…or Begins. Depending on how you look at it. After almost a year of blogging all the news your womb can use, this will be my final week here at Fertility Notes and at b5media.
Sniff.
But don’t you be sad! You can still find me at my private blog (you can email me for details) and at www.nationalparksonline.net, our newly revamped blog chronicling Michael’s and my two-year road trip to all of the National Park sites across the United States and keeping you up to date on national park news. If you’re interested, I am working on some pretty neat …read more

Cramps suck. They suck when they signal the arrival of an Aunt that you didn’t really want to see this month. They suck when they turn your pre-menstrual blues into actual pain. But I think they suck the most when they occur in the midst of the Two Week Wait – that neverending space of time between an embryo transfer and the first day that you can take a blood test, your beta, to see whether or not something’s a’growin’.
While cramps during the TWW can cause a little panic and anxiety in addition to the normal discomfort, they are totally …read more

All right! It’s here! I was going to save this for Freebie Friday, but I can’t wait.
The 2008-2009 version of Fertile Hope’s Cancer and Fertility Resource Guide is now available.  Click on the title to download a  free .pdf version or, go to http://www.fertilehope.org/learn-more/publications/print-materials.cfm to order 1 or 5 or 100. All free. Since this fabulous and free resource is almost 300 pages, you might want a hard copy.
If you are still undergoing cancer treatments and think others at your oncologist’s office would benefit from this, you can use Fertile Hope’s Tell Your Doctor tool and they’ll take care of …read more

Back in April, I mentioned the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, a piece of legislation which would provide critical resources for the treatment, prevention and cure of childhood cancer. Why? Because infertility and fertility issues are common long-term effects of radiation and chemotherapy, especially when treatments occur during or before puberty. Cancer can be cured, but the shadows cast by the cure are long and lasting of those of us lucky enough to survive the disease (and the cure).
Since I wrote to my Congressmen about the Act, I received the following update from CureSearch.org:
The bill, first introduced in the Senate by …read more

These are the kinds of comments you love to wake up to. I have already forwarded it on to hubby. I wanted to repost it here just in case ladies (with sore feet cursing my name since I said be careful)missed it in the comments section of this post.
Many, many thanks to reader Amy Kreydin for setting me straight. Here is her advice on getting a foot massage while expecting:
As a board certified reflexologist and a DONA trained birth doula I can tell you having a foot rub from your husband isn’t going to bring on labor. He would have …read more

3 days post-transfer. Feeling fab.
I always think that I’m going to enjoy the mandatory “don’t do anything” for the 24-hours immediately after transfer. But after the first few magazines, boredom can easily set in. Here’s how I whiled away my “don’t do anything” time this time around:
1.) Read about half of this great book I picked up at a used book sale this spring.
2.) Had a “discussion” over whether or not lying on my side or stomach was allowed, or if bedrest really meant “flat on my back.” (update: on the side = ok. on the stomach = notsomuch, at …read more

Calling all RNs, NPs, LPNs, and other healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology: there is a really good reason for you to take some time off in August and head to Vegas.
Smart ART IX, which will take place August 14-16, is a symposium that will “provide a unique opportunity for nurses and healthcare professionals involved in the management of infertility patients to learn about new agents, procedures, and counseling techniques contributing to the continued success of ART.”
Oh wait, did I mention? Maybe I didn’t…
Enrollment is limited to the first 450 registrants and is available on a …read more

Picture the scene:
Tiny, tiny waiting room.  Hubby and I are there, still sweating from the bumper to bumper traffic and dash from the parking garage to make it here on time. Slightly frazzled, but excited.
Next to us, another couple, not nearly as excited. From her body language and a nurse’s comment (”I wish we weren’t seeing you today…”) which nearly loosened the tears she had been holding at bay, I had to guess she was here for a D&E or other process to end a pregnancy that never quite got where it needed to be.
Seeing her so sad quieted my …read more

Earlier this week while I was propped up in bed (doctor’s orders I swear), most of the b5media health and wellness channel celebrated our monthly theme day. This month’s theme was Independence. Many, many thanks to Kendra, blogger at Diabetes Notes (and ) for hosting this month’s theme day and putting together this summary of posts:
The month of July symbolizes Independence in the USA so we here at the health and wellness channel used that as our platform for our theme day. I hope you enjoy what all of our great writers had to say around the H&W channel. Enjoy!
Gloria …read more

Well, we did it. We bit the bullet and bought WWE’s Great American Bash on pay per view tonight. (ok, well, we sort of did. We talked M’s parents into going halfsies with us). Why? Because it’s darn fun and my husband Michael is currently the resident blogger at b5’s Jab and Grapple.
If you’re into wrestling, go check out my predictions for winners on tonight’s PPV. Hint: I’m almost always going to go with the hotties.
Oh yeah, in fertility news, less than 48 hours until the FET…
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So, I may not pick all the winners tonight, but I will be picking …read more