100th Post Giveaway

It's my 100th post!

Thanks to all of my dedicated readers. I have so many ideas about women's health, childbirth, pregnancy, fertility, etc. I am happy that you have joined me in my journey!

"Enjoy this time with your husband...you will have kids for the rest of your life." - This is the a great piece of advise I hear from all my friends and family who have children.

TO ENTER THE CONTEST:
1. I want to hear the advise you have gotten as a mom or mom-to-be. Leave me a comment on this post. 1 entry

2. Tell your friends and readers about my contest on your blog. 1 entry

And, in honor of my 100th post, Lusa Organics has offered to help me out with a give away. Lusa Organics makes a line of handmade, body, baby, and mama products. Click here to visit the Lusa Organics website for more information. Great products!!!

The fantastic prize package includes: Booty Balm, Citrus Lip Balm, and a Lavender Sugar Scrub.



Winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday September 2nd!

Ignorance is 'Not' Bliss

Remember the 1991 movie, Fried Green Tomatoes? Evelyn Couch, played by Kathy Bates, goes to a class where at one point the women are given mirrors and asked to take down their panties and explore their vaginas. Evelyn gets so uncomfortable that she has a break down and leaves class in tears.

Ladies.....ignorance is not bliss.

When I was in 8th grade, two years after starting my menstrual cycle, I was convinced I had a yeast infection and asked my mother to get me an OTC medication for it. Oh. Oh. Oh. Little did I know. It wasn't a yeast infection, it had been normal vaginal cervical fluid! But, it wasn't until 12 years later that I would know what cervical fluid would be all about. I know a lot of young girls and even women see "stuff" coming out down there and probably freak out like I did. This is normal ladies! Most likely you do not have an infection unless it has a bad odor or is discolored. (By the way, I treat my yeast infections with apple cider vinegar, pau d' arco tea, and plain yogurt these days...but that is for another post.)

By now, you know that I chart my cycles. I chart because I want to to know my body. Sure, it may seem overwhelming to get the hang of it at first, but it gets easy and hassle free eventually. I started charting in 2006. I began charting because I did not want to introduce anything "unnatural", such as "the pill", into my body. I wish I had started charting much earlier, but I didn't think to do it for maintenance and detection of infections or abnormal issues during the cycle because I was always normal and regular. I thought fertility charting was just a method of birth control so I studied up on it just before we got married. In actuality, fertility charting can help you understand if there are things going on that just aren't quite right.

I say all of this because I believe it is important to know what is going on "down there". If you are pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or if you are a women from puberty and beyond, I think it is important to look at your anatomy. Terms like vaginal opening, perineum and labia will come up during pregnancy and birth. Do you know where they are? In addition, after birth, you will want to take a look again. If you had a episiotomy or tearing, you may want observe the healing and the ongoing changes that will take place as you body repairs. Ladies, take a mirror and look. Don't be an Evelyn Couch!

The Basics of Charting Your Fertility

Fertility charting can be used by those who want to use a natural form of birth control and determining the optimal time to achieve pregnancy. You will need to chart your own cycle to find what your most fertile days will be. These are very basic charts and simplified for the specific needs of this woman. By reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, you will be able to detail a chart that is specific to you. I recommend charting for a few cycles in order to understand your body enough to use this as a form of birth control. Charting is also a great tool for women who have irregular periods, women who have been told they are infertile and still want to try to conceive naturally, those who have gynecological issues or are prone to infections in order to be diagnosed more easily by a physician, and many other needs.

This method has worked as a form of birth control for us for several years and for pregnancy achievement when we desired. Once you get the hang of charting, it becomes very easy! You get to know your body very well. And, in some cases, you can determine when "things just aren't quite right" with your body and you can seek further care.

Refer to the charts below:

1. Chart the cycle you are on (in this case, she is on #11), your age, the length of the cycle (first day of period to first day of the next), and the date your cycle started.

2. Then, chart the cycle day starting with "1" as the first day you see blood. The "date" is the day of the month, the day of the week.

3. Each day you will take your waking temperature at the same time each morning. Your temperature will be low until after you ovulate. The day after your most fertile day of ovulation (peak day), your temperature will rise and you are safe for intercourse without protection. It will drop again when you begin your period. If it does not lower again on the day you expect your period, and you have 18 days of high temperatures in a row after ovulation, you can expect to see a positive pregnancy test!

4. Check the days you have intercourse and be sure that you are especially noting your most fertile time which is shown below in this example highlighted in yellow. You will need to abstain or use a protective barrier method, such a condoms, when having intercourse on your fertile days if you are not wanting to become pregnant. If you do want to become pregnant, you will want to chart your fertile days carefully and plan intercourse on those days.

5. Your cervical fluids are the indication of fertility. If you are not on your period, you will be dry, creamy, sticky, or have fertile egg white cervical fluids. Click here for a website that has a great representation of the cervix and fluids.

6. Notes can be taken on travel, moods, stress, PMS, illness, exercise, etc....

Chart #1: This women did not want to become pregnant on this cycle
and did not. She started her period again after her 28 day cycle.

Chart #2: This women wanted to become pregnant on this cycle
and did. Her temperature remained high after her 28 day cycle.

These charts are only examples and this is a very simplified review of charting. If you have questions or are interested in using this method, I encourage you to read up on it and ask questions on how it can be used by you.

Vaccination Exemption in Texas

In addition to medical and religious reasons, I recently learned that Texas and Arkansas have been added to the list of 20 states that allow for "philosophical" exemptions from vaccinations. By stating that you are opposed to vaccinations based on your philosophies, your children can be exempt from getting any or all vaccinations. It is not necessary to state your philosophical reasons when you complete the proper forms for exemption. Remember that it is important to apply early to avoid the backlog and possibly delays for school deadlines.

There has been a lot of publicity on the evening news this week about vaccinations. Parents are being advised to vaccinate their children to go back to school. And, there have been a few local cases of severe reactions to Gardasil, the HPV vaccination.

According to the poll on my blog, about 42% of my readers have chosen not to get all of the recommended for some or all of their children. Because many doctors and hospital staff are presenting vaccinating as "the law" most parents are vaccinating their children without the proper education and information. Be aware that it is "the law" that they offer your tiny new baby the vaccines, but you are able to waive any and all of these vaccination given at birth.

If you decide to vaccinate, I recommend that parents wait until their children are at least two years old before doing any vaccinating. As far as school aged children go, I would strongly urge doing a lot of research before getting all of the vaccinations recommended by your pediatrician. Many vaccines are still so new and do not have long term, double-blind placebo test studies done on them. A chiropractor friend of mine recently informed me that longer studies have been done on shampoo than on vaccines. Hmm......

Click here to find a vaccine friendly doctor near you.

Newborn Crawl to Initiate Breastfeeding

I love the video of a newborn crawling up it mother to feed. I wish the poor baby was a bit more dried off and had a hat on, but overall, it is a great demonstration.



Evidence shows that 22% of all deaths among babies in developing countries may be prevented by early breastfeeding initiation.

The breast crawl is natural and instinctive for babies. This does not guarantee successful establishment of breastfeeding for every mother and baby, but it can have some great advantages if it is achieved. The skin to skin contact with the newborn baby has many amazing affects on the mother and baby as well, including bonding and warmth.

Advantages to the mother and baby for the breast crawl and early breastfeeding initiation include:

• Skin to skin contact which keeps the baby warm
• Leads to fast and effective achievement of feeding skills by the baby
• The first feeding of colostrum has a high concentration of antibodies. It is the babies first immunization. The baby will get bacterial flora from the mother that protects against infection and ultimately leads to the baby's survival
• Promotes uterine contractions for better birth of the placenta
• It can prevent maternal blood loss and anemia
• Leads to better sugar levels and other biochemical parameters in the first few hours after birth
• Promotes earlier passage of meconium and decreases the potential of newborn jaundice
• Early and long term breastfeeding success
• Better mother-infant bonding

Information gathered from http://breastcrawl.org

It's Up For Discussion

Thanks to all my faithful readers! I want to hear from you. Vote for the topics you want to know more about on my new poll to the right. Or, if there is something else you want to read up on, leave a comment or send me an email.

My Current Read: Making Babies

Making Babies: The Science of Pregnancy by David Bainbridge

The cover really grabbed me! This book is a bit over my head, but has some fascinating, scientific information about how sex and pregnancy has evolved over the last several hundred years and really since the beginning of time. It is amazing how much we were not able to know and discover without simple objects such as microscopes. I am about halfway through and have found some interesting information that pertain to my own journey with trying to become pregnant. Not sure if I recommend this one yet as a good source for your own library, but I will let you know.