WHAT YOU NEED TO CONCEIVE {07.15.2015}

Due to the fact that I have an overwhelmingly large number of readers who are in the TTC world, I wanted to put this up. Keep in mind that E and I are no longer in the TTC world, we have basically taken one huge leap away from that world for a while, but for my ladies that do read this blog, waiting for the TTC posts, here is one just for you.

 

It is crucial that you are taking the correct vitamins for you and your future embryo. Those little eggies need all the vitamins and supplemental boosts they can get. Here are 10 of vitamins you need to conceive!

 

#1 Zinc
#2 Folic Acid

#3 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

#4 Omega 3 Free Fatty Acid

#5 Iron

#6 Calcium

#7 Vitamin B6

#8 Vitamin B12

#9 Fish Oil

#10 Prenatal

 

Take this list to your nearest pharmacy and stock up ladies, you are going to want all you can get to make that healthy miracle baby.

 

I also wanted to share some other tips and tricks for conception.

 

Pinapple

Although I am not a doctor, I have heard some amazing things about pineapple. If you eat this magical fruit, mainly the core, after ovulation has been determined, you will have a better chance of implantation. You can thank Brolemain, an enzyme found in pineapples, for the help. How much do I believe this? Well, to be honest I'm not sure. I did eat pineapple core with our second pregnancy, in January, which was successful in landing a BFP but I'm not sure how much this factored in. Worth a try though!

 

Acupuncture

I'm sure you've heard me talk about this before, and with good reason. In addition to the pineapple back in January, I was also seeing an acupuncturist weekly throughout my cycle. Not just for fertility, but for relaxation, Acupuncture is so important for balancing systems throughout your body. During a TTC journey, it's easy to get caught up in the frustration and stress, Acupuncture allows us to breathe and calm our body and minds. After all, the most important thing you can do for your future pregnancy is ensure that you aren't stressed.

 

Weightloss

Now, don't hate me for saying this, but weight plays a very vital roll in fertility. If you are even five pounds over your "normal" body weight, your fertility will be negatively affected. Just like the round in January, I was doing all three of these things. I managed to lose about 30 pounds and, although it wasn't easy, we sure managed to get pregnant first cycle after a whole year break. I'm not saying that it's impossible to get pregnant if you are five pounds overweight, but the healthier you are, the better your chances.

 

SMEP Plan

Just go back and look at anyone of my posts from the last cycle in April or the one in January, and you will see that I am an avid believer in the SMEP Plan. I found this little gem searching the web and it has worked wonders for us. Again, we were successful while using this in January. This plan is crucial and can help you and hubby stay on track. Best part is, this plan keeps the man and woman accountable during the TTC journey. It's important that men build up their swimmers, so waiting at least one day for that to build up is so important. Another thing is, it helps remind us to pay attention to dates and timing so as to not miss our small window of opportunity. Find out more about the SMEP Plan here.

 

 

3 DAYS UNTIL THE END {05.08.2015}

As of today, I have three days until I start my progesterone. Tomorrow, I will start eating pineapple core and drinking my Bump Water! I will be taking Prometrium 200mg for twenty days which at the end of those twenty days I should know if I am pregnant. Basically, that means that starting Monday, May 11th, I will be in my Two Week Wait! I'll admit, I don't believe there are any TTC sisters that like the TWW. It just seems to drag on forever. I do however, like to take the opportunity to rest. You know how God spent six days creating the world and then on the seventh day He rested? Well, I know my TTC journey isn't nearly as large or important as God's creation of the world, but just as He rested after a long week of work, we use the TWW as our resting period. No stressing or worrying. It's in God's hands. We acknowledge the success that we had in sticking to our BDing "schedule" and do not dwell on the things we did not do or should have done differently.

 ~  

*Mini Q&A: Why are you eating Pineapple after ovulation? Pineapples contain an enzyme called Bromelain which is anti-inflammatory and has been known to increase cervical mucous and possibly the chance of implantation in early pregnancy. For directions on consuming pineapple for ovulation, see directions below*

I mentioned that I will be starting my BumpWater to which I'm sure some of you were wondering what in the world that meant. Well, go check out BumpWater! It's not a replacement for prenatal vitamins but instead an enhancer. Packed with tons of benefits and supplements. Not to mention, they are delicious! 12 bottles are just $28.99!!!

While I know that I have not blogged as much about this cycle as I did with my cycle in January, I have still been following the same "schedule"/"routine," so if you are a new TTC Sister and need a little help creating and following a plan that may be successful for you, then check out my TTC JOURNEY: CLOMID YEAR 2 ROUND 1 page. You can see how I tracked my cycle and other things I did to accomplish getting pregnant. For those interested in getting the full and detailed version of all the things we changed that worked for us, be sure to read WHAT WE DID DIFFERENT YEAR 2 ROUND 1 THAT WORKED!!!

Today is also my last OPK testing day and since I didn't do my daily OPK update, check out my progression of OPKs from beginning on CD to end, today, on CD 15. 

Now keep in mind, with the Advanced ClearBlue Digital OPKs, you should never refer to the lines to tell you if you are ovulating. The smiley faces on the ClearBlue will show you what you need to know. I have heard so many women say that they look at the test strips, and in thinking like the other tests, to see if the lines are the same. With ClearBlue its different. The test itself measures both LH surge as well as Estrogen, so when it gives you a blinky smiley face, you better be BDing because you are at High Fertility. When you get the steady smiley face, you definitely want to BD because you are in Peak Fertility. Once you get a Peak Fertility on the ClearBlue Advanced, there is no need to continue testing as it will display the Peak smiley face for 48 hours. After which point your ovulation will have ended. Be sure that you are BDing according to the SMEP: BD day of positive OPK, the next day, then skip one day and BD one more time, to ensure the best possibility of catching that little eggie.

As I mentioned, I am on CD 15. I awoke to a dropped temp but with my FMU I was still only receiving a blinking smiley face (High Fertility) it wasn't until second morning urine around 9:30am that I successfully received my steady face (Peak Fertility). What better day than on our 5 year (dating) anniversary? Yes, we still celebrate the date E asked me to be his girlfriend and we also celebrate our engagement anniversary. Another thing that surprised me about this cycle was that it was on time. Ovulation according to my Clomid calculator pin-pointed this date, my Ovia fertility app said this was my day, and my body sent me signals like cramping, achy boobs, and bloating. Let's just hope this means we will finally get pregnant with our Healthy Rainbow Baby!!!

This will more than likely be one of the last posts about my cycle. Since I will be starting my TWW, there won't be much to blog about as far as my cycle is concerned. I will however, let you know if there are any symptoms from the Progesterone, so for those interested in that, be sure to stick around!

 

By the way...

 

 

Baby Dust, God Bless, and Best Wishes!

 

**Directions for Pineapple Core after Ovulation: 1) Use a knife to remove the pineapple exterior 2) Cut through the middle of the pineapple from top to bottom leaving halves to work with 3) From each half, slice six to eight equally sized wedges and 4) After confirmed ovulation, begin consuming one to two slices of pineapple each day.**

 

 

FIVE FRIDAY FITNESS FAVS {03.06.2015}

Here are five things that I loved this week!

First on my list: Victoria's Secret Fresh & Clean Lotion & Body Spray

I cannot express how important it is to keep lotion on your hands and feet. Soft skin is amazing but the major benefit of lotion besides soft skin, is moisture. Moisture does incredible things for your body so pick up your favorite lotion and get to work. My favorite thing to do is use it after my morning workout and before I go to bed. Don't forget to spray a few spritz of your favorite body spray/perfume, nobody wants to smell you at the gym - be a lady and keep smelling amazing!

Number two on my list - HOT LEMON WATER! Every morning, upon waking up, I make myself a nice warm cup of lemon water. Besides all the incredible benefits, which I talk about here, this is a great way to wake up. My house is always freezing in the mornings, and this allows me to get ready for the gym and feel nice and cozy, at least until I have to drink the freezing cold pre-workout mix...

Next up, my Nike pink chevron shoes. So, it doesn't really matter what type of Nike's you wear or what color, just make sure that the shoes you are choosing to wear to workout in are 3 things: 1) comfortable, 2) safe, and 3) light. You don't want to be stuck in the midst of a workout and your feet start killing you, you also don't want to try and go into a wet sauna if your shoes do not have good traction, and lastly, make sure they do not weigh your feet down. If you need to, stop by your nearest Foot Locker and let the experts help you choose the best fit for the best workout.

Fourth on my list is PINEAPPLE! This has been my nightly "treat." I wanted to eat at least 6 meals a day and one of those meals/snacks was supposed to be after dinner. I had trouble thinking of healthy options that were both good and good for me. When I realized that fruit can be just as much of a treat as an ice cream bar, I ran with it. So for my nightly snack, I choose pineapple. It's sweet, delicious, filling, and healthy!

Last, but definitely not least, my VSX Sports Bra. You'll probably see me make tons of posts about Victoria's Secret, but does that really surprise you? The VSX Sports Bra is incredible! Not only do I wear it to work out, I wear it to work, around the house, pretty much anytime I can. The support is amazing! Keeps the "girls" up and my posture is so much better due to the "racer-back" style. This sports bra is definitely worth every dollar. One of the best things is, it was fitted for me. Too many times women head to Target or Wally-World to get sports bras and they end up not fitting, are uncomfortable or the support is not there so their posture is horrendous. Make sure you choose a sports bra that is comfortable, you don't want to go through a 30-minute,45-minute,or even 1-hour workout and have to deal with back pain due to your breasts not being supported, so spend the extra money for the extra benefits.

As always...

Thanks for reading and Enjoy!