Have a Safe and Fun Memorial Day!

New Fertility Bracelet at The Fertile Garden!

This is a perfect gift for someone you know who has been trying, or a gift for yourself. The Fertile Garden fertility jewelry line is designed with gemstones which have special metaphysical properties that are used to enhance fertility and sustain pregnancy.

Featured is the Hope - Fertility Enhancing Bracelet with green aventurine, labradorite and turtle charm.

Pomegranite Juice for Fertility?

I've read all over the place that Pom Juice is great for building up your lining, and I'm all for that. When  you are taking so many drugs, it's nice to hear about a "natural" cure, if you will. So I've been drinking roughly 8 oz. a day. I've also read that it is great for your general health... helps prevent cancer and heart disease!

I like POM Wonderful juice from Costco. The price at Costco is much much better then at other stores.  Here are just a few fun facts from antioxidants-guide.com.  I highlighted the most important one in red :)

In fact pomegranate antioxidant levels are three times the amount of green tea or red wine. 

Among the many many benefits of this wonder fruit are...

• Helps Lower Blood Pressure
• Has Anti-aging capabilities
• Promotes good cardiovascular health
• Helps with a healthy pregnancy
• Keeps cholestrol levels healthy
• Lowers blood sugars
• Fights Inflammation
• Reduces cell damage

It is believed through recent study that pomegranate juice may help keep fatty deposits from collecting on artery walls. In one study, mice who were given pomegranate juice were able to reduce this build up by over 30%. 

However these results do not directly translate to humans but it does show that pomegranate juice antioxidant may be a very valuable tool for preventing hardening of the arteries and such related diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. 

Pomegranate juice is high in fiber and has substantial amounts of potassium which is important in sending nerve impulses as well as releasing energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism.

It contains vitamin C and niacin too. 

If you have anemia then take notice as pomegranates are thought to contain very high levels of iron. 

Pregnant women take note too. The womb lining (endometrium) where the actual implant of fertilised eggs takes place almost entirely consists of blood and pomegranates contain high levels of cobalt which is an essential raw material for the synthesis of blood. Cobalt also contributes to the colour of the fruit too. 

Phytochemicals in Pomegranate juice help prevent heart disease and cancer. 

What happens in a 5dt:

-1dpt ..embryo is growing and developing
0dpt... Embryo is now a blastocyst
1dpt....Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day
2dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining
3dpt.. Implantation begins,as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining
4dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining
5dpt.. Morula is completely inmplanted in the lining and has placenta cells &
fetal cells
6dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood
7dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
8dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops
9dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on
HPT

Tips to De-Stress for IVF Success

Research has proven that stress plays a critical role in the success of any fertility treatment, especially IVF.  But how can you relax when all you can think about is whether or not you’ll be able to conceive?

If you’re having difficulty calming your mind and your body, try these tips to de-stress before and during your IVF treatments:

1. Lay off (or significantly reduce) your intake of caffeine.  It might “wake you up”, but it can also make you agitated.
2. Get a good night’s sleep.  Rest is one of the most beneficial “gifts” you can give yourself.
3. Take up a relaxing hobby.  Some individuals like to scrapbook, others like to knit.  Some cook, some read, some write… the list goes on and on.  Do whatever calms you and allows you to focus your energies in a positive direction.
4. Learn to meditate.  You don’t have to be spiritually-inclined to embrace the powers of meditation. 
5. Try yoga pre-IVF.  Yoga, when performed correctly, can prep your body, heart and soul.
6. Eat healthfully.  If you’re investing in IVF, yo u must invest in your nutrition, too. 
7. Stay away from toxic people.  Though this can be easier said than done, whenever you have the choice, choose to avoid persons who want to bring you down.

Great IVF tips!

What a great website!!! So many wonderful tips, hope this helps someone!

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/ivfhints.html

Things know one ever tells you about fertility treatments...

• How Mother's Day could make you so sad.
  
• That at a certain point, you are going in for ultrasound and bloodwork everyday. You might run out of veins. First one arm goes, then the next....next thing you know, you are getting blood drawn out of a vein in your hand. ouch.
  
• Bring a book to every appointment, you never know how long you might have to wait.
  
• How tired the meds make you...but the shots themselves, were not as bad as I had anticipated. That first shot is the worst, once you get past that one, you just knock them out, like a women on a mission. Menopur burns though. And use ice before Ganirelix.
  
• How hard it is to be positive and have hope.
  
• How gross progesterone suppositories are....ew. They also might make you gassy.
  
• How awesome, but expensive acupuncture is.
  
• Some of your friends or family might never even ask you how its going. Maybe they dont care, maybe they dont want to bring it up becuase you might be upset...but it still hurts.
  
• How much you can dread your birthday. (signifies getting older)
  
• That you will be so bloated when you are stimming, you will want to wear stretchy pants everyday.
  
• The Follistim pen is a wonderful invention. Make sure you keep track in the Follistim book of your dates/doses. You might forget how much is left in there.
  
• Make sure you get at least 2 days bedrest after transfer. You deserve the relaxation! Get some good movies and your favorite chocolate candy and chill out. Let someone else scoop the litter box.
  
• After the retrieval, you might get constipated. Have some prunes or a Fiber One.
• Keep your eye on the prize everyone!