healthy babies with a holistic and ancient chinese system. Reverse both female and male infertility issues and improve the quality of your life dramatically!

Should You Begin an Herbal Regimen While Pregnant?

Getting to the point, if you already take herbs or herbal combinations, and you understand herbs and your own body, you most likely can continue to take most of your protocol throughout pregnancy. If, however, you have never taken herbs before, the first trimester of pregnancy is not the time to start. Many women may take herbs to encourage pregnancy. That protocol should be discontinued for the length of the pregnancy unless otherwise advised by a Naturopathic Physician.

Every vegetable has its own special qualities. Herbs are vegetables with notable potential to be healing and even medicinal; in fact many of them are refined to create drugs. Thus is the case with foxglove which produces digitoxin prescribed for cardiovascular disease. I state this because although herbs are the balanced whole plant and medicine is the extract, therefore refined and targeted, certain herbs, even with their whole properties can be dangerous during pregnancy. Foxglove is only one case in point and an example of herbs, plants used as medicines.

There are many herbs that can be used during pregnancy. They are: red raspberry, spearmint, licorice, lemon grass, chamomile, rose hips, fennel, alfalfa, anise and anise seed, dandelion, ginger, slippery elm, lavender, rose, and meadowsweet. These are herbs that roll off the tip of my pen and Ill elaborate further on their potential uses and the right trimester for implementation.

While nausea and over-tiredness is common during the first trimester of pregnancy there are certain safe herbs that can remedy the inconvenience. Anise and fennel are great remedies. Fennel tea can be made by steeping the seed in warm water and then sipping. Meadowsweet is another aid for the seasick feelings of early pregnancy. Use about one teaspoon per cup of hot water and drink a cup of meadowsweet tea morning and afternoon or early evening. Always make infusions light and take time sipping. Anise seed can be carried and chewed on while out and about and unable to stop for tea

In smaller amounts ginger is always good for the digestion, and can be made by dropping a spoonful of a tincture into warm water, or by steeping a piece of ginger root itself in hot water. In small amounts, Spearmint mixed with several other herbs to make a tea can be very soothing. Dandelion tea, a soothing herb is a good neutralizing food when nausea strikes. Dandelion will also provide food for the blood and immune system. The reason for taking small and light doses of any herb or food during pregnancy is because not only can the mother create an intolerance or allergy to a single herb in her own body, the baby may be affected also.

Alfalfa can be used like a super food and strengthener for mother during all three trimesters. The leaves dried are loaded with vitamins and minerals like A, B6, B12, C, E, K, folate and niacin. These are powerful agents to prevent birth defects. Taking Alfalfa before conception, during pregnancy and post natal is quite useful.

The most famous of all herbs to use during pregnancy is Red Raspberry. A mother who has successfully used herbs and herbal teas during her first trimester can continue with those and add a few more. Red Raspberry is one herb that can be started in the second trimester. Two cups daily for the concluding six months is recommended as it prepares the uterus for labor and birth. Steep two tablespoons of red raspberry: pour boiling hot water over the herb and steep up to twenty minutes. Not only do the alkaloids, it is believed, keep contractions quite regular during labor, there is the added plus of enhancing mothers milk after delivery.

Peppermint, one herb that is usually not a problem, should be kept on the shelf for the term of the pregnancy. The volatile oils in peppermint can over stimulate the nervous system of the unborn infant. The aroma of the leaves however can help immeasurably as aromatherapy for morning or afternoon sickness. Chamomile mixed with other herbs in a blend is usually not a problem as the content of chamomile is slight. Insomnia during second and third trimesters can be soothed with chamomile, lemon grass and lavender. Chamomile may be used with caution in the second and third trimesters. Drink only one cup per day as too much can cause early labor or miscarriage because of its relaxing qualities.

Typically unknown by many, herbs used in combinations usually enhance each other. The true enhancement process, used by Chinese herbalists when combining the Kingly herbs removes any toxic elements, or allergen causing properties while enhancing the healing properties of herbs. This technique creates a food like quality, a formulation which is food for healing and strengthening. Working with an herbalist, a nutritionist that has an herbal background or a naturopath will ensure that you get the information you need to decide whether or not a formula should be used during pregnancy.

Herbs that relax during early labor: tincture of passionflower in warm water calms during early stages of labor. Aromatherapy with oils of lavender, which eases anxiety, and peppermint which eases nausea are great aids during labor. Chamomile is a relaxant and during labors first signs is perfectly wonderful for resting and calming mom for the work ahead during the birthing process.

Watch for the next article which dives a bit deeper into herbs that can be used post natal or if mother delivers by Cesarean Section. Until then, take the best of care, eat organic, raw fruits and vegetables during and after pregnancy, and stay really happy.