The Baby Makin' "Do's"

One thing I think I have on my side with this whole reproduction planning is feeling empowered by knowing my body and "what works."

It's not about stressing to me or over-planning, it's about going for what I want. For some reason I don't tend to do anything half-A (if you know what I mean).

I came across an article on Conceive's website about 14 Simple Changes That Enhance Fertility (aka becoming with-spawn), and I was surprised to find I'm already doing most of them. A lot of them I've read about in Fully Fertile too... Which has a holistic approach to achieving optimal fertility.

Let me share:

1. Get regular exercise.
Ok ok, it depends what you count as "regular" I've been pretty bad about my daily walks with Snoop lately, but I promise to do this better next month. Nothing too heavy, just stimulating the body more and making it think "baby makin."

2. Avoid artificial lubricants.
For now this isn't a problem, but did you know stuff like KY Jelly could keep the swimmers from getting to their destination? I did! So I got some Conceive Plus, I'm going to try. It's suppose to not only NOT prevent them from getting there but HELP them get there and survive a little longer. (A review and giveaway is coming).

3. Lose or gain if you need to.
My BMI is pretty much right where it needs to be for now but again this is about making your body think "baby makin'" so a little bit of exercise can help.

4. Don't forget the folate.
I've been taking prenatals for months now (and I'm getting a new natural one soon too that I'll be reviewing and giving away). I've also been taking a calcium pill daily since I know I'm not getting enough (I don't drink milk) and that can cause fertility problems for some women. The Bellybars I eat daily too also help with folic acid... Yum!

5. Have a bowl of full-fat ice cream.
I have to admit this isn't one I've heard before. The fat can help your body get all dosed up for baby! Since reading this I've been chowing down on cookie dough ice cream. I try not to eat too much though.. Or eat it with something warm (like a brownie... Yum!) Because digestion is a "warm process" according to Fully Fertile, and giving your body too much cool stuff causes extra work to warm it up.

6. Do it on the right days.
Well, umm... Yea, I'm doing everything but IT (without the blockades) once I remove the barriers hopefully we'll be in the clear. I was tracking my BBT for months but I lost my thermometer and I've promised not to buy another for a few months. I think I'll be ok though cause I know other signs.

7. Avoid trans fats.
No french fries? Is that what this means? Ok honestly, I haven't heard of this before and I am a little sad about it!!

8. Kick the butts.
Not as in booties, as in cigarettes... Never smoked, nasty stuff if you ask me.

9. Relax.
I'm getting better at this, trying to be happy, pray more and meditate more, still hoping to try yoga soon too... hopefully fertility yoga!

10. Keep it cool (for men only).
I have been yelling at my hubs about this and he seems to be doing his own research too, saying exactly how much caffeine he's allowed to have before it effects his boys... Either way, I'm keeping an eye on the bath tub temperature... I'll turn off the water heater if I have to!! ..Ok, for real though... I think it's pretty much ok as long a he doesn't go hot tubbing daily.

11. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol.
Never drank, so I don't miss what I haven't had. Caffeine I have COMPLETELY eliminated (yay!) ... Minus a few hiccups here and there when I've had a REALLY early morning at work.

12. Choose vegetable sources of protein.
I am a meat eater, which I think is also important for fertility, but I'm TRYING to choose more organic stuff, so I can avoid meat pumped with steroids and what not. I'm also eating more vegetables just because it makes me FEEL healthy.

13. Don't Douche.
I use this as a term, not a product... When I'm yelling it out my car window at the jerk who cut me off.

14. Assume the right position.
I've heard missionary works pretty good, then you've gotta stay that way for about 15 minutes after, or just go to sleep that way. I may get up after awhile to avoid a UTI, but we'll have to see how that goes!!

So there ya have it! Helpful right? I'm surprised I've been doing most of these things just for practice rounds, hopefully when games are in for real, I'll be set to go!

One other think I want to mention that I remember from reading Fully Fertile that I think is REALLY important and that I want to try to focus on is getting enough sleep. Our bodies need to recoup from the day and that takes time and a full nights rest. One of the challenges in Fully Fertile is to get at least 8 hours sleep every day for a week. I'm not sure I've gone a week straight yet, but you'd better believe I'll be using that excuse next month when I don't want to get up to let Snoop out.

Any others you can think of? What do you think of this list?

The Progress--Reading Fully Fertile

Things have toned down and geared up at the same time. I've set an "official" goal for baby makin' time, and every day it's getting little closer.

I've accepted the fact that it may not happen right away, and have actually found out that it only does for 25% of people?... I dunno, if you ask me the number seems A LOT bigger than that. I mean, I feel like everyone I know is pregnant!

Despite that, I have calmed down a lot. I still give my husband a little crap every now and then for drinking caffeine, and wearing tight underwear, but I'm trying to go easy on him. In fact... He's even been cooperating and taking a male vitamin with Zinc and other good stuff to help his swimmers.--I'm not sure if he knows that's why I gave it to him--If so, he sure is being a good sport about it.

I'm still trecking my way through Fully Fertile. I'm more than half way through now and I've learned a ton! I've also been trying to read Taking Charge of Your Fertility for awhile but one thing I like about Fully Fertile is that it's less text-book like. The women who wrote the book share a lot of their personal experiences and write what they're experts in.

When I got to the part about organic foods and nutrition I was kind of dreading it a little--I've never really been big on the whole "organic craze" that's been going on lately. To be honest I read all nutrition things with a grain of salt... I don't feel like I have time to check every detauk if everything I eat with a microscope... I know I should be better, but I sorta figure since I don't drink or smoke, a strawberry that may have been sprayed with pesticides once in it's life won't kill me--As fast. BUT since I'm thinking I may be eating for two... Eventually, I'm trying to have a more open mind about these things (even though I swear a lot of women eat like crap and still have healthy babies).

I am making it my goal to eat a few things organic... Eggs, and some dairy products. I don't drink milk as it is, but take calcium supplements, but I like yogurt, so I'll try to buy those things organic.

I also love fruit, and I may try to buy organic fruit, or... There's a good list in the book of fruits that have the most pesticide, then their main nutrient, and a comparable fruit you could eat instead. For example: Strawberries have a lot of pesticides. The main vitamin in it is C and a good "nutritional match" with lower pesticides is: Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, orange and cantaloupe. I'm going to try to be more aware of little things like this as far as diet. Do you buy organic? Why or why not?

I'm also going to try to be better about sleeping. It's easy for me to stay up all night and read, write or surf the net. But sleep is one of the most important parts of the life cycle, and not getting enough could be detrimental.--Who knew? Instead of pulling so many all-nighters, I've decided to give my body a break and attempt to get 8 hours of sleep for the next month... We'll see how that goes! I'm not sure how many people I know who actually get that much sleep.

I've given up caffeine for the most part. I admit, I've snuck a cola here and there, but I'd say my headaches are proving my abstinence from the drug.

And the biggest thing that's been keeping me is the dentist. Well guess what?.. Wednesday is my big day to take care of that! I've been worried if I was pregnant any time before that the Novocaine I'm sure I'll need probably wouldn't be good for my growing spawn.

And on a sort of side note... Have you heard of Feng Shui? It's confusing but fun to read about at the same time. For instance... I have no idea the best place to put the bed since it's like a loose loose the way my room is positioned, however I'm not making up my bed again every morning, so I have a neat, and calmer bed to get into at night. There was a section on that in Fully Fertile too, I found it intriguing.

I know people are probbaly reading all of this and thinking I'm crazy. Probably saying to themselves I should "just have fun" at first. And I completely understand that. But I think it's hard to relax when in the back of your mind you know what the goal is. I will say though, at this point, I'm doing more of this research for fun an education rather than out of fear or paranoia. That's progress right?

As far as all the tracking goes, I'm still doing the BBT readings, however last month they totally screwed me up. I thought my cycle was going to be like 40 days cause my temperatures never went up but I was spot on around day 28 again. SO... Knowing that it has pretty much been that way since April, when I went off hormonal birth control--give or take a day or two-- I'm not going to stress about it the next few months. I mean... If you have regular cycles, isn't that kind of a good sign?

Just for fun, I'll try to see if I can figure out the big "O" day, and see if it's consistent, so I can possibly plan a baby makin' moon kick off... But we'll see. Am I going overboard? Ok, but really, women who want to get pregnant... How much planing are you doing? And to women who have gotten pregnant--How did you do it?--No, I mean, with food and sleep and all that good stuff, did you pay attention to all of that?

On another side note... It's the 4th of July! Happy Independence Day my friends! I hope you're having a wonderful time with those you love! I made this cake... Aren't you loving how domestic I have become? Ok I admit... I was running a little late so hubs baked it for me... But I decorated it!

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PS: The winner of my "Labor Fascination" post giveaway with the wonderful birth coach Karen Angstadt from Intentional Birth is #54 Nichole from Scorpion Sojourn. I also love her blog "Smothered in Motherness" But it's private :) She's expecting her first baby and is 22 weeks along so this is PERFECT for her! Congrats! Email me and I'll get you in touch with Karen for your free hour session!