I have no idea why I stopped updating this page. It may be because I started to work A LOT more. So much has happened that is relevant to trying to conceive and our family!
Ill try to relay all of the info that my memory will allow! You can also check our my YouTube channel as its somewhat updated as well!
Last August I was on my 3rd round of Fermera and I also went to see a native American elder who told me to do a few things to help with fertility. I did all of what was asked which included drinking this horrible tea every day!!! I recall that month I had gotten a positive OPK really early on CD 9 or 10. I think I ovulated around CD 11. I made up my mind to not do any tests until 12 dpo. On 11 dpo I had an appointment so after a 12 hour night shift I had a hard time staying awake. I decided to test a day early. I used the online HPT strips and I thought I saw an extremely faint line. So faint I was seriously doubting if something was even there! So i up and went and got a FRER! low and behold there was indeed a BFP! Overjoyed can not even explain how that felt. After so many months, shinanigans, meds, charting, tests, etc I FINALLY saw those precious 2 lines!
I told my husband that afternoon over lunch and he didn't believe it. He thought the 2 lines weren't the same shade therefore its a negative (damn you OPKs for confusing the poor guy).
Much has happened since, including several weeks early on where I had bleeding :( Multiple trips to the OB, ER, diagnostics. My little bean has stuck through it all, even after giving me one final scare.
Today I am 34 weeks pregnant, I did it, I beat infertility/PCOS!
Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fertility. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Friday, 11 May 2012
PRODUCT REVIEW: Life Brand BBT
For my first Review Id like to discuss the:
The Brand: LIFE Brand - made for Shoppers Drug Mart - Canada. I choose this product because it was the only one on the shelf. I had a heck of a time finding a BBT thermometer to begin with. You can only get LIFE products at SDM, however I'm sure there are tons of other brands
The Product: The product is light weight, easy to read screen which displays the result in Celsius. It has a 1' inch screen displaying a double decimal number ie. 36.62C. The thermometer itself is pink {was the only colour available}. One easy button to turn on and off and holding the button will show its memory of the previous temp taken. The battery is easily accessible from the end of the thermometer with easy removal. It comes with a clear probe case as well as a booklet with charts for the buyer's use. Instruction manual included.
Background Info and Reading Your Data: BBT's is a tool used in fertility and family planning. It helps to determine ovulation and a temperature change is evident after ovulation has occurred. Although it doesn't tell you in advance when ovulation is imminent, it does however give you an overall picture on what your ovulation cycle says. When you take your temperature you do it every AM - at the same time each day and prior to doing ANYTHING else. This includes getting up, walking, moving, and even talking. You can even go back to sleep after if needed so pick an appropriate time and write down results right away! I learned that it can be hard to do this from memory since i lost a few temps doing that. I personally will enter the data on my cell phone! You may also use the products memory however this will only store one temp!
Here is my chart and temperatures using this product for the month of April:
The red cross lines show were i had ovulated on CD 18. All the temperatures after that were "above" the line and consistently higher. The charting/temping process is also useful in determination of imminent menses/period. When there is a significant DROP in temperature during the post ovulation phase, you will likely have your period in the next day or two. In the case of my chart i had a huge drop on May 1st and did get my cycle on May 2nd. The best days to conceive would have been the days before Cycle Day 18.
For comparison sakes here is my chart for Feb and is quite similar:
PRO's of this product:
double digit results
- protective case
- sample charts and blank charts for buyer's use
- effective in showing predicting ovulation and menstrual cycles
CON's of this product:
- slow result time - takes over a minute and that's hard to do early in the morning
- no prob covers included
- memory: only stores one reading. BE CAREFUL when obtaining a memory reading, it is easy to erase/lose the reading so only look at it if your ready to record it!
My thoughts on this product:
I was satisfied with this product. The only problem i had was losing readings from the memory. My toddler actually pressed the button on a few occasions {he is fascinated with the darn thing} and i lost data. Its easy to use, easy to read and overall fulfilled its purpose. I have only done 2 full cycles of temping but my ovulation days were close and were CD 17 in Feb and CD 18 in April. I will definitely continue to use this product! I would recommend this product and the art of chart/temping to anyone who is TTC!
~~~For more information on this thermometer or to buy - visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart Canada. Any personal questions may be directed to myself. For more information on Charting and Temping visit my personal favourite site Fertility Friend!~~
LIFE BRAND BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE THERMOMETER
The Brand: LIFE Brand - made for Shoppers Drug Mart - Canada. I choose this product because it was the only one on the shelf. I had a heck of a time finding a BBT thermometer to begin with. You can only get LIFE products at SDM, however I'm sure there are tons of other brands
The Product: The product is light weight, easy to read screen which displays the result in Celsius. It has a 1' inch screen displaying a double decimal number ie. 36.62C. The thermometer itself is pink {was the only colour available}. One easy button to turn on and off and holding the button will show its memory of the previous temp taken. The battery is easily accessible from the end of the thermometer with easy removal. It comes with a clear probe case as well as a booklet with charts for the buyer's use. Instruction manual included.
Background Info and Reading Your Data: BBT's is a tool used in fertility and family planning. It helps to determine ovulation and a temperature change is evident after ovulation has occurred. Although it doesn't tell you in advance when ovulation is imminent, it does however give you an overall picture on what your ovulation cycle says. When you take your temperature you do it every AM - at the same time each day and prior to doing ANYTHING else. This includes getting up, walking, moving, and even talking. You can even go back to sleep after if needed so pick an appropriate time and write down results right away! I learned that it can be hard to do this from memory since i lost a few temps doing that. I personally will enter the data on my cell phone! You may also use the products memory however this will only store one temp!
Here is my chart and temperatures using this product for the month of April:
For comparison sakes here is my chart for Feb and is quite similar:
PRO's of this product:
double digit results
- protective case
- sample charts and blank charts for buyer's use
- effective in showing predicting ovulation and menstrual cycles
CON's of this product:
- slow result time - takes over a minute and that's hard to do early in the morning
- no prob covers included
- memory: only stores one reading. BE CAREFUL when obtaining a memory reading, it is easy to erase/lose the reading so only look at it if your ready to record it!
My thoughts on this product:
I was satisfied with this product. The only problem i had was losing readings from the memory. My toddler actually pressed the button on a few occasions {he is fascinated with the darn thing} and i lost data. Its easy to use, easy to read and overall fulfilled its purpose. I have only done 2 full cycles of temping but my ovulation days were close and were CD 17 in Feb and CD 18 in April. I will definitely continue to use this product! I would recommend this product and the art of chart/temping to anyone who is TTC!
~~~For more information on this thermometer or to buy - visit your local Shoppers Drug Mart Canada. Any personal questions may be directed to myself. For more information on Charting and Temping visit my personal favourite site Fertility Friend!~~
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Now that i have the formality of introduction completed, I can be real ;)
I have two life issues I'd like to discuss and/or rant about.
1) Un-emplyment
2) TTC (trying to conceive)
Unrelated topics and somehow tie into my life together.
As previous blogs have said, I am currently out of work. I was just working as a Clinic Nurse in the intercity of Etobicoke, Ontario. It was a busy 7 MD clinic and was actually a really great job. In moving i effectively ended my employment with :( So here I am, educated, graduated, and looking for a job. Its been about 4 weeks and here I am still job less. WHY IS IT SO HARD to get a job? Even getting an interview is hard :/ My resume and cover are immaculate - Ive had both reviewed by an employment councillor. The town I'm living in has a very limited job listings as it is but i am still having no luck!!!!!!! I have looked in every nook and cranny of the interwebs to no avail. Here is the 411 on myself
- I graduated in 2009 from a reputable college in Ontario, Canada
- Ive worked mostly in Long Term Care and Doctors offices
- I am a member of the College of Nurses
- I am a member of the RPNAO
- Excellent references
- Working as a nurse since 2009
- EXPERT at venipucture and any type of injections!
- extensive resume which outline my skills
Something, somewhere must scream out not to hire me or give me an interview!
I have my first and only interview this Monday - its for paediatric and OB nurse at a local hospital. Truth be told this is best case scenario! If i could pick any area of nursing to do, THIS would be it! PROBLEM: i have no experience in these areas no do i have extended education in these areas. However I am more then willing to obtain this!! Those areas are WHY i went into nursing to begin with!! I want it more then I can even put into words. I don't know how to dazzle the interviewer when i have no experience!! I will be hoping and praying my heart away until then!!! Look for updates.
Secondly, TTCing
I know being unemployed isn't a good time to be TTC however this was started prior to quitting my job. Dh and I have been actively TTCing since January of this year. We are in cycle 5 with no pregnancy at all. Ive charted my BBT temps, check cervical position, checked cervical mucus, used OPK and basically stood on my head after sex (BDing). This is what I have learned about myself in the process:
- I ovulate on Day 17/18 of my cycle
- My shortest cycle was 28 days
- My longest cycle was 36 days
- cervical mucus all looks the same
- OPKs confuse me
- i love fertility friend
Ive tried being a hardcore charter, Ive tried letting it all go and doing nothing but BDing. Nothing. This cycle Ive bought test both pregnancy and OPKs - I'm going to try my hand at multi OPKing and see what happens. Ive seen so many fellow TTCers get their positives, Ive seen multiple friends get positives. Even my sister got another BFP and she started TTC after me!! IT HAS TO BE MY TURN!!!! COME ON!!!! Is there a trick to this whole getting pregnant thing??? My prior pregnancies were unexpected so Ive never experienced this before.
Today I am on Cycle Day 9. I cant wait to get my tests, Ive never ordered online but it seems to be quite popular.
So for those who are TTCing, any suggestions??
Here are some of my favourite TTC links
Babyzone - the BEST support Ive had for pregnancy, ttc and baby
Fertility Friend - Ovulation Tracking, temping
Count Down To Pregnancy - another tracking tools
I have two life issues I'd like to discuss and/or rant about.
1) Un-emplyment
2) TTC (trying to conceive)
Unrelated topics and somehow tie into my life together.
As previous blogs have said, I am currently out of work. I was just working as a Clinic Nurse in the intercity of Etobicoke, Ontario. It was a busy 7 MD clinic and was actually a really great job. In moving i effectively ended my employment with :( So here I am, educated, graduated, and looking for a job. Its been about 4 weeks and here I am still job less. WHY IS IT SO HARD to get a job? Even getting an interview is hard :/ My resume and cover are immaculate - Ive had both reviewed by an employment councillor. The town I'm living in has a very limited job listings as it is but i am still having no luck!!!!!!! I have looked in every nook and cranny of the interwebs to no avail. Here is the 411 on myself
- I graduated in 2009 from a reputable college in Ontario, Canada
- Ive worked mostly in Long Term Care and Doctors offices
- I am a member of the College of Nurses
- I am a member of the RPNAO
- Excellent references
- Working as a nurse since 2009
- EXPERT at venipucture and any type of injections!
- extensive resume which outline my skills
Something, somewhere must scream out not to hire me or give me an interview!
I have my first and only interview this Monday - its for paediatric and OB nurse at a local hospital. Truth be told this is best case scenario! If i could pick any area of nursing to do, THIS would be it! PROBLEM: i have no experience in these areas no do i have extended education in these areas. However I am more then willing to obtain this!! Those areas are WHY i went into nursing to begin with!! I want it more then I can even put into words. I don't know how to dazzle the interviewer when i have no experience!! I will be hoping and praying my heart away until then!!! Look for updates.
Secondly, TTCing
I know being unemployed isn't a good time to be TTC however this was started prior to quitting my job. Dh and I have been actively TTCing since January of this year. We are in cycle 5 with no pregnancy at all. Ive charted my BBT temps, check cervical position, checked cervical mucus, used OPK and basically stood on my head after sex (BDing). This is what I have learned about myself in the process:
- I ovulate on Day 17/18 of my cycle
- My shortest cycle was 28 days
- My longest cycle was 36 days
- cervical mucus all looks the same
- OPKs confuse me
- i love fertility friend
Ive tried being a hardcore charter, Ive tried letting it all go and doing nothing but BDing. Nothing. This cycle Ive bought test both pregnancy and OPKs - I'm going to try my hand at multi OPKing and see what happens. Ive seen so many fellow TTCers get their positives, Ive seen multiple friends get positives. Even my sister got another BFP and she started TTC after me!! IT HAS TO BE MY TURN!!!! COME ON!!!! Is there a trick to this whole getting pregnant thing??? My prior pregnancies were unexpected so Ive never experienced this before.
Today I am on Cycle Day 9. I cant wait to get my tests, Ive never ordered online but it seems to be quite popular.
So for those who are TTCing, any suggestions??
Here are some of my favourite TTC links
Babyzone - the BEST support Ive had for pregnancy, ttc and baby
Fertility Friend - Ovulation Tracking, temping
Count Down To Pregnancy - another tracking tools
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