April 2010
Acupuncture promising for infertility in PCOS
Acupuncture may be useful in combating infertility among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Australian research suggests.
In preliminary results from the world’s first randomised controlled trial of acupuncture for PCOS, most of the treated women (aged 18 to 35) restored their menstrual cycle and several became pregnant. Around 108 women from Sydney and from Guangzhou, China, all of whom had no periods, were given either true or sham acupuncture.
Chief investigator Dr Danforn Lim, research medical scientist at the Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Centre, Liverpool Hospital, NSW, said 70 per cent of the women had their periods return for 3 consecutive months.
‘Interestingly, 9 patients [in China] went from having no periods to getting their periods back during treatment and then falling pregnant,’ he said.
One Australian woman in an earlier study also became pregnant despite the patients being warned to use contraception because some acupuncture points should be avoided in pregnant women.
The early study results were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Auckland last week.
Reproduced with kind permission from Medical Observer Weekly.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Ten Tips to Kick Start your PCOS diet
TEN TIPS TO KICKSTART YOUR PCOS DIET
1. Eat low Glycemic Index (GI) carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains. It is very important for women with PCOS to completely avoid refined carbohydrates including sugar, white flour, whole wheat flour and products made from them eg pasta, breads, desserts, lollies, soft drinks)
2. Keep your blood sugar stable with a daily schedule of meals and snacks every three to five hours that includes some protein and good fats (for example some nuts/nut butter, seeds/seed butter, hardboiled egg, hummus dip). Protein foods take up to 5 hours to digest while carbohydrate foods digest within 30 minutes.
3. Eat at least five servings a day of vegetables including two of leafy greens
4. Have a daily serving of legumes like black beans or lentils.
5. Enjoy grass or pasture fed (organic) meat up to three times a week
6. Eat at least three daily servings of fruits like berries --which have a lower glycemic impact eAch fruit as part of a meal or with a protein.
7. Limit or eliminate milk and dairy as these can aggravate internal dampness. If you do have dairy have only non homogenized full fat milk
8. Pay careful attention to portion sizes in order to moderate glucose load and minimize insulin resistance
9. Add one or two Tbsp of cinnamon on cereal each morning to help decrease insulin resistance.
10. Include prebiotic and probiotic foods which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. Prebiotics are found in whole grains, onions, bananas, garlic, honey, leeks, artichokes and some fortified foods. Probiotic foods are found in fermented foods (sauerkraut, live culture yogurt, kim chi, miso).
1. Eat low Glycemic Index (GI) carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains. It is very important for women with PCOS to completely avoid refined carbohydrates including sugar, white flour, whole wheat flour and products made from them eg pasta, breads, desserts, lollies, soft drinks)
2. Keep your blood sugar stable with a daily schedule of meals and snacks every three to five hours that includes some protein and good fats (for example some nuts/nut butter, seeds/seed butter, hardboiled egg, hummus dip). Protein foods take up to 5 hours to digest while carbohydrate foods digest within 30 minutes.
3. Eat at least five servings a day of vegetables including two of leafy greens
4. Have a daily serving of legumes like black beans or lentils.
5. Enjoy grass or pasture fed (organic) meat up to three times a week
6. Eat at least three daily servings of fruits like berries --which have a lower glycemic impact eAch fruit as part of a meal or with a protein.
7. Limit or eliminate milk and dairy as these can aggravate internal dampness. If you do have dairy have only non homogenized full fat milk
8. Pay careful attention to portion sizes in order to moderate glucose load and minimize insulin resistance
9. Add one or two Tbsp of cinnamon on cereal each morning to help decrease insulin resistance.
10. Include prebiotic and probiotic foods which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. Prebiotics are found in whole grains, onions, bananas, garlic, honey, leeks, artichokes and some fortified foods. Probiotic foods are found in fermented foods (sauerkraut, live culture yogurt, kim chi, miso).
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and the IVF patient
Amanda Waaldyk will talking at her clinic on Tuesday 15th June. Its a free information night for PCOS/Endometriosis patients & IVF who are trying to fall pregnant. Take home information packs will be available. Its an intimate evening and is limited to 6-8 people. For those who are interested bookings are essential. Please contact Amanda on 9510 3700 to confirm your place.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
3 Fertility Signs
3 Fertility Signs
All Women of reproductive age can easily learn how to observe and chart three primary fertility signs that their bodies produce. This information can then be used to tell them numerous things about their cycle, the most obvious being whether they can or can't get pregnant on any given day.
The three fertility signs that almost every women produces are:
1. Basal Body Temperature (BBT), or, Waking temperature
2. Cervical fluid
3. Cervical position
The following is a brief summary of each.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Taking Your Temperature
1. Take your daily temperature first thing upon awakening, before any other activity and record throughout the cycle.
2. If using a digital thermometer, wait until it beeps, usually about 30 seconds. If using a glass thermometer, leave it in 5 minutes.
3. Take your temperature orally or vaginally, but always from the same place.
4. Try to take it at the very same time each day.
5. Before taking your temperature, a minimum of 3 hours consecutive sleep must have been had.
6. If you use a glass thermometer, shake it down the day before.
Charting Your Temperature
1. Try to get in the habit of recording you temperature soon after it is taken.
2. If the temperature falls between two numbers on a glass thermometer, always take the lowest.
3. Make dots on the appropriate temperature and connect the dots with straight lines.
4. Note events such as stress, or illness in the miscellaneous row. Temperatures taken late should be noted in the time taken row.
5. In the above cases your temperature may be quite high. For these days, draw a dotted line between the day before and the next days temperature.
Cervical Fluid
Observing Your Cervical Fluid
1. Start checking the day bleeding stops.
2. Pay attention to vaginal sensations.
3. Try to check fluid everytime you go to the bathroom.
4. Check every morning and night.
5. Checking fluid while sexually aroused may not give accurate information.
6. To check your cervical fluid, separate your vaginal lips and swipe with fingers.
7. Be sure to have clean hands.
8. Does it feel dry, sticky, creamy, slippery like egg white?
9. Put finger with fluid on it together with your thumb, then slowly pull apart to see if it is stretchy, holds together, or immediately breaks apart.
10. After urinating, pay attention to how easily the tissue slides across your vaginal lips.
11. Take note of the secretions on your underwear.
12. Around fertile times, check in the toilet water to see if you can see cervical fluid.
13. Note the colour, consistency, and amount of fluid.
14. Using your finger to insert into the vagina to feel the cervix may be necessary for some.
Charting Your Cervical Fluid
1. Day one of your cycle is the first day of true menstrual bleeding.
2. Distinguish between sticky, creamy, and slippery egg white.
3. Sticky breaks when you pull your fingers apart. Slippery egg white is quite wet and stretchy between fingers.
4. Slippery egg white indicates fertile days.
5. Note any vaginal sensations.
Identifying Your Peak Day
1. Your peak day is the last day of slippery egg white fluid. This is your wettest-quality day.
2. Record your peak day. This tells you that ovulation has occurred.
Cervix Position
Observing Your Cervix
1. Start observing cervix once bleeding has stopped.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly.
3. Try to check at the same time each day (+/-).
4. The best position is squatting.
5. Use your middle finger to check softness, height, opening, and wetness of the cervix.
6. Women who have had children vaginally will note a slightly open oval cervix.
7. In your fertile period before ovulation is the best time to start checking because of the wet slippery conditions.
8. You may feel small nabothian cysts on the cervix.
Charting Cervix Position
1. Use a dot to indicate a closed, low, and firm cervix (before and after menses).
2. Use a small circle to indicate a partly open cervix (approaching fertile period).
3. Use a large circle to indicate a high, open, soft cervix (fertile period before ovulation).
All Women of reproductive age can easily learn how to observe and chart three primary fertility signs that their bodies produce. This information can then be used to tell them numerous things about their cycle, the most obvious being whether they can or can't get pregnant on any given day.
The three fertility signs that almost every women produces are:
1. Basal Body Temperature (BBT), or, Waking temperature
2. Cervical fluid
3. Cervical position
The following is a brief summary of each.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Taking Your Temperature
1. Take your daily temperature first thing upon awakening, before any other activity and record throughout the cycle.
2. If using a digital thermometer, wait until it beeps, usually about 30 seconds. If using a glass thermometer, leave it in 5 minutes.
3. Take your temperature orally or vaginally, but always from the same place.
4. Try to take it at the very same time each day.
5. Before taking your temperature, a minimum of 3 hours consecutive sleep must have been had.
6. If you use a glass thermometer, shake it down the day before.
Charting Your Temperature
1. Try to get in the habit of recording you temperature soon after it is taken.
2. If the temperature falls between two numbers on a glass thermometer, always take the lowest.
3. Make dots on the appropriate temperature and connect the dots with straight lines.
4. Note events such as stress, or illness in the miscellaneous row. Temperatures taken late should be noted in the time taken row.
5. In the above cases your temperature may be quite high. For these days, draw a dotted line between the day before and the next days temperature.
Cervical Fluid
Observing Your Cervical Fluid
1. Start checking the day bleeding stops.
2. Pay attention to vaginal sensations.
3. Try to check fluid everytime you go to the bathroom.
4. Check every morning and night.
5. Checking fluid while sexually aroused may not give accurate information.
6. To check your cervical fluid, separate your vaginal lips and swipe with fingers.
7. Be sure to have clean hands.
8. Does it feel dry, sticky, creamy, slippery like egg white?
9. Put finger with fluid on it together with your thumb, then slowly pull apart to see if it is stretchy, holds together, or immediately breaks apart.
10. After urinating, pay attention to how easily the tissue slides across your vaginal lips.
11. Take note of the secretions on your underwear.
12. Around fertile times, check in the toilet water to see if you can see cervical fluid.
13. Note the colour, consistency, and amount of fluid.
14. Using your finger to insert into the vagina to feel the cervix may be necessary for some.
Charting Your Cervical Fluid
1. Day one of your cycle is the first day of true menstrual bleeding.
2. Distinguish between sticky, creamy, and slippery egg white.
3. Sticky breaks when you pull your fingers apart. Slippery egg white is quite wet and stretchy between fingers.
4. Slippery egg white indicates fertile days.
5. Note any vaginal sensations.
Identifying Your Peak Day
1. Your peak day is the last day of slippery egg white fluid. This is your wettest-quality day.
2. Record your peak day. This tells you that ovulation has occurred.
Cervix Position
Observing Your Cervix
1. Start observing cervix once bleeding has stopped.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly.
3. Try to check at the same time each day (+/-).
4. The best position is squatting.
5. Use your middle finger to check softness, height, opening, and wetness of the cervix.
6. Women who have had children vaginally will note a slightly open oval cervix.
7. In your fertile period before ovulation is the best time to start checking because of the wet slippery conditions.
8. You may feel small nabothian cysts on the cervix.
Charting Cervix Position
1. Use a dot to indicate a closed, low, and firm cervix (before and after menses).
2. Use a small circle to indicate a partly open cervix (approaching fertile period).
3. Use a large circle to indicate a high, open, soft cervix (fertile period before ovulation).
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Fertile Diet: Natural Fertility Management Eating Plan
One of the easiest and simplest ways to influence our level of health and wellness and enhance our fertility is by changing both the way we eat and what we eat. We are more likely to obtain the benefits of the food we consume, if we have good digestion, eat regularly, eat a range of nutritious foods, eat in a relaxed environment and choose foods from a variety of different food groups. Today, a significant portion of our food has been altered and processed so by the time it reaches our mouths the nutritional value has decreased and the amount of toxins and chemicals we ingest has increased. For this reason I encourage you to buy foods that are fresh and organic. Remember, the food you are eating provides your body with the building blocks needed to produce healthy eggs and sperm and ultimately a healthy baby.
FATS
Good Fats = essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils which are beneficial to many different aspects of our health
Sources = olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, deep sea oil fish, nuts and seeds
Bad Fats = saturated fats which upset your nutrient/hormone balance
Sources = deep fried food, butter, margarine, check labels for amounts of saturated fats
PROTEIN
You need an average size serving (equivalent to the palm of your hand) of protein providing food 2-3 times a day. This can be from
1. A primary protein (complete protein) which comes from an animal source and contains all essential amino acids or
2. A combination of secondary proteins, which come from plant sources and need to be combined in order to provide full range of amino acids: nuts/grains/seeds/legumes.
Protein Providing Foods:
Fish: 2-3 x week but beware of potential mercury problem. Suggest a deep/sea/ocean/cold water fish which are less polluted eg: mackerel, trevally, sardines, salmon and avoid larger varieties, such as tuna, barramundi, orange roughy, flake which are likely to be higher in mercury.
Chicken: only use chemical free or certified organic and trim the skin to avoid fats
Eggs: excellent source of protein and should be only limited if allergy exists or they cause gastrointestinal upset. Again suggest certified organically fed.
Diary: minimal intake of cow’s milk and cheese as it can contribute to mucus and malabsorption problems. Natural cultured non-flavored yoghurt is good. Rice and Soy Milks are OK but avoid genetically modified, high fats and sugar brands. Soymilk should be whole bean and organic.
Red Meat: eat in moderation once to twice a week. Avoid organ meats/offal and poor quality sausage mince. Also suggest avoiding deli meats, which are high in fats, offal content and preservatives. Trim all fat.
Legumes: split peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, tempeh. Good plant protein and carbohydrate.
Nuts/Seeds: raw, unsalted and fresh essential. Easily oxidized so keep refrigerated and eat within 2 weeks. Nuts should not taste bitter. Use in stir-fries, salads, pasta and snacks.
CARBOHYDRATES:
The balance of protein to carbohydrate foods should be approximately 1:1 although you can eat as many non-starchy vegetables as you like. There are two types of carbohydrates simple and complex. The rule of thumb is simple. It’s important your diet consists of plenty of the “good” complex carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables and whole grains). And less of the "bad" simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour products like white bread and pasta) which can disrupt your hormone balance and leach nutrients from your body stores causing you to crave more of those foods.
Starchy Vegetables: potatoes, green vegetables. All ‘eyes’ or ‘scabs’ on root vegetables should be removed. Vegetables should be steamed, stir-fried or dry baked not microwaved.
Fruit: 2-3 pieces daily including juices with fresh ginger.
No dried fruit.
Grains: whole grain bread (yeast free)/rice/pasta whenever possible
Avoid any refined flour products and bakery products
Sugar: We want to minimize all sweet things as much as possible including sugar substitutes, undiluted fruit juices, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks and chocolate
Alcohol: Avoid Alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to the fetus and leaches nutrients.
FATS
Good Fats = essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 oils which are beneficial to many different aspects of our health
Sources = olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, deep sea oil fish, nuts and seeds
Bad Fats = saturated fats which upset your nutrient/hormone balance
Sources = deep fried food, butter, margarine, check labels for amounts of saturated fats
PROTEIN
You need an average size serving (equivalent to the palm of your hand) of protein providing food 2-3 times a day. This can be from
1. A primary protein (complete protein) which comes from an animal source and contains all essential amino acids or
2. A combination of secondary proteins, which come from plant sources and need to be combined in order to provide full range of amino acids: nuts/grains/seeds/legumes.
Protein Providing Foods:
Fish: 2-3 x week but beware of potential mercury problem. Suggest a deep/sea/ocean/cold water fish which are less polluted eg: mackerel, trevally, sardines, salmon and avoid larger varieties, such as tuna, barramundi, orange roughy, flake which are likely to be higher in mercury.
Chicken: only use chemical free or certified organic and trim the skin to avoid fats
Eggs: excellent source of protein and should be only limited if allergy exists or they cause gastrointestinal upset. Again suggest certified organically fed.
Diary: minimal intake of cow’s milk and cheese as it can contribute to mucus and malabsorption problems. Natural cultured non-flavored yoghurt is good. Rice and Soy Milks are OK but avoid genetically modified, high fats and sugar brands. Soymilk should be whole bean and organic.
Red Meat: eat in moderation once to twice a week. Avoid organ meats/offal and poor quality sausage mince. Also suggest avoiding deli meats, which are high in fats, offal content and preservatives. Trim all fat.
Legumes: split peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, tempeh. Good plant protein and carbohydrate.
Nuts/Seeds: raw, unsalted and fresh essential. Easily oxidized so keep refrigerated and eat within 2 weeks. Nuts should not taste bitter. Use in stir-fries, salads, pasta and snacks.
CARBOHYDRATES:
The balance of protein to carbohydrate foods should be approximately 1:1 although you can eat as many non-starchy vegetables as you like. There are two types of carbohydrates simple and complex. The rule of thumb is simple. It’s important your diet consists of plenty of the “good” complex carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables and whole grains). And less of the "bad" simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour products like white bread and pasta) which can disrupt your hormone balance and leach nutrients from your body stores causing you to crave more of those foods.
Starchy Vegetables: potatoes, green vegetables. All ‘eyes’ or ‘scabs’ on root vegetables should be removed. Vegetables should be steamed, stir-fried or dry baked not microwaved.
Fruit: 2-3 pieces daily including juices with fresh ginger.
No dried fruit.
Grains: whole grain bread (yeast free)/rice/pasta whenever possible
Avoid any refined flour products and bakery products
Sugar: We want to minimize all sweet things as much as possible including sugar substitutes, undiluted fruit juices, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks and chocolate
Alcohol: Avoid Alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to the fetus and leaches nutrients.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
FERTILITY SPIKE FROM ACUPUNCTURE
Fertility spike from acupuncture
* Adam Cresswell, Health editor
* From: The Australian
* February 09, 2008 12:00AM
WOMEN having IVF treatment can boost their chances of falling pregnant by 65 per cent simply by having acupuncture.
A review combining the results of seven previous studies has found that acupuncture also increases the chances of having an ongoing pregnancy (beyond 12 weeks from gestation) by 87 per cent -- and nearly doubles the chance of a successful live birth, increasing that by 91 per cent.
The authors of the review, published online yesterday by the British Medical Journal, said the results suggested that just 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture in order to bring about one extra pregnancy.
In all the studies, together involving 1366 women, acupuncture was given within 24 hours of the embryo being transferred to the women's wombs.
It is poorly understood how fertility could be affected by acupuncture - the insertion of fine needles into the skin at specific points along invisible "meridians".
The review's Dutch and US authors suggested it might work by stimulating fertility hormones, increasing bloodflow to the uterus, or reducing stress.
They said that, although their results might have inflated the positive effect of acupuncture, it was probably still highly cost-effective because of the cost differential.
In Australia, women generally pay about $5000 out of pocket for IVF treatment, compared with about $100 for acupuncture.
There were more than 46,000 IVF treatment cycles provided in Australia in 2005, a rise of nearly 14per cent on the previous year.
The results were welcomed by Australian IVF experts. Peter Illingworth, medical director of the Sydney-based clinic IVF Australia, said his clinic already advised women about acupuncture and referred them to suitable providers.
Although there were many herbal and other complementary treatments claiming to boost fertility, the new study confirmed a belief that acupuncture was one of the few that actually worked.
"What this new study shows is that this effect is statistically significant, and is real," Associate Professor Illingworth said.
"As a doctor practising in Australia, I would regard it as fairly convincing evidence. But some couples might take the view that they have more than enough needles inserted into their bodies as it is with an IVF process."
* Adam Cresswell, Health editor
* From: The Australian
* February 09, 2008 12:00AM
WOMEN having IVF treatment can boost their chances of falling pregnant by 65 per cent simply by having acupuncture.
A review combining the results of seven previous studies has found that acupuncture also increases the chances of having an ongoing pregnancy (beyond 12 weeks from gestation) by 87 per cent -- and nearly doubles the chance of a successful live birth, increasing that by 91 per cent.
The authors of the review, published online yesterday by the British Medical Journal, said the results suggested that just 10 women would need to be treated with acupuncture in order to bring about one extra pregnancy.
In all the studies, together involving 1366 women, acupuncture was given within 24 hours of the embryo being transferred to the women's wombs.
It is poorly understood how fertility could be affected by acupuncture - the insertion of fine needles into the skin at specific points along invisible "meridians".
The review's Dutch and US authors suggested it might work by stimulating fertility hormones, increasing bloodflow to the uterus, or reducing stress.
They said that, although their results might have inflated the positive effect of acupuncture, it was probably still highly cost-effective because of the cost differential.
In Australia, women generally pay about $5000 out of pocket for IVF treatment, compared with about $100 for acupuncture.
There were more than 46,000 IVF treatment cycles provided in Australia in 2005, a rise of nearly 14per cent on the previous year.
The results were welcomed by Australian IVF experts. Peter Illingworth, medical director of the Sydney-based clinic IVF Australia, said his clinic already advised women about acupuncture and referred them to suitable providers.
Although there were many herbal and other complementary treatments claiming to boost fertility, the new study confirmed a belief that acupuncture was one of the few that actually worked.
"What this new study shows is that this effect is statistically significant, and is real," Associate Professor Illingworth said.
"As a doctor practising in Australia, I would regard it as fairly convincing evidence. But some couples might take the view that they have more than enough needles inserted into their bodies as it is with an IVF process."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Coping with the Stress of Christmas and Infertility
BAH HUMBUG ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’
We have all seen the Hallmark version: the loving, happy laughing family gathered around the Christmas tree. Then there’s real life. Why is that, upon reaching adulthood, the ‘magic’ of the season seems to lose its essence that was once bestowed upon us growing up. Jesus was born into a family that had its own Christmas drama of sorts- an unmarried pregnant woman, a long hard trip, and a no vacancy sign at the local motel. For many, Christmas can easily be the most joyous time of year of the most stressful. Buying and wrapping gifts, sending cards, close encounters of the family kind, extra baking and full schedules all work together to create an atmosphere of tension. Fertility treatments can be stressful, too. Hormone treatments, a packed medical schedule, worry and expectations all work together to create an atmosphere of anxiety. When you add them together, you have a pressure cooker filled with stress worry and a potential meltdown.
10 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD
1. Rather than getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, take a few moments to sit out in your garden with a cup of tea, watch the sunset and just breath.
2. Plan Ahead. Before everyone converges on a relative’s house, talk about or think through what to expect and set some boundaries. Make a game plan. “Don’t become a victim”.
3. For those worried about being lonely plan ahead finding some things you’d like to do and invite others to join you. Get tickets to a holiday show, volunteer for a local organization, go for walk/hike. Then hold yourself to the schedule. “Remember there’s a part of you that will want to do nothing but stay at home”.
4. Don’t be afraid to be a little selfish. If you need time away from the frenzy TAKE IT. Take care of yourself. When the family gets to be too much, it might be time to leave. Think of an exit strategy ahead of time.
5. Protect yourself during this very emotional and stressful time. Stress and depression levels can increase if you don’t have adequate sleep, don’t exercise and eat nutritious foods. Get enough sleep, enough exercise and eat healthy foods.
6. Give yourself a break. This is the time of year when you don’t need to think about fertility. Instead of focusing on getting pregnant and fertility treatments, do something different for yourself. Make it a tradition to relax.
7. Create a new tradition. For my partner Christmas is a very difficult time, for the two of us we have created our own Christmas tradition. Every year we have dinner at China Town, mind you it’s the only place that’s open!
8. Look out for others and yourself. Be sensitive to others-those who might be especially vulnerable this year. Sometimes helping others can help you forget about your own troubles for a while. Volunteer in a soup kitchen or shelter, buy presents for a child whose holiday would otherwise be bleak. Sing Christmas carols.
9. Doing that spiritual preparation will change your expectation. To cope with infertility over the holidays, stay in touch with God or Buddha or the Universe – whoever or whatever grounds you. Take time to breathe deeply and say a prayer, or just sit on a park bench and reflect on this season of your life. If you’re disconnected from your soul or Spirit, you’ll find that coping with infertility is almost impossible.
10. Use communication and empathy. Don’t lock your feelings inside. Share with your partner how these holidays are affecting you. Together you can make it through.
We have all seen the Hallmark version: the loving, happy laughing family gathered around the Christmas tree. Then there’s real life. Why is that, upon reaching adulthood, the ‘magic’ of the season seems to lose its essence that was once bestowed upon us growing up. Jesus was born into a family that had its own Christmas drama of sorts- an unmarried pregnant woman, a long hard trip, and a no vacancy sign at the local motel. For many, Christmas can easily be the most joyous time of year of the most stressful. Buying and wrapping gifts, sending cards, close encounters of the family kind, extra baking and full schedules all work together to create an atmosphere of tension. Fertility treatments can be stressful, too. Hormone treatments, a packed medical schedule, worry and expectations all work together to create an atmosphere of anxiety. When you add them together, you have a pressure cooker filled with stress worry and a potential meltdown.
10 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD
1. Rather than getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, take a few moments to sit out in your garden with a cup of tea, watch the sunset and just breath.
2. Plan Ahead. Before everyone converges on a relative’s house, talk about or think through what to expect and set some boundaries. Make a game plan. “Don’t become a victim”.
3. For those worried about being lonely plan ahead finding some things you’d like to do and invite others to join you. Get tickets to a holiday show, volunteer for a local organization, go for walk/hike. Then hold yourself to the schedule. “Remember there’s a part of you that will want to do nothing but stay at home”.
4. Don’t be afraid to be a little selfish. If you need time away from the frenzy TAKE IT. Take care of yourself. When the family gets to be too much, it might be time to leave. Think of an exit strategy ahead of time.
5. Protect yourself during this very emotional and stressful time. Stress and depression levels can increase if you don’t have adequate sleep, don’t exercise and eat nutritious foods. Get enough sleep, enough exercise and eat healthy foods.
6. Give yourself a break. This is the time of year when you don’t need to think about fertility. Instead of focusing on getting pregnant and fertility treatments, do something different for yourself. Make it a tradition to relax.
7. Create a new tradition. For my partner Christmas is a very difficult time, for the two of us we have created our own Christmas tradition. Every year we have dinner at China Town, mind you it’s the only place that’s open!
8. Look out for others and yourself. Be sensitive to others-those who might be especially vulnerable this year. Sometimes helping others can help you forget about your own troubles for a while. Volunteer in a soup kitchen or shelter, buy presents for a child whose holiday would otherwise be bleak. Sing Christmas carols.
9. Doing that spiritual preparation will change your expectation. To cope with infertility over the holidays, stay in touch with God or Buddha or the Universe – whoever or whatever grounds you. Take time to breathe deeply and say a prayer, or just sit on a park bench and reflect on this season of your life. If you’re disconnected from your soul or Spirit, you’ll find that coping with infertility is almost impossible.
10. Use communication and empathy. Don’t lock your feelings inside. Share with your partner how these holidays are affecting you. Together you can make it through.
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