In Part Two of this three part series we covered basal body temperature and today we will cover your graphing your temperature. Thank you for joining me for this series. If you enjoyed it let me know and we can create more of them in the future!
Article by: Marie Zenack
Your Temperature Graph
Put a dot on a graph on the spot corresponding to each day’s temperature. Join the dots of consecutive days. If you do not take your temperature one day, do not join the dots across that day. Also write out the temperature numerically, to guard against errors in graphing.
Interpreting Your Chart
1) Breathe and relax. Study your chart.
2) Can you find six low temperatures during the fertile mucus days of your cycle?
3) Draw a horizontal line at the highest of the six low temperatures. This is your low temperature line.
4) Draw another horizontal line four-tenths of a degree F. or two-tenths of a degree C. above your low temperature line. This is your full thermal shift line.
5) Can you find three high temperatures after the low temperatures? All of the high temperatures must be above the low temperature line. At least the third high temperature must be at or above the full thermal shift line.
6) This temperature pattern of low and high temperatures is called a biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift. A biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift confirms that you really did ovulate. A smaller, but sustained temperature rise also probably indicates ovulation.
If you are hoping to become pregnant, please pay close attention to nutrition. Look for unprocessed foods grown without chemicals. Exercise in moderation. Get plenty of rest. Avoid stress. Think happy thoughts. Pray for the child you desire, and begin sending your child love, now. Heal any hurtful feelings between you and your mate, and between you both and your parents. Your mate should avoid hot shower or baths and tight clothing, both of which lower sperm count.To increase your chances of conception, use the wet, slippery days for sexual relations.
If you have observed a biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift, and it is now 18 days since your last slippery, wet day, and menstruation has not arrived, you may feel confident that you have conceived.
In Part One of this series we went over cervical mucous and how to determine when we are ovulating. Today we are covering taking your basal body temperature to determine where you are in your cycle and if you have ovulated.
Article by: Marie Zenack
Basal Body Temperature
If you are not sure you are ovulating, you can take your temperature. The body’s resting temperature increases four-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit or two-tenths of a degree Centigrade under the influence of progesterone at ovulation. Observing this sign involves taking your temperature at the same time each morning before rising. (This is not as hard as it sounds. It takes less than two minutes and you can go back to sleep if you want.)
To observe your temperature rise, buy a BD brand digital basal thermometer. This brand will give you a consistent and accurate reading. Other high quality brands of digital basal thermometers are also probably accurate, but have not been tested for fertility awareness. Make sure the battery is good. (You can replace it.) An ordinary clinical thermometer is not accurate enough for fertility awareness. Nor is the “ear thermometer” (tympanic thermometer).
Take your temperature every day immediately upon waking, before 7:30 a.m. The body’s rhythms (circadian rhythms) fluctuate over a 24-hour period. Your temperature is lowest in the early morning and highest in the afternoon. Fluctuations are greater after 7:30 a.m. If you go to bed before midnight and wake up before 7:30 a.m., you will get the clearest temperature readings.
If it is not convenient to take your temperature immediately upon waking, you may take it during light morning activity. For example, if you need to go to the bathroom, you may take your temperature while getting up and using the toilet. But be consistent about the circumstances under which you take your temperature. If you take it during light morning activity, take it that way every morning. Don’t take it sometimes before getting up and at other times during light morning activity. If you have sexual relations, take your temperature before.
Many women find that the digital thermometers require such a short time to use that it is easy to take their temperature before getting up. Take your temperature by mouth. Under arm and ear temperatures are not accurate enough for family planning purposes. The thermometer will beep softly several times before beginning to beep slightly louder and repeatedly. Keep the thermometer under your tongue until the louder, repeated beeps begin. You can read and chart your temperature as soon as is convenient after taking it. Your thermometer has a recall button that allows you to read the last temperature taken. Be sure to wash your thermometer after each use.
Fertility charting and using a menstrual calendar is like having a window to peek in on your fertility cycle. Here is a great 3 part series on how to use these methods to increase your fertility through having fertility awareness.
Article by: Marie Zenack
Charting the signs of our menstrual cycle is a good way to keep in touch with our bodies, our feelings, and our health. It is also a good way to predict our days of menstruation in advance, even if menstrual cycles are irregular, and to know the most fertile times if we are hoping to conceive.
Anji is hosting a fertiltiy teleclass next week, here is the info:
I’d like to personally invite you to a fr*ee teleclass I’m hosting this Monday, January 28th at 7 p.m. CST: “How to Unlock Your Fertility”
We’ll discuss: * How to bridge the gaps between your Mind and Body and Spirit in order to conceive * How to get your body working FOR conception not AGAINST it.
This class is for you if: You have ever wondered why or how emotions and feelings can be such an important aspect of conceiving when you weren’t sad or depressed about conceiving when you first started trying.
You feel like there must be something MORE going on in your body than what the medical tests show because obviously SOMETHING isn’t right since you haven’t conceived yet. You have heard that you are “supposed” to be positive and optimistic, but no one has showed you how to do that when dealing with the rollercoaster ride that infertility can be. You will walk away from this class knowing what you can do today to radically enrich your fertility. Also, when you sign up for this fr*ee teleclass, you will get the opportunity to tell me what questions you have. Then, I can make sure to answer them on the call.
Register for this fr*ee teleclass right here. When you get to the registration page scroll to the bottom and fill out the registration form and click on the submit button. I’ll send you the call-in information via email. This call will last approximately 60 minutes. If you can’t make the live call register anyway and I’ll send you the call recording. I can’t wait to “see” you on the call!
Should you try Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture to help you get pregnant? Yes. Here’s why. Acupuncture helps the body to become balanced and healthy. There are many studies that show great success when using acupuncture in combination with medical fertility treatments and on it’s own. I have included an article written by an acupuncturist to explain it in more depth, but before that I have some advice for you.
When deciding to try acupuncture you should be ready to commit to a health plan. You can not just receive one treatment and bam! that’s it. It will take a series of sessions to have an affect. Think at least three months, at first the sessions being closer together than moving farther apart once you are balanced. I personally see an acupuncturist monthly as part of my total health system, you should check it out.
While scientific studies continue to tout the benefits of technology in assisted reproduction, relatively little is known about natural methods of fertility enhancement. The importance of the cervical mucus environment and it’s affects on the function of male spermatozoa is underappreciated.
In the absence of cervical mucus, or in the case of vaginal dryness, couples frequently resort to personal lubricants. In recent studies, some of the commonly recommended lubricants, like KY®, Astroglide®, and Replens® have been found to actually damage sperm, perhaps even at a rate that is equivocal to contraceptive Jellies (http://www.helpconceive.com/hc_underEffects.html).
Brand new evidence from a comparative study presented at the Cojoint Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggests that only Pre-Seed® did not appear to cause significant damage to sperm.
In the first experiment, sperm was incubated for 30 minutes. Motility measurements were 66% in the lubricant-free environment, versus 2% for Astroglide®, and 64% for Pre-Seed®. In the second experiment, sperm were evaluated after 4 hours of incubation for damage to the genetic material and graded according to the DNA fragmentation index. Pre-Seed demonstrated the smallest effect with a 7% increase over the control (no lubricant).
The findings of this and other studies are significant. At the Saint Gerard Fertility Care Center, we always ask about personal lubricants and the only one that we recommend during the fertile time is Pre-Seed®. Another reason to use Pre-Seed is because Pre-Seed is also the only personal lubricant that meets physiologic pH and osmolarity requirements for sperm and may protect against the harmful effects of free radicals.
Recently I interviewed a woman who had been going to an infertility specialist for more than 10 years and after undergoing many medical treatments and surgical procedures with no pregnancies to show for it, she is now facing menopause. Interestingly, she and her spouse were using KY® routinely. In fact, they were buying it “by the box.” She was surprised to find out about the effects of KY®.
We believe that combined with the monitoring of fertility and cervical mucus, Pre-Seed can be added to a program of infertility (when fertility is present and cervical mucus quality is poor) as a routine recommendation for assisting couples who desire to achieve pregnancy the natural way. At our center, we have an easy to learn protocol that combines the monitoring of fertility and the use of Pre-Seed for this purpose.
Copyright 2005 Majella.us
About The Author
David Picella helps couples who are trying to conceive naturally without the use of expensive artificial reproductive techniques. You can read more articles published by him and by other experts in this area at: http://majella.us
Today, feng shui is used for everything from arranging office cubicles to gaining more recognition at work to helping aspiring writers become more prolific. But what if what you want is a baby? When you are trying to conceive, feng shui can be another tool in your fertility arsenal.
Fertility is such a delicate thing because it can be affected so easily. This is where feng shui can come help. Feng shui can help create a more balanced, harmonious – and relaxed – environment for conception to occur.
Obviously, the first place to look at is the home. Perhaps there is some kind of energy blockage. Another consideration is the personal feng shui are the parents. This is the feng shui that is related to gender and birthdate.
Unlike western thought, feng shui for parents places the most emphasis on the father and not the mother. The father must have what is called “descendant’s luck.” This is where personal feng shui can be called upon to help improve this type of luck.
Renowned feng shui writer, Lillian Too, credits every book to her daughter Jennifer, whom she says was conceived after a feng shui master visited her home and saw that a tree was blocking her front door. The master told her that once the tree was removed she became pregnant.
True to his prediction – and after nine infertile years of marriage – Lillian’s daughter was born. This was also what launched her full study and practice of feng shui.
When it comes to enhancing fertility with feng shui, though, it would be wise to address both parents as well as the home. This way, a complete approach will be taken and nothing is overlooked. Fertility feng shui can’t create miracles but it can create a positive environment in which miracles can occur.
6 Tips for Improving Fertility Feng Shui
1. ACTIVATE THE DESCENDANT’S LUCK DIRECTION.
The northwest (NW) is the direction of descendant’s luck. It is also the direction of “heaven” according to feng shui (and aren’t all babies heaven-sent?).
By positioning the man to sleep with his head pointed in the northwest direction, sit at work facing the NW, eat facing the NW, etc., this will activate his descendant’s luck.
It might look odd, if necessary, couples should turn the bed so that the man is sleeping with his head pointing NW. If this makes the man’s head point toward the door or sleep with his back to the door, then try another method.
Another way to activate the descendant’s luck is to install a metal oscillating fan in the bedroom. Placed in the NW corner and turned on during the day, the fan produces a generous helping of descendant’s luck in the bedroom. Be sure to turn it off while sleeping, though, or this luck will be scattered and unable to attach itself to the couple sleeping in the room.
2. USE PERSONAL FENG SHUI.
Personal feng shui is a powerful method for creating good descendant’s luck. To calculate your personal feng shui directions, go to http://www.redlotusconsulting.com/KuaCalculator.html
Based on the KUA number, you can determine the man’s “personal descendant’s luck direction.” The man should work, eat, and sleep facing this direction if the NW direction does not work for him.
KUA NUMBER
1 South
2 Northwest
3 Southeast
4 East
5 Northwest
6 Southwest
7 Northeast
8 West
9 North
3. REMOVE ANY BLOCKS TO THE FRONT DOOR.
It worked from Lillian Too, so it might work for you. Be sure that there is an open space out the front door and that there is nothing in direction line with your front door, such as a tree, street, or other object. The front door is considered the “mouth of chi” and is where all energy enters the home. Make this area clean, auspicious, and beautiful.
4. ENHANCE THE WEST SECTOR.
The west is the sector associated with the children. For that reason it is best to avoid having fire objects here, such as candles or bright lamps. Earth objects, such as vases are excellent fertility enhancers. Enhance this portion of the house, living, and bedroom with metal objects, such as fans, stereos, or other electronic or metal items.
Lastly, be sure to address problem areas in the west sectors of the home (and the west corner of your bedroom and living room) such as crowded closets or junk rooms. Work at getting these cleaned out to allow new creative (fertility) energy to enter your life.
If there is a bathroom in this sector, make sure bathroom doors are shut and to keep a bright light on in this room.
5. OBSERVE PROPER BEDROOM FENG SHUI.
Bedroom feng shui is extremely important when you are trying to conceive. Beds should never share the same wall as the door, a bathroom, or a kitchen. Televisions, work objects such as computers, mirrors, plants, and exercise equipment should be removed. Rest and romance should be the only activities in this room.
6. USE FERTILITY SYMBOLS AND ENHANCEMENTS.
Feng shui uses a number of symbols, many of which are thought to enhance fertility. Some of these would include:
Dragons: Placed on the side table of the man’s side of the bed, the dragon can add a little extra “oomph” in the bedroom. Make sure the dragon is small, otherwise, it will create too much “yang” energy in the room and make rest difficult.
Elephants: Place a pair of elephants on either side of the bedroom door. Elephants are associated with pregnancy. Or, place one statue of an elephant in the living room. Placed prominently in the bedroom, elephants are said to produce male children.
Double fish: The double fish is a symbol of marital union. Display this in the southwest corner of your bedroom.
Single piece of hollow bamboo: Place this in the north sector of the bedroom to enhance fertility. These are said to aid conception.
Red paper lanterns: hung on either side of the bed, these are believed to bring excellent yang (creative)energy to the bedroom.
When you are trying to conceive, it’s always worth taking a comprehensive approach. Fortunately, feng shui can help you make sure the environment supports your endeavors to bring that new addition to your family.
About The Author
Kathryn Weber is the publisher of The Red Lotus Letter feng shui E-Zine. For more information or to subscribe, go to http://www.redlotusletter.com, kweber@redlotusconsulting.com
It is known by many names but did you know that 80% of women who decide to have this procedure get pregnant? What was once thought a forever decision is now easily reversed. We have our very own tubal success story here. Watch this video to learn more about getting your tubes untied…
Natural fertility info.com is celebrating our one year anniversary! Wow, what a journey it has been, through all of the pregnancies, losses, hopes, joys and fears that you have all shared with me. Looking back over this last year has been amazing. I had no idea when this little site started, what an impact it would have on the world… Thank you all for sharing yourselves with me. I look forward to hearing your success story.
But on to the goodies. We are having a little giveaway. I will be giving away a bottle of my favorite prenatal multivitamin, Mega Foods -Baby & Me, to one lucky winner (valued at $36.95). To enter the contest sign up for my fertility tips. The winner will be randomly chosen from the fertility tip subscribers. The winner will be picked and announced on Monday Feb. 4th.
But on to the goodies. We are having a little giveaway. I will be giving away a bottle of my favorite prenatal multivitamin, Mega Foods -Baby & Me, to one lucky winner (valued at $36.95). To enter the contest sign up for my fertility tips. The winner will be randomly chosen from the fertility tip subscribers. The winner will be picked and announced on Monday Feb. 4th.
