PROVERA • DAYS 1-5 {04.19.2015}

I promised myself that I would keep the blog updated with fitness, life, and TTC info. I decided to follow the same format I followed back in January. Check out Provera Days 1-5 below!!!

Provera Day 1 ~ 04/15
Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: None, I usually do not have very many on day 1

OPK or HPT: ---

Milestones: Nothing...I was still waiting to hear back from my Dr's office about the blood work results

Fertility Chart: Will upload on cycle day 1

Provera Day 2 ~ 04/16

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: More than likely it was from my crazy hard workout at 3am, but I felt nauseous and just strange; I wasn't very hungry all day and just had no interest in eating

OPK or HPT: ---

Milestones: After calling my Dr's office for the third time and two emails later, I finally got an answer from my Dr's office on my blood work results

Fertility Chart: ---

Provera Day 3 ~ 04/17

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: Slight cramping

OPK or HPT: ---

Milestones: I feel really great/positive and looking forward to this cycle

Fertility Chart:---

Provera Day 4 ~ 04/18

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: More cramping but not terrible

OPK or HPT: ---

Milestones: Have been doing a great job of keeping up with my BBT charting

Fertility Chart: ---

Provera Day 5 ~ 04/19

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: None!

OPK or HPT: ---

Milestones: Taking Pre-Natals daily and feel great for remembering

Fertility Chart: ---

WHAT WE DID DIFFERENT YEAR 2 ROUND 1 THAT WORKED!!! {04.15.2015}

I wanted to share our "changes" that took place last cycle and helped us get pregnant so quickly. Let me just say that I have absolutely no idea which of these helped boost our chances, but I can tell you that God was the main source, the rest of the things were just a little "assistance," or so I like to say. It's so important to both E and I, to acknowledge God plays and played a HUGE part in our fertility journey. Do I think God wanted or planned for us to have miscarriages? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I believe God wants us to do as we are told, "go forth, be fruitful, and multiple," and that is why He continues to bless us with babies. So, without further ado, here is our TTC year 2 round 1 list of things we did to succeed.

1. I tracked everything!!! I'm so serious y'all. I tracked my temperature on two different fertility apps.
• a) Fertility Friend
• b) Ovia Fertility
2. I took daily OPKs starting on CD 8. I did use off-brand OPKs because I couldn't find the ClearBlue Digital sticks.
3. I attended weekly acupuncture appointments. I attended one appointment before starting Provera, one after Provera ended while still taking Clomid, one after Clomid ended near Ovulation, and one final appointment after Ovulation was registered.
4. I took prenatal vitamins. I have heard countless times that prenatal vitamins are sooo important, but I never really thought about it until after our first miscarriage in 2013. After taking the break during all of 2014, I decided that I would start taking prenatal vitamins at the start of my cycles. So for my year 2 round 2, I have decided to start taking those pills two days before the start of Provera (vitamins started on Monday, April 13).
5. Clomid was moved from CDs 3-7 to CDs 2-6. I don't really think this made a HUGE difference since I did get pregnant the first time taking Clomid on CDs 3-7. I will admit that I appreciate the change, I just seem to like the CD 2-6 better.
6. Pre-seed was used every time we BD. I've talked about it before, but pre-seed is amazing! Mostly because it is the ONLY sperm-friendly lubricant that I would trust.
7. I tracked my CM daily. Sure, it may not be the most amazing thing in the world, but I learned so much about my cycle just by paying attention to my body's signals.
8. We followed the SMEP, with a few adjustments to work with our schedules. Click to see the full SMEP!
9. Last but not least, I lost weight!!! I believe this was a real help in our TTC journey. I lost close to 30lbs at the start of the year and at my appointment on January 5, my doctor said that he was impressed and just knew that getting pregnant would be easier now...he was right!!! We got pregnant immediately! Obviously, I know this is not easy for everyone, but even just a weight adjustment of 5-10lbs can drastically increase chances of pregnancy.

My goal for this upcoming cycle is to follow the same pattern. I do want to try to eat Chia Seeds regularly throughout this upcoming cycle so that my body is healthy and for all of the health benefits. Click to read all about the health benefits of Chia Seeds. I have faith that we will have no problem getting pregnant this cycle, and with my doctor now considering us "high risk," I believe we will have a much better chance at keeping the next baby.

As always, thank you so much for reading and keeping up with our journey.

God Bless and Baby Dust!!!

TTC HAUL VIDEO & MORE {04.02.2015}

So this is the Rainbow Edition of my TTC Haul! This is a list of the items that help our TTC journey and if you are new to the TTC world, maybe these will help you too! I went ahead and added my YouTube video as well so you can watch. For reference, I went ahead and added the list below...Enjoy!!!

TTC HAUL : RAINBOW BABY EDITION

Provera - 5 Days at 10MG

• This is a prescription drug that is take to help start AF
• Used typically in conjunction with fertility drugs/treatment but can definitely be used without

Clomid - CD 2 thru 6 at 100MG

• This is a prescription drug that is taken to force the body to ovulate
• Used for women who have been TTC for more than 1year if under 35, or 6months if over 35

OPKs - 10 Days using Clear Blue and First Response

• Can be purchased at convenience/grocery stores
• Assists in tracking ovulation
• Works best if used in conjunction with BBT charting and CM tracking

Pre-Seed - CD 8 thru 20 (every other day)

• Can be purchased at convenience/grocery stores
• Use at least 10 minutes before BDing if injecting, of immediately before if using just as an assistant to BDing if dry due to fertility medications

Progesterone - Daily, after positive OPK

• This is a prescription drug that is taken only after ovulation takes place
• Helps produce more progesterone in the body
• Promotes health fetus growth
• *has the potential to eliminate the possibility of miscarriage*
• Only taken up to 10 weeks of pregnancy

 

Remember to keep your heads up ladies! We WILL get our Rainbow babies!

 

 

Wishes, Love, and Baby Dust to all my fellow TTC Sisters out there!

 

 

P.S.: Next Doctor's appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 9:20am. I am looking forward to sharing this "hisk risk", bumpy but blessed, TTC Journey!

 



PROVERA • DAYS 1-5 {01.09.2015}

Last Monday, January 5, I returned to my OBGYN's office after a whole year off TTC duty. It was refreshing to be back in the TTC world, but it definitely brought back memories...good and bad. After my appointment, I filled a prescription for Provera. Provera, in simple terms, is a medication administered by a Doctor to start a woman's menstrual cycle. I took this pill for five days: January 5 through January 9. I wanted to do a cycle update, to key you in on some of the things that took place during those five days. This will hopefully help anyone who is looking into getting on Provera or anyone that may be about to start taking Provera. Here are my five days of updates...

Provera Day 1 ~ 01/05
Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: None, I really didn't expect any since I took the pill around 8pm

OPK or HPT: ---

Next Dr. Appt.: Not scheduled yet

Milestones: Feeling confident, I was so nervous taking the pill but I swallowed it and I feel like that is a pretty big milestone so far

Fertility Chart: Will upload once cycle begins, starting on day 1

Provera Day 2 ~ 01/06

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: Feeling residual from yesterdays but a little sore boobs and a few cramps throughout the day but eventually subsided

OPK or HPT: ---

Next Dr. Appt.: Not scheduled yet

Milestones: None today

Fertility Chart: Will upload once cycle begins, starting on day 1

Provera Day 3 ~ 01/07

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: Same thing, just sore boobs

OPK or HPT: ---

Next Dr. Appt.: Still not scheduled

Milestones: Nothing...boo!!!!

Fertility Chart:---

Provera Day 4 ~ 01/08

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: Boobs and horrible tight, pinching cramps right around 5:30pm, headache hit around the same time as the cramps

OPK or HPT: ---

Next Dr. Appt.: Nope, not yet hehe

Milestones: I did remember to take my temp this morning, finally!!!

Fertility Chart: ---

Provera Day 5 ~ 01/09

Cycle Day: --- (cycle has not started yet)

Medication: Provera 10mg

Symptoms: Boobs feel heavy and soreness is on and off throughout the day, cramps have only hit about three times today and it was not nearly as bad as Thursday, also I've had a headache all day but have felt no sickness and a good amount of energy so I know it's not getting sick, possibly Provera

OPK or HPT: ---

Next Dr. Appt.: Not quite yet

Milestones: Feel pretty proud to have successfully remembered to take a prenatal every morning, I also remembered to take my temp this morning YAY, and today was my last day of Provera HIP HIP HOORAY!

Fertility Chart: ---

OBGYN | RECAP {01.05.2015}

This afternoon around 3:30pm was my much awaited visit with my OBGYN, who I haven't seen since our miscarriage back in October of 2013. Nerves, butterflies, excitement, and even a little bit of questioning our decisions went down. I arrived to the office and immediately felt sick to my stomach. I could feel the butterflies swirling around reminding me of the same drive we made when we would find out our baby gained his or her wings. It was also the same drive we made when I had to go through the dreaded D&C Procedure. 

After I checked in, I sat calmly and continued to remind myself that this is our year and we will get pregnant with our healthy rainbow baby. The nurse called me back and asked me what I was wanting to speak with the Dr. about. I let her know it was to continue fertility treatment and she walked me to another waiting room, this one was the same one we sat in when we waited for the ultrasound. I waited for another 30 minutes and finally it was time to see my doctor. He was very welcoming and I told him that E and I had been gone for so long because we just needed some time to "reset." He understood and explained that miscarriages are hard for anyone and it was understandable for us to have taken a break. I told him that I wanted to begin Clomid again and he understood. We talked for a few minutes before I handed him E's semen analysis. He immediately said "wow!, he is seriously good to go." I just giggled because that's the same thing the fertility specialist said. He gave me a prescription for five 10mg of Provera and ten 50mg of Clomid to be taken twice a day, so 100mg a day for five days. The only thing he changed was the days in which I will take Clomid. Used to be, I would take Clomid on days three through seven of my cycle. Now I will be taking it on days two through six. Before I took my prescription note, he said "next time I see you, you will be pregnant." E and I wholeheartedly believe that January will be our month. 

To all my TTC Sisters, I want to wish you the best of luck and I know in my heart that this is our year to get our healthy babies. 

Baby Dust and God Bless