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Preconception
Supplies
by Lori Ramsey
It is true that the only things
you need in order to conceive a baby is a willing man and woman. Nature takes
over and nine months later a baby is born. While this is mostly true, this is
the 21st century and women have many neat and useful products to aid in the road
to conception. I will go over some of the items that I find both useful and
interesting.
First is the basal body thermometer. Mine has gotten lots of use and I recommend
them above all else. They can pinpoint ovulation, alert to possible pregnancy,
and with proper education, you can chart your fertility signs and possibly
discover infertility. While you can still purchase the glass thermometers, I
recommend the digital ones simply because they are faster and more convenient.
The only concern is the battery which occasionally has to be replaced.
Next there’s the tests. Home pregnancy tests are one of the most wonderful
inventions in the 20th century. Before their invention, women had to wait until
their cycles were one to two months overdue before a doctor would perform a
blood test. Now we can purchase home pregnancy tests, in all brands, prices and
sensitivities. Testing can be done as early as day 8 post ovulation, though I
recommend waiting until at least day 10 post ovulation to avoid false negatives.
Ovulation tests are a good way to test for ovulation. Generally they can be
pricey, and will alert a woman some 48 hours prior to ovulation. This isn’t
always the case, for some women with some types of infertility will see false
positives. Ovulation tests are good to use in the short run. If you want to
predict ovulation for a long period of time, I recommend a fertility monitor.
Fertility monitors come in all sizes, price ranges and brands. They work fairly
well, with the lower priced ones predicting ovulation three to four days in
advanced and the higher priced ones predicting ovulation five to seven days in
advance. Some fertility monitors use urine to detect ovulation, while others use
saliva and cervical fluid. The type and brand you should use depends on the size
of your pocketbook and your preferences.
There are countless supplements that boosts your chances of conceiving; from
vitamins and herbs to over-the-counter medications and creams. Of the vitamins,
prenatal are probably the best ones to take because of the benefits of taking
folic acid in early pregnancy. Vitamin B6 and C are good too. Many herbs boost
fertility, popular ones being vitex and evening primrose oil. Baby aspirin and
cough medicine (guaifensin) are popular over-the-counter medicines that help
with minor infertility issues such as increasing the blood flow to the
reproductive organs and helping to thin out cervical fluid. Last but not least
progesterone cream greatly boosts fertility by increasing the luteal phase,
thickening the uterine lining and helping to prevent miscarriage.
Like I said, pregnancy can happen without any of these supplies but the
availability of these supplies makes the road to conception a much easier one.
All statements in this article are for informational purposes only. Always check
with your healthcare provider before trying any new regimen.
Lori Ramsey
of
Stages in Pregnancy
©2005 by Lori Ramsey
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