Are you approaching the two week wait and wondering how you will cope during this time?
The time between your IUI or embryo transfer and your blood test to determine if you are pregnant can feel like an eternity. You may be analyzing the faintest possible pregnancy symptoms, joining IVF chat rooms and fighting the urge to take a pregnancy test.
You anticipated basking in the bliss of motherhood—rocking a peaceful baby, proudly celebrating your baby with family and friends and deeply bonding with this little person. Instead you find yourself severely sleep deprived, perhaps sore from around the clock nursing and on an emotional rollercoaster that won’t stop.
You’re coming into the final weeks of your pregnancy. You may be feeling a mixture of excitement to greet your baby and also nervous about labor pain. While you go about your day, your thoughts may drift to thinking about giving birth. Will you go past your due date and need to be induced? Is labor pain going to be intense and long? Are you going to want an epidural?
If you are planning for a natural childbirth, acupressure—the stimulation of acupuncture points without using needles—is a safe and powerful way to support natural labor. Knowing how to use this method of pain relief will give you a sense of control during birth.
Do you lay awake at night waiting to fall asleep, with your body physically tired, but your mind zinging with thoughts? Or, do you fall asleep easily, but routinely wake up between 1-3am?
Does your alarm go off just as you finally settle into a deep sleep? Insomnia is frustrating! If you answered “yes” to the questions above, you know the negative impact it has on your health and mental focus.
I underwent my first IVF cycle just before Christmas, hopeful in the joy of Christmas and the possibility of receiving good news. While I was at a New Year’s Eve party, surrounded by pregnant friends and their bright-eyed toddlers, that cycle failed. I was devastated.
If you’re in the midst of struggling with infertility, the holidays can be a difficult time, especially if you’ve been trying to conceive for a long time or have miscarried.
