Posts Tagged womb
Can You Have a Successful Pregnancy With Fibroids?
Posted by in Pregnancy on March 11th, 2010
If you have fibroids and are thinking about starting a family, you will no doubt be wondering about the potential impact and whether it is possible to have a successful pregnancy with fibroids.
Firstly, as far as conception is concerned, this can be affected by the presence of fibroids. Sometimes, fibroids can block either the cervix or the entrance to the fallopian tubes, both of which can block the passage of sperm and inhibit fertilization.
For the vast majority of women though, fibroids are nothing more than innocent bystanders and the effect they might have depends on:-
* The location of the fibroids
* The size of the fibroids
* How many fibroids you have
With regard to miscarriages, many occur very early on in pregnancy, often before you even know you might be pregnant. In a minority of cases, fibroids can sometimes affect the area where the fertilized egg is implanting in the womb. This is sometimes found to be a cause of previously “unexplained fertility” in a small number of women.
After conception, although the odds of a successful pregnancy with fibroids is high, there are occasions when problems can occur. In the main, fibroids do not grow during pregnancy, although large fibroids might be responsible for some discomfort as the baby grows and conditions in the uterus become more cramped. The location of fibroids can sometimes affect delivery. If a fibroid is located on or near the cervix, then this might mean a cesarean is necessary, but this decision is usually made near to delivery. Occasionally, large fibroids might encourage labor to start early, but fortunately this is not usually early enough to affect the baby.
If you are concerned about whether you can have a successful pregnancy with fibroids, the best thing you can do is to take preventative action to minimize the impact. There are some excellent natural ways of shrinking fibroids which will enhance your overall health and help prepare your body for pregnancy.
The lack of comprehensive “real” help for women led an alternative practitioner to develop a complete system for shrinking fibroids which mirrored what she taught women in her busy clinic.
Her unique, 7 Step Plan has been successfully used by many thousands of women worldwide and for those who are willing to take charge of their own treatment and recognize that they will have to play an active role in their own healing, then this is perfect.
For further details and more information about whether you can have a successful pregnancy with fibroids, please visit, Shrink Fibroids Naturally.
Article Source: Can You Have a Successful Pregnancy With Fibroids?
Breastfeeding during pregnancy – Dos and Don’ts
Posted by in Pregnancy on March 4th, 2010
It is not necessary to avoid breastfeeding your child, if you are in pregnancy again. Formerly, it was advised by the physicians that if you were breastfeeding your baby then you were withdrawing the essential nutrients for your baby and it was not good for the baby in the stomach and it would not be able to get adequate nutrition for the healthy growth. However, researches now had proved it to be fault. But there are some people who will not believe with it, even though if you give them a detail explanation. There is no need for argument now and the only thing that is important is that you are the single person who could make the decision of whether to feed your toddler or not. In any case don’t allow anybody else to take up the decision for you, instead.
Even though, if the breastfeeding will not cause any harm to your baby within the womb, there are some health reasons to discontinue the breastfeeding of your child. First of all, you will be loosing your energy by the way of feeding both the child in hand and baby in the stomach and further, your child will start biting your nipple. Moreover, if your milk starts getting dry, then it is an indication that your baby is saying you that it is time for you to have a break for your breastfeeding. If you develop mastitis then it is the good reason for you to stop breastfeeding.
If you decide to stop the breastfeeding, then ensure that it is only because of valued reason, or when your kid has reached for the age to quit feeding and no more need is there for breastfeeding. It is no harm in stopping the breastfeeding, yet, it may not be good to stop at once without any cause excepting the reason of pregnancy. Your toddler will also resist against it strongly, as it happens unexpectedly and suddenly, just he could not bear it. He will surely combine this fact with that of the arrival of the new sister or brother, and it is not fine to allow this to happen. Slowly allow your baby to forget your breast and it is only the best method to solve this problem. For doing so, you must feed your baby only a restricted time a day, this will not make any shock to the child and they will not keep this in their mind throughout, and you too will not feel guilty of denying your breast for your child.
And if your suggestion is to continue your breastfeeding, then it is good for you to have a consultation with your doctor, and they may not accept your decision instantly and sometime they may opt for you due to some good reason. Get the advice from your doctor and decide whether it is based on the good health of yours, or simply on the old belief. If you are not satisfied with the decision made by your doctor then make a consultation with some other doctor who acts for your welfare and who gives support to your wish. Your relatives will also give some suggestions in this case, be patient and get everything, but activate what you feel is acceptable and will be good for you and your baby.
You must keep in mind that if you are able to take care of your body and health, then breastfeeding throughout the pregnancy period is no harm. You too can get the satisfaction of feeding both the babies, at the same time.
Find out some of the best ways for your babyshower as well as belly hands when you visit http://www.infantpregnancy.com
Article Source: Breastfeeding during pregnancy – Dos and Don’ts
Video Baby Monitors are Light Years Ahead
Posted by in Babies on March 3rd, 2010
Parents today must stay involved, limit access and set consequences to assure their child is safe. From the first day you bring your little one home from the hospital you are amazed at his movements, the tiniest of sounds and are mesmerized by his perfection. Many mothers can confirm at the first few days of life, the hand and feet movements that she felt while her baby was still inside the womb. Video baby monitors gives us the knowledge of two of our senses sight and sound verses the standard sound monitor which gives us only one.
The largest ongoing downfall of all baby monitors has always been the interference of neighboring radios, TV’s, microwaves and all electronically devices used in an average household today. Today the digital video baby monitors are all top rated. Short of DECT
(digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications), there’s no guarantee against interference with either digital or analog monitors, although digital monitors are less susceptible and more private.
Quite a few monitors can offer from two to sixty different frequency channels. Many video baby monitors offer a auto-select feature which automatically finds a free and secure channel, which is very handy. Extra camera units are handy if you wish to keep one near the babies bed and carry the other around with you.
The infant video monitor has small color screens with reasonably good pictures. The MobiCam and Safety 1’st models are very sensitive and have the ability to pick up low levels of sound. The video baby monitors all rank from excellent to good for the basic job of listening to or looking at your baby.
Many parents today say not only does the infant video monitor give them peace of mind but they enjoy capturing movements that they would not have seen otherwise. New video baby monitors are coming out every month and each one is better, more efficient and expanding from the older versions. Soon they will be a must in every home.
Author- Mary Claire
For the most up to date baby safety products and video baby monitors we recommend going to http://www.babymonitorbarn.com for the best prices online.
Article Source: Video Baby Monitors are Light Years Ahead
Pregnant? Still Smoking?-Here is How to Safely Quit Smoking When Pregnant
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 19th, 2010
The baby in your womb gets everything from you. Oxygen and nutrients come via the umbilical cord and placenta. And should you smoke you’re also exposing the fetus with the chemicals that cigarettes contain. When you smoke, some of the oxygen in your blood is replaced by another gas – carbon monoxide. Therefore, if you are pregnant, still smoking, will cause your blood to contain less oxygen for your baby.
It is never too late to quit smoking during pregnancy. Every cigarette that you avoid will definitely assist you and your unborn baby’s health. The damages which are caused by cigarettes may be healed, thus enabling you to have a wholesome body and baby. Pregnant women who quit smoking during their pregnancy are proven to give birth to babies who have the same weight as the babies born with mothers who are not smoking. According to some studies, even smoking moderately can be truly damaging towards the fetus so quitting is key to giving birth to a healthy baby.
So, how can you stop smoking? Even during pregnancy, you are able to quit smoking as long as your method of quitting is all natural. This means that it does not involve taking pills. You are able to go to counseling but this technique can be tiring and time consuming for pregnant ladies. So, the greatest way for pregnant ladies to stop smoking is via Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP.
NLP is really effective to help individuals to quit smoking, especially pregnant ladies. It prevents the dangers of smoking while pregnant simply because NLP is a really efficient all natural technique in quitting smoking. It is a form of hypnotherapy and doesn’t involve medications or pills. NLP is also very convenient because you may be successful in quitting smoking in the comfort of your home by just listening to an NLP based audio recording. You do not need to go out and pay expensive professionals to quit smoking. This technique is proven to have a very high success rate in helping people quit smoking.
So, if you are pregnant still smoking poses dangerous risks to your unborn child. You are able to use this NLP method to be safe and successful in quitting smoking. In this way, both you and your child will have a wholesome life.
If you are pregnant still smoking is the last thing you want to do. Use NLP to safely quit smoking. Start your journey to smoke free pregnancy at www.QuitSmokingPregnancy.info
Article Source: Pregnant? Still Smoking?-Here is How to Safely Quit Smoking When Pregnant
Top 10 Pregnancy Preparedness Tips to Be in Tip-Top Shape : An Essential Guide for Women
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 13th, 2010
Whether it’s your first, second or third pregnancy, there is such a novelty to the experience that both you and your partner will marvel at as parents. If you’re already parents, remember that each pregnancy is unique in its own way, so it helps to be prepared every step of the way.
On the other hand, if you are a first-time parent, you might have already read every guidebook that expecting mothers usually pore over – but there are still some practical tips that you need to keep in mind.
Therefore, the number of children that you’ve already had doesn’t matter. What does matter is the fact that you need to be prepared physically, mentally, emotionally and even financially before giving birth to your child.
Read on to find out what tips you need to keep in mind, as well as everything else in between that a mother-to-be needs to know regarding her pregnancy.
Enumerating the Top 10 Pregnancy Preparedness Tips & Everything Else In-Between that Every Mother-to-Be Needs to Know
So what are the top 10 tips that you need to keep in mind about pregnancy preparedness? Here is a list of things that you should remember and prepare for in order to have a successful pregnancy:
1. Be aware of the changes in your body.
The minute that you see the positive sign on that home pregnancy test kit, that is the time you will start being aware of the changes in your body.
As the child in your womb grows from its first to its third trimester, your body will undergo specific changes – and this is something that you should be prepared for.
During the first trimester, you are bound to experience morning sickness, vomiting and a feeling of being ill. This is usually a result of the hormonal changes that your body is undergoing – and it’s a perfectly natural result of being pregnant.
During the second trimester, you would have already accustomed to the life growing inside of you and weight gain is something that you should be prepared for.
Finally, the third trimester is when you will feel most uncomfortable as the weight in your belly grows bigger and bigger until the time that you will actually give birth.
2. Do away with any ‘nasty’ habit that you may have.
On the onset of your pregnancy, make sure to do away with any nasty habits that you may have. If you smoke, quit if you don’t want to suffer consequences during your pregnancy.
Smoking while pregnant may lead to miscarriage, bleeding or if you successfully carry your baby onto its third trimester, it might be premature or underweight.
Another habit that you should not indulge in while pregnant is the intake of alcohol. Taking illegal drugs is even more of a no-no.
3. Be physically prepared.
One of the best favors you can do for yourself while pregnant is eating right and at the same time maintaining a healthy weight by following goodPregnancy nutrition.
Although you are already eating for two, that is not an excuse to go all out and give into your junk food cravings.
This is because if you unhealthily gain excessive weight during your pregnancy, labor might prove to be difficult and it can even lead to complications in the baby’s health.
4. Make sure that you are prepared financially.
Now that there is an economic crunch, it is even more vital to save up for the time that you will actually give birth, the expenses that you would have to shoulder start with the doctor’s appointments while you are on your first, second and third trimester. You may even want to enroll in birth classes.
The costs of giving birth in the hospital would add a huge chunk to your expenses – but it goes way beyond that.
As a future parent, the mere fact that you will add one more member to your family means that you need to make major adjustments with your budget as a household – and this is something that you really need to prepare for.
5. Plan for the birth and the delivery details.
Whether or not it’s your first time to give birth, your doctor can help map out a birth and delivery plan for you.
Aside from the medical aspect of things, you should also prepare the things that you need to bring with you to the hospital once ‘it is time’.
About a week or so before you give birth, make sure that you already packed the essentials like your clothes, the toiletries and some clothes that you bought for your baby.
6. Make sure that you have a pregnancy backup plan.
Although you may be preparing for a vaginal birth, you should still have a backup plan in case there is a medical need for you to undergo a C-section.
Ask your doctor about the type of incision that will be used, make sure that you know which type of anesthesia will be applied and how long it will take for you to recover.
7. Prepare your home in welcoming a new member of the family.
It’s not just the nursery that you need to prepare when welcoming a new member of your family, it’s the entire household which should be child-proof.
If you already have several kids running around the house, you may have already performed some child-proofing steps. But if you haven’t, now is the best time to do so.
For first time parents, you should enjoy the process of putting together a nursery for your child. Aside from repainting the walls and getting that crib in the center of the room, you should also have your home tested for environmental hazards which include lead paint, radon or carbon monoxide.
Your car should already have child-safety features. You can even get one of those choke-test cylinders to ensure that any toy that you will be placing on the nursery is hazard-free.
8. Practice multitasking even before the baby arrives.
You won’t believe how little sleep you will actually get once the baby arrives. So as early as possible, you can practice multitasking.
You can prepare home cooked meals in advance and freeze them so that you will have microwaveable dishes once you get home from the hospital.
Keep the refrigerator stocked with healthy foods and some baby essentials. Even your bathroom supplies should be well-stocked.
9. Decide on the parenting style that you will take.
This is an especially crucial decision for both parents. Which parenting style will you take? If both parents are working, should one give up his or her job in order to personally care for the baby, or is hiring a full-time baby sitter an option that you are considering?
Will you play the good cop, bad cop scenario? How will you as a couple have a united front while disciplining your child once he or she grows up?
How about sibling care? Will you allow them to do their share in caring for the new member of the family? In terms of religious beliefs, what traditions will you follow? Deciding on these issues in advance will give you a leeway so that conflicts can be prevented in the future.
10. Enjoy the experience to the fullest!
Finally, make sure to extract every bit of pleasure that you can out of your parenting experience.
Sure, you are allowed to be an emotional wreck especially if you are a first-time mother – but this should not take away from your marveling at the experience of being pregnant and giving birth.
By following these pregnancy preparedness tips, you can rest assured that you are prepared for your pregnancy, the labor phase and the post-natal care of that new member of your family which everyone is eagerly awaiting with open arms.
Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for ThePregnancyZone.com. This blog covers various pregnancy issues, prenatal care, preparing for pregnancy, tests & procedures, pregnancy tools and pregnancy stages. Visit The Pregnancy Blog
Article Source: Top 10 Pregnancy Preparedness Tips to Be in Tip-Top Shape : An Essential Guide for Women
Pregnancy And The Changes To The Body
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 13th, 2010
Perhaps you have been dreaming about being pregnant for a while and then when you discover that you are pregnant it might come as a surprise and you are not quite ready for it yet. There are other things to take into consideration such as your health and your emotional state of mind and you will probably ask yourself “Am I ready for this”.
Your life was running really well and now the life style as you know will never be the same again and your body will not be your own for a while. So what kind of signs and symptoms will you experience when you first find out that you are pregnant?
Some of the symptoms you may experience are that your breast will probably become increasingly tender in a similar way to the way you feel before you have your period. You may experience a tingling sensation in the nipples. But once your body adapts to the change in your hormones the tenderness will settle down. One of the signs of Pregnancy may be if the skin around your nipples gets darker and the small lubricating glands become more prominent with small bumps appearing.
Frequent urination is also a common problem during Pregnancy. It starts in the first few months and then settles down after the 12th week only to come back when there is an increase in the size of the womb as this puts pressure on the bladder and causes frequent urination again.
Some women get dark patches on there forehead and cheeks during Pregnancy. These patches are caused by hormonal changes that affect the pigment cells in the skin. The navel and a line down the center of the woman’s belly may also darken. However these pigment changes will fade after your Pregnancy but will probably always remain a little darker than before.
Food cravings may also be one of the symptoms in combination with some of the other. Normally, morning sickness won’t hit you until a few weeks into conception. A lucky few escape it altogether. But, you may begin feeling nauseated and queasy as early as a couple of days following conception. This may not just occur in the morning but this Pregnancy-related nausea can be a problem any time of the day, morning, noon, or night. You may also notice that your sense of taste and smell changes.
In the early stages of “ Pregnancy ”
you can experience many different emotional and mood changes some days you might be crying for no reason at all but this is due to the hormones changes in your body accompanied by the fatigue you may be experiencing. You can read more about signs and symptoms of
“ Pregnancy ” at my web site
Article Source: Pregnancy And The Changes To The Body
Baby Boy Or Baby Girl…Find Out!
Posted by in Babies on February 4th, 2010
After a woman gets married, getting pregnant is her most beautiful and long awaited dream. Pregnancy is nature’s best boon as you become complete. A woman is called complete only after she gets pregnant and delivers healthy and normal baby. Anyway, the gender of the baby is secret till the baby arrives in this remarkable place. Generally, all the parents want to know what will God give them as their first child, a boy or a girl . It is merely the Divine who has knowledge of the gender of the baby. Also there are many couples who leave this decision on the almighty, though they may have their own preferences. Nevertheless having knowledge of the gender of the baby in mother’s womb is always an utmost secret till the baby comes in this world and the secret which every parent likes to know. Now just by clicking the mouse, you can know the gender of your baby. Internet has ascertained to be a great blessing to folks who want to know their newborn’s gender earlier than he or she arrives in this incredible humankind.
Normally, through Sono-graphy a lot of couples can come to know the baby gender, but this process is banned and now sonography is used to check the health of the unborn baby. Nearly all the parents commenced taking excessive advantage of this gender revealing method. But people, who just want to know their baby’s gender due to eagerness, may browse on the internet as there are various websites that help to determine their unborn baby’s genders. All you have to do is, connect to the net and you conduct a little survey. You will surely find some reliable websites where you just have to put in a few details and you come to know the gender of the unborn baby. You must fill in minimal details such as the mother’s genetic details (year and month of birth) and moreover father’s genetic details (year and month of birth) and ultimately you must fill in the year and month of conception. Once you submit these details, you immediately get to know your baby’s gender. It is indeed the simplest and most exciting system to discover your newborn’s gender. Though there are some couples who follow old traditions to choose their baby’s gender before planning the family. And you will be amazed to know that there are techniques by which a couple can really decide the gender of their baby.
Fertilization is a process by which an egg and a sperm fuse together to nurture a new life in the mother’s womb. This is a very biological and blessed process to confer a deep significance to the couple’s bond. But with advanced technology, the baby’s gender can be influenced before the conception. The sperm possesses XY chromosome and the egg carries XX chromosome. For a baby boy, the XX chromosomes are fused together, whereas for a baby girl, the XY chromosomes are fused together. Y chromosome is active but stays for smaller period as compared to X chromosome. You can be confident you will deliver a baby boy if the ovulated egg is fused with the Y chromosome, thus the ovulation period should be known!
But the fact is millions of sperms are released at the time of intercourse. You need to know the perfect time for conception. Thus, if you plan your intercourse rightly, you could possess the preferred gender of your baby. Usually, there are some websites that help you with this too. You have to fill in your and your husband’s genetic details next to the preferred gender of the baby and submit the details. Just after the click, you will know the exact month of conception to get the desired baby gender. Therefore, you can plan your conception accordingly. Just connect yourself to the internet and see what’s in tore for you. Get a baby boy or a female child, the preference is yours!
If you really want to find out baby gender and are inquisitive to know your baby gender, check out findoutbabygender.com
Article Source: Baby Boy Or Baby Girl…Find Out!
Baby Care – Sleeping Conditions
Posted by in Babies on January 27th, 2010
Babies may sleep up to 23 hours a day during the first month after birth. Their need for sleep then gradually decreases.
For safety and comfort, a baby should sleep in a specially designed crib. Most cribs have sides with bars that can be lowered and raised by an adult. Babies should be kept covered in their cribs to avoid chills.
Most infants like to lie on their stomachs or backs with their heads turned toward the lightest part of the room. But a baby’s head may become flattened on one side if it is always turned in the same direction. To avoid this problem, babies should be turned head to foot at every other bedtime. They will then have to turn their heads in the opposite direction in order to face the light. If the baby still prefers keeping its head turned in one direction, there is no real cause for alarm; the child normally will outgrow any head flattening by one year of age.
Swaddling the Baby. A newborn baby is much happier if he or she is wrapped up snugly. This custom, called swaddling, is considered old-fashioned and even unkind by some people, but modern research has shown that it is a practical way to help a baby to sleep peacefully.
Remember that the infant is not used to unlimited space, having been confined for months to the restricted space of the womb. Swaddling makes the baby feel more secure and helps him or her to adjust to the world, little by little.
Newborn babies have little or no control over their limbs so they often wake themselves with the jerky movements of their own arms and legs. The well wrapped-up baby is not bothered by this.
How long a parent continues to swaddle a baby depends on whether the baby is of a calm or excitable disposition. But up to six weeks is usually beneficial. At three to six weeks, however, the baby’s hands should be allowed to reach high enough so that he or she can suck the fist or fingers.
When the baby can lift his or her head, the baby can lie on the stomach without risk of smothering. Swaddle from the waist down, with the arms free, so that the baby cannot wriggle up the crib or cradle.
I am the owner and author of Hoodia Side Effects. You can find the original article here: Baby Sleeping Conditions. If you’d like to read more of my articles, please visit my site!
Article Source: Baby Care – Sleeping Conditions
Taking care of yourself during pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on January 26th, 2010
Pregnancy is the stage where a woman bears a child in her womb and has to take care of not only herself but also the baby within her. A woman’s body can be very delicate during this stage and thus the people around her needs to know what she needs and have to avoid. Some, because of their lifestyle, those who are down because of poverty, sometimes forgets the things they need to do during those nine months. Here’s a list of easy activities that doesn’t need too much money but definitely important for pregnant woman.
- Medical Check Ups
It is the most important for a pregnant woman to have her monthly check ups with an OB gynecologist. If not, “barangay” or city health centers offer free consultations. The gynecologist or the midwife/doctor will check you and your baby if you are in good conditions.
- Daily Vitamins
After a check up, the midwife will give the mother free vitamins for the baby’s development and also for herself as her body undergoes changes for the child’s growth. During pregnancy, women should always take in mind that she needs to be healthy in order for her child to be healthy as well. The right vitamins and supplements will always do the trick.
- Vaccines
While pregnant, women shouldn’t take any sort of medicine unless prescribed by a doctor. Some of the drugs can affect the child’s development mentally and physically. But there are vaccines such as Tetanus Toxoid as a preparation for giving birth. Infection might affect the mother or the child (like the Tetanus infection) during birth so just before that due date, the mother must have her complete shots of T. T. to protect herself and the baby. In case of wounds or any other complication, anti-tetanus serum (e.g. elisa kits, etc.) should also be given for faster protection. It also measures the mother’s protective status and thus, determines the proper treatment.
- Exercise
It is always good for the body; exercise helps your immune system to get stronger and a lot fitter, adjusting to the change due to pregnancy. It also prevents a lot of swelling at some parts of the body.
- Diet
Food is one of the most important factors when a woman’s pregnant. This is where she gets most of the nutrients and vitamins for her and her baby. Also, a balanced diet affects the nutrients that help the baby’s formation and development.
- Stress/Depression
These are the factors that a pregnant woman must avoid. Depression and stress affects the child’s mental development and might result into a complication after birth. It can also cause low blood pressure and might turn the mother unhealthy. As far as possible, a mother should be healthy not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.
Pregnancy can be risky but easy to handle with proper intelligence and information. Women should take care of themselves while pregnant for their child’s development, it is important that a child should be born healthy and perfectly well. Though always at home, there should always be enough caution and preparation even inside the house. Parents should always be prepared for anything and keep things in handy. Just like first aid kits (also like elisa test kits), emergency hotlines, and anything that could be used in times of unexpected events. “Prevention is better than cure” is always a sensible quote to keep in mind.
Lacey Cormier, a silent but highly focused kind of gal. She’s a 20 year-old working student who studies nursing at night and works part-time on a pharmacy during the day. She likes helping customers and referring items like elisa kits, a new and effective generic drugs and food supplements. She lives with her family in New York.
Article Source: Taking care of yourself during pregnancy
Pregnancy Ovulation Calendar – Pros and Cons
Posted by in Pregnancy on January 24th, 2010
When you were younger, you probably thought that frequent sex and the law of averages would be enough to get you pregnant. Unfortunately, conceiving is a little bit more complicated than that, especially for couples with fertility problems. Although sperm can live up to three days in your womb, a mature egg will only be around for 24-48 hours. Timing intercourse around ovulation, or your most fertile days, is the key to conceiving. You can predict this short window of fertility by using a pregnancy ovulation calendar and basal thermometer to track your fertile days. Although this is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to make your fertile days count, the calendar method is not without its disadvantages.
Con: Takes months for a pattern to emerge
For most women, charting your basal body temperature (BBT) with a calendar can only provide useful information if you’ve been keeping track of your cycle for the last six to twelve months. The fewer cycles recorded, the less accurate the data will be. Women with highly irregular menstrual cycles may also have trouble using this method to predict ovulation. The variations in cycle length make it more difficult to estimate the length of your luteal phase, which makes it difficult to pinpoint your fertile days accurately. However, if your cycle happens like clockwork, you can be fairly sure of when your fertile days will occur after you have been tracking for about two or three months.
Con: Takes away from the spontaneity of sex
One of the biggest problems faced by couples trying to conceive is that sometimes the scheduled sex can diminish some of the fun and excitement; the frustration when months or years have passed and conception has not occurred can make intercourse less fulfilling. It’s important to maintain open lines of communication in your partnership during these difficult times and find creative ways that will work for both of you to bring the romance and passion back into your love making, despite your focus on becoming pregnant.
Con: Can only confirm ovulation after it occurs
The biggest drawback to predicting ovulation with a BBT chart is that it doesn’t give advanced warning of ovulation. It only tells you that you’ve ovulated after it occurs. Your BBT rises by at least .4 degrees when you ovulate but by the time you notice this change, you may have already missed your window of fertility. After you’ve made at least six charts, you should be able to detect a pattern that can help you predict your peak fertility. But for those who don’t want to wait, you can use an ovulation predictor kit to determine ovulation. An ovulation predictor kit is a urine test that detects a surge in the luteinizing hormone, the sex hormone that triggers the release of a mature egg. The levels of this hormone usually increase a day or two before ovulation, and a kit can detect these changes so you can time intercourse accordingly.
Pro: Provides valuable information about your cycle
The standard menstrual cycle should last around 28 days, but the regularity and length of menstrual cycles varies from woman to woman. An ovulation calendar is a useful tool that can keep track of how regular your cycle is and the general pattern of fertility in your cycle. Your doctor can also glean a lot of valuable information from the data in your ovulation calendar and use this to identify potential problems to your fertility. For instance, it’s normal to have the occasional missed period or irregular cycle, but cycles that are consistently longer than 45 days are something to worry about. Irregular periods are often a symptom of ovulatory problems like polycystic ovarian syndrome. Your doctor can also use your BBT chart to determine if you ovulate regularly or if ovulation is even present.
Pro: Inexpensive and easy to use
You can create your own ovulation calendar by taking your basal body temperature every morning and entering this data onto an Excel spreadsheet or a free BBT chart from the Internet. Start charting your BBT on the first day of your period. Take your basal body temperature as soon as you wake up, at the same time every morning. Make sure you keep your basal thermometer by your bedside; getting up and searching for it can cause a change in your temperature. Enter the date onto your chart or Excel spreadsheet, and write down your temperature underneath that date. The normal range of pre-ovulatory temperature varies, but it is usually ranges from 96 – 98 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll know if you’ve ovulated when your temperature increases by at least .4 degrees for three consecutive days. Some women experience a dip in temperature before this increase, but this is not a reliable way of telling if you’ve ovulated or not. After several cycles of tracking your BBT, a pattern should emerge, and you should be able to make fairly accurate predictions as to when your ovulation begins.
Best used with other methods of prediction
Although an ovulation calendar can provide a lot of useful information about your cycle for both you and your doctor, couples would do better not to use this method alone to determine the woman’s fertile days when they are trying to become pregnant. As mentioned earlier, BBT can only predict ovulation after the fact. Another method you can use together with BBT is tracking your cervical mucus. On your least fertile days, your cervical mucus is sticky and light. As the date of ovulation draws nearer, the increase in estrogen causes changes to your cervical mucus. During your fertile days, your vaginal discharge takes on the consistency of raw egg whites. Your peak fertility is usually on the last day you notice discharge of this kind. For an even more accurate prediction, use an ovulation predictor kit halfway through your cycle, as soon as you notice the change in cervical mucus.
Diana Farrell, M.A. is an author of several popular books on enhancing fertility who has helped many couples realize their dream of parenthood. If you would like additional tips about getting pregnant as well as a pregnancy ovulation calendar that you can download and use for yourself, visit http://www.PregnancySuccessProgram.com.
Article Source: Pregnancy Ovulation Calendar – Pros and Cons
