S-i-l Not Getting Preg. Any Advice

Hi M.,
a few thoughts for your SIL -
first, the book "Take Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Wexler (I think I spelled it right) is a terrific resource. I used that for a long time to avoid getting pregnant, and then when we wanted to, I used that book as well. We also suffered a miscarriage, and it was really hard.

After that, we tried acupuncture (which helped me feel better and relaxed me a lot), but we did end up needing help from a clinic. But, the records I had kept from using the book were useful to my Dr's.

It does sound like the 9 day late period could have been an early miscarriage, she should ask her OB and see what they think. My fertility Dr. said one miscarriage is totally normal, but that three in a row were not, and (successfully) treated us (my daughter is 2 now!).

So, good luck to your SIL, and tell her to allow herself time to mourn the miscarriage and properly grieve the loss. It is so hard when you want a baby so badly.

Good luck!
E.

Acupuncture! Can't say enough good things about it. I had a history of infertility and did clomid, IUI's & the whole nine yards for over a year. That was AFTER five years of trying. I gave up trying for a long time and then one day I decided to try acupuncture. The next month, I was pregnant and my daughter is now 13 months old. I live in the Burlington, VT area & know a FABULOUS naturopath/acupuncturist that helped me. It only took once too. Let me know if you want her contact info.

She can go to babyhopes.com and order the ovulation sticks. You pee on them every day of the month, and it changes color when you ovulate. She should have intercourse that day, and hopefully get pregnant!

It sounds like she may have had another miscarriage and didn't even know it. That is very common. Has she been checked for fibroids?

Hi M.,
A miscarriage can really mess your body up. But also, stress can make your cycle longer, even if you are normally regular, because when your body is stressed sometimes it delays ovulation. You could have your sister check out naprotechnology (the ovulation method of Natural Family Planning). She can find info. by googling it, or by contactin a Catholic Church and asking about Natural Family Planning. They should be able to connect her with someone who can teach her the method. It's basically a way to learn to read your body's natural cues to determine when you ovulate, and thus when the best time is to conceive. I've been using it for fifteen years to both avoid and achieve pregnancy, and it's absolutely amazing. You don't have to be Catholic -- it's just promoted by the Catholic Church. Also, I noticed one of the other posters mentioned the possibility that she could have had another miscarriage. She may want to see if her OB can tell, because sometimes there's a progesterone deficiency that can cause early miscarriage, and it's something that can be easily remedied so it doesn't keep happening. Also, if it was a miscarriage, she should probably go a couple cycles before trying to get pregnant, to give her hormones time to adjust. I know how painful miscarriage can be. I'll be praying for your sister.

They need to go on a weekend get away during a fertile time! Relaxing away from home/phone/chores is easier for a Type A!