April 16, 2015
Temp went down again today, 97.7. It is really hard to stay positive when my temps keep steadily going down each day. I know it’s not over till Aunt Flo shows… but man this is an emotional roller coaster. I told a friend this morning that I feel like Ron Burgundy in a glass case of emotion. I had cramps last night and they have continued this morning, my back every now and again has shooting pains.
April 17, 2015
Temp plummeted this morning to 97.3 along with the presence of Aunt Flo. I am disappointed but I am hopeful knowing that my chart looked great! Time to try for a January baby. This is going to be another LONG 33 days.
June 1, 2015
Temp plummeted again on May 21st and my period started the next day. One positive note, I am not wasting money by peeing on my expensive sticks and I am learning a lot about my cycle. I have officially gone into overdrive… I have been doing research about additional easy steps I can take to help aid in getting pregnant. Here is an article about cough syrup or Mucinex:
Can taking cough syrup help me conceive?
Toni Weschler
fertility educator
While there’s not a lot of medical research to support this idea, anecdotal evidence suggests that it can help. But there are a few caveats, too. One ingredient in certain cough syrups — guaifenesin — can help you get pregnant by thinning your cervical fluid, which enables sperm to travel through your cervix and fertilize an egg. If you know from taking your temperature every morning that you’re ovulating, but you don’t seem to be producing much wet, slippery, cervical fluid, guaifenesin might be all the help you need to get pregnant. This is the paradox, though: You need to know when you’re approaching ovulation to take advantage of this recommendation, and the only way to know that is by checking your cervical fluid. So guaifenesin works best on women who do produce at least some cervical fluid.
How does it work? Guaifenesin, a common ingredient in cough syrups, is an “expectorant.” That is, it relieves congestion by helping liquefy mucus in your lungs, allowing you to cough it up. And because it works systemically on all mucous membranes in your body, it can make your cervical fluid wetter, too.
The trick is to find a cough syrup in which guaifenesin is the only active ingredient, so check labels carefully. Many cough and cold medicines contain antihistamines that also work systemically in your body but have the reverse effect: They dry up mucus and diminish wet cervical fluid. And while you’re trying to get pregnant, there’s no reason to expose yourself to any other drugs unnecessarily, so find a product that contains only guaifenesin and no other active ingredients, including dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and alcohol. Humibid LA — the pill form of guaifenesin, available by prescription — is a safe choice. Ask your healthcare provider to prescribe it for you.
If you’re taking the liquid form of guaifenesin, take 2 teaspoons three times a day around the time of month you’re expecting to ovulate. If you’re taking the pill form (Humibid LA), take it as prescribed for a cold. Either way, I would encourage you to take it from the first day you notice any type of wetness through the day of your temperature shift. That may be about a week.
And here is one about raspberry leaf tea:
Why Raspberry Leaf?
As its name suggests, Raspberry leaf is the leaf of the raspberry plant. It is somewhat well known for its benefits during pregnancy, but it is beneficial to women at all stages of life.
It is naturally high in magnesium, potassium, iron and b-vitamins which make it helpful for nausea, leg cramps, and improving sleep during pregnancy. The specific combination of nutrients in Raspberry Leaf makes it extremely beneficial for the female reproductive system. It strengthens the uterus and pelvic muscles which some midwives say leads to shorter and easier labors.
The tannins in raspberry leaf give it astringent properties which make it soothing both internally and externally. A strong raspberry leaf tea or tincture will sooth sunburn, eczema, and rashes when used externally. Swishing with a tincture or infusion of Raspberry Leaf is great for the gums and can help alleviate the symptoms of gingivitis or gum disease.
The high concentration of Vitamin C in Raspberry Leaf makes it great during illness and I also use it as a base for homemade energy drinks.
I suggest it to fertility clients and take it myself daily. I’ve seen it ease the symptoms of PMS, endometriosis, and it is helpful for couples who are trying to conceive. I personally also use it throughout pregnancy, even in the first trimester, as I’ve never seen any conclusive reason not to and the health benefits are wonderful during pregnancy, but I’d definitely consult a midwife or doctor before taking any herb while pregnant.
According to Mountain Rose Herbs: “Raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat canker sores, cold sores, and gingivitis in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. Commentators frequently state that recent scientific research found no benefit in raspberry tea for expectant mothers, but this is not correct. The study published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health in 2001 found that women who drank raspberry leaf tea had shorter labor, and fewer of their babies were delivered by forceps. The other study, published in the Australian College of Midwives Journal, cited in The Natural Pharmacist as saying there was “no” benefit to the herb for pregnant women, actually stated: “The findings also suggest ingestion of the drug might decrease the likelihood of pre and post-term gestation. An unexpected finding in this study seems to indicate that women who ingest raspberry leaf might be less likely to receive an artificial rupture of their membranes, or require a caesarean section, forceps or vacuum birth than the women in the control group.” In other words, scientific studies show that drinking raspberry tea actually is beneficial during pregnancy.”
I also found some interesting findings about pineapple:
Using Bromelain to Encourage Implantation – One Pineapple Slice at a Time
A pineapple a day, keeps the doctor away… Wait. That’s actually an apple, isn’t it?
Never mind. Perhaps pineapples can’t ward off doctors, but they can produce a few benefits you still might be interested in.
Pineapples are loaded with an enzyme called bromelain; an enzyme that can produce some pretty incredible effects when ingested in the right amounts. In fact, bromelain has indications which include acting as a:
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Pain Reliever
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Blood Thinner and Anti-Coagulant
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Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Basically, bromelain is nature’s aspirin. So if you are suffering from a chronic pain condition, like endometriosis or arthritis, a pineapple a day might actually keep the doctor away yet.
And if you are a woman struggling to conceive, it might accomplish far more than just that.
You see, the benefits of blood thinners (in moderation, of course) during those months of “trying” is that they drive blood to the uterus, encouraging sticky embryos and reducing the chances of miscarriage. The fact that bromelain also functions as an anti-inflammatory means that it has promising benefits for your immune system, possibly preventing implantation issues which can be common for women who have inflammatory conditions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has long touted the benefits of bromelain for fertility, and with science gaining a greater understanding of how the enzyme works – it becomes easy to understand why. There is a catch, however. Consuming too much bromelain at the wrong time in the cycle may be prohibitive to conception. Timing consumption of bromelain is important to support implantation.
The Right Way to Eat Pineapple for Implantation Support
It may sound like a fine line to walk, but a little bit of information can go a long way when it comes to understanding how to use pineapples in your favor. First, make a point of staying away from this tasty fruit in the weeks prior to ovulation. The acidity can actually backfire against fertility at that point, causing your cervical mucus to become inhospitable to traveling sperm. It is also suggested that you avoid ingesting bromelain once you have a positive pregnancy test. According to licensed acupuncturist Heather Pentland, at the New Leaf Healing clinic, ingesting large amounts of bromelain may cause mild contractions and slight thinning of blood which may not be supportive for implantation in very early pregnancy.
That gives you an approximately 10-14 day window when eating pineapple could do you a world of good.
To achieve the best results, you should:
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Purchase a ripe pineapple. Organic is always best.
2. Use a knife to remove the pineapples exterior.
3. Cut through the middle of the pineapple, from top to bottom, leaving halves to work with.
4. From each half, slice six to eight equally sized wedges.
5. After confirmed ovulation (or an embryo transfer, in the case of In-Vitro Fertilization), begin consuming one to two slices of pineapple each day.
It is important to remember not to core the pineapple – you will want some core in each of your slices, as the core contains the highest concentration of bromelain. One to two slices is really the most you should ingest in a single day as well. And because of the blood thinning properties, you should also avoid taking aspirin (or any other medicinal blood thinners) while consuming pineapple on a daily basis.
You won’t be able to achieve the same results with canned pineapple, as the heating process for canning is actually destructive to bromelain. That means going out and finding a fresh, whole pineapple – sticking to organic whenever possible. The wedges can be stored in your refrigerator, and one pineapple should last you until implantation has occurred. All you have to do is focus on enjoying your daily tropical fruit allotment, while envisioning a healthy embryo implanting safely into your uterus.
If you are lucky, that pineapple a day will have you seeing a whole lot more of your doctor in the months to come – for only the happiest of reasons, of course!
While these methods do not have claim to be 100% effective and may not work for everyone they are simply techniques that are easy to try. Might as well…