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Anonymous
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
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I am in my late thirties and my husband and I have two little girls. I'd dearly love another baby but so far we are unable to conceive (though we had no trouble four years ago). I was wondering if you ladies who have had many children and even children later in life would share with me some tips. How do I read signs and symptoms to time things right? I have the CCL book but it seems very focused on NOT conceiving without a lot of conception help. What about supplements? Really, anything you can offer. I feel like we're running out of time. And thanks for letting me post anonymously. I'm kind of shy about posting something so private on a public forum but I don't know who else to ask.
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amyable
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If you don't mind "coming out of the closet" in a PM, I would be happy to share what I know with you. I too would prefer to keep some of these things off the board though. I've used NFP for many years to both avoid and conceive, and have used supplements, etc as we are sort of "subfertile".
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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SusanJ
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 7:15pm | IP Logged
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I don't have personal experience, but some dear friends are having more success with the Creighton model of fertility tracking. I think this method is more focuses on identifying problem areas and addressing them to help you conceive.
God Bless,
Susan
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Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
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LisaR
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 7:19pm | IP Logged
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The brand New CCL book is wonderful, lots of good info about TTC. Also, the book Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition, the latest edition. lastly, I would go to One More Soul's website, find a NFP only Dr. (closest one to you, for phone consult if need be)
then go to your nearest and most trusted OB/Gyn (NFP only preferred, but if not, don't fear.) Ask for a FULL hormone workup. This would be Progesterone and Estrogen levels drawn at different points in your cycle. you should do this for at least 2 cycles. have to run, hope this is a start.
I teach fertility awareness and have struggled to conceive the last 4 out of my 5 kids. PM me if you want to chat more. Praying for you.
PS, Carlson's Cod Liver Fish Oil, along with a B vitamin formula would not hurt either. Lots of Vitamin A foods (think Carrots, Cantelope, Sweet Potatos) can help too.
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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happymama
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| Posted: Jan 03 2008 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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I've taught Creighton with success to couples trying to conceive... I love CCL, too - no debate on that! - but imho I think Creighton is just plain SIMPLER. pm with questions, or check on-line to see if there's a teacher near you, or you can learn long-distance with a teacher if you're interested. After a month of charting, they would want you to see a CreightonModel-trained dr. also to identify the cause(s) and get treated if needed. There's usually an underlying cause - cysts, endometriosis, etc. (When health insurance pays for it, countless women have traveled to Omaha, NE to be seen personally by Dr. Hilgers - founder of the Creighton Model - whose primary talent is laprascopic surgery either for exploration or repair.)
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SallyT
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I am interested in this as well. My cycles seem to have returned, albeit kind of irregularly, after a 3-month "hiatus" which really worried me (ob-gyn just shrugged and said I was 42, which I KNEW already, thanks . . . ). We were having a stressful phase financially, and I'm now thinking stress may have been a major component. Not to discount my advanced age, of course . . . :)
We haven't been consciously trying to conceive till now, and I had kind of given up, but with the new year, I am feeling more like being "proactively" open to life, if you know what I mean. I'm now 43, and am praying for acceptance of God's will, whatever it may be, but also thinking that I don't want to confuse passivity and not trying with acceptance!
We had no trouble conceiving when I was in my 30s. My 4 children were born when I was 29, 32, 37 and 39. The last was a surprise, conceived while I was still breastfeeding 7-month-old #3.
I haven't charted in a while -- was using NFP to avoid conception for a time when finances and lack of insurance made it "prudential" to wait for a time. I too would love more info on the Creighton method -- if anyone is PMing with information, and it's not too much trouble to copy that to me as well, I would be so grateful.
I'm also interested in thoughts on natural progesterone, vitamins, herbs, etc.
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I had been mulling posting something similar myself and am glad to see a conversation opened up. I know that private discussions may be best and most comfortable, but wanted to put my oar in as someone who'd be interested in the responses.
Thanks so much to all for sharing your wisdom and experience.
Sally
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Castle in the Sea
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time4tea
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Yes, here is another one who is interested. I would love to have another, hopefully next year, God willing! For those who feel comfortable posting about this, please do!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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LisaR
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hey there, just want to also point out that even a 5lb weight gain or loss could help things along. supposedly we all have an ideal conception weight, and if you are a little on the thin side, eat some good fats and gain 5lb. if you are a little on the heavy side, add more green leafy veg to your diet to rplace something else and try to exercise a bit more, and lose 5 lb?
lastly, those recent studies about even one cup of coffee increasing fertility problems/miscarriage risk gave me pause....
We've taught two new CCL class series now, and it has been amazing. Our last class was 13 couples, exactly half were trying to conceive and it seems to be working!! 
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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Bridget
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A friend and I were just talking about this last night. We know all the usual healthy things to do to boost fertility, progesterone supplements etc., our main problem is age. We are still fertile but we have old eggs, resulting in miscarriages.
We decided to add to our arsenal, prayers to our guardian angels to find and release any good eggs each month.
Can't hurt...
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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cathochick
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| Posted: March 31 2008 at 11:06am | IP Logged
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Anonymous wrote:
| I am in my late thirties and my husband and I have two little girls. I'd dearly love another baby but so far we are unable to conceive (though we had no trouble four years ago). I was wondering if you ladies who have had many children and even children later in life would share with me some tips. How do I read signs and symptoms to time things right? I have the CCL book but it seems very focused on NOT conceiving without a lot of conception help. What about supplements? Really, anything you can offer. I feel like we're running out of time. And thanks for letting me post anonymously. I'm kind of shy about posting something so private on a public forum but I don't know who else to ask. |
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The many children and children later in life parts don't apply to me yet, but I am an NFP instructor with CCL. The reason NFP books can appear more focused on avoiding pregnancy is that that's the much more complicated part to explain.
Some things to consider-- Weight: are you overweight or underweight? If you are a weight gain/loss could help to restore fertility. Essential fats can help with the production of cervical fluid (mucus). Flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, cod liver oil can help. If your luteal phase is too short (the time after ovulation--it should be at least ten days from the first day of temperature rise to the day before the next menstruation in order to allow time for implantation) then you could try to lengthen it with B vitamin supplements.
As for timing: wait to have relations until you see more-fertile quality cervical fluid. Anything that is clear, very elastic, produces a slippery sensation when wiping. Continue to have relations until you've confirmed that you are past ovulation by a sustained temperature rise and mucus dry-up.
The book Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn Shannon has some tips that have helped some women improve their fertility. There is also some info in there on improving the husband's fertility.
Prayers for you and your family in trying to conceive. We're hoping to try for baby number three later this year.
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Jessica
Mom to Dom 9, and Joe 5.
The Dominican Bungalow
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Barbara C.
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In "Taking Charge of Your Fertility", they talk about things that can effect your amount of fertile mucus. Anti-histamines don't just dry up your nose mucus, for instance. On the flip side, some people report success with taking something like Robitussin to make more mucus.
I want to say that TCoYF may have a chapter devoted particularly to achieving pregnancy. If you are unfamiliar with the book it teaches Fertility Awareness Method, it is the same basic thing as NFP without the religious connotations and it suggests using barrier methods during fertile times. Actually it recommends abstaining for maximum effectiveness, but if you "must" than use a barrier. It has a lot of good scientific and anecdotal stuff, though.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
Box of Chocolates
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cathhomeschool
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Barbara C. wrote:
| and it suggests using barrier methods during fertile times. Actually it recommends abstaining for maximum effectiveness, but if you "must" than use a barrier. |
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Which would be against Catholic teaching. I felt that I had to pop in to clarify since this is a Catholic board. Thanks for pointing this out about the book, Barbara.
My prayers continue for all trying to conceive. Bridget, what a beautiful idea to pray to your Guardian Angel!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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time4tea
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Speaking of praying about it - does anyone know if there is a particular Novena for this situation? Maybe one we could all pray together, for ourselves as well as for one another as we try to grow our families?
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Trying to Conceive
