Fertility Friday: Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are an important part of training our mind for positivity.   The evangelical pastor, Joseph Prince, writes about: "The Power of Right Believing."  While his message is spiritually based, it has much value. Getting the mind to think and believe in something is a powerful step toward achieving that goal.  Affirmations are the first step in changing your belief about something. It's having your mouth say something that the brain has not fully taken hold of yet. I often tell women that even if they think they can't they should say that can. Some affirmations for fertility include:

Affirmations:
My body is a fertile place worthy of conception.
I am grateful for and love my body and all it does for me.
My life is a blessing.
My womb is strong and fertile.
My eggs are healthy and developing perfectly.
I have the ability to heal myself.
I feel safe, supported and loved through my fertility journey.
My thoughts are peaceful and calm. (Great for stressful situations)
I am already healing my body, everyday it heals more.
I am grateful that I am a woman.
I support and love my partner through our fertility journey.
My menstrual cycle connects me to all women.
I am working with my body in a loving way to get my menstrual cycle back.
I am worthy of love, life and happiness.
My fibroids are dissolving with each loving thought I have for my fertility.
My womb is a healthy place that will nourish my baby.

Affirmations are taken from naturalfertilityinfo.com

Tip Tuesday: Skin Changes

There are so many skin changes that take place during pregnancy, there could probably be an entire book written on the subject. Know that most skin changes like linea negra (the brown line on your belly) go away after you delivery.  Hormones wreak havoc on our skin, we remember from puberty.  Get a good face wash, use a good concealer, and remember it's only temporary. 

Fertility Friday: Take a Beauty Break

Women need alone time. We also (many women, anyway) enjoy beauty.  Inner-beauty, outer-beuty, external beauty, nature-beauty.  So take a break and enjoy whatever you find beautiful.  Go on a hike. Get a great hair cut. Paint. A great friend once told me "if it's not beautiful or functional what is it doing in your life?"  Spend today on something beautiful.

Tip Tuesday: Expect the Unexpected

If you are like most women, labor will surprise you. Expect to be surprised.  If it's hard for you to be surprised, do everything you can to be prepared. Take classes. Pack. Get everything ready. Get organized. Read inspirational stories. And go with the flow.

Fertility Friday: Letting go of Perfect

When working through fertility, women may feel a need to see themselves as imperfect or flawed. Sometimes confessing our imperfections to our spouse, a friend, or even a stranger creates empathy. And empathy is great way to let go of perfectionism.  Each of us is like the perfect ingredient to the perfect meal. We need each other. We balance each other,. We compliment each other. Think about who you compliment and why and see that as the perfection it is.

Tip Tuesday: Don't Give Up

If something is important to you, don't give up on it. Don't let someone talk you out of what is right for you, tell you it can't be done, or that the path is too long or hard to get there. In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister broke 4 minutes when running the mile, a feat that, until then, had never been accomplished. Within a few months of him breaking this record, several others also ran a mile under 4 minutes.  If you ask any runner, why all of a sudden several runners were also able to accomplish this feat, the majority of them will say that 4 minutes was a mental road block. Once others knew that it could be done, they had confidence in themselves and were able to far surpass even this goal. The current record for one mile is 3:43.

Tip Tuesday: Still eat your Greens

Experiment with some of these greens to give you some great nutritional beneftis:
Collard Greens: Very high in fiber. Eat them with ham or pork. Try raw with a favorite sharp cheese
Spinach: Antinflamatory and high in flavonioids. Can pair with almost anything
Boy Choy: High in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Put in almost any soup, salad or slaw
Mustard Greens: Very strong flavor. Add to meats or sauces in which you would use vinegar, mustard, or horseraddish
Beet Greens: High in Potassium. Good for salads, or pair with cheese, brussel sporuts, and beets.
Swiss Chard: High nutritional value like spinach and Kate. Use in pastas or smoothies
Arugula: High in fiber and potassium. Add to a salad, omlet, or mix with Parmesan cheese

Fertility Friday: Be Spontaneous

When planning for a baby, we can sometimes lose some of the spontaneity of life. Take a step back and plan to be spontaneous, especially when it comes to romance. Don't fight it if the mood strikes, even if its just playful and fun.

Tip Tuesday: No Need to Rush

As we have immediate access to many things in our life, messages, foods, movies, we may feel the rush to jump into something when we are not ready. When it comes to planning a pregnancy and delivery, don't rush. In most cases, you have weeks or months to decide what is best for you, whether it's your provider, your doula,  pediatrician or what to pack for the hospital. Fight the pressure, take a step back, and don't let anyone rush you.