Natural Ways to Increase Fertility and an Announcement

So, the reason this blog has been so quiet lately is apparently the same reason all Catholic moms blogs go quiet.  It's hard to blog when you can barely stay awake past 8 PM.  I don't really get morning sickness...just occasional mild nausea (don't hate me...I know it's terrible for people who have it), but I do feel quite a bit more tired. 

EDD Aug. 7, 2016.

Seeing as how my youngest is over 3....I think everyone was a bit surprised. 

I'm not a doctor or anything (obviously) but in my experience, fertility seems to run on a scale.  One the one end, you have people who are known as hyperfertile, people who seem to get pregnant super, super easily.  On the other end, you have people who are infertile. 

And then you have everyone else in the middle.  And lots of times people move on the scale....between fertility and infertility or subfertility. 

Lots of mothers (myself included) experience some form of breastfeeding infertility, which is completely normal and doesn't require anything more than time and patience because all babies cut back on their breastfeeding and wean....eventually.

However, even outside of breastfeeding infertility, many couples seem to experience something called subfertilty.   They don't get pregnant easily, but sometimes with a few changes, pregnancy is possible.  There may just one or two easily correctable issues preventing pregnancy.

I'm not a doctor, and a lot of these issues probably need a doctor's diagnosis (preferably one trained in NFP who can read charts).  However, I can share things I have read about or that have worked for me.   

Maybe they will help someone else. 

1.  Perfect Timing. This should be obvious to anyone using NFP, but timing really is everything.  EVERYTHING.  And the easiest and most accurate way to achieve perfect timing is to use an ovulation predictor test and when it's positive...THAT's the day. You can find them very inexpensively online..  I've been married 15 years, and have never had a viable pregnancy result from any relations outside of that one day (or possibly the day after). Which means that I really only have a 1-2 day window each month.  That's short, so if you don't want to miss it, an ovulation prediction test is key.  

They are also really useful is you are trying to avoid pregnancy as they can pinpoint when ovulation occurred.  Personally, I think cheap ovulation predictor tests are an important tool for anyone looking to chart or track their fertility closely. 

2. Evening Primose Oil.  Evening primrose oil is said to increase the quantity and quality of  mucous.  This is important because if there isn't enough mucous or if it is too hostile, the sperm can't survive.  The dose is 3-4 grams/day taken from day 1 though ovulation day of the cycle.  You aren't supposed to take it after ovulation has already occurred.   It does seem to work and for anyone having trouble conceiving, it seems like a simple enough thing to try.  

3. Vitex.  Also known as chasteberry.  This helps balance your hormones....especially estrogen and progesterone.  It does not contain hormones itself, it simply helps balance them.  Even outside of trying to conceive, vitex is frequently taken to help with things like PMS or irregular cycles. 

4. Zinc This is something that both the man and woman need to take.  Zinc is important for sperm quality and mobility and for egg quality.  It is said that zinc can help prevent miscarriages....I believe this is because zinc deficiency can cause low quality sperm/egg which can lead to miscarriage.  Also, it is said that zinc helps balance hormones.  Of course with zinc supplementation you need to be careful to balance it with copper since zinc depletes the body of copper, it's something you don't want to take too much of, so consult your doctor. 

5. Astaxanthin. This is a very powerful antioxidant and one study showed that men who take this had improved sperm motility and morphology. 

6. I also recommend the book Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition., written by Marilyn Shannon (who I know personally and have been to her house. :).  It's a good book with lots of very helpful information. 

I'm not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Please do your own research and consult your physician.  I'm hoping this post can merely start as a jumping point and give you some ideas of maybe things to research and consider.

There are obviously lots of issues that can cause infertility and subfertility and these suggestions only touch on on a few, but I thought I would share, because maybe someone else will find this information useful. 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through my links (anything) I get a few pennies. 

Reflections on Turning 37

I'm 37 years old today and I'm not the young mom any more. Actually I haven't been for several years.  It's weird.  In many ways I still think of myself as young...but I'm not.  I'm 37. 

I got married when I was 23 and had Heidi when I was 24.  For most of my early years of motherhood, I was one of the youngest moms I knew. Everyone I knew seemed to be older than me...much older.  Especially when we lived in Rhode Island, where it seems as though almost no one has kids before they turn 30.  

Then a few years ago that changed.  Actually it started to change around the time we moved to Florida so Ben could go to Ave Maria Law.  I was 32 at the time and suddenly I started meeting all these moms that were still in their 20's.   And, I felt old. 

And, now a lot of moms I know are actually younger than me and have more kids than me.

Heck....babies born the year I graduated from high school are now in college and old enough to vote.  Weird.

It feels strange being closer to 40 than 30 or 20.    

It feels strange knowing that my childbearing years are rapidly coming to a close. I read all these blogs from younger moms worrying about NFP and how many kids they will have with their many years of fertility left. 

And I just can't relate. I probably will only be able to have one more baby...maybe two, but that may be being overly hopeful. Yes..I know some people have babies after age 40.  But, I'm not some people. I wasn't all that fertile in my 20's so I sorta doubt it's going to improve when I'm 40. I've never managed to get pregnant with a viable baby before the youngest is age 2. Thank you breastfeeding!

So, I'm 37.  I'm close to 40. It sounds old..but I don't feel that old. I probably have more energy now than I did in my 20's. Or maybe I just know how to be more efficient with my energy now.

I've finally figured out how to cook well, how to throw ingredients together and come up with something edible and healthy. 

I've figured out how I like to dress and how I like my hair.  I've figured out how to parent and I no longer feel guilty that I'm too lenient or not consistent enough because my kids are turning out better than okay. I can write a decent blog (I think) and I can cure the common cold. 

I'm more confident in my parenting and in my choices.

Overall, I think I'm doing okay.  I may not own a house or a dog or a horse (the only things I ever really wanted) but that's okay.  I haven't given up my horse/dog dream yet, and I do have four great kids and a husband who loves me despite my numerous short-comings. Plus, I have  6-toed cat. Not everyone owns a polydactyl feline.  

And, I take pictures of what I wore every Sunday.  Why? I don't know.   But I like it. So here's what I wore today and if you want to see more outfits, visit Fine Linen and Purple. 

And, Happy Feast of Christ the King!