Tips for Reducing Stress During IVF and Fertility Treatments

1. Acupuncture

From Fertilty Factor

Why acupuncture works for infertility problems is still debatable. However, most practicing acupuncturists say that acupuncture helps by regulating your body’s system. This aids in blood flow to the reproductive organs and stabilizes hormone levels. This in turn will increase ovarian function in women as well as sperm production in men.

Used as a complementary form of therapy for women undergoing other fertility treatments, acupuncture has been proven to be especially beneficial. Some believe that acupuncture works by helping women stay more relaxed through stressful fertility treatments. In particular, studies have shown that acupuncture definitely increases the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A German study done in 2002 showed that of the 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture, 34 women got pregnant, a success rate of 42.5%. Of the 80 women involved in the study who received IVF without any acupuncture treatments, only 21 women (26.3%) became pregnant. More recently, an American study involving 114 women showed that 51% of the women who had acupuncture and IVF treatments became pregnant versus only 36% of the women who had IVF alone. Deeper analysis of this study revealed that, while 8% of the women in the acupuncture group miscarried, the rate of miscarriage in the IVF-only group was 20%. Furthermore, women who received acupuncture also had lower rates of ectopic pregnancies.

2. Meditation
My acupuncturist gave me these mediations specifically for IVF treatment and they really help me chill out and get myself centered and stay focused on the big picture. Church and Prayer also helps if you are a religious person.

3. Facials and Massage
Pamper yourself. Your body is working hard and is under a lot of stress from the medications, take care of yourself.

4. Talk with IVF Graduates
It really helps to know you are not alone. IVF is not taboo. It's a lot of work but  well worth a few months of medicines, shots and doctors appointments. My son is now two years old. It took two tries and he is the light in my life.

5. Yoga
I went to a restorative yoga class and it's amazing:
Restorative Yoga: A practice designed to release stress and rejuvenate the body and mind.The postures are supported using blocks, blankets, or other props and are held for several minutes at a time. The more fully one feels supported, the greater the sense of relaxation. This practice is recommended for beginners, anyone suffering from injuries or stress, or to balance a more vigorous practice. Appropriate for all levels.

If you have or are undergoing IVF and have more stress reducing tips, please share.

See More Tips On How To Have a Successful IVF Cycle

Tips for a Successful IVF Cycle

Currently I'm undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) stimulation drugs for the fourth time. So far, it's not so bad but granted I've learned a few things the hard way.
If you are considering going through IVF here are some tips to help you make it a success:

Don't Go It Alone
IVF is expensive and takes a toll on you both physically and mentally. It's easy to make a mistake with your medications (I've done it a few times) or feel frazzled from all the medications and stress about whether it's going to be a success. Have someone help you keep track of your medications, doctors appointments, bills, and you need someone to talk to about this process. Don't try to be a martyr, someone to help will relieve stress and make the process easier for you.

When Your Drugs Arrive
Take an inventory and make sure everything has arrived. Sometimes they make mistakes. For example once they forgot to send me my Follistum pen. And sometimes they may be still waiting on insurance to approve a drug and send you a partial order.

Read all of the labels. Some prescriptions need to be refrigerated.

Be prepared for the insurance company to give you trouble.
Many insurance companies that don't cover IVF will still cover your prescriptions. Which is great! The medications cost around $6,000, so when they pay for prescriptions leaving you with just $15 co-pays that is a BIG savings. However, my experience each time with three different insurance companies over the years has been they always make it difficult. They'll deny receiving the request for approval from my doctor's office. My doctor's office always has to send in the request twice. Then they take two days to process. When it comes time for refills (my body requires more meds than the average girl) the insurance company gives the run around, yet I still need the medicine within a day or two and they won't let you pay in advance and reimburse you because it's not pre-approved. Up to this point it's always worked out at the last minute but it's been really stressfull.

Keep Track of Your Protocol
Bring it to your doctor's appointments. Generally, you'll be able to fill in dates after each appointment. Based on how your body is progressing determines when the next step will happen. Charge your partner with staying up-to-date with your protocol. Two heads are better than one.
Check the doctors and nurses' advice against your protocol. I've found they tell me to start or stop a medication on a certain day only to find different information in the protocol. Sometimes the protocol doesn't apply to your particular treatment and sometimes they docs make mistakes. Always ask questions.

Keeping Track of Your Medications
There are a lot of medications. Once you find out what medications you are taking and when to take them put them in your phone and/or computer calendar with alarms to remind you. It's easy to forget and lose track. Also put your partner or a friend in charge of reminding you to take your medications and helping with the shots if you need it.

For pill medications,  use a weekly pill dispenser with the days of the week on it. IVF requires so many medications, it's easy to lose track of what you have or haven't taken each day.

Keep Your Cool
As a type A person, stress is part of my nature. And I'm convinced that stress contributes to infertility. It's not coincidence that every time I got to the fertility doctor's office it's filled with successful, attractive, blackberry and iphone tapping women. I have yet to see a chilled out hippie chick in the waiting room. 

tori & dean: Premieres Tonight!

Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood Premieres Tonight, Monday, April 5th on Oxygen. 

Check for your cable listings for times. The Oxygen website says 9pm EST, but my cable listing shows the premiere at 10pm EST.

This show is my favorite reality show by far and it's made me a huge Tori Spelling fan. She's a sweetheart. And it's a great escape to watch Tori in her glamorous world juggle the same issues all working moms face.  So watch it or set up the DVR/TiVo and let me know what you think.

Giveaway: Sugar by Bernice McFadden

Bernice McFadden recently gave me a copy of her novel, Sugar to review. After thoroughly enjoying it, I wanted to pass it on to one lucky winner! 

How to Enter:
Become a Jeneric Stories Facebook Fan and leave a comment to this post by April 23, 2010.
For an additional entry Sign up for the Jeneric Stories monthly newsletter

I’ll announce the winner chosen from random on Sunday, April 26th. Good Luck!

To learn more about this novel, read my review of Sugar.

20 Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You

Christmas Eve 2005, we were robbed. Luckily we weren't around and no one got hurt. They broke down the front door and left with our flat screen TV. I considered us lucky, things could have been much worse but still I went into defense mode. I armed the house from top to bottom from drapes to security system and more.


Recently my friend brought this article to my attention and I wanted to pass it along. It's great advice from the robbers themselves and pretty funny too.

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5.   If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10.   Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. Find it at faketv.com
14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guard and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds,just to pick my targets.
19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
20. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Are you watching Food Revolution? If not, watch it. It's shocking, amazing and important. Jamie Oliver, the reknown chef who transformed the British School Food Program is now taking on the "unhealthiest town in America." If you haven't heard of it, please watch the short trailer below.



You can watch the past episodes online at abc.com
Food Revolution is on ABC,  Fridays at 9pm Eastern.

Sign Jamie's petition to save cooking skills and improve school food.

Have you seen the show? What do you think about it?

Fatty Foods Are Like Cocaine To The Brain

I keep hearing about this story in the news and it is so creepy, yet not surprising.What do you think?

From Health.com

SUNDAY, March 28, 2010 — Scientists have finally confirmed what the rest of us have suspected for years: Bacon, cheesecake, and other delicious yet fattening foods may be addictive.

A new study in rats suggests that high-fat, high-calorie foods affect the brain in much the same way as cocaine and heroin. When rats consume these foods in great enough quantities, it leads to compulsive eating habits that resemble drug addiction, the study found.

Doing drugs such as cocaine and eating too much junk food both gradually overload the so-called pleasure centers in the brain, according to Paul J. Kenny, PhD, an associate professor of molecular therapeutics at the Scripps Research Institute, in Jupiter, Fla. Eventually the pleasure centers “crash,” and achieving the same pleasure—or even just feeling normal—requires increasing amounts of the drug or food, says Kenny, the lead author of the study.

“People know intuitively that there’s more to [overeating] than just willpower,” he says. “There’s a system in the brain that’s been turned on or over-activated, and that’s driving [overeating] at some subconscious level.”

In the study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Kenny and his co-author studied three groups of lab rats for 40 days. One of the groups was fed regular rat food. A second was fed bacon, sausage, cheesecake, frosting, and other fattening, high-calorie foods—but only for one hour each day. The third group was allowed to pig out on the unhealthy foods for up to 23 hours a day.

Not surprisingly, the rats that gorged themselves on the human food quickly became obese. But their brains also changed. By monitoring implanted brain electrodes, the researchers found that the rats in the third group gradually developed a tolerance to the pleasure the food gave them and had to eat more to experience a high.

They began to eat compulsively, to the point where they continued to do so in the face of pain. When the researchers applied an electric shock to the rats’ feet in the presence of the food, the rats in the first two groups were frightened away from eating. But the obese rats were not. “Their attention was solely focused on consuming food,” says Kenny.

In previous studies, rats have exhibited similar brain changes when given unlimited access to cocaine or heroin. And rats have similarly ignored punishment to continue consuming cocaine, the researchers note. See Full Article