Welcome to the IF We Believe! Blog Carnival!
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week!
This Guest Post was written for inclusion in the monthly IF We Believe! Blog Carnival
hosted by Arpita of Up, Down & Natural.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a list of other wonderfully brave mama's who
participate in this Carnival, and share their stories of infertility!
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A wonderfully inspiring Guest Post by Fiona, on the positives that come out of having to wait for baby to join the family! The journey of trying for a family is full of ups and downs. Often it's easy to focus on the downs, and miss all the blessings we still have. Thank you to Fiona, for providing this uplifting post on infertility.
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"I’m sitting here on this beautiful, sunny, Tuesday afternoon, enjoying a delicious, cold, caffeinated, alcoholic beverage (yes, that’s right, caffeine AND alcohol!) that my husband was kind enough to bring me as he quietly asked “You can have this now right??”, to which the answer was, “Yes, please!!” because... You guessed it! I’m back to Cycle Day 1..... AGAIN!!! And as my husband and I are on vacation from work this week, I thought I should enjoy just a couple of days of eating, drinking and doing whatever I like to get through these next few days of aunt flow induced depression before getting back into my healthy Trying To Conceive routine once more.
With this delicious drink in hand I am reminded to focus on all the positive that has come from our TTC journey thus far.
When I decided I would submit a post to the IF We Believe! Blog Carnival, I turned to my husband and said “Hey, why don’t we do a post together!? What positive things do you think have come out of having to wait for a baby?” My husband’s response in a smiling, friendly sort of way was, “None!! I have to take gross vitamins and eat weird foods that you claim are ‘super’!!!”, thus I will be writing this from my own point of view about all the positive effects I think the wait has had on US, even if he won’t admit it himself! ;)
Firstly, our relationship.
We’ve always had a great relationship and have been very much eachother’s best friends. We talk about everything and spend almost all of our time together, as we work together. We have made a lot of big decisions since beginning our relationship, including my moving in with him in New Jersey within a couple months of meeting, then moving together to the Dominican Republic a year later, then starting our own business ~ A School in the Dominican, and then expanding our school to include a summer camp and volunteer program. Along the way we’ve had 8 pets together, have bought vehicles and most recently bought a house/school, so we have been through a lot, but surprisingly, all with very little stress or bumps along the way.... until it came to baby making! We’ve both had to deal with a lot of bumps, stress and down times (especially with the arrival of my period each month, or those reeeeaaallly long cycles, or those cycles when ovulation just decides not to happen... ugg, depressing just to think about!). We’ve had to make eachother laugh and smile or stay out of eachother’s way when we knew space was needed. We’ve talked about our feelings, talked about our plans, talked about our future, more than ever before and with all that talking, sharing, and working together, we grow closer and closer by the day and even more ready to move from being a couple to a family.
Not to mention the increase of action in the bedroom to make sure we don’t miss out on any prime baby-making moments!!! ;)
Secondly, our future parenting plans and choices.
I don’t know if the wait has necessarily made me change my plans, because I don’t think I really had any set plans. Previously I guess I just sort of thought everyone uses disposable diapers, every baby sleeps in a crib, every baby sits in a bouncy swing while mama does things around the house, etc. But boy was I wrong! I am a bit of an internet addict so through this TTC wait one thing I have been doing A LOT of is researching and reading. I’ve been researching options, products, choices, opinions, ideas, and more, and with all this research my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of great things out there! Now, I actually have a plan, of course, it’s not set in stone, but I do know I’ll definitely be heading down the cloth diapering, breastfeeding, baby wearing path when baby finally does arrive!!
And Finally, Getting to know my body and what is best for my body...
I wouldn’t say I treated my body badly before. I ate fairly healthy meals and exercised enough to maintain a healthy weight, but I really didn’t give it that much thought. Over the past year I’ve started a more regular exercise routine which mixes things up between cardio (dancing, boxing, cycling.... still not a fan of jogging/running!), muscle strengthening, and yoga. I’ve also been trying to relax as much as possible through meditation and positive thinking, which I must say is going very well! I used to ‘sweat the small stuff’ quite a bit, but no more.... well not no more.... but much much less. My husband and I both feel so very lucky in most areas of our life (baby making is honestly the only thing we can think of at the moment that is actually stressing us out), plus living in the Dominican Republic, people just don’t stress in the way we see in busy North American cities. It’s the island way, and it’s catchy!! :)
I’ve also been introducing loads of tasty new recipes into our diets including tons more fruit, veggies, beans, seeds, and nuts, since we are lucky enough to live in a place with loads to offer, organically and at low prices. With the introduction of these new, healthy foods, we’ve also been knocking out a lot of the ‘bads’, such as white carbs, trans fats, artificial ingredients, caffeine, and as many un-whole foods as we can. I must say, for the most part, we’re doing very well! :)
Next on my list of positive body changes is acupuncture (recommended by Arpita here at Up, Down and Natural). I’m so pumped to give it a try in just over a week’s time! Because I’ve yet to try it, I can’t talk about the positive effects it may or may not have, but I have heard so many wonderful things, so my fingers are crossed that I will have the same great effects others have experienced.
So now, as I raise my caffeinated, alcoholic glass to you, I say, “Cheers to a positive TTC experience and to many BFPS to come in 2011 for all of you reading who are also still wishing and hoping for yours! Let all of our (albeit a positive one) waits be over soon!!!”
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Visit Up, Down & Natural to find out how you can participate in the next IF We Believe! Blog Carnival. Please take time to read the submissions by the wonderful carnival participants who so bravely write about their paths to motherhood, and how infertility has touched them.
Arpita @ Up, Down & Natural lists the 10 things you should NEVER say to someone Trying to Conceive - AND what to say if someone says one of these hurtful, inconsiderate and downright rude things to you!
The Thought of You - My Journey to Motherhood
Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama shares her journey to motherhood from her very first thoughts of baby through his arrival.
Arpita @ Up, Down & Natural writes about ancient traditions of different cultures which support the theory that spending time with new borns may increase your own fertility. Hormones are a funny thing!
Kat @ Loving {Almost} Every Moment ~ When you hit rock bottom, you sometimes find the peace and strength you've been lacking...
EAV Acupncture and Moxa for Fertility
Arpita @ Up, Down & Natural writes of and reviews treatments you can add to your acupuncture for fertility to enhance the effectiveness and overall sensations.
A Skeptic's Guide to Acupuncture
Dionna (aka Code Name: Mama) guest posting at Natural Parents Network ~ Curious about acupuncture for fertility, but skeptical of the practice? Read some simple tips from a fellow skeptic - Dionna (of Code Name: Mama) guest posts at Natural Parents Network.
Arpita @ Up, Down & Natural shares the story of the origin of Easter! Fertility is the reason for the season!
Team Baby CEO @ Go Team Baby! Describes how infertility challenges you, but strengthens you by requiring at all times that you be the advocate for making your dreams happen, one treatment at a time.
Granola Girl @ My Inner Granola writes of her journey to natural conception and healthy living.
National Infertility Awareness Week: A Guest Post - Maria's Journey
Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama hosts a guest post ~ Maria of Life, Loss, and Other Things Worth Mentioning shares a beautiful post detailing her heartbreaking journey through infertility on I Thought I Knew Mama's blog.
Be sure to read all the wonderful Guest Posts on Up, Down & Natural on April 30th of the stories of families who have been touched by infertility.
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