tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62196087393029909502024-03-14T06:55:00.488-04:00Deductive ParentingIn search of practical evidence to inform preconception, pregnancy, and parenthood.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-32680054488610445472015-02-06T17:50:00.001-05:002015-02-06T17:58:11.623-05:00Pregnancy Life: First Trimester<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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After getting ready to try for so long, then putting my preparations into high gear and trying to conceive earlier than planned, and then trying to conceive for 10 months, I am finally pregnant and nearing the end of the first trimester! Hopefully I will go back and have time to share more about my TTC experience at a later date, but at this point I want to focus in on my experiences of pregnancy and share what's been happening. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's a quick overview of weeks 1-12 (I know gestational counting is a bit confusing, but I am counting day 0 as the first day of my last menstrual period because that's what doctor's do. Later I'll just start saying what week I'm in - so 12 weeks will mean that I have fully finished 12 weeks gestation and am sometime between 12 and 13 weeks):</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>0-1 weeks pregnant - Finally completed the requirements for
my PhD!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn't it be crazy if this
was the month DH and I were successful at TTC?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wonder when I'll ovulate this month...</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>1-2 weeks pregnant - What an unexpected surprise - I
ovulated on time (early even)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess
I'll be thankful to Thanksgiving for speeding up my cycle.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>2-3 weeks pregnant - I literally JUST finished my degree
(seriously, I don't even have the diploma to prove it), do I really need to
start working full time already?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>3-4 weeks pregnant - No way?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Positive pregnancy test at 8dpo?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't believe it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hoping the third time is the charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been 3 months since my last chemical
pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to a standing
appointment at my doctor's office, I get a positive blood test at 10dpo (HCG =
40).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Progesterone looking good too
(hopefully the supplements will help).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>4-5 weeks pregnant - Still not feeling very pregnant, but
the tests are actually getting darker this time and no sign of dropping
temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow-up HCG test at
16dpo = almost 800.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>5-6 weeks pregnant - Christmas time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a confirmatory OB appointment this week
- pelvic exam looks fine, HCG up to almost 10,000, progesterone levels still
holding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disappointing, though, because
I was told I'd get my dating ultrasound at this appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, I'll have it soon and we should be
able to see more (maybe even the heartbeat!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glad I can spend the time with loved ones and still feel good eating
whatever I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, nausea starts to
kick in at the very end of this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>6-7 weeks pregnant - So nauseated, ugh, and getting
worse!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything sounds gross to eat,
but if I don't eat I feel worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smells
are overpowering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DH, mom, and lil sis
all come with me to my dating ultrasound at the end of this week (I keep a barf
bag with me during, just in case).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
we can clearly see one little bean with a tiny heartbeat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby is supposed to be the size of a
cranberry now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His or heart is beating
away at 126 bpm, measuring about half a centimeter crown to rump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultrasound dating puts me at 6 weeks, 3
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of this week, I break
down and ask for a prescription for nausea medicine (so far still no vomiting,
despite some close calls).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctor's
office prescribes Zofran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are, of
course, shenanigans with insurance that delay me getting my medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even then I can only get 12 pills!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday morning, I take the smallest possible
dose (cutting one 4mg pill in half) and head off to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nausea relief seems to last full on for
2-3 hours, then I feel a bit yucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
overall the day is much better than the previous. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>7-8 weeks pregnant - I continue with a daily dose of 2mg of
Zofran, which seems to definitely take the edge off of my nausea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days it's still fairly unpleasant in the
evening, and I still hide out in bed as much as possible (reclining and staying
away from the smells of the main house seems to settle my stomach).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this point, DH is doing all the household
chores and shopping (sorry, honey!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
dog barely sees my face and misses his usual pets and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very grateful this week that I'm not
doing this on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the
week, I have a sudden reprieve from nausea and actually feel well on Sunday
when I go with Lil Sis to the first practice of the adult choir I'm joining
with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, the nausea is replaced
by very intense constipation (not that things have been moving that well the
past 2-3 weeks either).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday evening
is occupied with a trip to get some emergency stool softener (Colace) and then
several unpleasant sessions on the potty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By bedtime, the toilet is clogged and I feel a bit better, although I
still sense a backlog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, the
indignities of pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day
will require DH to shop for a better plunger :(</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>8-9 weeks pregnant - Things on the nausea and digestion
front are mostly unchanged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep up
with my Zofran and Colace regimen and some days are better than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank my lucky stars that working from home
is an option for me a couple days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I had to put on real clothes and sit at my desk every day of the
week, I don't think I'd make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toward
the end of this week, I receive a surprise gift in the mail - a fetal heart
doppler!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally, I set to work right
away trying to find the baby's heartbeat and at 8w3d I am able to find it after
several minutes of searching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a joy
and relief <3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is too faint to pick
up the exact rate, but I estimate that baby's heart is now beating about
160bpm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nausea has been a comforting
sign, but it's so nice to have some additional evidence that everything is okay
with the little one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the unknowns about doppler safety (although they are most likely perfectly safe), DH and I decide to limit use of our home doppler to once a week for no more than 5 minutes. Baby is now
supposed to be the size of a raspberry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">9-10 weeks pregnant - Nausea continues, but otherwise nothing interesting going on this week. For a few days I think maybe the nausea is ebbing, but then toward the end of the week it hits again full force and I end up doubling my Zofran dose (2mg twice a day instead of once). DH and I begin to evaluate the room that will become the nursery and actually clean it up a bit. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">10-11 weeks pregnant - I have my first real prenatal appointment this week. Other than thinking I might throw up in the waiting room (still no actual vomiting to this point, fingers crossed), the visit goes well. The midwife takes a good 20 minutes to answer all my questions and uses the office fetal doppler. She finds the heartbeat quickly and measures it at 170bpm. Still signs of just one baby. So far I haven't gained any weight (but seems I've about regained any I lost earlier). Hoping to continue healthy gain throughout pregnancy. Also, blood tests reveal no concern about anemia, which is a relief. Looks like I can continue my gummy vitamins until I feel better (which I really hope will be soon). </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">11-12 weeks pregnant - Nausea is still going strong, but constipation is much improved by this point. I am able to eat a variety of things now, many of which resemble healthy choices (except the Girl Scout Cookies that just came available this week!). Still some aversions, of course, with meat being a big one (luckily I can still get my protein in by hiding it in sauces). I don't think I'm showing yet, but I keep thinking maybe my belly is pooching a bit more than normal. But maybe it's just my imagination. Either way, I'm glad it's winter and I'm relying on loose pants and big sweaters to get me through. I plan to start taking bump pictures next week so I can have a basis for comparison week to week. Evidently baby is now the size of a lime and looks a lot like a full-sized baby. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Please share your first trimester experiences in the comments below. What symptoms did you have and when? What were your must-have maternity items? </i> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-71787921300674207342014-04-06T21:27:00.001-04:002014-04-06T21:27:16.591-04:00Fertility Forums Dictionary and Usage Guide<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->If you have ever visited an online discussion board for women trying to get pregnant, you will see that there are apparently an incredible
number of individuals spending an impossible amount of time scrutinizing every
bodily symptom and agonizing over a variety of signs and omens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because much of the trying to conceive
process involves waiting and watching, and it can be somewhat lonely especially
if the people in your life don’t know what you are up to in your private time,
an online community has built up around this whole experience and there are
many places you can go to discuss at length any aspect of fertility, conception,
and pregnancy (for example, <a href="https://www.fertilityfriend.com/forums.html" target="_blank">Fertility Friend</a>, <a href="http://babyandbump.momtastic.com/" target="_blank">Baby and Bump</a>, and <a href="http://www.justmommies.com/forums/" target="_blank">JustMommies</a> among many others more specific and more general).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although so far I have only started to explore the world of trying to conceive, there also
seem to be similar communities for women who are expecting and parents with infants
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if you are just exploring this online community for the first
time, you might find yourself completely overwhelmed by the odd terminology and
unintelligible acronyms used by this society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I am a bit of a newbie to this whole world myself, I have been
a lurker for a while and have picked up on most of the commonly-used
jargon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But it took a lot of searching and context clues before I could read even the most straightforward posts at first. To help you get past that initial learning curve, b</span>elow you will find a guide to
the basic terms you need to know to successfully read through a post on these
discussion boards/forums (as well as an introduction to some of the general
online jargon you might need to know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Status:</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>TTC = trying to conceive.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the process of actively attempting to achieve conception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It usually involves more than just giving up
using contraceptives and is an active process (as opposed to NTNP, see below).</li>
<li><b>NTNP = not trying not preventing.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As opposed to TTC, this is a passive way of
achieving pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Individuals in this
category have ditched contraceptives but aren’t doing anything special to try
to get pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the people to
whom the oft-quoted statistic “it can take a fertile couple up to a year to get
pregnant” applies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li><b>WTT = waiting to try.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These folks are planning to have kids and often have a specific date in
mind to start trying to get pregnant, but for one reason or another are
currently putting conception attempts on hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reasons range from financial concerns to waiting for a current child to
reach a certain age to waiting for a reluctant spouse to feel ready.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Sex:</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>BD = baby dance.</b> Having sex with the hope of conceiving (see also BMS).</li>
<li><b>DTD = do(ing) the deed.</b> Having sex more generally. On fertility forums, this usually means having sex with the hope of conception but could also refer to sex when pregnancy is not at all expected/intended.</li>
<li><b>BMS = baby making sex.</b> Sex intended to result in pregnancy.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Fertility Monitoring:</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>O = ovulation</b> (see also OV). When the dominant follicle ruptures and releases an egg from one of a woman's ovaries and begins to travel down the fallopian tube. Once ovulation occurs, the egg will only live for 12-24 hours and conception must occur during this time frame (but note that sperm from acts of intercourse that occurred up to several days before ovulation can still be alive in a woman's body and waiting to fertilize the egg once it is released).</li>
<li><b>OV = ovulation.</b> Can also be used as a verb (e.g., "I OVed on CD 12).</li>
<li><b>CD = cycle day.</b> The day in a given menstrual cycle, counting up from the first day of a menstrual period (which is counted as CD 1). </li>
<li><b>DPO = days past ovulation.</b> The number of days it has been in the
current menstrual cycle since ovulation occurred. This number is
typically an estimate, since neither OPKs nor BBT charting can perfectly
identify the day of ovulation (although a temperature shift is thought
to be a fairly reliable indicator that ovulation occurred the day
before). </li>
<li><b>Fertile window </b>= the several days during which a woman is most likely to conceive if sperm are introduced into her body. There is debate about the length of this window, but it certainly includes the few days before ovulation and the day of ovulation. </li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BBT = basal body temperature.</b> Technically, this is a person's lowest body temperature at rest, although for the purposes of fertility monitoring it is really an approximation of BBT as measured after a solid block of sleep usually at the same time each morning. For women, this temperature fluctuates depending on the presence of certain hormones in the body. During menstruation, a woman's hormones all reach their lowest point and body temperature drops. Just following ovulation, a woman's progesterone levels increase dramatically causing a spike in BBT that persists throughout the second half of her menstrual cycle until the next menstrual period (see also charting). </div>
</li>
<li><b>Charting </b>= The practice of monitoring BBT throughout the menstrual cycle to detect ovulation and identify the fertile window. Keeping a personal chart over the course of several months allows a woman to determine the cycle days on which she is typically fertile and can also help to identify any problems with ovulation. Perhaps its most useful feature for women who are TTC, however, is to confirm that ovulation has occurred (following a sustained temperature shift) which indicates that additional baby making sex is no longer needed during the present cycle. </li>
<li><b>OPK = ovulation predictor kit.</b> A type of test that is intended to help women identify when they are about to ovulate. The type most commonly referred to on discussion boards is urine-based test strips that detect high levels of luteinizing hormone, although the term may also refer on occasion to a fertility microscope (which detect a high concentration of estrogen in saliva or cervical fluid). There are a variety of brands of these test kits, ranging in cost, and most are meant to be used for several days in a row (once or more times per day) during the estimated most fertile time of a woman's cycle. For the urine-based tests, a woman can expect to ovulate within 12-36 hours from the time that the test becomes positive (although in some cases the LH surge may be detected but ovulation does not follow, or occurs after a second surge some days later). A positive test is most commonly indicated by a test line that becomes as dark as the control line after exposure to the woman's urine, although some tests indicate a positive result in other ways (e.g., smiley face). For fertility microscopes, a positive test (indicated by a ferning pattern observed in the dried saliva or cervical fluid) indicates an increased level of estrogen in the body which is a symptom of approaching ovulation. However, there is more variance on this type of test between the time of the positive result and the time of ovulation. Some women can see a positive test up to 5-6 days before ovulation while others never see a positive result. Use over repeated cycles may be required for a woman to accurately predict the relationship between a positive result and her ovulation using a fertility microscope.</li>
<li><b>LH surge = luteinizing hormone surge.</b> A rapid increase in the hormone that triggers ovulation, which is itself first initiated by a substantial increase in levels of estrogen. Most OPKs are designed to help detect this surge, which may last between 4 and 48 hours. Women with a very brief LH surge may have a difficult time detecting the LH surge using OPKs.</li>
<li><b>POAS = pee on a stick.</b> The act of taking a urine-based fertility or pregnancy test. The same term applies even if the specific test involves dipping a strip in urine rather than peeing directly on it. The acronym is versatile and can be used to indicate any verb tense (e.g. "I POAS last week and got a BFN" or "You should definitely POAS first thing tomorrow!"). See also, POAS addict.</li>
<li><b>POAS addict</b> = someone who is obsessed with taking urine-based tests. Rather than being frustrated by a string of negative or ambiguous test results, this type of person loves the additional data provided by each OPK or pregnancy test. A POAS addict will often take multiple inexpensive tests in a single day, and will almost certainly start testing for pregnancy well before a positive result is likely. The term is typically only used self-referentially (e.g., "Since I started using OPKs, I've become a total POAS addict"), as the neurotic tendencies implied by the term could potentially be offensive if used to describe another person.</li>
<li><b>AF = aunt flow. </b> Monthly menstrual period or, in some cases, the withdrawal bleed that occurs during the placebo week while taking hormonal contraceptives. Women who are TTC dread the appearance of AF and spend a considerable amount of time analyzing potential symptoms of its approach, including temperature changes, PMS symptoms, and cramps (although many premenstrual symptoms can also be early pregnancy symptoms). </li>
<li><b>ICs = internet cheapies</b> (e.g., Wondfo). OPKs or pregnancy tests that can only be purchased online and are typically quite inexpensive compared to store-bought tests. This type of test is usually purchased in large quantities (25-100 per pack) and are much more utilitarian-looking than the more heavily-marketed tests. Although they do not offer any smiley faces to indicate a positive result and may be more error-prone, these tests are typically quite accurate and are also economical. Additionally, their small size (usually just a few inches long and a quarter inch wide or less) and plain design make them much more discrete than the familiar test brands. They are especially preferred by POAS addicts. </li>
<li><b>PCOS = polycistic ovary syndrome. </b> A medical problem affecting as many as 10% of women that causes ovarian cysts, infrequent ovulation, and irregular menstrual periods. Women with PCOS may find it much more difficult to conceive because they ovulate less frequently and at less predictable intervals. There seems to be a large community of PCOS sufferers on the fertility message boards who provide mutual support and encouragement. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Pregnancy:</span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>TWW = two week wait. </b> The two weeks after ovulation before a pregnancy test is expected to be positive if conception did occur. Women appear to spend the most time on fertility forums during this portion of their cycle (presumably before that they were occupied with BDing at every opportunity). Popular activities during the TWW include debating the probability of conception this month and asking the community to scrutinize possible pregnancy symptoms, BBT charts, and various test results. The consensus is that this is the most agonize part of the TTC process. Although the term refers to a two week time span, many women on fertility discussion boards don't actually wait two weeks before testing. Some test as early as 6 days after ovulation and are usually disappointed, while others wait until 10 DPO (the first date on which many early detection tests are somewhat successful at detecting pregnancy). </li>
<li><b>HPT = home pregnancy test.</b> Any kind of test that can be used at home by a woman to determine pregnancy, including familiar brands such as Clear Blue as well as internet cheapies. These tests function like urine-based OPKs, but instead detect the presence of a hormone called hCG. Because hCG is only present in the body in tiny amounts in a non-pregnant woman, any visible test line indicates pregnancy on an HPT (unlike OPKs which require a test line that it is as dark as the control line to be considered a positive result). Although not designed for this purpose, some women also use urine-based OPK tests to detect pregnancy, because evidently hCG and LH are chemically quite similar. Note that the relationship does not go the other way, however--pregnancy tests cannot be used to detect the LH surge. </li>
<li><b>BFP = big fat positive</b> (see also, BFN below). A positive pregnancy test result (whether by HPT or blood test conducted by a medical professional). </li>
<li><b>BFN = big fat negative.</b> A negative pregnancy test result--an outcome most feared by women who are TTC.</li>
<li><b>Squinter</b> = a positive pregnancy test result that is so faint
it can only be seen by squinting or holding the test in a certain light or at a
specific angle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often what is hoped to
be a squinter is later revealed to be an evap line instead (see below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Positive pregnancy test results that happen
very early in terms of days after ovulation are often this type of result
(followed by a stronger positive some time later that confirms it was not an
evap instead).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li><b>Evap (line)</b> = a visible test line on a pregnancy test that does not
indicate pregnancy and happens when the test line becomes more visible or colors slightly as the liquid
evaporates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> An evap line is more likely to appear on a test that is scrutinized after the time span the test instructions allow (e.g., the instructions say to read the results after 5 minutes, but the evap line is only visible after 20 minutes). Unfortunately, both a squinter and an evap line can appear after the allowable test time.</span></li>
<li><b>Chemical pregnancy</b> = a pregnancy that results in a positive
pregnancy test but is miscarried very early, usually around the time of the
next expected menstrual period. Accurate early pregnancy tests have only recently made it possible for chemical pregnancies to be detected. In the past, almost all chemical pregnancies occurred without a woman's knowledge. Although they are not unusual, recurrent chemical pregnancies could indicate a medical problem such as a hormonal imbalance, nutrient deficiency, or luteal phase defect. </li>
<li><b>Angel baby</b> = most commonly, an embryo that was miscarried
very shortly after implantation. Presumably the term has a religious
origin, referring to a soul that was brought into being and then immediately called
up to heaven. This is a term for the fertilized ovum that results
from a chemical pregnancy (see above).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">General:</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>OP = original poster.</b> The person who initiated a discussion topic on the message board. Used as a way to refer to the person who posted the question or topic without knowing his or her name. </li>
<li><b>PP = previous poster. </b> A person who posted on the message board before the current poster (often the person who posted most recently). </li>
<li><b>DH = dear husband. </b> Refers to the writer's husband. This is general message board jargon. The term (and others like it, see DD and DS below) allows posters to use an anonymous placeholder instead of the individual's name while also indicating that person's relationship to the poster. Some prefer to use initials or nicknames instead of the generic DH. </li>
<li><b>DD = dear daughter.</b> See DH above. Can also be modified to refer to multiple daughters. In this case, DD1 would refer to the first born daughter, DD2 to the second, etc.</li>
<li><b>DS = dear son. </b> See DH and DD above.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Miscellaneous:</span></h3>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>OCs = oral contraceptives.</b> Methods of pregnancy prevention that involve taking hormone pills by mouth (e.g., The Pill). Many women on fertility forums have recently stopped using OCs and are now trying to get pregnant. </li>
<li><b>Baby dust</b> = a blessing and a common valediction or signoff. Baby dust is the presumed mystical substance that is present in the atmosphere when a woman is able to conceive (conceptually similar to Tinkerbell's pixie dust, which grants magical abilities). Often accompanied by the adjective "sticky", which indicates that the baby dust in question is particularly potent (e.g. "Wishing you all lots of sticky baby dust this month!"). The term can be applied prior to conception attempts (that is, before ovulation in a given month) or after during the two week wait or just prior to taking a pregnancy test (apparently baby dust's magical properties allow it to defy the natural conception timeline). Wishing someone baby dust is the fertility forum equivalent of saying "Good luck". The writer may also wish baby dust upon herself, as long as others are included in the blessing as well. </li>
</ul>
<br />
There are so many terms out there and they vary from board to board so no one person can know them all. What popular fertility forum slang am I missing? Do you have any corrections or updates? Please share a comment below and I will add to my list as needed. <br />
<br />
<i>P.S., This is what I'm doing during my first TWW. Wishing sticky baby dust to all who read this post (but if you don't want it, feel free to send it someone else's way)!</i><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-6602583394693569882014-02-09T17:36:00.003-05:002014-02-09T17:36:59.473-05:00Preconception Checklist: 100 Things To Do Before Trying To Conceive (Part 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6219608739302990950" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6219608739302990950" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfodKVBi5GmDDdO2-OW5OSLmHCRHSPLCIkbQCf6MIpu1S3LK0EgfMgnZCzcYNIewmXxJMx6S6lZG529ykaGiFkhNBm4W-QLZgewK-8WNAOpO6kB6R2QoKAXpi3Bt8wfR02gDLSag38W7it/s1600/Preconception+Timeline+-+3+to+6+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfodKVBi5GmDDdO2-OW5OSLmHCRHSPLCIkbQCf6MIpu1S3LK0EgfMgnZCzcYNIewmXxJMx6S6lZG529ykaGiFkhNBm4W-QLZgewK-8WNAOpO6kB6R2QoKAXpi3Bt8wfR02gDLSag38W7it/s1600/Preconception+Timeline+-+3+to+6+months.jpg" height="127" width="400" /></a></div>
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At last it is time for part three in my 4-part series about preconception preparation. As crazy as it seems to me, I have finally reached the 3-6 month mark before my own planned trying-to-conceive date! Below are 25 tips and suggestions I have gleaned from a variety of sources that ideally would be considered at least 3-6 months before TTC. Note that we are now getting into the time frame that most medical websites and other sources of preconception advice actually consider important for conception wellness and success, so you are likely to find additional research fruitful at this stage in your family planning.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Relationships </span></span></h3>
1. Now might be the time to <b>share with select friends or family members that you will be trying to TTC within the year</b>. This can be a good time to let people know you have conception in mind without them knowing exactly when you are trying. This step is especially recommended if there are people in your life who would be hurt or offended not to be included in your plans but who you would rather not be stressing you out every month about whether you are pregnant yet. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Education/Career </span></span></h3>
2. If you live in the United States, <b>start learning about laws that protect pregnant women and provide certain rights</b> for new parents. This is a good exercise whether or not you currently work or plan to work after having your first child. If you live outside of the U.S., begin to learn about your local laws and also take a few moments to be thankful that your country’s maternity policies are likely to be more generous and family-friendly (although of course not ALL are). <br />
3. If you are working, <b>find out if you have been working long enough in your current job to be eligible for the benefits your employer offers</b>. Certain federal laws in the U.S. require employers to offer job security benefits for employees who have been working for at least one year, but these laws apply only to employers of a certain size and only require that a limited set of benefits be offered (specifically the ability to take off a total of 12 weeks unpaid leave during the year of the birth or adoption of a child without risk of losing a current position). Many employers offer additional benefits, however, but these are determined by the employer and are subject to change. Find out who is eligible where you work and for what. <br />
4. If you work and are not self-employed, <b>determine what options your employer has for new parents</b>. How much time are you allowed to take off work? Is any portion of maternity/paternity leave paid by your employer? Are there policies for new dads too? Is affordable childcare offered at your work facility? Designated areas for expressing breast milk?<br />
5. You might also want to think about alternative approaches to your current work schedule while you have a newborn. <b>Would a more flexible work schedule, teleworking, job sharing, or coming back to work part time be an option?</b> If you work for a small company or don’t want to draw attention to your fertility plans, just look through the employee manual to find out what you can for now. If there is a large HR department or you don’t think your inquiries will be looked upon negatively, go ahead and speak to someone in HR about the policies and benefits available. <br />
6. If you are a student, <b>find out how much time you are permitted to take off</b> for illness or other medical reasons without having to reapply for your program. <br />
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Physical & Mental Health</span></span></h3>
7. <b>Start taking an <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004LL7AXE" target="_blank">Omega-3 fatty acid supplement</a></b> to support good fetal brain development (as well as maternal heart health—perhaps any prospective fathers might also want to join in on this good habit). If you have any moral or digestive qualms about taking fish-based supplements, there are some high quality vegetarian/vegan options available on the market as well that don’t have a fishy aftertaste and might be more palatable during early pregnancy. <br />
8. <b>Work on improved posture.</b> There are numerous exercises to help strengthen your back, core, and neck muscles to improve posture. You could even invest in an <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000FH2ZX8" target="_blank">inexpensive trainer</a> that reminds you to keep you shoulders back, or a <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000HLYKSU" target="_blank">back support</a> to improve your posture while sitting at a desk/computer. Since lower back pain is epidemic during pregnancy and your body goes through a lot to try to support a growing fetus, establishing good posture now will help to prevent and minimize common posture-related pregnancy ailments. <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6219608739302990950" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>9. <b>Begin drinking <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0009F3PP8" target="_blank">red raspberry leaf tea</a> to strengthen and tone uterus and minimize menstrual pain when resuming regular ovulation</b>. Although the research on this herb is not entirely conclusive and its effects are likely to be small, it has been found in some studies to reduce the length of the pushing stage of labor. It is also recommended as an all-around supplement for female reproductive health. Stop taking this supplement before trying to conceive unless specifically advised by a health care provider, however, as its potential to stimulate the uterus could possibly be detrimental during early pregnancy. Many naturally-oriented health care providers recommend resuming consumption of<b> </b>the tea in the second or third trimesters. As always, be sure to consult with medical professionals you trust and to listen to your own body when making decisions about herbal supplements. <br />
10. Set targeted, personal goals for health, wellness, and preparation during the remaining months until TTC. <b>Perhaps make a list of specific goals and try starting to tackle one each week</b>, or list 5-10 key outcomes you’d like to achieve before TTC and measure progress on each of them biweekly. Sites like <a href="http://sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople.com</a> help you to track nutritional, fitness, and other wellness goals easily.<br />
11. <b>Invest in good workout gear—quality tennis shoes, a supportive sports bra, etc.</b> You want to be safe and reduce injury during pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy workouts. Plus, during this crucial preparation time you do not want to be incapacitated by sprains and strains. Take extra care as you seek to tone and strengthen in preparation for your pregnancy. You are aiming for sustainable, quality physical activity that will ready your body for carrying a baby and that you can continue well into pregnancy. <br />
12. <b>Track daily caffeine consumption</b> and begin to cut down to a level that is safe during trying to conceive and pregnancy. Although ACOG has not issued an official recommendation, they have released a <a href="https://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_Opinions/Committee_on_Obstetric_Practice/Moderate_Caffeine_Consumption_During_Pregnancy" target="_blank">summary of research</a> supporting the opinion that <b>less than 200mg per day</b> does not increase the risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. This seems to have been adopted as the standard recommendation. <br />
13. Now is the time to <b>start ditching alcohol altogether</b>. The substances in your body 3-4 months prior to conception have the most impact on fertility and early fetal development, so stocking up on good nutrients and eliminating toxins now is the best strategy. That goes for prospective fathers as well, although total abstinence from alcohol may not be strictly required.<br />
14. Speaking of toxins, <b>there are many everyday substances from cleaners to personal care products that can have an unhealthy impact on a developing fetus</b>. You may not be able to eliminate every possible source of pollutants and toxins from your life, but identifying your big risk factors and swapping for healthier/more natural products and environments when possible is a good idea. See the <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0026772L0" target="_blank">Get Ready to Get Pregnant</a> book for lots of specifics and a bit of a dire perspective about potential toxins, as well as some more open-minded and practical sources about what to worry most about (e.g., <a href="http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/pregnancy-and-toxins" target="_blank">WebMD</a>). <br />
15. <b>Enjoy the last of your pregnancy no-no items</b>. Both potential parents may want to give some of these items up together out of solidarity and to keep temptation at bay. Items to enjoy for a last hurrah include sushi, smoked meats, soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, and any other dietary items considered to be unsafe during pregnancy. This could also include any hobbies that are unsafe for a fetus. If you have a definite habit, start weaning yourself off of these treats or research some pregnancy-safe modifications. <br />
16. <b>Work on reducing “wasted” calories in your diet</b> (excessive sugar, fat, etc.). You won’t need to increase your caloric intake much during early pregnancy, but you want all of your calories to be good ones. Now is not the time to start a radical deprivation diet, but rather to make small changes toward a more balanced and healthy eating mindset.<br />
17. Instead, begin trying to view every consumption choice as an opportunity to meet both your body’s needs for nutrients and energy, as well as your needs for enjoyment and psychological satisfaction. <b>Consider: Is what I’m about to eat going to leave me feeling satisfied? If not, is there something else I could eat that I would still enjoy but might be more satisfying or do a better job of meeting my nutritional needs? </b><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Finances</span></span></h3>
18. <b>Develop a specific pregnancy savings plan.</b> If you’ve already looked into the cost of an uncomplicated pregnancy and childbirth under your health insurance plan, use that as a starting point for a savings goal. Add an amount you’d like to be able to spend on maternity clothes and other pregnancy expenses and then figure out how much you’ll need to save in each of the weeks leading up to your TTC date to save the amount you figured. Of course you can plan to continue saving during pregnancy, but you never know what circumstances or unexpected expenses may come up later. This is just a start. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Practicalities</span></span></h3>
19. <b>Start Pinning/tracking your baby research and making Amazon wish-lists of products that stand out to you.</b> Perhaps start a secret <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> page to post discretely any findings that have associated images or media, plus a Word document or favorites list that allows you to save relevant links you might want to revisit. You are getting to the stage where you might soon be making some very real decisions about how to begin trying to conceive, what to do during your pregnancy, and how to prepare for the birth of your child. You don’t want to lose track of anything important you might learn during this time of preparation.<br />
20. <b>Time to seriously read some preconception books.</b> There are many available out there that target prospective parents with different goals and interests. For the scientifically-minded, books like <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0061740306" target="_blank">Get Ready to Get Pregnant</a> and <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0345518411" target="_blank">Before Your Pregnancy</a> are ideal. For those who want a more friendly, personal voice the <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0761152768" target="_blank">What to Expect</a> series might be a better bet. Of, for the impatient types who don’t really want to read a book about it but want key information fast, perhaps try <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1451620705" target="_blank">The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant</a>. Or take a selection of all of them. You will find overlapping information in most, with more or less detail.<br />
21. <b>Begin to explore community resources available to you during pregnancy and parenthood (especially free ones).</b> Are there active meet-up groups in your area for pregnant women or new moms (<a href="http://www.meetup.com/" target="_blank">www.meetup.com</a>)? Does your local hospital provide free educational classes or yoga sessions for expecting parents? What about your church community?<br />
22. <b>Research the schools in your neighborhood (<a href="http://www.greatschools.com/" target="_blank">greatschools.com</a>) and also the childcare options nearby.</b> Read parent reviews as well as looking at standardized test scores and other indicators for schools. Are you happy with what you find? If not, start working out a plan to make positive change in your local school system or to seek out alternative options as your kids age. <br />
23. <b>If you have a pet that isn’t used to being around small children, try to find opportunities for him or her to interact with little ones in controlled settings.</b> You might need to start with just being near kids and providing lots of positive reinforcement, or even using recordings of baby sounds. Do not attempt any direct contact until your pet is ready and of course make sure parents give permission before you introduce your pet to any child. If you suspect or know firsthand that your pet is not good with small children, consider working with an animal behavior specialist or trainer who can help you move toward a positive interaction pattern. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000;">Fertility & Backup Plans</span></span></h3>
24. <b>Make final decisions about who you would like your prenatal care provider to be.</b> If there are several potential candidates, begin scheduling some appointments and dust off those interview questions you prepared a few months ago (or start a new list if needed).<br />
25. <b>Spend some time thinking very specifically about the childbirth experiences of other women you know. What did their care providers do or not do? What do you think they wish they had asked before deciding on a provider?</b> If you don’t know anyone who has given birth recently, look online for stories or read reviews about your local hospital to get ideas. This should provide you with additional questions to ask your potential care providers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What other tips would you suggest for women who are thinking about trying to conceive but still have a while to go before beginning the process? What preparations did you or do you plan to make 3 to 6 months before trying to get pregnant for the first time?<br />
<br />
*For further reading, see <a href="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0061740306" target="_blank">Get Ready to Get Pregnant: Your Complete Prepregnancy Guide to Making a Smart and Healthy Baby</a>. Although the author can be a bit too negative at times and the information a bit overwhelming, this guide provides comprehensive coverage of most preconception topics and cites a wealth of scientific research.
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061740306/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061740306&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0061740306&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=deductparent-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=deductparent-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061740306" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-51562991098272874092014-01-11T20:16:00.002-05:002014-01-17T20:18:19.282-05:00Countdown to TTC: Week 37<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FRPCRRW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FRPCRRW&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20"><img alt="" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-vertical" data-a-dynamic-image="{"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L.jpg":[500,500],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L._SX466_.jpg":[466,466],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L._SY450_.jpg":[450,450],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L._SX425_.jpg":[425,425],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L._SY355_.jpg":[355,355]}" data-old-hires="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417EMnakt5L._SX425_.jpg" id="landingImage" style="max-height: 415px; max-width: 415px;" /></a> </div>
<br />
<br />
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Get HAPI ... Fork</span></h1>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">For
the holidays this year, I received many lovely gifts and some of them
have even caused me to change around my weekly challenges for my
countdown to TTC. One such gift was the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FRPCRRW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00FRPCRRW&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">HAPI fork</a>
(pictured above). I had been thinking about various habits I could try
to adopt that encourage mindful eating (such as putting down my fork
between bites, counting how many times I chew, serving my food on a
smaller plate and waiting a certain amount of time before going back for
seconds, etc.), but this new gadget really gave me a way to get started
on those mindful eating goals without quite so much "mindfulness". </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">The
HAPI fork is a mindful eating tool that subtly warns you when you are
eating faster than you should be. The fork has an internal brain that
measures each bite you take and then records how long you wait until the
next bite. If your next bite is sooner than a preset interval (default
is 10 seconds), then the fork vibrates and a little light briefly turns
red. If you are eating at the preferred interval, you can see the
light turn green with every bite but otherwise it just acts like a
normal fork. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Of
course, I do think it is good to move toward actual mindful eating and a
deep awareness of what is going on between myself and my meal, but for
someone who has a hard time slowing down while eating and a tendency to
shovel food this HAPI fork is a great help. Even when I start a meal
with focus, I tend to become kindof zombie-like about midway through and
just hork down the second half of my portion without really thinking or
sometimes even tasting it. Part of that is related to other bad
habits, but some of it is that I start to pick up speed as the meal goes
on and I'm no longer quite as hungry. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Although
I find it inconvenient to use this fork at every meal (that's a fair
bit of re-washing throughout the day), I find that I can use it once a
day or so pretty easily. Conveniently, the non-electronic part of the
fork is dishwasher safe so I can give it a thorough clean once in a
while. Just have to make sure to remove the electronic "brain" before
immersing it in water!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">You are supposed to turn the fork on at the start of a meal and turn it back off at the end.
Any time there's at least a 15 minute interval after eating, the fork
decides you have finished eating and records all the bites taken before that time as a meal. Using the <a href="http://www.hapi.com/" target="_blank">HAPI website</a>,
you can track your eating stats and monitor your progress toward goals
by plugging the fork's "brain" in and letting it download your data. I
don't have a smart phone, but I also think the fork is wireless
Bluetooth enabled and can transmit your data directly to a smart phone
or tablet, which would probably be more convenient.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Below is a picture of the output the site gave me after my first HAPI fork meal (which happened to be Christmas dinner):</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeA2fIkeBED4sHBKHYj_wEU5afPUjPVLItCppO7qIdQ2vi9XAmRnY8WnJRxZwCsIfm_0QUbDIbIYrjvQp8RtWmo1MEn30KuESbGp0ySZP9K_dfvLMn6v93xw4RGlkp5_d-ShAEusSGMsd/s1600/HAPI+fork+data.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeA2fIkeBED4sHBKHYj_wEU5afPUjPVLItCppO7qIdQ2vi9XAmRnY8WnJRxZwCsIfm_0QUbDIbIYrjvQp8RtWmo1MEn30KuESbGp0ySZP9K_dfvLMn6v93xw4RGlkp5_d-ShAEusSGMsd/s1600/HAPI+fork+data.jpg" height="313" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">You
find out how much of the time you were eating faster than target, how
long on average you waited between bites, how long you spent on the
meal, and how many total bites you took during the meal. Although these
data might not be particularly important for any one meal (except
perhaps to discover how long you spent eating a specific meal), over
time they do allow you to monitor your success and progress. Plus, if
you have a scientific way of thinking, like myself, it's just a pleasure
to see so much quantitative evidence about yourself presented in such
an appealing manner. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">As
I approach my TTC start date, I will continue to use the HAPI fork but
also try to move toward a more internalized mindful eating habit.
Still, when I know I'm really cognitively depleted and just can't pay
any attention to how long I'm taking between bites, it's nice to know I
can have a good angel reminding me to slow down and care about what I'm
putting into my body. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Any great strategies or gadgets that help you eat mindfully or live a healthy lifestyle? What do you think about the HAPI fork -- brilliant or evil? What eating habits of yours would you most like to be more conscious about or improve on?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2014/01/countdown-to-ttc-week-38.html" target="_blank">Counting pregnancy costs</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-54309746616102902372014-01-07T21:18:00.001-05:002014-01-07T21:18:35.360-05:00Countdown to TTC: Week 38<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/daquellamanera/4455140588/" title="Revisión by Daquella manera, on Flickr"><img alt="Revisión" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4034/4455140588_4b4d759569.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a>
</div>
<div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Calculate the Costs
</span></h1>
<div>
<br />
As a result of the holidays and various other obligation, I am getting behind on writing up my "weekly" posts, but I have been working toward my goals and trying to remember everything I experience so I can eventually write up my backlog of activities. A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to think seriously about medical expenses of a future pregnancy. As we enter the new calendar year (the year in which I sincerely hope I will be able to conceive my first child), I intend to begin experimenting with prenatal vitamins and other supplements I want to take to have a healthy conception and pregnancy. But diving into this more medical aspect of the process made me curious about the actual costs of pregnancy and childbirth.<br />
<br />
Of course, there are perhaps more unknowns than knowns in this arena (Will I be able to have the vaginal birth I desire? Will I experience any pregnancy complications? Will my health insurance coverage change before I become pregnant?), but I decided the responsible thing to do would be to research what the costs might be for my current health insurance provider given some reasonable assumptions. In addition, I was interested in figuring out what my maximum possible out-of-pocket expense would be given my current insurance situation. Although I wouldn't be willing to place any bets on the accuracy of these calculations, they should give me an idea of what I should be aiming to save over the next several months.<br />
<br />
<b>Step 1:</b> I began my calculations by going onto my insurance provider's online member site and using their cost estimator tool (a nice service if you have access to it). I asked for an estimate of the total medical costs associated with a pregnancy and vaginal hospital delivery in my geographic area (see below for the output). The results I got were a bit confusing, but it seems to me that the numbers given for each expense category were total expected billings (not amount owed out of pocket, as I would have expected). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MzXVh4TXqiuzgNj-ucAg9t7WQzyxezo4xhC3x9uxcqQHwGOuk6aZT4TPCIVPGK90uCxEtsd_jn_FZjw8bqBVNYxhTawOLCfYCxy8EcpXwbUkir8r2_XLgy3sIip7IztODK_6F8_KeTmF/s1600/Aetna+Vaginal+Birth+Cost+Estimate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MzXVh4TXqiuzgNj-ucAg9t7WQzyxezo4xhC3x9uxcqQHwGOuk6aZT4TPCIVPGK90uCxEtsd_jn_FZjw8bqBVNYxhTawOLCfYCxy8EcpXwbUkir8r2_XLgy3sIip7IztODK_6F8_KeTmF/s1600/Aetna+Vaginal+Birth+Cost+Estimate.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Step 2:</b> Once I learned what the expected total billings would be for this type of pregnancy and birth, I had to consult my health plan's summary of benefits to determine what proportion I might be expected to pay of these total expenses. My medical deductible and pharmacy deductibles are $250 and $100. Once those are met, my plan expects me to pay the following for prenatal care and delivery costs:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog_jTOAn63ira76Q4c8-ECkT7h-Q2qYDPmuSBOIpIIdP3I3YSvpFZ0MQkH0PMBqFECO_XQojHfWvLwLafOtAqPoF_bhXbYnSJo_kmOF5SM36hwXGnGXezAty99uD6R3CFGv-gyeaKdUlK/s1600/Aetna+Pregnancy+Coverage+Details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog_jTOAn63ira76Q4c8-ECkT7h-Q2qYDPmuSBOIpIIdP3I3YSvpFZ0MQkH0PMBqFECO_XQojHfWvLwLafOtAqPoF_bhXbYnSJo_kmOF5SM36hwXGnGXezAty99uD6R3CFGv-gyeaKdUlK/s1600/Aetna+Pregnancy+Coverage+Details.jpg" height="132" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Step 3:</b> Now that I had figured out the expected costs (assuming a vaginal delivery and a pregnancy that was not high risk) and what proportion I would probably have to pay, I could make some estimates. I began by evaluating the maximum possible costs. Knowing my deductibles and the additional out-of-pocket maximum for my plan, I determined that $2350 was the absolute most I would have to pay for a pregnancy that spanned only one policy year (I could of course be unlucky and accrue some high prenatal costs in one policy year and then some additional high costs for labor and delivery in the next policy year when new deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum would apply). So, worst case scenario has me paying as much as $4700 for one pregnancy. <br />
<br />
<b>Step 4:</b> Finally, I wanted to estimate the real expected out-of-pocket cost of the standard vaginal delivery pregnancy the cost estimator summarized for me. Assuming a $200 copay for the delivery facility (even though the cost estimator predicted no charge for this actually), plus 20% coinsurance on all the medical tests and doctor's bills (although some portion of this would no doubt constitute no-charge prenatal care), and the full estimated amount for pharmacy, I came up with an expected total cost of $1836. It would also be reasonable to predict an amount a few hundred less than this if much of my doctor's costs came from fully covered prenatal care and if my birth hospital did not charge a facility fee. On the other hand, any sort of complications or need for additional tests or specialized care would quickly bring this up to the maximum possible cost. <br />
<br />
So, in summary, I learned that I should probably expect to spend a couple thousand dollars on my birth. Even if I switch insurance plans (which I actually expect to do), I will most likely select one that has a similar deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. I also realized that small changes in my assumptions can make a substantial difference in how much I would overall expect to pay for a single pregnancy and birth. This could be a scary realization, but I think my response to the information is reasonable. I will make tentative plans based on what is most likely to happen, but I will also be prepared for things not to go according to plan. Probably a good approach to new parenthood as well, now that I think of it...<br />
<br />
What about you? Do you or did you know down to the dollar how much your pregnancy should cost? Have you come by any useful information about paying for pregnancy and childbirth or tips for dealing with health insurance providers? What are some top dos and don'ts when it comes to pregnancy-related medical expenses? <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/12/countdown-to-ttc-week-39.html" target="_blank">Eating right while eating out</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-65494585184956231992013-12-04T22:11:00.004-05:002013-12-04T22:11:58.793-05:00Countdown to TTC: Week 39<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniquehotelsgroup/5692227631/" title="Restaurant La Boheme by Unique Hotels Group, on Flickr"><img alt="Restaurant La Boheme" height="332" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2288/5692227631_e5ce28eae1.jpg" width="500" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Eating Right, Eating Out</span></h1>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Aside from my general preference for loafing instead of moving, my biggest challenge to living healthy is what happens when I eat away from my own kitchen. I am pretty good about having healthy things around and preparing my go-to nutritious meals when I am at home and following my normal routine. Things start to get out of hand, however, when I go out to eat or go on vacation and start eating what's available at family and friends' houses. Partly, I am easily caught up in the social aspect of eating and tend to eat very quickly when eating in a large group. This is true when I'm comfortably eating with family but also when I am at a party with lots of people I don't know (in that case, I am eating to have something to do when I'm not sure who to talk to). A bigger problem, though, is that when I'm not at home I find it harder to curb my impulse to eat when I'm not really hungry. Especially on vacation there are so many tempting options that I don't want to wait until I'm hungry to eat or else I'll have to pass on some of the yummy foods. So disappointing! <br />
<br />
Normally I am just vaguely aware of the problem I have eating out and try to restrict the number of days I eat away from home. It's generally a good strategy, but there are some times when it's just not possible and I would really benefit from having some additional techniques to avoid undoing all my hard work. Now that the holiday season is upon me, it is particularly hard to avoid big social meals with lots of appealing food. Plus, the usual holiday food fest will be multiplied by a season of job interviews for my spouse which will likely have us away from home several times during the new year. So my recent goal has been to <b>identify strategies to keep my eating to reasonable quantities while eating away from home</b>.<br />
<br />
Here's what I've come up with so far:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Pay attention to hunger cues and try not to eat to the point of being uncomfortably full.</b> I've actually succeeded pretty well on this one, even on Thanksgiving day, so that's a small victory! </li>
<li><b>Don't eat unless I am hungry.</b> This one has not been as much of a success--I think it is the root of my eating out/eating away problems so I want to work on it seriously over the next couple of months. Particularly as the evening progresses, I just want to eat for pleasure. Earlier in the day I find this less tempting, perhaps because there is usually stuff going on.</li>
<li><b>Don't wait until I am starving to eat.</b> Surprisingly, this also happens sometimes when I am eating with family or friends. Since there is a group we are not always following my own hunger cues (or an event leads us all to ignore our hunger), so when we actually do eat it is harder to make healthy decisions. </li>
<li><b>Enjoy all the desirable foods, but don't overdo it on any one thing.</b> Some people probably would want to change <i>what</i> they eat when they eat away from home, but I want to be able to enjoy all of the yummy options, especially since I know I will resume a fairly healthy and complete diet when I get back home. So, I try to incorporate healthy elements but the main thing is not to eat a ton of something really fattening and high in calories just because it is suddenly on the menu. This relates to strategies 1 and 2. </li>
<li><b>When eating at a restaurant, hold back on bread and appetizers.</b> I am pretty good about eating approximately half of a restaurant entree and boxing up the rest for leftovers, but sometimes this still results in my eating a huge meal if I have a lot of bread or soup or appetizers before the meal. I have recruited DH to help remind me that I don't want to overdo it on the starters just because they are there, and letting him know about this plan should also help me keep it in mind too. </li>
<li><b>Don't give up on eating a balanced diet entirely just because I'm away from home.</b> This is especially relevant when I will be away from home for a few days. Whenever I get into a vacation mindset, I start to just ignore nutrition and healthy food altogether. I would probably stay on track a lot more if I continued to choose healthy breakfast and lunch options even though my dinners and desserts will probably a bit less than ideal. Just because we will be going out for dinner most nights doesn't mean I also <i>have</i> to eat cheese danish or donuts for breakfast. I plan to incorporate this mindset for my next long weekend away from home.</li>
</ol>
What about you? How do you stay on track with healthy eating when there are so many opportunities to overeat and indulge in fattening treats, especially around the holidays? Do you have any tricks for eating healthy while eating away from home, or do you find that just never works and you really need to limit the frequency of eating out to stay in control? Can any of the same strategies be applied to cravings and the temptation to overindulge during pregnancy? <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/12/countdown-to-ttc-week-40.html" target="_blank">Walking</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-70141059929586949822013-12-03T20:58:00.001-05:002013-12-03T20:58:56.677-05:00Countdown to TTC: Week 40<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soyunterrorista/44731269/" title="walk street sign by kate at yr own risk, on Flickr"><img alt="walk street sign" height="375" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/28/44731269_524992ae79.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Walk It Off</span></h1>
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With the holidays here, I am finding myself getting hopelessly behind on my challenges! I suppose it's just one of those life things I'll have to get over--I'm sure there will be more and more distractions and interruptions when kids are in the picture anyway. But sometime a few weeks ago my weekly challenge was to <b>add more walking to my daily routine</b> and I've really made headway with that goal.<br />
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I live a 15-20 minute walk from my academic building which I go to approximately 2 days a week, but I normally get dropped off by my husband to save time. Since adding this challenge to my routine, I have been able to walk to school at least once a week and sometime even more than once (it's usually later when I leave and I take the bus home). I have noticed several time in recent months that walking any significant distance has caused me to have hip pain, but stretching my hips before I leave the house and walking for briefer periods seems to have helped. Hopefully I am also building up my muscles for future longer walks. <br />
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In addition, I've found lots of other opportunities to walk more, like walking to meetings in other buildings, shopping, walking the family dog while visiting for Thanksgiving, etc. So far I have had no trouble adding an extra 30-60 minutes of walking to my weekly routine. In the coming months, I will try to keep this up despite the increasingly wintry weather and plan to increase my walking intensity as I approach the TTC date.<br />
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Here's hoping I can keep up my motivation for this habit, because I think it's a good one. I already added a pedometer to my Christmas list to give me a little mid-winter boost in enthusiasm.<br />
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How about you? What's your favorite weight-bearing exercise to do outdoors? Is walking your thing or do you find it boring? How do you add more steps to your daily activity for good health?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/11/countdown-to-ttc-week-41.html" target="_blank">Strength Training</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-28497450746727302632013-11-07T13:38:00.001-05:002013-11-07T13:38:58.830-05:00Countdown to TTC: Week 41<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/3168458688/" title="Oliver After Weight Training by Mr. T in DC, on Flickr"><img alt="Oliver After Weight Training" height="500" src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1172/3168458688_17a40d43ee.jpg" width="399" /></a>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Strength Training</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Last week it dawned on me that maybe my plan of eating less and exercising the same amount as I have been for the past year or so wasn't going to result in the kind of change in fitness that I am hoping to achieve. I do want to weigh less, ideally, but I really want to be physically ready for the challenges of pregnancy. Even during the times when I lost a substantial amount of weight, I never really felt that I had increased in strength, flexibility, or endurance. Usually, I felt weaker but also thinner and lighter. As I've mentioned before, that won't do for this year's goals. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">But as obvious as it sounds that I need to add strength and flexibility training to my routine, I was really reluctant to do so. I don't want to reduce the amount of cardio I've been doing substantially--partly because that might actually cause me to gain weight instead of maintaining the status quo and partly because it's the kind of exercise I find most tolerable (at least I can watch my shows). And there are only so many hours in the day. So, I have started to add strength and flexibility training in small, tolerable ways with minimal equipment. My workout gear consists of (1) tennis shoes, (2) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1BR6M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000I1BR6M&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">three and five pound weights</a> (I like the kind with the non-slip coating that don't leave your hands smelling like metal), (3) a sturdy wall, (4) a sturdy chair, and (5) an inexpensive <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016BPJ6W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0016BPJ6W&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">thigh workout device</a>. I think someone can make a perfectly good strength and flexibility routine out of these few items, but there are a couple of additional things on my wish list, such as a plush yoga mat, an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DNH665A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DNH665A&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">exercise/stability ball</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P90KPS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003P90KPS&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">wrist weights</a> for walking, and maybe some <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TRS3JG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003TRS3JG&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">resistance bands</a>. As a person with very minimal upper body and core strength, here's what I have been trying so far:</span></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Twenty wall pushups and a few squats any time I go into the restroom</b> at work and there is no one else in the room. The handicap stall has a fairly sturdy wall and enough room to do these moves while locked into the stall, so in case someone comes in they won't see my mini-workout. If you have your own office instead of a cubicle or are at home most of the day, this would be even more doable.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>A few minutes of stretching after my cardio workout. </b> This is the time when my muscles are most warmed up and I am at my most flexible. I can even bend over and touch the floor sometimes if I stretch enough. Eventually, I plan to build this up to a 15 or 20 minute yoga or Pilates video a couple times a week.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Brief but challenging core training.</b> My core strength is pretty weak, so I will feel the burn the next day if I do a few arms-up full situps and about 10 <a href="http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesmat/ss/CrissCross.htm" target="_blank">Pilates criss-cross exercises</a>. This is enough usually to wear me out, but if I have any strength left I will do some crunches or leg lifts. Hopefully, my stamina will improve over time. I am working up to the <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/videos-detail.asp?video=42" target="_blank">12 minute seated core workout video</a> that's available for free on SparkPeople.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Extra weight lifting and gravity-based leg workouts when I have time.</b> I will usually do 10 or 20 dumbbell curls, another 20 two-arm tricep extensions (where you hold the weight behind your head and lift up), and then just spend some time doing leg lifts and balancing my weight. Unlike my cardio workout, I don't have a particular routine. I just pull something from memory from the various strength training workouts I have done that targets an area I want to strengthen, and then I keep doing it until I feel the muscle getting tired. Eventually, I would like to work up to a more specific, measurable plan. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Do you have a favorite strength or flexibility training routine that works for you? Any suggestions on where to find a strength training plan that starts with the lowest level of ability and keeps you feeling motivated and continuing to see improvements? How do you know when to increase the weight or try something different? What has been the greatest fitness milestone you've passed? I'd love to hear from you, so please share your thoughts below.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/10/countdown-to-ttc-week-42.html" target="_blank">Tracking My Eating</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-58772257889248825592013-10-28T21:31:00.000-04:002013-10-28T21:31:59.593-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 42<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goblinbox/5431651330/" title="Week 5 by goblinbox_(queen_of_ad_hoc_bento), on Flickr"><img alt="Week 5" height="267" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5139/5431651330_1bd14c8fc7.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Track My Eating</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Last week, following my visit to the nutritionist, I took stock of my goals for the year leading up to TTC and decided it was time to get serious about tracking what I eat. As I've mentioned before, I have been a member of <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> for a couple of years now and will sporadically track my food when I consider my weight loss goals, but I typically lose enthusiasm for it when I am not seeing the kind of progress I want. In the past, I have always stuck to dieting strategies that involve extreme changes in my eating behavior, show quick results, and fall apart the instant I return to "life as usual". </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Well, these days I am determined to live a healthier lifestyle, not just get back into a smaller clothing size. I don't want to go back to the days of extreme, unsustainable dieting followed by immediate weight gain, but I worry that my body won't respond to more subtle changes in my diet and activity levels. I am trying to keep my focus not only on how my behaviors impact how <i>I</i> look and feel, but on how my choices might one day soon affect my child's development in the womb and his or her attitudes and beliefs growing up. That is a big responsibility and I take it seriously. I don't just want to lose weight for my own gratification anymore. In fact, as the nutritionist pointed out, maybe I shouldn't even be focusing on weight loss per se. So this past week I decided it was time to focus less on the scale and more on what I am putting into my body. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">I'm sure everyone has their own method of accountability that works, but for me it's been the online tracking tools that really help. I can enter down to the last detail everything that I ate or every ingredient I included in a recipe, and then I can reuse those entries over and over for things that I eat frequently. Plus, I can get all kinds of reports, like the one pictured at the top of this post (Note: that is not a picture of my own progress report -- I actually eat about 1650 calories a day for my current weight, and that is the bottom of the suggested range). For someone with a scientifically-oriented brain, these features are indispensable for maintaining motivation and enhancing my feeling of self-control. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Admittedly, I am sometimes at a loss for what to enter when I eat too many things outside of my usual repertoire (I went to a reunion this weekend and tracking just went out the window for the day), but entering my food has helped me to be conscious of what I am eating and how much I am taking in. It isn't so great when I reach the top of my calorie limit for the day and still feel hungry, of course, but it is very freeing when I realize I have eaten less than the limit and can indulge in a little something extra at the end of the day. Plus, I think it motivates me to eat more fruits and vegetables just so I can see them being added to the list. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">So far, tracking consistently hasn't caused me to lose more weight (crossing my fingers that this will change in the future), but it has stopped me seeing those occasional weight gains of two or three pounds and makes me feel certain I am eating the right kinds of foods in the right amounts for good health. I'm hoping to remain diligent in this practice throughout the rest of my countdown to TTC and continue into pregnancy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? How do you keep yourself accountable for what you eat and how much you eat? Do you personally feel helped by calorie counting, or does it backfire for you? Anyone else track what they eat carefully but still not seeing movement on the scale? Any advice on how to stick with a healthy lifestyle even at the times when you aren't seeing much change or improvement? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/10/countdown-to-ttc-week-43.html" target="_blank">Seeing a Nutritionist</a>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-70438690872585719012013-10-13T23:58:00.003-04:002013-10-13T23:58:15.371-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 43<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coquithechef/7587348536/" title="Coqui the Chef Nutrition Workshop Building Healthy Habits by Coqui the Chef, on Flickr"><img alt="Coqui the Chef Nutrition Workshop Building Healthy Habits" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7587348536_12e33de37d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">See a Nutritionist</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Normally, I avoid seeing medical or health professionals unecessarily. I believe preventative care is important, but the U.S. healthcare system really isn't set up for people to visit their doctors and other care providers just to check in. Plus, as a graduate student I really don't like to do anything that increases my medical expenses. However, a flyer in the office recently reminded me that my university provides several free services to employees and students to help them stay healthy or get healthier. One of these services is an initial consultation and several follow-ups with a nutritionist. Given my ongoing goal of getting ready for pregnancy over the course of this year, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. So, this past week I added <b>consult a nutritionist about preconception planning and weight loss</b> to my list. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">In preparation for the visit, I had to track my food for several days. Since I am a veteran user of <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a>, the only difficult parts about that were (1) being more self-conscious about my food choices knowing they would be scrutinized by a dietitian and (2) having to simplify my tracking to fit onto the form I was asked to use (since I usually make my food, I am often tracking a dozen ingredients per meal). In the end, I brought both a filled-out form that was impossible to read and a super long printout of my food from the same days taken directly from SparkPeople. The dietitian didn't seem to mind and actually looked more at my long, detailed printout. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">I really wasn't sure what to expect from my appointment, since I didn't have any choice over the dietitian and her philosophy--I was just visiting the person who works for my school health center. The only time I've ever known someone to visit a nutritionist was if they had to lose a substantial amount of weight for medical reasons, which is pretty different than my situation. Plus, a university is unlikely to employ someone to work with undergrads whose expertise is in chronic medical conditions. So I shouldn't have been surprised when I came to the appointment explaining that I was frustrated with my current weight loss efforts because I am not losing pounds despite having recently reduced my caloric intake and tracking my food vigorously and her first question was "What would you say if I told you that you should stop trying to lose weight?" </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">I don't think she particularly believes I am at an ideal weight, but she is a person who subscribes to a philosophy of being healthy at any size. Throughout our conversation, she encouraged me to focus on healthy behaviors rather than fixating on the number on the scale. She also pointed out that I may be making physical changes in preparation for weight loss right now (don't see any evidence of that, but who know maybe I'm stealthily gaining some muscle mass). She also discussed some flaws with BMI as an indicator of health risk (<a href="http://www.thecalculatorsite.com/articles/health/alternatives-to-bmi.php" target="_blank">click here</a> for some alternative measures of ideal weight and <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255712.php" target="_blank">here</a> for an article about a new way of calculating BMI that may be more accurate for adults). I have not yet found any research on the subject, but she suggested that even the "common knowledge" that BMI is directly linked to negative health outcomes may be flawed. According to the nutritionist, studies which are able to include health-related behaviors directly in their analyses along with BMI typically find that body mass has not additional impact on health outcomes above and beyond healthy behaviors like exercise and eating right. I don't claim to endorse this opinion, but it certainly <a href="http://blogs.plos.org/obesitypanacea/2012/02/10/why-the-body-mass-index-bmi-is-a-poor-measure-of-your-health/" target="_blank">gave me something to think about</a> and I will want to research this more.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Although I have made a lot of improvements in my healthy lifestyle and the nutritionist was very positive about my health indicators like cholesterol levels, I still couldn't quite get on board with the idea that I should stop caring about my weight. But I agreed with her that I am focusing too much on the scale and too little on the positive health changes I am making. In the end, I didn't have a great answer to her question about my weight. Honestly, if someone told me I don't need to lose another pound to be maximally healthy and ready for pregnancy, I just wouldn't believe them. I'm sure I am at a weight that would make it possible for me to get pregnant and probably have an uncomplicated pregnancy, but I know I could have more energy and a fitter body to deal with the stress of growing a new life and then caring for a small child. Perhaps getting on the scale every day and agonizing over the number isn't the right way to do that, though. Based on my appointment, we agreed I would cut back to weighing in twice a week and pay attention to my hunger cues. At my next meeting, we'll discuss making some changes to my eating habits that focus more on hunger levels than on how many calories I think I have "left" for the day. It's a good start. Hopefully the scale and my healthy improvements will match up soon, but if not I will try to focus on getting healthy with weight being a secondary component rather than my main indicator. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/10/countdown-to-ttc-week-44.html" target="_blank">Planning with Pinterest</a>.</i></span></span> </span></span></span></span> </span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-3026142544720368482013-10-05T14:58:00.001-04:002013-10-05T14:58:19.188-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 44<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/free-stock/4905243184/" title="push-pin-tack_colored_29973-480x360 by Public Domain Photos, on Flickr"><img alt="push-pin-tack_colored_29973-480x360" height="360" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4123/4905243184_6ecbd121c3.jpg" width="480" /></a>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Planning with Pinterest!</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">The past couple of weeks have been extremely busy for me, so this past week I decided to tackle a goal that was more fun than challenging. <b>I started a secret Pinterest board to keep track of all of my baby-related findings.</b> In addition to my public <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/deductiveparent/" target="_blank">Pinterest account</a>, I wanted a page where I could keep track of my personal baby research, like links to pages of nurse midwives in my area, hospitals where I could give birth, or play groups in cities I might live in when I have little ones. I decided to keep it private because (1) my level of obsession with this topic is a bit embarrassing given that I'm not even TTC yet, and (2) I once posted a few baby-related pins in a row on my public page and was instantly being interrogated by my social network. As much as I enjoy sharing this weekly journey with you, I don't want my family and friends to be confused about my status. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Secret or not, I love spending my free time researching these kinds of topics and imagining what the future might hold, but often I forget what I discovered as soon as I close all the tabs on my web browser and then I end up looking the same things up all over again (or, even worse, forgetting about a gem that I found). But surely that is the purpose of a site like Pinterest? Even though I keep lots of tabs open on my computer, I can never have every page I am interested in easily accessible until the time when I need it. Invariably the moment I give up and close that recipe I had open for two weeks is the time I finally have a chance to try it. And planning for a pregnancy that's at least 10 months in the future, I really need to be able to store up the information I find for a later date. I have also created a Word document to track some information, like my thoughts and ideas, and a folder where I can store published research articles about topics like childbirth, since unfortunately those types of materials rarely have any pictures and as a result Pinterest won't even let me store them. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Ultimately, this week's goal wasn't so much of a challenge as an opportunity to acknowledge that TTC is really approaching. It's important to get my mind and body in a good place, but I also need to keep the end goal in mind and maintain my motivation to make positive changes in my life. The day DH and I decided to start trying is now less than 300 days away! Until then, I want to continue to enjoy this time of anticipation and preparation. Different people have their own ways of savoring the moment, but for me one of the keys is getting to imagine and mull over every detail, even if it's just a private activity on my secret Pinterest board. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? What's your favorite way to stay motivated to get healthy and prepared, or just to keep up your excitement for a pregnancy or baby that's still a long way away? Do you keep a secret Pinterest board or is your baby mania out there for all to see? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/09/countdown-to-ttc-week-45.html" target="_blank">Proper Posture</a>.</i></span></span> </span></span> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-49412429561575820852013-09-26T20:46:00.001-04:002013-09-26T20:46:05.445-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 45<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaibara/4338318506/" title="Etiquette lessons from Sofia: the proper sitting posture by kaibara87, on Flickr"><img alt="Etiquette lessons from Sofia: the proper sitting posture" height="333" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4028/4338318506_917962c03d.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<h1>
<span style="color: #990000;">Proper Posture</span></h1>
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Again this week, I decided to begin working on something that's a bit more challenging for me than some of my early goals: posture. Honestly, if I just make a little progress on this one it will be a big improvement, because I have been hunching for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's because I'm taller than most women, or maybe it's a holdover from my awkward teenage posture, or possibly I'm just too lazy to stand up straight. Certainly adopting a lifestyle that involves sitting at a computer most of the day hasn't helped. Whatever the reason, I know it's probably bad for my neck and back in the long run and I especially want to improve my posture before I get pregnant. I've read numerous times that <a href="http://positivelypregnant-mummytrainer.blogspot.com/2011/12/importance-of-good-posture-during.html" target="_blank">posture during pregnancy</a> is even more important than it usually is because your body is changing and working hard to support extra weight that's all concentrated in one spot. Women are already understandably more prone to back pain during pregnancy, so I really don't want to make it even worse by slouching all the time.</div>
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Although the origin of my bad posture is somewhat unknown, the reason for its maintenance is fairly obvious--my core, back, and neck muscles are weak. Plus, I am so used to having bad posture that I almost can't even tell if my posture is good or bad at any particular moment. Thus, my first course of action was to <b>buy an inexpensive <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FGXV50/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FGXV50&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">posture corrector</a> to remind me to sit and stand up straight</b>. The particular corrector I ordered is made of elastic material that stretches around your back and shoulders and wraps around under your chest to attach with velcro. It could be worn by a man or woman, but I feel it is particularly designed to strap under a woman's bosom. I opened it as soon as I saw that it had arrived and started wearing it. As various reviewers had mentioned, the material and the velcro are not very comfortable, so I wore a t-shirt underneath and padded some of the spots that rubbed (under the armpits, probably because my arms aren't as slim as the models) with washcloths. While it doesn't exactly force you into the correct posture, the elastic is strong and definitely pulls my shoulders back without me doing anything. Because of the way the getup looks and the fact that I am wearing it over clothes, I have no intention of wearing it out of the house. Instead, it is a way to practice a couple of hours at a time sitting with good posture and hopefully that will slowly train my muscles and also make me more conscious of what proper posture feels like. Even after just a few days I do feel like it is a little more natural to rest with my shoulders back rather than hunched forward. But I'm sure it will take a long time to break my bad habits for good.</div>
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In addition to my sessions with the corrector, I am beginning to try a few other strategies to make my posture improvement a speedier and less unpleasant process:</div>
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<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><b>Work on back and core strength</b>. There are numerous online articles and video explaining and demonstrating <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1407" target="_blank">exercises that promote good posture</a>. In general, it is easier to support your head and keep your shoulders back if you have good upper back strength and to support the weight of your body if you have strong abdominals. My typical exercise routine doesn't focus much on strength, and when it does I focus mostly on my arms and legs, so these are definite weak spots for me. </li>
<li><b>Stretch</b>. There are lots of good stretches that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/31/posture-exercise_n_2582556.html" target="_blank">promote better posture</a> and reduce back and neck fatigue/pain. Stretches can even be <a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/stretching-exercises-at-your-desk-12-simple-tips?page=2" target="_blank">done at a desk</a> at work. </li>
<li><b>Adjust my sitting position</b>. If you're going to sit all day, it's better to sit properly in an ergonomic chair with legs straight down and preferably feet slightly elevated. Or even better to use an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VDTEDA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000VDTEDA&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">exercise ball</a> or a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TMFSQK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TMFSQK&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">kneeling chair</a> rather than a traditional desk chair. Since I share my office space and take whatever chairs are available, for now I'll settle for getting up frequently, setting my chair to the proper height for my computer monitor, and trying to to cross my legs or lean to one side for a long time while I work. </li>
</ol>
What about you? Have you done anything to improve your posture recently and, if so, what was your strategy? Do you have any experience with the effects of good/bad posture during pregnancy or have any words of wisdom to share? <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/09/countdown-to-ttc-week-46.html" target="_blank">Having an Active Lifestyle</a>.</i></span></span> </span></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-46926864284016695362013-09-17T21:09:00.001-04:002013-09-17T21:09:38.317-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 46<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdeprimo/7868093292/" title="Color Run NYC 8-26-2012 by ANTHONY619, on Flickr"><img alt="Color Run NYC 8-26-2012" height="348" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7868093292_4a6276fbd3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Get Active, Have Fun</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <span style="color: black;">Once I commit to a certain activity or behavior, I am pretty good at following through on it. So <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-48.html" target="_blank">taking the stairs more</a> or <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-51.html" target="_blank">drinking more water</a> are doable as long as I am able to remember they are on my to-do list. But something I don't really do well is add spontaneous healthy behaviors to my day. Even if I have an opportunity, I won't spontaneously add extra walking or play outside with friends or go out dancing. For me, health-related activities are a necessary chore that you have to plan for but that you wouldn't want to do for fun. So my goal this week was to work on changing my perspective about being active and to move toward having a <b>healthy lifestyle</b>, rather than a set of specific healthy behaviors. </span> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Step one of this effort was to <b>register for and participate in a <a href="http://thecolorrun.com/" target="_blank">Color Run</a></b>. These events are popping up all over the United States and are pitched as "The Happiest 5k on the Planet". Participants register in advance to take part in a 5 kilometer walk/run and show up on race day with thousands of other people to travel on a single track. People of all shapes, sizes, and ages come to take part (including many families with infants and small children). Runners/walkers are released in small waves, and there are several stations set up along the track representing a single color. At each station, participants are sprayed by enthusiastic volunteers with dyed corn starch that starts to cover their clothing and bodies in bursts of bright colors. When you complete the race, you toss a final color packet that you received at the start of the race along with hundreds of other participants, creating a rainbow cloud (pictured above). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">I am usually the type of person who avoids such events when possible, but since I started counting down to trying to conceive I have been thinking about my goals a little differently. Usually I pass because I don't like waking up early on the weekends, which is almost always mandatory for walks/runs, and also I worry that I will get too tired or sore by the end of the race and look foolish. Now, though, I am thinking more long-term. Why avoid something fun like the Color Run just in case I might get tired? I should instead look at it as a challenge and a goal for self-improvement. Plus, it could be fun and maybe I would even want to be one of those mommies out there in a future race pushing my baby in a stroller or one of the fit pregnant ladies strutting along with a prominent belly bump. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">The next step will be a bit more difficult, because there is no specific plan or list to follow. I will just need to start saying yes more often to opportunities to get active. I don't want to make a rule to always say yes, because there are some things I don't like to do or that are beyond my current abilities. But having a yes attitude will be a good start. Also, keeping an eye open for opportunities I might otherwise miss is a good idea. I see lots of information about free events in my community, but usually I skip right to the ones about food or theater/movies and don't even look at active ones. Even though most of them might not be my thing (I loathe most organized sports, for example), I might find the occasional gem like the Color Run - within my ability level, active, fun. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Is routine exercise the only way you get active, or are you able to find ways to get moving that aren't part of your exercise schedule? How do you have fun while staying or getting fit? What are some calorie-burning activities that you actually enjoy? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/09/countdown-to-ttc-week-47.html" target="_blank">Eating More Produce</a>.</i></span></span> </span></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-79526584781847611372013-09-07T18:12:00.001-04:002013-09-07T18:12:59.525-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 47<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YUVF1S/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006YUVF1S&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="fullScreen" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/810opEVyphL._SL1500_.jpg" style="height: 453px; margin-top: 10px; width: 473px;" /></a></div>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Eat More Produce</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">By this point I've had over a month to ease into this countdown business, and despite spending a few days having to <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-51.html" target="_blank">pee every 10 minutes</a> and waking up sore one morning from climbing about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-48.html" target="_blank">20 flights of stairs</a> the day before, so far I haven't challenged myself to make any major changes in my day-to-day life. This week, I want to rock the boat a little more and really put health at the forefront of my efforts. I am challenging myself to <b>eat at least 4 servings of produce a day</b>. At least half should come from veggies, ideally more. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Some aspects of what we should eat and how much of it we should eat are controversial, but I won't be spending too much time today discussing that issue. Almost everyone agrees that eating a variety of vegetables (especially) and fruits is good for you, and the fresher the produce is and the more different kinds you consume the better. You can also add environmental and nutrient benefits by shopping for locally-grown produce in many parts of the United States (just search Buy Fresh Buy Local and your state's name online to find information about farmer's markets and other local food resources). This message is being vigorously promoted by the USDA's <a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/" target="_blank">My Plate</a> program, which suggests you fill half of your plate at each meal with fruits and veggies. And the same message is also supported by leading nutrition researchers (who are not necessarily without bias but probably are under less direct pressure from the agricultural lobby), such as those at the Harvard School of Public Health who recommend a similar <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramid/" target="_blank">diet breakdown</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">This week, I used the handy <a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate/index.aspx" target="_blank">calculator</a> from the My Plate website to determine what is the recommended number of servings for someone of my age, size, and activity level who wants to progress toward a healthy weight. My personal recommendation is to consume 6 oz of grain, 2.5 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of dairy, and 5.5 oz of protein daily. Based on the most current nutrition research, I think the recommendation for my dairy intake is too high (see the Harvard School of Public Health's discussion about <a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/calcium-and-milk/" target="_blank">dairy and calcium</a> for more information), but I am convinced that I should ideally be eating at least 4.5 cups of vegetables and fruits on an average day. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">The calculator further breaks down the proportion I should devote to vegetables of different varieties over the course of a week: 1.5 cups leafy greens (note that one "cup" of greens is actually 2 measured cups due to their volume), 5.5 cups orange/red vegetables (like carrots and tomatoes), 1.5 cups beans and peas, 5 cups starchy vegetables (like potatoes and lima beans), and 4 cups of other vegetables (such as onions, mushrooms, and green beans). Unfortunately there is not much evidence provided to support the suggested breakdown, and the Harvard School of Public Health food guide suggests that starchy vegetables like potatoes shouldn't really count toward your daily vegetable intake, but I do appreciate the help trying to think of the different kinds of veggies I should be eating so I don't just get stuck in a rut of eating only spinach or only green beans. In fact, I have a very hard time thinking of anything that isn't green as a vegetable, so the breakdown is pretty nice. My only change would be to lower the allotment for starchy vegetables and redistribute the remaining portions to other categories (particularly leafy greens). </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">So, this all seems very well and good, but unfortunately I like doing all the research a lot more than I enjoy actually trying to cram more produce into my day. I know fruits and vegetables are supposed to be a large part of my diet, but usually when I start adding more than I would normally eat I just end up packing in more calories rather than replacing something with them. For instance, I'll still have the same amount of rice and chicken at dinner, but now there's a cup of green beans too. Anticipating this problem, the My Plate people have created <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YUVF1S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006YUVF1S&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">corresponding dinnerware</a> that visually shows you how much of your plate should be devoted to each of the food groups. This would be a great idea for someone who likes to eat their foods in discrete categories, but I'm more of a mixed dish kind of person. I often eat my foods in a sauce and all piled together on a plate. Grains, proteins, and vegetables all go together but fruits are usually eaten separately, often not even in the same meal. So how do I implement the My Plate idea if I can't see the ratios of the food groups?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Despite the intuitive plate rules, I have decided that the best thing for me is to actually count the servings. This is not too difficult for me since I already track my calories on <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> and can easily look over the day to see which foods were fruits and veggies. It gets a bit dicey when I want to determine exactly how much of something counts as a serving, but generally I use these 3 rules for veggies:</span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">2 cups = 1 serving fresh leafy vegetables</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">0.5 cup = 1 serving of cooked vegetables that reduce substantially when cooking </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">1 cup = 1 serving of anything else (cooked or not) </span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">These rules are simplistic, but I think they are true to the spirit of the thing. With fruits I am more fast and loose. One fruit is a serving unless it is especially small (e.g. plums, apricots, cherries), and then I just count about the amount that would make up a cup as a serving. For dried fruits, half a cup is a serving. I don't typically drink juice to get my fruit, but 6 oz is a serving by my accounting. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">So now all that remains is for me to actually eat my fruits and veggies. I started on that effort this week and haven't been entirely unsuccessful, but I have had to fudge the numbers a bit to get to 4 every day. Through no fault of my own, our household had an unanticipated influx of leftover pizza this week that had me counting pizza sauce as a partial vegetable serving and of course the summer produce season is ending so it was hard to find veggies on sale at the grocery store. I have been quite successful with the 2 servings of fruit a day, but I think it is much harder to pack in extra veggies. They just don't make good snacks in my opinion - they need to go <i>with</i> something. Plus, I know this is a bad excuse, but it's just so disappointing how quickly fresh fruits and vegetables go bad!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">My creative solutions so far in this challenge have been to </span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">add spinach to my scrambled eggs</span></span></b>, make a <b>peach sauce to top my evening pancake</b> snack instead of syrup (with some bonus sliced banana on top), and to <b>add some yummy hummus</b> to my ready-to-go foods stash (good thing beans can double count as veggies!). I also bought some <b>broccoli slaw so I can hide that in basically any sauce</b>. Plus, I always keep <b>no salt added canned vegetables</b> on hand, as well as <b>fruits canned in juice</b> and a supply of <b>flash-frozen produce</b> to keep it interesting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Are you a produce-eating champ, or do you struggle to fit in fruits and veggies? What tips and tricks do you have to boost your intake? Have you found ways to make produce more portable or less work? </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-48.html" target="_blank">Taking the Stairs<span style="color: black;"></span></a>.</i> </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-39962252427416045032013-08-31T22:03:00.001-04:002013-09-07T16:50:53.694-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 48<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucknado/5329391734/" title="Stair masters by chucknado, on Flickr"><img alt="Stair masters" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5161/5329391734_f31365116a.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1>
<span style="color: #990000;">Getting Fit: Stairs!</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Now that the first month of prep has passed and I have gotten myself into the right mindset and set the backdrop, it is time to get serious about getting healthy for a potential pregnancy in 11 months. Over the last couple of years I've made significant improvements to the kinds of foods that are in my diet and have increased my physical activity substantially, but I could still benefit from fairly substantial weight loss and fitness training. I am not obsessed with getting to a specific weight or strength level before I get pregnant, but the healthier I can be the better. So my plan is to continue the good things I've been doing but also add on some additional strategies throughout the year to boost my wellness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Although I intend to slowly build up to new goals like target amounts of weekly strength training, it's important to me to begin with stuff I can stick with and add to throughout the remaining months. I already boosted my water intake to try to meet the target 8 glasses a day (I am still struggling with that but tend to hover closer to 7 now, rather than 6), and this week I added another challenge that takes advantage of my natural environment and activities: stairs. <b>Every time I have to go somewhere on a different floor, I am now challenging myself to walk up <i>at least</i> one flight</b>, if not all of them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Why not commit to taking advantage of all the stairs I come across? Admittedly, it is a combination of my lack of fitness and embarrassment. One of the buildings I spend a lot of time in has 5 floors, and for my current fitness level it is a bit challenging to walk up more than 2 flights of stairs at once, so I think I'm more likely to stick with it if I say I at least have to do one floor and then just plan to add on if it's not too daunting. Also, I get pretty winded after 2 or more flights and often other people I know will see me and talk to me in the stairwell. I find it embarrassing to have this happen and then be unable to keep up talking because I am out of breath, so I will get off at a different floor just to avoid that situation. Hopefully, once I commit to going up more stairs every day and week, I will have more endurance for climbing and won't have this motive to avoid stairs anymore. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">I started the challenge this week and already the first day I found myself cheating and using the elevator, although admittedly it was because I was carrying a bunch of things that I was at risk of dropping. But I think it will be a good challenge to keep my mind set on the idea of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. I also think it would be even more motivating if I could see exactly how many steps I'm adding to my day and how many more calories I'm burning, so I think sometime in the near future I will buy a simple pedometer to start taking with me (I'm considering the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000U1OCI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000U1OCI&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">Omron HJ-112 Digital Pocket Pedometer</a>, which gets very positive reviews).</span> <span style="color: black;">A handy, inexpensive gadget seems like a good way to add a sense of accomplishment to what might otherwise be a fairly thankless process. Although maybe just being able to walk up a couple flights of stairs without getting winded will be reward enough!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? What steps are you (or did you) take to get fit before pregnancy? What do you wish you were doing (or had done) more of? How do you stay motivated, especially if you aren't the type of person who easily loses weight or develops lean muscle? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"><i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-49.html" target="_blank">Meeting Parents</a>.</i> </span></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-33952262543003514872013-08-25T21:09:00.001-04:002013-08-25T21:13:19.831-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 49<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnefeatherstone/2685399265/" title="Celebrating with 101 Play Group and Bob the Builder by lynnefeatherstone, on Flickr"><img alt="Celebrating with 101 Play Group and Bob the Builder" height="375" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3191/2685399265_b261563f45.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<h1>
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Meet Some Families in Your Community</b></span></h1>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b> </b><span style="color: black;">As a fairly young prospective parent and a graduate student whose peers are still fairly unsettled in terms of career and family, I have found it somewhat difficult to get to know people who are parents. I suspect that most people naturally meet other parents when they are expecting a first child and continue to develop those relationships as their kids grow, but I think it could also be helpful to begin incorporating parents and children into my social network <i>before</i> I have baby #1. With that end in mind, I incorporated two challenges into this week of my countdown. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">First, <b>I agreed to babysit</b>. It can be difficult as a non-parent to mingle with families with kids because of the limited shared social opportunities that are available. Since it doesn't seem like a great idea to be the creepy stranger who shows up at parks or kid's soccer games (for good reason), I realized the best way for me personally to meet parents around me is to serve them. This can be especially easy if you are part of a church or a student--just put the word out there that you are available to help and you are likely to start getting requests. This weekend, DH and I agreed to watch two kids for a family that we know from naptime to bedtime. Admittedly, we have been babysitting for this family for a couple of years now so it wasn't a completely new item for my countdown, but lately I have started to look at these experiences as an opportunity to learn about and prepare for future parenting situations. If you decide to try this too in your prep for TTC, bonus points if you can get your significant other to go with you. It is always great for me to see DH interacting with children and imagine what a wonderful father he will be. Babysitting can have the added benefit of reminding you to appreciate your current life stage. The kids are adorable and fun, of course, but it's a good reminder of how much work it is to care for little ones full time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Of course, not everyone has opportunities to babysit and some people may worry that they aren't prepared to care for someone else's children because of their lack of experience. If that describes you, it may be especially beneficial for you to seek out some parents for your social network and there are other ways to connect with them besides child care. My second challenge for the week meets those criteria: in addition to babysitting, <b>I decided to volunteer for the meals ministry</b> at my church. This group provides a service to new parents and others in our congregation who are currently in need of some extra help getting meals together for their family. It's a new experience for me and the first informational meeting hasn't happened yet, but I'm sure I will feel good meeting others' immediate needs and may even have a chance to develop friendship with some of the families. There will probably be plenty of opportunities to offer help and to listen in addition to just dropping off food. Plus, I will be getting a chance to contribute to a service I plan to use in the future and will be inspired to start perfecting some healthy family recipes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Here are the benefits (as I see them) of getting to know some families <i>before</i> you have kids:</span></span></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;"> Becoming a first-time parent can be stressful and it is nice to know you have some experienced guides to support you.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Pregnancy and the early parenting days might be at least slightly less intimidating when you know what to expect and have some clue what you're doing. You might never be totally prepared, but interacting with and observing other kids can definitely provide some perspective and confidence.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Helping out parents in whatever way you can is a good way to figure out what kinds of help might be available to you when you become a parent. New parents can miss out on valuable community resources if they don't know about them or aren't sure how to request assistance.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">Pregnancy isn't the best time to completely overhaul your social network. You want to have support from people you know and have build lasting relationships with when you are starting a family. Incorporating some parents into your group of friends before it's a practical necessity might not totally solve this problem, but could help you get used to balancing friendships with people at different life stages. It might also help you figure out how to plan activities that friends with and without kids both enjoy, so you don't drift away from your non-parent friends after having a baby. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">It never hurts to help someone out! Even if you don't become best buddies with any of the families you meet, you'll have made some new acquaintances, established some goodwill, and made a positive difference in your community. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">What about you? Do you know a lot of parents, or did you before you had your first child? Do you think there are any benefits? Do you struggle with maintaining friendships with people who are in a different stage of life? How can people maintain a thriving social network regardless of their current marital or parental status? </span></span></div>
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<i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-50.html" target="_blank">Saving</a>.</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-40167872638460305652013-08-18T14:24:00.002-04:002013-08-25T21:11:26.769-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 50<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@N05/6736154311/" title="Piggy Bank by 401(K) 2013, on Flickr"><img alt="Piggy Bank" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6736154311_9a0a3a44ba_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>
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<h1>
<span style="color: #990000;">Saving Up for the Baby Circus</span></h1>
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Even the most frugal parents find that a new baby--especially a first child--comes with a lot of swag. I refer to all the accoutrement that accompany each tiny bundle, as well as the hilarious show that is often put on by parents attempting to juggle all of these objects, as the Baby Circus. Each little prince or princess requires a substantial up-front investment in terms of furnishings and supplies, as well as a lifetime of age-appropriate updates and upgrades. Must-haves include a place to sleep (possibly 2 if you want to keep LO close to but not in the parental bed for some amount of time), a car seat, diapers (disposable or cloth), and clothes. These are just the bare minimums and by themselves can add up to an investment in the hundreds (with good deal hunting) or considerably more. Then there are some of those nice "luxury" items like a stroller, toys, breast pump, bottles, high chair, swing, etc., etc. I don't feel that buying all of these items will make one's child happier or more well-adjusted, but they certainly seem like they would make life with an infant a bit more convenient and manageable (at least until you are so overwhelmed with objects that you have a hard time remember it's all about having a happy, well-loved child). </div>
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Just thinking about all of the supplies needed for the great Baby Circus makes my cash hoarding instincts kick in. Since I have the benefit of a full year to prepare for trying to conceive, I figured now was a good time to start preparing financially for having my own darling money pit, while researching sensible ways to save and cut back too. Step one of my plan is modifying the monthly budget to incorporate a small savings each month for future conception, pregnancy, and baby expenses. In addition to my various other savings stashes (#1 of which is saving monthly for a down payment for a future home purchase), I have now <b>added to the monthly budget a $25 savings for pregnancy and baby</b>. When I have more left over each month, I save more and distribute it across my different savings categories. It may not be a huge amount, but now I know that by the end of this year of waiting I will have at least $300 saved that is ready to be dedicated only to baby-related expenses. If nothing else, that's at least a good amount to get started amassing a cloth diaper stash. <br />
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I want to mention here that if DH and I didn't already have a monthly budget, I would have put that as step number one and would instead have spent this week taking action to get a financial plan in place for us (or at least to buy some books about it). After going through Dave Ramsey's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934629103/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1934629103&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="_blank">Financial Peace University</a> a few years ago and then taking a class at the local university on financial management (many community colleges and schools of continuing education offer such courses for $100-$200 dollars), I began tracking our monthly expenses and also deliberately saving for specific purposes. We don't follow a strict system or cut off our expenses in a certain category each month because we are over budget, but I do like to stay aware of our money and feel like it is working for me and not the other way around. At the start of the year I make a tentative budget outline (in Excel) and then after a couple months of expenses I download all our banking activity and fill in a monthly spreadsheet of our income and costs (lately I have been using the free trial version of <a href="http://microsoft-money-2008.en.softonic.com/" target="_blank">Microsoft Money</a>, but there are many fancier options if you are willing to pay an up-front cost for the software). <br />
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My second step for this week's theme has been to <b>establish a designated cash envelope for future baby expenses</b>. This is a more opportunistic savings vehicle. Whenever someone pays me back for something in cash or I get paid for babysitting (another activity I highly recommend as part of your preconception prep), I will stash it away in this envelope. I'm sure some money will inevitably flow <i>out</i> of this fund when it turns out we actually needed some of the cash we stashed in it, but I think over the course of a year there will be a definite net gain. Then this on-hand cash will be great for all those baby bargains I can't wait to buy--good-condition used baby supplies and clothes at consignment shops, Goodwill, and on Craigslist.<br />
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What about you? How much do you think is a good idea to save before getting pregnant? Are there any important expenses I'm forgetting about? Do you have any tips for saving money on pregnancy and baby stuff? <br />
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<b>Update:</b> After a great <a href="http://community.babycenter.com/post/a44016145/saving_for_baby_how_much_and_why" target="_blank">discussion on Baby Center</a> about saving up for baby, I thought I had better mention an alternative baby savings plan that could be great for some people. It's called the <a href="http://www.everydayfamily.com/blog/52-week-money-challenge-tips-for-making-it-work/" target="_blank">52 Week Money Challenge</a> and it involves putting away a different dollar amount each week that corresponds to the current week number in your countdown. That is, week one you save one dollar, week two you save two dollars, etc. up until week 52 when you put away 52 dollars. It sounds really manageable because the amounts aren't individually large, but by the end you save almost $1400 dollars! This especially sounds like a good plan for reluctant savers who benefit from seeing their stash growing over time, which motivates additional saving. Given my preference for having a set budget, though, I think saving a set dollar amount each month is personally more my style. <br />
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<i>For more in this countdown series, see last week's challenge about <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-week-51.html" target="_blank">Hydration</a>.</i> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-57611431460733433922013-08-09T18:11:00.000-04:002013-08-11T20:49:12.387-04:00Countdown to TTC: Week 51<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFqkvYxCzfqnXZ8Yy8qQvZk0vvSFOlVIMsI01XcFQ-gwc2dYig9jH9UVc2vqLlXpii5rk-52Q39yW4kLdXaIS-fQUGSoyAdWhtsIubjeSD7b4I9BEJ54NfY7T9wO2MYS5MYsOo6wrdGZf/s1600/Water+Bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFqkvYxCzfqnXZ8Yy8qQvZk0vvSFOlVIMsI01XcFQ-gwc2dYig9jH9UVc2vqLlXpii5rk-52Q39yW4kLdXaIS-fQUGSoyAdWhtsIubjeSD7b4I9BEJ54NfY7T9wO2MYS5MYsOo6wrdGZf/s1600/Water+Bottle.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Hydrate Like a Pregnant Lady</span></h1>
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Last week I prepared for conception (now in the not-so-distant future) by <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/08/countdown-to-ttc-52-weeks-of-preparation.html" target="_blank">getting ready spiritually</a>. While I am continuing to read and pray, I also wanted to start doing something to get my body ready for the process. I'm always hearing that the most physically demanding thing most women ever do is go through pregnancy and childbirth, and I definitely wouldn't say I'm in the best shape for such a marathon right now. I have been on a journey for some time to eat healthier and get fit, but the actual weight loss and muscle gain associated with those changes have been minimal. Now that I have a target date and a specific fitness challenge to prepare for, I am hoping to make some slow but positive change in the next 51 weeks. When I go to the doctor for a preconception checkup, I want to be able to report that I've been doing everything I can to prepare for a healthy pregnancy. </div>
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However, overhauling my life all at once seems like a stressful way to approach the situation. I am starting early, so why not take things a step at a time, starting with something easy? </div>
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The first "easy" task that came to mind was hydration. It's simple, it's easily measurable, and it's important. Plus, fluid intake needs increase significantly during pregnancy and low amniotic fluid is a common reason for term inductions. I recently saw several episodes of A Baby Story and Baby's First Day on TLC in which women were induced at term for low amniotic fluid--a situation I'd like to avoid. Admittedly, these inductions may not be necessary (see this great article on <a href="http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=5294" target="_blank">Science & Sensibility</a> on the topic for more info), but it's also possible to reduce the risk of getting a diagnosis of low amniotic fluid in the first place by staying well-hydrated. But apparently staying well-hydrated at term means drinking 2.5 liters (that's nearly 11 cups) of water per day! So getting used to drinking plenty of water <i>before</i> getting pregnant seemed like a good idea.</div>
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Following that thought process, <b>I set a goal for this week of drinking 8 glasses (64 oz) of water a day. </b>I am already a <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> member, so tracking my water intake is as simple as clicking on an arrow each time I finish another cup. Unfortunately, it turns out actually drinking that much water isn't as easy as I thought it would be.</div>
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I'm currently only on day 3 of this challenge, and so far I haven't met my goal. Turns out I like to drink 5-6 glasses a day and anything more than that feels unpleasant. It's not my ideal to have to pee every 30 minutes for half of the evening either (because I am trying to make up for not drinking during the day). I'm sure I used to drink a lot more without issue at one time, but I have gotten into bad habits in the years since I went off to college and no longer had a ready supply of cool, filtered water and ice. But I think by the end of the week I'll have achieved my 8 glasses a day and figured out some strategies to make it less challenging. And I guess eventually one's body must become used to the better hydration and keep some of it in longer! Here's what I've tried so far:</div>
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<ol>
<li><b>Buy a water bottle</b> that keeps liquid cold for a long time and doesn't sweat. I decided to go with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024MWXYI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0024MWXYI&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="blank">Trudeau Cool Off 24-Ounce Hydration Bottle</a> because it is fairly affordable, has air insulation that prevents sweating, includes a straw so it doesn't spill all over you when you drink out of it but can still be closed, and comes in a cute pink color. I drink a lot more using this than I do with smaller bottles, even though it is a bit large for carrying around. And the fact that the water stays cold really helps. </li>
<li><b>Figure out a good way to track your intake</b>. You think you will know how much you are drinking, but I found that method leads to extreme overestimation on my part. The water bottle I got holds exactly 3 cups of liquid, so that way I know if I drink all of it and fill it 3 times during the day, I have exceeded my goal. I also recommend using a ticker or counter throughout the day so you don't start fudging the numbers come evening. As I said earlier, I like the one on the <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> nutrition tracker.</li>
<li><b>Distribute your consumption throughout the day!</b> This is my main problem--I think I am drinking at work but I get distracted and then realize I have only had one cup of water in 5 hours. If you are then determined to make up for it the rest of the day, you will find yourself in the same bladder-busting situation I did. </li>
</ol>
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What about you? Do you have any suggestions on how to drink more water? Any pregnancy stories about hydration? What do you think I should do in the next 50 weeks to prepare for conception?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-78742848080921679712013-08-03T15:39:00.000-04:002013-08-11T20:47:58.115-04:00Countdown to TTC: 52 Weeks of Preparation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyc7UCVi_uF5G9td2nPhDM6Rpb0puPugm8YPs1TWRh-JBjyAAppxWKEJTjSXFDTo7U_Xg80kuWknKnRdH1Cy7inlxmh904JtesTWGPxlP0_R6Oan0R2VfC-trsfBa29H8kTbWWOFQYV5V/s1600/Hourglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyc7UCVi_uF5G9td2nPhDM6Rpb0puPugm8YPs1TWRh-JBjyAAppxWKEJTjSXFDTo7U_Xg80kuWknKnRdH1Cy7inlxmh904JtesTWGPxlP0_R6Oan0R2VfC-trsfBa29H8kTbWWOFQYV5V/s320/Hourglass.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Week 52: Pray Like a Mom </span></b></span></div>
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I am still planning to post the remainder of my Countdown to TTC Checklists, but a more pressing issue has inspired me to start writing another series. DH and I are finally ready to start trying to conceive...one year from now! Although we've always wanted a family and just celebrated our 3-year wedding anniversary, the timing just hasn't been right. We are both graduate students on an uncertain completion timeline. But it looks almost definite that DH will be finished within the next 2 years (maybe in only a year) and I am confident I can wrap up by then as well if I have a sufficient incentive (like a massive baby belly and a fierce desire to stay home with my newborn). That means a TTC start date one year from now would allow us to get pregnant no sooner than both of us should be wrapping up our studies--and because of the academic job market we would already know about DH's job by then too. On the other hand, we are well aware that things don't always work out like we plan and we want to trust God for His timing, so we are approaching this decision prayerfully.<br />
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By now it is probably clear that I like to approach challenges with organization and thoughtful preparation, and this one is no different. I downloaded my countdown clock which is ticking away in the corner of my computer right now (check out <a href="http://www.timeleft.info/" target="_blank">TimeLeft</a> if you want to start your own -- the first countdown is free) and now I am ready to start preparing for whatever God and my body have in store.<br />
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At first I struggled with what to do my first week, since it would set the tone for the rest of the year. Should I do something easy, to smooth the way and make me feel capable of seeing through the other 51 weeks? Should I go with something health-related since one of my biggest goals is preparing for a healthy pregnancy with minimal complications? Then I realized that of course the first thing I should do, really any time I am preparing for such a big life change, is pray! I want these habits I take on each week to extend throughout TTC and pregnancy, and being prayerful and connected with God should be first and foremost among those. Everything about becoming a parent can be scary and stressful, but if I am getting my strength from my Creator, the one who formed <i>me</i> in the womb, I know I will have peace and assurance throughout the process.<br />
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So, this week I combed the Old and New Testaments for verses about <a href="http://www.premeditatedparenting.net/74_bible_verses_for_parents.htm" target="_blank">conception, birth, parenthood, children</a>, and God's sovereignty over them all. I am planning to read at least one verse every day for the next year and meditate on it, as well as praying for God's guidance. Below are some of the verses I found that most spoke to me:<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><br />
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</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>God, the Creator:</b> As you do not know
the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you
cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
--Ecclesiastes 11:5 </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>God's Timing:</b> Commit everything you do
to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the
Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. --Psalms 37:5,7 </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Infertility:</b> He settles the
barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.
--Psalms 113:9 </div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Preconception Health:</b> And the angel of
the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and
have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be
careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold,
you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the
child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save
Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” --Judges 13: 3-7 </div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>In the Womb:</b> For you formed my inward
parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very
well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed
substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were
formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. --Psalms
139:13-16 </div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Childbirth:</b> A woman, when she is in
labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; But as soon as she has given
birth, she no longer remembers the anguish, For joy that a child has been born
into the world. --John 16:21 </div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>Parental Instruction:</b> Fix these words
of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind
them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when
you get up. --Deuteronomy 11:18-19</div>
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
</span></b><br />
What about you? Do you have any favorite inspirational words for
prospective mommies and daddies? What are you or did you do as you
counted down to trying to conceive? What do you think I should do in
the next 51 weeks? Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-7964011200541831172013-04-08T22:10:00.000-04:002013-08-11T20:49:54.742-04:00Preconception Checklist: 100 Things To Do Before Trying To Conceive (Part 2)<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASzBWeWMA4XdL37fURPRTP8tOI7X-oOx1rZE7uTZC89svmh8yjPSAqDiA-fJtr4s8fI1nldbKxrb1kXT5GJjK2z3ATSG5dcAAhU7WoxMxXKrG4QpvBv5y9v8bLf-s5jF59ijYXdN3k0Om/s1600/Preconception+Timeline+-+6+to+12+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASzBWeWMA4XdL37fURPRTP8tOI7X-oOx1rZE7uTZC89svmh8yjPSAqDiA-fJtr4s8fI1nldbKxrb1kXT5GJjK2z3ATSG5dcAAhU7WoxMxXKrG4QpvBv5y9v8bLf-s5jF59ijYXdN3k0Om/s400/Preconception+Timeline+-+6+to+12+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, I have had time to compose the second post in my 4-part series about preconception preparation. Below are 25 tips and
suggestions I have gleaned from a variety of sources that ideally would
be considered at least 6-12 months before TTC:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Relationships </b></span></span></span> </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
1. <b>Get to know other parents and families
in your area.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to add some parents
with small children into your social network, if you haven’t already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have to be all at once, but it
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when your little one arrives on the scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This doesn’t mean you will have to abandon all of your non-parent
friends, but you will soon need other types of support relationships in your
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2. <b>Consider volunteering to babysit
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or dad is home, to initiate a relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Note: Don't be offended if first-time parents aren't willing to leave their precious one alone with you. It's nothing personal.)</span></div>
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3. <b>Think about joining a group that
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new parents, but will increase the chances you will be able to receive helpful
services when you have a new baby at home. </div>
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4. If you can, <b>ask parents you know
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</span>They are the ones who really know what it will be like working with a particular
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</span>If you don’t know anyone you can ask, search around online for community
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5. <b>Take a preconception vacation</b> with
your significant other or family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although many people now go on a babymoon, you may be more limited in
where you can go and what you can do when you are pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may be your last chance for a while to
go on that big trip you always wanted to take but never found the time
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Education/Career</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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6. If you plan to work through your
pregnancy, <b>make sure you have good disability insurance</b> that will help out with
expenses if you are required to be on bed rest for some or most of your
pregnancy due to health complications and risks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting this kind of coverage before you are
pregnant will be much easier, and some bed rest is not uncommon in the later
months of pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t want to
have to disobey doctor’s orders because of financial concerns.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Physical & Mental H<span style="font-size: large;">ealth</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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7. <b>Start a deliberate prenatal fitness
plan</b> (work up your exercise endurance so you can maintain it once you are
pregnant—many doctors will tell you not to start a new exercise routine once
you conceive).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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8. <b>Consider incorporating prenatal
yoga or beginner’s yoga into your workout activities</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been reported to have many helpful
benefits for pregnant women, such as reducing physical complaints during
pregnancy, improving flexibility and endurance for childbirth, and decreasing
stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not claiming these effects
have been scientifically supported (I would need to do more research to be
confident), but it still seems like it’s not a bad idea and there may even be
compelling evidence out there I don’t know about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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9. <b>Begin to cut back on caffeine and
alcohol</b> to prepare for a more drastic reduction just before TTC—this will
reduce your dependence and get you ready to go cold turkey without negative
side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(An added benefit of
reducing alcohol now is that it will make it harder for friends and
acquaintances to spot the exact moment you know you are pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, like myself, you are terrible at any kind
of deception, you will probably want to avoid arousing pregnancy suspicions
before you are ready to tell anyone.) </div>
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10. <b>Come up with a list of targeted
questions for potential prenatal care providers</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask about their philosophy and practice—beliefs
about pregnancy weight gain, cesarean rate, opinions about natural birth, when
they would recommend an induction, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are some standard questions that you are supposed to ask, but I
think the most important questions are the ones that particularly worry or
concern you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t care one way
or the other about being induced, for instance, you might want to save your
questions for more important topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone always says to ask everything you want to know, but I find that
in a medical setting it is usually hard for me to get out more than a few
questions before I start to feel self-conscious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could happen to you, too.</div>
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11. <b>Start a deliberate stress reduction
plan</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schedule yoga, meditation,
mindfulness practices, or free time and stick to it now through birth and
beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stress can interfere with
fertility, worsen pregnancy symptoms, and even make childbirth more
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, it can increase your
risk for pregnancy complications and make you a less happy new mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to remove some of the stress from your
life now while you can.</div>
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12. <b>Do a thorough toxicity assessment
of your home</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is a good time to
start switching to gentler or possibly natural household cleaners and
products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may also want to start
looking for pregnancy-friendly products for moms, such as lotions and acne
treatments, makeup, hair products, and nail care items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a situation in which a preconception
guide such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345518411/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345518411&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="blank"><i>Before Your Pregnancy</i></a>
would really come in handy.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>S<span style="font-size: large;">pirituality<span style="font-size: large;">/Religion</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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13. If you are religious, <b>decide
whether your current house of worship has the services you want for
kids/families </b>(active kid’s ministry and youth group, a comfort room where
parents of small infants can take crying babies but still listen to the sermon,
a nursery that makes you feel comfortable, help for new moms via babysitting or
meal deliveries, a good number of attending families with young children of
different ages, etc.).</div>
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14. If you feel your current religious practice or house of
worship isn’t going to work once your family grows, <b>start
looking around for family-friendly religious communities</b> in your area and plug in now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have anecdotal evidence that it is very
difficult to try out new churches with an infant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Finances</b></span></span></span></div>
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15. <b>Start a special savings plan or
even a separate savings account for pregnancy/birth expenses</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pregnancy and birth can be expensive, especially
if anything unusual happens with the pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Save in a special fund that can go to unexpected medical expenses if
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16. <b>Research ways to save money on
pregnancy and childbirth costs</b>, if that is a concern for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider all the major expenses and look for
low-cost alternatives:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>used maternity
clothes, free prenatal care, programs that cover healthy food for pregnant
women and children, baby item swap meets, Craigslist, hand me downs, etc. Lists of frugal parenting tips abound online. Just be sure to also figure out which things are NOT worth trying to save on. Items that concern your safety or your baby's safety, such as car seats, are not safe to reuse unless you are sure you know the history of the item. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Practicalities</b></span></span></span></div>
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17. <b>Draft a will.</b> If you think you can tackle a draft on your own, give it a try (there are lots of websites that give <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Write-Your-Own-Last-Will-and-Testament" target="_blank">step-by-step instructions</a> of how to compose a legal will). If this isn't something you feel comfortable doing yourself, now might be a good time to obtain some legal advice. </div>
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18. <b>Determine if any major changes to
your current residence need to be made</b> (this assumes you have already moved if
necessary, as per the <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/03/preconception-checklist-100-things-to.html" target="_blank">previous list</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
any major renovations are required to make room for a baby (e.g., installation
of a bathtub, structural modification of a room into a nursery, removal of dangerous design
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19. <b>Consider whether you will need a
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20. <b>Figure out the details of prenatal
care and childbirth coverage from your insurance provider</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is all prenatal care completely covered, maybe even without copays? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they cover items like prenatal vitamins? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much would be covered for a routine
vaginal birth or a Cesarean? What about other needs like lactation
consultants?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if your pregnancy
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21. <b>Explore local resources for
pregnant women and new moms in your community</b>, such as prenatal yoga sessions, parenting classes,
La Leche League, childbirth classes, walking clubs, play groups, and stork
clubs.</div>
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22. <b>Assess your pet situation.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you currently a no-pet family but want to
have a pet when you have a baby in the house (there is some evidence that early
exposure to pets can reduce the frequency of childhood illnesses and asthma, in
addition to their benefits to well-being)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having a dog that needs walking can also encourage you and your little
one to get outside more in the early days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you have cats, who will change their litter box during the
pregnancy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does your current dog need
more obedience training to be ready for a baby or small child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about what kind of exposure to animals
you want your little one to have and figure out what changes to make in your
pet situation now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting a puppy and
bringing home a newborn in the same week is probably ill-advised, so decide now
how your furry (or scaly or feathery) family is going to look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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23. While I do not advocate giving up
pets just because of a change in lifestyle or stage, <b>you may feel that you just
can’t keep one or more of your current pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If this is definitely your situation, start planning now to find them
the best possible new home.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Fertility <span style="font-size: large;">& Alternate Plans</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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24. <b>If you currently use oral
contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, figure out what alternate contraception
you might want to use before trying to conceive</b> (if you want to have a few
months to track your menstrual cycle, get back to normal, and reliably identify
ovulation).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discuss with your
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25. <b>If artificial insemination is a
possibility or your main option, start researching sources of donor sperm</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider available clinics and find out what
information you can know about the donors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think about what information you would want/need to have to feel
comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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What
other tips would you suggest for women who are thinking about trying to
conceive but still have a while to go before beginning the process?
What preparations did you or do you plan to make 6 to 12 months before
trying to get pregnant for the first time?</div>
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<br /></div>
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*For further reading, see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345518411/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345518411&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="blank">Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception</a>.
Although the title references the popular 3-month timeline, the guide
provides comprehensive coverage of most preconception topics and is not
very fixated on the time aspect. </div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0345518411" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-48860542320170956372013-03-14T00:10:00.000-04:002013-08-11T20:50:29.503-04:00Preconception Checklist: 100 Things To Do Before Trying To Conceive (Part 1)<span style="background-color: white;"></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEq1UrWJ53ws9UaYWsKDDpdSeXv5oz1UJU6G_3XlfYj29XjL2USA618LdXKj_0BSHZ05AyO0XCq1dSc_kquas7R39r4YZrVB72sAHLp1UMhWygo3RDyO43jDaYnBgr3-uG3w2T92lgfSk/s1600/Preconception+Timeline+-+12+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEq1UrWJ53ws9UaYWsKDDpdSeXv5oz1UJU6G_3XlfYj29XjL2USA618LdXKj_0BSHZ05AyO0XCq1dSc_kquas7R39r4YZrVB72sAHLp1UMhWygo3RDyO43jDaYnBgr3-uG3w2T92lgfSk/s400/Preconception+Timeline+-+12+months.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you have been considering trying to conceive (TTC) for any amount of time and are the kind of person who likes to look up tips and suggestions to be prepared, you are probably as disappointed as I have been with the resources that address what you can do in the year or more leading up to TTC. Reading these publications and pages, it seems almost like there is nothing you can be doing now to start preparing for your future family. But if you look closely, you'll see that many of the items on the checklist are things that take a lot of time! If you are already thinking about starting a family, it's not too early to start preparing. Below are 25 tips and suggestions I have gleaned from a variety of sources that ideally would be considered at least 12 months before TTC:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Relationships </b></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Focus on enjoying your non-parent time.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Of course, you are excited about possibilities for the future, but don't forget the present. Try to fit in all of your favorite activities that would be more difficult to do with a tot. </span>If you are in a relationship, revel in having
exclusive access to your partner and time for lazy days with him or her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Start thinking about how you will strengthen
your relationships in preparation for a baby.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shore up your social support network while you can and use this
clear-headed time to figure out how you will make time for the special people
in your life after baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
married or in a relationship, look into books that will prepare your marriage
for the ups and downs of parenthood (I particularly liked <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006117355X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=006117355X&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="blank">Babyproofing Your Marriage</a>, written with practical tips by real moms).</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Tell someone you are thinking about trying.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially if you don’t have a
significant other or he/she isn’t very excited to talk about all the planning
this far in advance, this can be an isolating time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have babies on the brain but no one to
talk to about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there’s no one in your everyday life who can fill this purpose, try an online forum for other people in this same
situation who also want someone to chat with (e.g., <a href="http://babyandbump.momtastic.com/waiting-to-try/">http://babyandbump.momtastic.com/waiting-to-try/</a>).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Education/Career</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"></span></span></b><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>If you are employed or in school, consider whether or not you want to work or continue your education after your
child is born.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If yes, what steps should
you take now to prepare for 6+ weeks of maternity
leave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If no, what do you want to get
out of your current job or educational experience before you leave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a plan to wrap things up so that the
transition is smooth and you are ready when the time comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Look into flexible parent jobs.</b> If you aren’t planning to work for a while after
your child is born, but you want to go back to work eventually, start thinking
of ways you can earn a little income or continue to get experience while you
are staying home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Explore work-at-home
options that use your skills or training or part-time jobs in your area of expertise.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Physical & Mental H<span style="font-size: large;">ealth<span style="background-color: #990000;"></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Begin to select a <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/prenatalcare_provider.html" target="_blank">prenatal care provider</a>.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can take a long time to get in to see the
more popular practitioners, and it helps if you aren’t already desperate when you start
looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not urgent that you make a
final decision at this point, but it is good to start thinking about the kind
of provider you want and maybe schedule informational meetings with potential candidates.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Get a <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_preconception-checkup-why-you-need-one-and-what-to-expect_730.bc" target="_blank">preconception checkup</a>.</b> This preliminary examination and consultation can help to identify any changes that might need to be made or health concerns that should be addressed before TTC. Since you are planning so far ahead, this checkup can be requested as an addition to an annual gynecological exam. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Get healthy.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Figure out how you want to eat during pregnancy and work toward your goal. Start or modify your exercise routine to maximize your fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes a while to form new habits, and you
want these behaviors to be ingrained already by the time you are trying to
conceive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you need help with these steps, find a free online community like <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> that can provide advice, encouragement, and tools for tracking your progress.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Decide if you want to try to lose weight before
TTC.</b> If the answer is yes, make a plan to drop the pounds gradually and healthily, hopefully with the last of the weight
lost a few months before TTC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, make use of online resources like <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/" target="_blank">SparkPeople</a> to help you in your goals (I have used their site for over a year now and find it to be incredibly motivating and useful). <i>Look out for a future post on the pros and cons of dieting before TTC.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Decide if you want any preconception <a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/fertility/resources/genetic_screening.html" target="_blank">genetic counseling</a>.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>Depending on your ethnicity and family
history, there may be several genetic diseases that you could be screened as a
carrier for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Cystic fibrosis carriers, for instance, are common across most ethnic groups. Be aware, however, that not all health insurance providers will cover preconception genetic tests (e.g., my insurance company paid a small amount, but it was far from fully covered). </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>If you decide to have any genetic screening, discuss what you would want to do if it turns out you and your significant other are both carriers of a harmful genetic mutation.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>This is a very personal decision, but it may be better to discuss the options before you know the results of a genetic test. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Examine the pregnancy-friendliness of any
medications you currently take.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
take any medications for ongoing mental or physical health conditions, ask your
doctor whether these are <a href="http://www.motherisk.org/women/drugs.jsp" target="_blank">safe to take during pregnancy</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, it may take a while to find a
pregnancy-safe alternative that works for your situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Consider the current status of your mental
health</b>—stress, depression, anxiety, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now could be a good time to get counseling or learn new strategies to
improve your mental wellness, before adding a major stressor to your life. </div>
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14. <b>Begin taking a <a href="http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/prenatal-vitamins" target="_blank">prenatal vitamin</a>.</b> You want to be in optimal physical condition when TTC, so now is a good time to start building up your stores of important vitamins and minerals. Plus, you will already be in the habit of taking it every day when the practice is most vital.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>S<span style="font-size: large;">pirituality<span style="font-size: large;">/Religion<span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>If you are spiritual or religious, pray for the future of
your family. </b>If you can, enlist others to spiritually support you during this time. Consider meditating or journaling about your hopes and wishes for the children you envision having.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Think about what you want to teach your child
about spirituality and religion.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to
your spouse/partner about your spiritual background and what spiritual instruction you would like to offer to
your child.</div>
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17. <b>Consider how your moral convictions or religious beliefs might impact what you decide to do if you have difficulty conceiving.</b> What are your feelings about practices such as IVF, sperm or egg donation, surrogacy, and adoption? Even if you never have any difficulties conceiving, this thought exercise can help you to empathize better with couples you encounter who are struggling with infertility. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Finances<span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Develop a financial plan.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work toward debt reduction, create a budget,
and build up enough savings to cover several months' income.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Consider a financial planning/management course.</b> One that I have personally found very helpful is Dave Ramsey’s <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/?ictid=lmbb_fpu" target="_blank">Financial Peace University</a> (it costs about $100 to attend a local classroom series).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class is nice, but you can also get the
basics with a freely available <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/new/baby-steps/" target="_blank">list of steps</a> and online tools. Note that Ramsey's course is primarily targeted to a Christian audience, with an emphasis on charitable giving/tithing, but there are many similar resources that have no religious focus. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Practicalities<span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Assess your health insurance coverage.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to switch to a more comprehensive
plan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does a different plan have a
<a href="http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/05/can-my-insurance-company-refuse-to-add-maternity-coverage-to-my-health-plan-now-that-im-pregnant.html" target="_blank">waiting period</a> before pregnancy coverage will begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are going to be leaving your job or
finishing school, should you switch to your significant other’s health
insurance now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that the Affordable Care Act will be changing the <a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/law/information-for-you/pregnant-women.html" target="_blank">coverage rules for pregnancy</a> in 2014, so many of these concerns may not be an issue by the time you are ready to conceive. </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">21.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Decide whether you want to move before
having a baby.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, now is probably
the time to start looking, especially if you want to buy a house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about when your current lease ends or
when would be the most convenient time to change your living situation, then
make it happen sometime before TTC if possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one wants to move while pregnant, although
it may be unavoidable depending on your circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Research life insurance policies and preferably finalize your coverage before trying to conceive.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You (and your partner) begin to have different life insurance concerns the day your little one is conceived and many unexpected things can happen during pregnancy. If you or your partner already has a life
insurance policy, think about how you want to update it.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">23.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Look into the creation of a will.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be too early now to actually meet with
a lawyer or draft up a document, but this is something you will want to have in
place ASAP after your child is born, so considering its content now is a good
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may also be the time to
broach the topic of who might be a good guardian for your future children with
your significant other.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Fertility <span style="font-size: large;">& Alternate Plans<span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #990000;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">24.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b>Look into the options that are available to you
if you have difficulty conceiving.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Figure out what your backup plan might entail and when you would want to
start considering it (which might vary depending on your age and desired family size). Fertility treatments may be an option and will vary depending on your specific situation, and you may also want to consider surrogacy or adoption. </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">25.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> <b> </b></span></span></span><b>Don't overlook the option of adopting through the U.S. foster care system.</b> Most people are somewhat familiar with traditional U.S. and international
adoption, but adopting a healthy baby can take a long time and could be quite expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
the cost or the wait seems prohibitive to you, consider how you feel about
adopting an older child or fostering to adopt through the U.S. foster care
system (<a href="http://www.adoptuskids.org/">http://www.adoptuskids.org/</a>).</div>
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What other tips would you suggest for women who are thinking about trying to conceive but still have a while to go before beginning the process? What preparations did you or do you plan to make a year or more before trying to get pregnant for the first time?</div>
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*For further reading, see <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345518411/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345518411&linkCode=as2&tag=deductparent-20" target="blank">Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception</a>.
Although the title references the popular 3-month timeline, the guide
provides comprehensive coverage of most preconception topics and is not
very fixated on the time aspect. </div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0345518411" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=deductparent-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=006117355X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-45580862337491676532013-03-07T19:50:00.003-05:002013-03-08T00:11:59.229-05:00All evidence is good, but not all evidence is created equalAs I mentioned in my initial post <a href="http://deductiveparenting.blogspot.com/2013/03/mind-over-motherhood.html" target="_blank">Mind Over Motherhood</a>, Deductive Parenting is concerned with gathering evidence and making informed decisions about all aspects of parenthood and family life. I mentioned also that I have a background in psychology. Taken together, I'm sure it sounds like I am primarily interested in the academic literature on the subject. Although I do think published, scientific research is a crucial source of knowledge about a wide variety of topics, it is not the only thing I have in mind when I use the word "evidence".<br />
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When it comes to decisions about health, family, and kids, there is a lot more to it than just average results published in a journal. Even though something may work for the "average" person, there is really no such thing as an average family. And there is a lot more to these choices than just an academic analysis of what one ought to do. Having been on the other side of the research process, I know just how much published findings often depend on specific contexts and specific circumstances. Just because a technique worked for a particular sample doesn't mean it would apply well in a different culture or a different time period. Plus, a child or a parent's unique temperament is likely to play a significant role in the success or failure of various applications. It is important not to underestimate the impact of individual differences and normal variance within a group.<br />
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At the same time, it is rarely good to reject outright the expert evidence that is available to us. In many cases, we can learn something valuable and practical from looking through the published findings. Plus, when studies randomly assign individuals or families to experience different situations, we can be more confident that the results don't depend solely on idiosyncratic differences between some families that behave one way and other families that behave a different way. Anecdotal stories from other parents, on the other hand, do not offer that same guarantee. Sure, maybe your sister-in-law's foolproof tantrum solution is really a great strategy, but maybe it just works for reasons that are unique to her family's dynamic. <br />
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In my opinion, something useful can be learned from all kinds of sources. At Deductive Parenting, I intend to cite evidence, when relevant, from family, friends, religious leaders, doctors and pediatricians, blogs and parenting sites, professional organizations, and also academic journals and other quality-controlled publications. But as I sort through the variety of information available and figure out how to apply it to my life, I will try to consider the following questions:<br />
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(1) How likely is the information provided by this source likely to generalize to my situation? Are the people or families used as evidence similar to myself or my family? Are there any obvious reasons why this information is not useful for me?<br />
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(2) How much expertise does the source have in this topic? For example, a pediatrician is an excellent source of information about children's physical health and may be up-to-date on all the latest research, but she or he may have less knowledge about effective parenting strategies. <br />
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(3) Is there some way to find out more detail about the specific situations and factors that contribute to the evidence? Can I read the published article myself or can I ask for clarification about why a family member or friend holds their current opinion on an issue?<br />
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(4) How difficult or harmful would it be for me to experiment with the suggestions or solutions that arise from this evidence? Do I have to make a firm decision in advance, or would it be okay to experiment and see what works best for me? Do the potential risks of changing my mind or wavering outweigh the possible benefits of discovering a better way? <br />
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As you read through future posts and comments on Deductive Parenting, ask yourself these questions as well. The better you understand your answers, the more confident you can be about your own decisions and the more prepared you will be to take the leap from thinking to doing.<br />
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What do you think? Post comments below about your own experiences with different sources of information about preconception, pregnancy, and parenting. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6219608739302990950.post-75171528573910249612013-03-07T18:26:00.000-05:002013-03-07T18:26:31.754-05:00Mind Over MotherhoodI am not a parent...yet. By training, I am a research psychologist.* Either because of my nature or my educational background, I like to start anything that's important in life with thoughtfulness, careful consideration, and most importantly some thorough research. That is why you find yourself reading the initial blog post of a woman who in all probability is at least a year away (probably longer) from even attempting to conceive her first child. But for me that is exactly the time to start watching, waiting, learning, and planning. It's hard to gather and weigh all the evidence when you're in the drugstore buying ovulation kits, or 1 week from your due date, or neck deep in toddler toys. <br />
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Deductive Parenting is not an advice column or a definitive guide to anything. Parenting decisions ideally involve a combination of brains and instinct, and my conclusions will not be the right conclusions for everyone. Instead, this blog is a chronicle of my thoughts and discoveries along the journey of fertility and family. I hope to inspire critical evaluation of things we may take for granted, balanced conversations about the big issues, and ideas for how to apply the results in practical ways. As the psychologist Susan Fiske likes to phrase it: "Thinking is for doing". Deductive Parenting applies that motto to anything and everything about becoming a parent, raising children, and managing family life, starting from day one of my own parental timeline. <br />
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*Note: My background is not in childhood development or clinical practice.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871236962559491314noreply@blogger.com3