Guest Post by Kimberly of Fertility Flower

Continuing on from yesterday's post on the safe use of essential oils in pregnancy, and the first two oils, Lavender and Bergamot.

Using Neroli, Chamomile and Geranium

Like bergamot, Neroli is part of the family of citrus essential oils. Also known as 'orange blossom,' it requires 1000 blossoms to arrive at 1 pound of oil making it one of the most precious essential oils available. Neroli essential oil is fantastic for skin regeneration making it an excellent choice for dealing with anything skin-related from acne to stretch marks. As an antispasmodic, neroli is also excellent for gastro-intestinal upset (by relaxing the smooth muscle of the intestine).

Feeling nauseous? Try aerosolized neroli: Add 5 drops of neroli essential oil to a spray bottle with distilled water and mist the air to help relieve nausea.

Chamomile-- There are two different species of plant that take the name 'Chamomile'. There's German Chamomile (the most common sort) and Roman, or English Chamomile. The essential oil, like the tea, is made of the daisy-like flowers of the small perennial herb. While they are different species, their effect is the same.

They soothe irritability and frayed nerves. Chamomile is another antispasmodic (like neroli) which means that it's appropriate for the treatment of a variety of digestive disorders as well as muscle spasms and skin irritations. Do an inhalation of Chamomile to relieve cough. One note on allergies - if you are sensitive to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums or asters, you may also be allergic to Chamomile.

Did the summer mosquitoes really do a number on you tonight? Try chamomile: Add a few drops of Chamomile essential oil to a full bathtub to relieve the itch of mosquito bites.

Last but not least, Geranium is all about balance. Made from the leaves of the plant, the South African native works by stimulating the adrenal cortex which is the hormonal center. Thus, it is widely used in the treatment of both anxious tension and depression as it has the unusual quality of being both a sedative when you need to relax (as in tension) and a stimulant when you need a lift (as in depression). And, what it does for the psychology, it also does for the skin as well – tempering both the oily and dry.

Do you have breast tenderness? Try a compress with geranium essential oil: add a drop or two to some hot water, submerge a hand towel. Wring it out and lay the warm towel over your chest for 10 minutes.

A word on combining essential oils...

One can achieve wonderful effects by combining two or more essential oils. As long as the ratio of essential oil to carrier oil is maintained, there is no reason to avoid combining different oils for different effects. Some lovely combinations include:

Lavender – Chamomile: Blend 2 drops of each with 1 TBSP (15mL) of carrier oil and gently massage into the breast to alleviate tenderness. Add 4 drops of each to a bath to relieve sunburn.

Bergamot – Geranium: Add 4 drops of each to a bath and disperse well. Soak in the bath for 15-20 minutes, inhaling the vapors to relieve anxiety. Lavender can also be added to this combination as long as the overall count of essential drops remains between 8 and 10 drops in a warm bath.

Geranium – Lavender: Add 2 drops of each to a large bowl of very warm water and soak aching feet for 10 minutes for a lift.

Chamomile – Neroli: Blend 4 drops of Chamomile and 2 drops of Neroli essential oils with 1 TBSP (15mL) of carrier oil and massage into your upper chest as a mild sedative when your mind is racing. You can swap out Chamomile for Lavender for a difference aroma profile with a similar effect.

One final word of caution...

While essential oils are natural, they are not inert. They are alternative forms of medicine with real effects on the body. Some have hormone-like compounds, like fennel seed, which should be avoided during pregnancy. Other essential oils have emmenagogic properties which among other things can be used to regulate menstrual periods. To take anything that promotes menstruation during pregnancy is obviously a very bad idea.

Still others contain compounds that can either be harmful to the developing baby or in some cases contribute to the start of contractions. The point is, exercise caution if you decide to try essential oils, particularly during pregnancy. The wisest course of action would be to consult your doctor or some other qualified practitioner before you do.

Sources:

AltMD, Amazing Healing, Aroma Web, Baby Centre UK, Birth.com.au, Essentials of Aromatherapy, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, Natural Bloom, Northdays Image, Sun Spirit

Disclaimer: Neither Keeper of the Home nor its contributing authors are medical professionals, nor do we claim to be able to give medical advice. This information is merely to educate, inspire and motivate you to look into these issues more on your own, or to speak with your own medical practitioner for more information.

Kimberly is behind Fertility Flower, a website promoting natural fertility and healthy living. She has one daughter, Blanka, age 8 months and hopes to have more children someday.

Image by eggybird

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1. A Year of Herbs: Pregnancy and the Use of Essential Oils
2. A Year of Herbs: Ginger
3. A Year of Herbs: Garlic
4. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Sciatica

Guest Post by Kimberly of Fertility Flower

**Stephanie's note: I had originally intended to put up a tomato canning tutorial tomorrow, but this post was long, and yet so full of good information, whether you are pregnant or simply want to learn more about the use of essential oils! So it will continue tomorrow, and you can expect the canning post on Monday... see you then!**

As botanical products, essential oils smell divine but I'm not sure how much weight people place on their power to effect real change. Absorbed into the blood stream via the skin (massage, creams, compresses) or through the lungs via steam inhalation, essential oils can promote stress reduction and cure ailments associated with pretty much all of our bodily systems.

What about using essential oils during pregnancy?

That's a contentious issue. There are classes of oils which contain compounds that have been known (via animal studies as a human trial of this nature would be wholly unethical) to induce contractions or cause hemorrhaging. In reality, one would probably need to absorb very large amounts of these compounds before the situation would devolve to that level. However, prepared in dilutions appropriate to the pregnant state (weak) and avoiding exposure prior to the 2nd trimester (just to be conservative), different oils or combinations of oils have the potential to be highly beneficial during pregnancy.

Essential oils are highly concentrated. One would dilute an essential oil for general use anyway. During pregnancy, the recommended amount of essential oil is halved creating even more dilute preparations. This translates to the following:

For massage, about 2-3 drops per 1TBSP (15mL) of carrier oil (such as almond or grape seed oil – although I've been known to use even olive oil);

For an aromatherapy bath, 6-10 drops mixed into a full tub; and

For a compress or for steam inhalation, 2-4 drops in 2-3 cups of steaming hot water (for a compress, submerge a cloth, wring it out and place it on the effected body part; for inhalation, position your head over the bowl and breathe).

So, which oils are we talking about?

I compared 10 different websites and constructed a matrix, noting what each website put forward as a safe essential oil for use by a pregnant woman. There was agreement among the websites with regard to the following oils (% of time that the oil was named as 'safe' for use during pregnancy).

• Lavender (90%)
• Bergamot (80%)
• Neroli (70%)
• Chamomile (60%)
• Geranium (60%)

Lemon, patchouli, sandalwood and ylang ylang were deemed safe during pregnancy by 50% of the websites that I saw, however, I'm not going to go more deeply into the characteristics of those oils here.

Image by audreyjm529

At the top of the list are Lavender and Bergamot.

Lavender is an ingredient that we are all likely to be well familiar. It's in our creams and bath soaps. Some people even cook with it.

Lavender essential oil, made by steam distilling the flowers themselves, is the mother of all essential oils and considered the safest. I've seen it referred to as ˝an angel of healing from the floral realm, and an expression of the earth’s compassion.˝ and indeed it is. Faced with anything from fatigue to depression to sleep disturbance...even a single drop rubbed between your palms and inhaled will restore you (try it!).

Can’t take an aspirin for a headache? Why not try a Lavender inhalation: Mix 4 drops of lavender essential oil with 2 cups of steaming hot water and inhale the vapors for a natural treatment for headache.

Image from Emporium Naturals

Bergamot is perhaps less well known. It's a small citrus tree with long oval leaves and white flowers that was first cultivated in Italy (bergamot is what gives Earl Grey tea its characteristic aroma). The oil is extracted by cold expression from the peel of the fruit.

This oil has great anti-depressant properties that almost constitute a 're-booting' of the nervous system. It has antiseptic properties that make it suitable in moderation for skin and scalp irritations (acne, eczema, etc) as well as bladder infection/cystitis which is more common during pregnancy than any other time (that’s one of the reasons they check urine at every visit).

Want to prevent a bladder infection or treat an existing one? Try Bergamot: Blend 4 drops of Bergamot essential oil with 1 TBSP (15mL) of carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, etc.). Massage the skin over the bladder area (lower abdomen) once daily.

More to come in the second installment of this post...

Disclaimer: Neither Keeper of the Home nor its contributing authors are medical professionals, nor do we claim to be able to give medical advice. This information is merely to educate, inspire and motivate you to look into these issues more on your own, or to speak with your own medical practitioner for more information.

Kimberly is behind Fertility Flower, a website promoting natural fertility and healthy living. She has one daughter, Blanka, age 8 months and hopes to have more children someday.

Top image by eggybird

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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2. A Year of Herbs: Garlic
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Guest Post Written by Angela

While many exercises are considered to be safe during pregnancy, some are a lot more beneficial than others. Exercises that are especially important for the expectant mother are those that will help support Mom’s changing body pre- and postpartum and increase strength and flexibility to the muscles needed during labor.

With increased joint laxity during pregnancy, it is more critical than ever to have well-toned, balanced muscles to increase joint stability and decrease pain.

The Transversus Abominis Muscle

Probably the single most important muscle to exercise (pregnant or not), is the transversus abdominis (TA). This muscle acts as the body’s internal corset and is the innermost muscle of the abdominals. During pregnancy, a strong TA becomes even more important to provide support for the back, pelvis, and hips which can decrease pain in those areas, as well as to support the ever-expanding belly.

TA Challenge Start Postion

TA Activation:

Sit cross-legged on the floor with your back against a wall or in a chair with back support

Place your hands on your belly, one above and one below the belly button to make sure all parts of your abdomen are moving backward evenly

Take a belly breath

Inhale through the nose letting the belly expand fully

Exhale through the mouth, letting the belly button sink in, and using your abs, draw the belly button up and in towards your spine

Hold that “belly in” position and breathe [your ribs will now have to expand laterally (out to the sides) while the belly is pulled in (TA contracted)]

Hold for 10 seconds, release

Repeat 10 times

Work up to 30 at a time, 10 second holds each

NOTE: DO NOT let your shoulders round during this exercise. Keep them down and back against the wall. Once you master this exercise against a wall, try it without the back support and later seated on an exercise ball for increased difficulty.

TA Challenge End Position

TA Challenge (Tupler Technique):

Picture a sideways elevator with five floors from front to back (belly to spine) with a sixth floor behind your back

Begin in the same position as the previous exercise

Inhale and expand the belly fully

Exhale and pull in the belly as far back as you can

While breathing (and counting), begin doing tiny backward abdominal pulses as if you’re pulling your belly button out the back of your body (as if trying to reach sixth floor)

Keep the pulses small

DO NOT release the belly completely between each pulse

Picture your belly button pulsing from just inside your back to just outside your back (from fifth to sixth floor)

Do 10-20 pulses. Work up to 100 pulses at a time.

Count out loud to make sure you are breathing

NOTE: If done correctly, you will feel this in your back.

Purpose: Support the low back, hips, and pelvis to decrease or prevent pain, and to prepare to push the baby out during labor.

Tip: The TA is a crucial “pushing” muscle during labor. Practice the pushing technique while sitting on the toilet by exhaling with mouth open, pulling the belly in, and bearing down (while still exhaling). Relax the pelvic floor muscles completely. DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH! It also helps to have your feet up on a low (6-8”) stool.

The Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles surrounding the urethral, vaginal, and rectal openings. This is obviously an area that will be stretched to its limits during the birthing process. It is important to have strong yet flexible pelvic floor muscles so they can stretch and rebound as needed during labor without tearing or episiotomy.

Kegel exercises are a good way to strengthen these muscles. You are probably familiar with Kegels….squeeze the pelvic floor muscles as if stopping a flow of urine AND trying to keep from passing gas. You should be able to differentiate between squeezing from the back, middle, and front. There are several variations to Kegels that will increase strength and endurance as well as overall muscle control of the area.

Pelvic Floor Elevators:

Begin in a comfortable position, seated (more difficult) or lying down (easier)

Pull in the pelvic floor slowly, as if slowly curling your fingers to make a fist

Continue to squeeze, pulling up into the body like an elevator going up one floor at a time

Imagine the elevator has two floors

Pull up to the first floor, HOLD

Continue up to the second floor, HOLD

Slowly release, one floor at a time (stopping again at the first floor)

Completely release to ground floor

Make sure the pelvic floor is completely open and relaxed at ground floor before repeating

Repeat 10 times, working up to 3 sets of 10 (or more) at a time

To increase the challenge, picture three floors instead of two

NOTE: This should be a very controlled, deliberate movement. Try not to squeeze your gluteal (bottom) muscles. Concentrate on isolating the pelvic floor. Lying down may make this easier.

Variation: Instead of a slow contraction (slowly squeezing fist), do fast pelvic muscle squeezes or pulses. These should be hard and fast contractions. Work up to doing 100 pulses at a time. Make sure to fully relax after the reps.

Purpose: To build pelvic floor strength, flexibility, and control to increase birthing efficiency as well as to decrease perineal tearing or episiotomy during labor.

Squatting

The final exercise that I feel should be an absolute priority in preparation for birth is squatting at rest. Unfortunately, our society all too often is sedentary, and we sit down… a lot. Sitting is the most stressful resting position for the discs in our backs. It can also lead to decreased overall muscle tone and poor posture. Squatting is an alternate resting position that will not compromise posture, muscle tone, or spinal health.

Squat at rest:

Carefully lower yourself into a deep squat OR begin from a kneeling position and then bring one foot at a time onto the floor

If needed, hold onto a support (or partner) in front of you or have your back up against a wall for balance

Ideally, your bottom should be resting on the backs of your legs, knees spread apart and turned outward, feet flat on the floor

Hold this position for 30 seconds, working up to 5 minute holds at a time

Practice squatting throughout the day, whenever you would normally sit down and, of course, ALWAYS squat to pick something up

Squat lift challenge:

Either hold onto a stable object or a partner in front of you

From the resting squat position, carefully raise your bottom off of your legs until your knees and hips are at a 90˚ angle as if sitting in a chair

You should be able to see your toes in front of your knees (if your belly isn’t in the way already)

Knees should be directly over your ankles and turned outward

Thighs are parallel to the floor

Practice in front of a mirror, if needed, to make sure you’re aligned correctly

The lift will result in a very small movement into a very low squat

Slowly return to resting squat position

Repeat 5 times

NOTE: Do not attempt this challenge exercise if it is painful or if you have a history of knee or hip problems.

Purpose: Increase ankle, knee, hip, low back, and pelvic floor mobility, stability, and endurance while increasing balance. Squatting is an excellent position during labor as the pelvis is able to fully open and allow gravity to help move the baby through the birth canal. The challenge exercise will elicit an automatic pelvic floor contraction with each lift, thus strengthening these muscles more effectively than Kegels.

Condition those muscles!

While there are many more exercises that can be beneficial during pregnancy, these key muscles are the ones I would highly recommend focusing on as a bare minimum. Try to perform each exercise at least two times per day. Feel free to do more…you can’t do these exercises too often! Well-conditioned muscles can aid in a more comfortable pregnancy, efficient delivery, and speedier postpartum recovery.

NOTE: The exercises described are for an assumed low-risk pregnancy. Please consult with and gain clearance from your healthcare practitioner before beginning this or any new exercise program.

What type of exercises do you do to keep yourself in-shape during pregnancy and prepared for labor and birth?

Angela is a physical therapist and a personal trainer, but is currently a SAHM to her 2-year-old daughter and is expecting a son August 28, 2010!  She is also a distributor for the whole food supplement Juice Plus+, teaches a small Pilates class for women of her church, and is hoping to one day open a women’s health physical therapy clinic.  She has been married to her high school sweetheart for the past 8 years, and they reside in the Nashville, TN area.  Angela is passionate about health and wellness and shares her experience on her new blog, Health Nut for Life.

Our Sponsors:

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• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
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• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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Guest Post Written by Michele

When I was pregnant with my son, we chose not to do regular ultrasounds and other prenatal testing. This choice was met by surprise from many women, who assumed that an ultrasound/testing was essential for their information, "peace of mind," and bonding with their unborn baby. I am not writing this to offend, but hope that in sharing my experiences, it will encourage you to find joy in the simple, traditional pursuits of natural pregnancy.

I personally believe that ultrasounds or other tests should be used with discretion as a tool, not a "toy." But there are some simple, natural ways to bond with your baby as well as avoid "surprises" during labor/birth! Bonding with your child before their birth can easily be done with some "hands-on" methods, without the "invasiveness" of technology. Most importantly, take some quiet time each day to focus on your baby.

As you rest in stillness, you can concentrate on feeling your little one's kicks and movements. In the quietness, you can pray over your little one, and practice relaxation techniques for labor. I found that an afternoon naptime or in the evening were the best times for me.

Ideally, begin your pursuit of bonding with your baby as early as possible.

As you begin to feel those little hiccups, kicks, and somersaults, pay attention to their location and frequency. Don't obsess over documenting kick counts (unless your healthcare provider recommends it); just experience it!

You will be amazed at how this time allows you a glimpse at your child's personality before they're born. (How do they respond to your activity, noise level, music, etc. and what seems to soothe them?)

Photo Credit: WTL photos

Ways to enhance bonding:

• I recommend spending some time pursuing Belly Mapping to help you determine your baby's position before they are born. I found this to be quite accurate in my pregnancy!
• Practice pelvic tilts and other exercises to help encourage good positioning for your baby, and soothe during labor. Actively participating in your pregnancy and preparing for birth increases bonding with your little one.
• Try Prenatal Massage (for you and the baby!).

In The Natural Pregnancy Book, Aviva Jill Romm describes massaging her baby (while still in the womb). We regularly practiced this (using my homemade belly balm), while I was pregnant. It was a joy for my husband to nurture our little one in this way, and begin bonding during this season.

Seek a midwife and/or doula who encourages your mothering instincts and your faith.

There are midwives who have moved to a "medicalization" mode of midwifery, depending solely upon technology instead of the traditional midwifery methods. This is disappointing, in the message it sends to the pregnant mother. (In essence, saying that the mother is unable to perceive what is going on in her body, that birth is an "unnatural" process or illness that needs invasive testing/monitoring, and most of all- that she cannot do this "alone.") You can read more about this concept in Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.

Highly skilled natural midwives have pursued training in manually determining position, identifying symptoms, and addressing complications (such as Midwifery Today's Conferences).

Research tests, and symptoms to be aware of before agreeing to testing.

Most healthy pregnant women do not need all the tests offered (such as STDs, gestational diabetes, etc).

Typical pregnant mothers can be encouraged to develop their awareness of their health and of their little one. This helps equip them for childbirth, as they are allowed to instinctively position themselves during labor, as well as creating a calm focus of trust in their ability to journey through the intensity of birth, instead of being overwhelmed by fear.

By trusting only in test results to allay fears during pregnancy, a pregnant mother has not developed an alternate way of calming her fears during birth. For a mother desiring a "natural" childbirth without medical interference, she needs to be equipped with practical spiritual/emotional solutions.

I recommend reading The Christian Childbirth Handbook for further equipping in trusting and relinquishing to our Creator through the journey of pregnancy and childbirth.

Embrace the sacredness of the womb.

God has placed a little soul within your womb, to carry and nurture. As the Creator of life, He is working out a miracle. Do not needlessly "peek" early at your gift of a child! Allow God to reveal this little one (and their gender) to you at the perfect time. (Purchasing gender-neutral baby items is the most frugal option, anyway!)

Focus on the "big picture" of this pregnancy.

When you obsess over details, "needing" to know the gender, exact due-date, etc of this little one, you can be tempted to "control" what should be placed in God's hands.

Traditionally, as well as spiritually, birth is a natural event, orchestrated by God. We do not need all the details to "prepare" for the future. Wall colors and names can wait. In fact, these exciting details can distract us from what is most important in this precious season.

Ultimately, God is growing new life within in you; in your womb, and in your heart as a new parent. Focus on glorifying God, and submitting to His power, as Lord of your life. Let Him lead you, and learn to place your hand in His, daily trusting through the unknown.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body." (Psalm 139:13-16)

Michele and her husband Calvin live a simple & sustainable life in rural Washington with their two (busy!) little ones. She takes joy in the daily ministry of delving into creativity, traditional homemaking & hospitality, homeschooling in everyday moments, and smooching her husband in the woods. Michele loves encouraging women and equipping them for frugal, natural living through her blog, Frugal Granola, and as a monthly contributor for Passionate Homemaking.

Photo Credit -mrsraggle-

Our Sponsors:

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• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
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Guest Post Written by Kimberly Racic

Hi, I'm Kimberly and I'm behind a project called Fertility Flower. Stephanie asked me to prepare a primer on fertility charting using the Sympto-Thermal method and I was happy to oblige.

First off, let me say that charting is really, really easy. Once you get the fundamentals down, it becomes second nature.

Charting is also incredibly valuable. It can be used to maximize the chances of a pregnancy or it can be used to avoid a pregnancy naturally without chemicals or barriers. The goal is the same in both scenarios – identify when ovulation is about to happen and then act accordingly.

Along the way, you'll gain invaluable knowledge about your body and learn what ˝normal˝ is for you. I've even been known to take my charts with me to the doctor's office because when you're charting, you're forming a picture of what your hormones are doing (or sometimes NOT doing). You can imagine the power in that.

So, let's get to it!

The Tools (What You Need):

:: A Basal Body Thermometer

(Confession time...I use a regular fever thermometer. tsk, tsk...I know, I know. But understand this, the point is not so much what your temperature is as is the pattern that will emerge over the course of the month. Low temperatures versus high temperatures.

But whatever you use, make it digital. Di.Gi.Tal! You can't be shaking down a glass thermometer right when you wake up or this method won't work).

And...that's it. That's all you need, a DIGITAL thermometer.

Image by tessawatson

The Method:

Since we're talking about something called the Sympto-Thermal method, there's a symptoms part and a temperature part.

Let's talk temperature, first...

First thing when you wake up, you take your temperature. Take that temp before you really even move. I'm often half asleep – THAT's how much you don't move. Don't get up and go to the bathroom. Don't talk. Don't do anything. Just put a thermometer in your mouth. This is the basal body temp (think: ˝base˝ temperature).

After your DIGITAL thermometer bleeps at you, you can move. In fact, grab a pen and write that temperature down in case you forget it, although most modern digital thermometers have some memory in them (but check first, just in case).

Next...Cervical Fluid

Go to the bathroom. In the bathroom, check your cervical fluid. Look on your underpants....look on the toilet paper... or if you're willing, check internally by using your index and middle finger to draw out the fluid from the cervix. Note the quality of the cervical fluid. Is it sticky? Creamy? Watery or something that resembles raw egg white?

Each one of these tells you about your current fertility˝status˝ and how close you are to ovulation. Wetter is better for conception purposes.

Now what?

Chart your temperature. The vertical axis is the temperature. The horizontal axis is the cycle day (cycle day 1 is the first day of your period). Day after day, plug your temperature into your chart and watch what emerges. You'll notice that month after month, your waking temperature follows a pattern.

A pattern like this (the yellow line/graph):

From the first day of your period until ovulation your temperature will remain relatively low. How low, you ask? That depends on you. I tend to run cool...from 95.8 to 96.3F in the pre-ovulatory stage. Once ovulation happens, your waking temp zooms up and STAYS UP until your next period.

Note your cervical fluid. At Fertility Flower, we chart temperature and cervical fluid in the same space because these things are related so it makes sense to keep these two signs together. As you approach ovulation, your cervical fluid will become wetter, more slippery (denoted here by higher and higher blue bars on the bar chart). The typical pattern is to go from dry (no cervical fluid)...to sticky...to creamy...to watery or something resembling raw egg white. You'll be able to stretch the egg white cervical fluid between your thumb and index finger – a phenomenon called ˝spin˝.

Once you start noticing cervical fluid, these are the days that you should aim to take advantage of if your goal is to achieve a pregnancy or abstain if you're aiming to avoid a pregnancy naturally (without chemicals or barriers).

Finally... Analyze

The last day of your wettest cervical fluid while your temperatures are still low is called your peak day. If all goes well, you'll ovulate at some point during this 24-hour period. This is THE BIG DAY, folks, and the one that you definately want to take advantage of if you're looking to become pregnant.

You'll be able to confirm ovulation IF the morning after your peak day, you see that your temperature zoomed up AND IF IT STAYS UP FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW. Only when these two conditions are satisfied can you be confident that you've ovulated.

And then you are welcomed into the world of the ˝Two Week Wait˝ which brings with it a state of neurosis called ˝symptom watching˝. Just kidding (sort of).

Note: If your temperature doesn't stay up for three days, you're still potentially fertile (might be due to a delayed ovulation cause by stress or sickness or whatever) so keep trying until you see your temperature shift....it might be on cycle day 14...16...26...etc...

If pregnancy is the goal, all the books will tell you to wait to take a pregnancy test until the 18th day past ovulation. But I know that you'll start testing much sooner. My advice would be to save yourself a lot of worry and a little cash and wait until at least day 13 or 14. In all three of my pregnancies, I've gone positive on day 16 – and not a minute sooner.

Kimberly Racic is the founder of Fertility Flower. Fertility Flower is a membership-based website that is designed to help women who are trying to conceive through the completely natural Sympto-Thermal method. The website will launch in July but is already the biggest fertility charting site on Facebook with over a 1,100 Likeronies.

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Living with PCOS: A very good place to start
2. Naturally Knocked Up Ecourse Giveaway!
3. Take my Survey: Breastfeeding vs. Return of Menstrual Cycle
4. Living with PCOS: Guarding our Hearts

Are you one of the countless women who has suffered from infertility or miscarriages, and is looking for natural help with conceiving or carrying a baby to term?

Or are you currently pregnant or planning for future children, and wanting to know how to best prepare your body and give your baby the very best chance of a healthy start?

For women in either situation, I am so excited to announce to you that my dear blogging friend, Donielle of Naturally Knocked Up, has created an incredible resource for you, the Naturally Knocked Up Ecourse!

Personally, I fall into both categories. I have struggled with infertility due to a very common disorder known as PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome), which involves disrupted hormone levels, infrequent or non-existent ovulation, and many other nasty side effects and long term risks. You may be particularly surprised to know this about me because I am the blessed mother of 3 beautiful children, and we hope to have many more children still!

About 8 years ago, my journey to better health through real food nutrition and natural living began. Since that time, my health has done a 180 degree turn around. My weight has stabilized, many health problems have disappeared, my cycles have gradually regulated more and more, and I have been able to conceive and carry to term my precious children.

How This Course Came About

Donielle's story is not so different from mine. She also suffered from the effects of PCOS, which resulted in infertility, and catapulted her into a journey of studying how to regulate her body and regain her fertility through food and lifestyle. Last year she was blessed with her second child, a healthy baby girl.

Her own experience pushed her to create the blog Naturally Knocked Up, where she shares her research in order to help others increase the odds of conception through natural living and nourishing foods.

Her eCourse is an extension of her blog. She wanted a way to help women delve even more deeply into the issues that she was learning and writing about, and to walk alongside them as they made these changes which would improve their health and their fertility.

She also has a passion to help women learn to prepare their bodies to be able to nourish their little ones in utero, so that they could be given the best possible opportunity to be born with abundant good health and free of many of the common diseases, disorders and challenges that the general population of children face today.

What the Naturally Knocked Up Ecourse is All About:

It’s time to become empowered and reclaim your natural fertility and have truly healthy babies.

This one-of-a-kind 12 week multi media course will be a breath of fresh air in an otherwise depressing world of unfortunate statistics. With these classes you will learn:

• How to cleanse your body of toxins
• Why common products you use may be contributing to your infertility
• What exercises can help you prepare your body for conception and pregnancy
• How to pin point ovulation
• What to eat…..and what not to eat
• Alternative treatments for infertility

But most importantly you will learn how to conceive and go on to have a healthy pregnancy and a truly healthy baby!

The course will include text files with valuable information that you will want to go back to again and again, including worksheets to help you make the most of what you are learning. There will also be podcasts about each weekly topic as well as video tutorials so that you can see some of these things in action!

You can learn more about the course in detail and see a preview of what each week will entail here!

Would you like to win free enrollment into this amazing eCourse???

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

1. Visit the Naturally Knocked Up eCourse info page, then leave me a comment telling me what you would be most excited to learn from this course.

2. Subscribe to either Keeper of the Home or my new blog, Saving Naturally by email or by RSS feed.

3. Subcribe to Naturally Knocked Up blog by email or by RSS feed.

4. Share this giveaway on either Facebook and let me know that you did so (you can "like" me on Facebook for either Keeper of the Home or Saving Naturally if you want to).

Giveaway ends on Friday, July 2 at 4pm (PST). Giveaway is now closed.

For those who don't want to wait, you can enroll today for only $96.00 (a cost of $8 per course), or in 3 installments of $40! If you happen to win the course through my giveaway, Donielle will gladly refund your course payment. :)

Even better, from now until July 3rd, my readers can get an extra $26.00 off the course by using the code "KEEPERHOME". That makes the course only $70!

You should also know that when you enroll you will be a LIFETIME member, which means that you will always have access to the course materials for reference, as well as to the member's only forum. Also, a portion of the profits go to some of Donielle's favorite non-profit causes, which is a beautiful way to give back!

Disclosure: I do receive a small affiliate commission on each sale from my site, but I only recommend products I truly think are worth buying.

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Introducing: Naturally Knocked Up
2. A Simple Plan for Healthy Food: The GNOWFGLINS Fundamentals eCourse
3. Winner of A Peasant’s Feast Ecourse!
4. Coupon Code for A Peasant’s Feast Ecourse

Though I am a huge advocate of homebirth with a trained midwife (having just had my second successful homebirth), I also know that it is not for everybody. I was delighted when Emily offered to write a guest post presenting another angle on natural births and how to have a beautiful birth experience in the hospital. I would love to hear from others in the comments who have also had a positive hospital childbirth experience!

*******

Guest Post by Emily

When I became pregnant with our first child in 2007, I knew right from the start that I wanted to have a natural birth. Mostly, I wanted to avoid having a c-section for any reason other than absolute medical necessity.  I knew that too many interventions could lead down the path to a c-section, and I knew I was willing to deal with the pain of labor to prevent going down that path.  I also knew that it would not be easy for me to have a natural birth, and not just because of the labor.  Unfortunately, in today’s society it seems that there are many obstacles in the way of a mother that desires to give birth naturally, and the most powerful one is the place where the majority of women give birth, the hospital.

Hospitals don’t expect women to give birth naturally.  They don’t expect that you understand or are prepared for your labor and birth.  They don’t expect you to be able to manage your contractions. They expect that you will be in pain, be overwhelmed, and want interventions and medication and that is what they are set up to provide. They don’t expect that you would actually desire to have a natural birth experience. 

I think it is so important to prepare for your birth, especially if you are going to give birth in a place that does not put a high value on natural birth. Here are seven of the ways I found that helped me achieve the birthing experience I wanted while in the hospital.

1. Do your own research. Read, read, read as much as you can about natural birth. You are the final decision maker for your birth experience and how you want your birth to be, not the nurses, the hospital staff, or even your doctor.  Research and knowledge will help you to make good decisions and overcome the fear and unknown of labor.

2. Take a good birthing class.  This is one that I didn’t take my own advice on, my husband and I just went to the class that the hospital offered.  If I had to do my first birth over again I would take a class that was more focused on natural birth, like the Bradley Method. This will help you feel prepared and supported in your decision.

3. Make it a family affair.  It is so important to know that your husband is on board, and understands and supports your desire to have a natural birth. Your husband will probably be your most important birth coach. Encourage your husband to go to childbirth classes with you and also to read books on natural labor.  It is so helpful if your husband understands the process of labor, what you will be going through, and how to comfort and encourage you. 

4. Get support in addition to your husband. The best decision I made with my first birth was to use a doula. The support of my husband and my doula helped me to feel confident in my ability to birth naturally and allowed me to achieve the birth experience I wanted. Not feeling supported in your decision can make it harder to resist giving in to interventions and medication when the going gets tough. So whether it’s your sister, your mom, your best friend, or your doula, have someone with you that supports you 100%. 

5. Talk with other moms who have had natural births, especially those that have given birth naturally in a hospital.  This was one of the most encouraging things I did before my daughter was born. It really helped me to believe that I could do it.  It also wouldn’t hurt to talk to moms who didn’t have great birth experiences.  All births that end with healthy babies and moms are good birth stories, but it may help to learn from those who had births that didn’t go exactly as the mother had hoped. 

6. Write out your birth plan.  Go over it with your doctor or midwife ahead of time and take it with you to the hospital to give to the nurses.  You might be surprised that your nurses may really want to help you achieve your goal of natural birth.  I was so fortunate to have great nurses for both of my births who were supportive and encouraging because they read my birth plan and knew the type of birth I wanted. 

7. Once you are in labor, stay home as long as possible! Laboring at home is much, much more relaxing than laboring at the hospital.  And when you’re relaxed you will probably progress faster and easier (although that’s not a given).  Plus, as long as you are at home you won’t have the option of medications and interventions so you will learn to manage the contractions without them and know that you are able to do it.  That way you won’t be as easily tempted by the meds once you get to the hospital. 

For those of you who don’t have the option of having a homebirth, or just don’t feel comfortable with it, but still desire to give birth naturally, I’m here to encourage you that it is possible to have a natural birth in the hospital – I know, I have done it twice now! In planning and preparing for natural childbirth I learned, and experienced, that it is not just about avoiding a c-section, but is about the joy and strength that comes from the amazing experience of working with your body to give birth to your baby.  Believe in yourself and trust your body! You really can give birth naturally – it is what your body was made and designed to do!

For more information on natural childbirth, these are books I found helpful: The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence
by Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries; The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (Sears Parenting Library) by William and Martha Sears; Homebirth in the Hospital: Integrating Natural Childbirth with Modern Medicine
by Stacey Kerr M.D.; and Empowered Pregnancy by Theodore Peck.

Have you had a natural hospital birth? What things did you find helpful in your experience?

Emily is the blessed wife of Jeremy, and natural birthing mama of Kaelyn (Oct. ‘07) and Brenden (June ’09).  Since the birth of her daughter she has been learning to live more frugally and more “green”.  You can read her birth stories, and follow her “frugally green” journey on her blog: liverenewed.blogspot.com. 

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Considering Homebirth, Part 2
2. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Considering Homebirth
3. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Preparing for Labor
4. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: “Labor-Aid” Recipe

And waited... and waited. After over a week of continued contractions but no labor, I was discouraged. It had been the hottest week of the entire summer (a true heatwave for our area), and I was literally wilting, between the heat and the discomfort. As I reached my due date I was really struggling with maintaining a positive attitude, and with the feeling that my body had deceived me somehow and that everyone's life had been put on hold waiting for me (my husband with his job, my MIL who had stayed with us the entire week, etc.).

God had some work to do in my heart. I spent last Friday incredibly emotional, just so eager to be done and so frustrated at having spent over a week and a half sitting on pins and needles, expecting labor at any moment. How I wished that I had prepared my heart for her arrival at or after her due date, instead of putting so much hope in all of these "signs" that she was coming. By Saturday, after much prayer, I finally felt at peace waiting for God's perfect timing and we resolved to busy ourselves with fun and productive activities as we waited.

When I saw my midwife on Tuesday morning, the day before I was one week overdue, she checked me and found that I was 3, almost 4 cm dilated and she couldn't believe how low the baby's head was. She had discussed with me the week before that perhaps all of the contractions were due to a herbal prenatal formula I was taking, and recommended I stop taking it for my own sanity. I had obeyed and been off the herbs for an entire week, and yet the contractions had continued, even increasing in intensity, and were obviously doing work but were not kicking in to a regular rhythm of labor.

As she was headed out of town that weekend (having expected me to have my baby a week or more ago), we discussed that we might try something to give my body a nudge. She performed a membrane sweep that morning, and we agreed to give it 24 hours to see what it would do. Well, even with a loooong walk that evening, it didn't do anything. So the next morning she gave me permission to go ahead and try the castor oil cocktail that had worked so well for me with our son.

Wednesday morning dawned with some contractions, but nothing more promising than usual. I decided to go ahead with the cocktail and took it at around 9:30am, allowing Ryan enough time to to make a quick trip into the city with the kids to pick up something for the business. By about noon, after I had been lying down trying to catch one last nap, contractions started coming but they were still quite mild and spaced out. They picked up a teeny bit by 12:30, when I gave up trying to nap and starting puttering around the kitchen. I pitted and dehydrated a couple trays of ripe plums from our neighbors, did some laundry, washed dishes, etc. until 1pm.

Ryan took the kids to his sisters and then went out for coffee with a friend (only 5 min. away, cell phone in hand!), and about 15 minutes after he left I decided it was worth calling the midwife, just to let her know what was happening. Since she was in the area, and since she thought my labor could possibly go fast (if this was indeed labor) she decided to just pop over and see where things were at. She arrived by about 1:40, and just observed me for awhile. She decided to read a book on the couch while I mopped my kitchen floor, and shortly afterwords she cleaned out my fish bowl for me, LOL! Fun times with Anne!

Around 2, contractions were coming a little closer together and I was starting to feel it in my back (a good sign for me that things are happening, as I always have back labor). Ryan came home shortly after, and while I continued to labor fairly easily, we had a great discussion with Anne (an Orthodox Christian) on early church history in between contractions. Each time one came, I would just lean forward onto the back of the couch or the dining room table, close my eyes and sway my hips, then pop back up again to continue our conversation!

**Obviously this is earlier on in labor, when a cracked joke would still make me laugh! :) My MIL said this picture would give a false impression of labor being easy, but I think it shows that labor isn't all hard work or pain. There can still be sweet and memorable moments, and yes, even fun!**

By 2:30, I had started applying a heat pack to help ease the back ache, and Ryan and Anne were occasionally coming to give me back rubs. Contractions were about 3 minutes apart, and very manageable but becoming more intense. By 3:00 I started talking about taking a hot shower, and Ryan decided to call our friend Ange who was coming to serve as a doula for us (she had also helped with our first daughter's birth).

I had never taken a shower during labor before, but I did find it quite relaxing and helpful to have the hot water beating down on my back. I had put a folding chair in the tub, hoping I could sit on it backwards but it turned out to be too tight of a fit. Instead, I just leaned over and held onto the chair and stood up again once the contraction finished. My thoughts centered around relaxing and opening up, and letting my body do it's job so baby could come more quickly. Once I got out, maybe around 3:45 or so, Anne decided to check me and said that I was definitely 4+ cms and she thought things were progressing well (I think more from other indications than just how much I was dilated).

Our friend Ange arrived just before 4:00, and I was so glad we had called her when we did. Soon after her arrival I found that I was starting to need a lot more consistent coaching and counter-pressure on my back. Being upright was too much to handle, so I spent almost the next hour on the living room floor, leaning over a birthing ball. Ryan and Ange took turns doing my back, and Ry coached me on my relaxation and breathing, while Ange fed me bites of Labor-Aid popsicle in between contractions. At some point during this time, Anne also gave me water injections for my back (just sterile water injected in 4 sites in the lower back), to help relieve some of the back pain and allow me to simply focus on the contractions.

By 4:30, I was starting to have a more difficult time relaxing. Contractions were coming 2 minutes apart and were quite intense at their peak. I was still feeling very calm and peaceful, but was also very focused on the work at hand and needed to use all my concentration to get through each one. Gradually, they become more and more difficult to handle, and I found myself repeating a phrase over in my head that I had read in one of Crystal's birth stories a couple years ago... "He endured the Cross... He endured the Cross." Focusing on what Christ had endured for me gave me more strength to focus on this far smaller trial that He asked me to endure for my baby.

Towards 5:00, the birth pool was ready and waiting, and they asked me if I wanted to get in. My husband said that he knew I was definitely in transition at this point, as almost every question they asked me was met with a sigh and a tired sounding "I don't know". I sat and drank a small glass of water first, and noticed that I was trembling as I did so. I got in the pool and sank into the blissfully warm water. It felt wonderful for a moment until the next contraction hit and I suddenly felt out of control as I struggled to find a new position that would work for me.

Nothing seemed comfortable at all and I found myself quite restlessly moving around, trying different things out. During contractions, Ry noticed that I couldn't seem to relax at all anymore and I know that my breathing had become more shallow and I was starting to make low moans during their peak.

Within a few minutes, I began to feel low pressure, though I was unsure of whether I was really as far along as I felt that I was, because I hadn't been checked since I was 4 cm. I do vaguely recall hearing Anne say "You're going to have your baby soon", though I didn't quite process it at the time. In the next two contractions, the pressure increased and I felt my breath begin to catch in the midst of the contraction, something I remember reading about as the Hoquet reflex, which signifies a crossover into Stage 2 (pushing).

The next contraction, I could not hold back at all as my body began to push with all it's might and I felt this little baby barreling down. It was incredibly painful, much more than I remember pushing my last baby to have been, and my husband later told me that it was the first time in 3 births that he has ever heard me actually scream. By the end of that contraction, her head had already been born! As the next one began, the rest of her body was born, and suddenly this beautiful, wet little creature was up on my chest!!!

We spent a full minute or two just rejoicing and admiring her before we actually took a look to find out whether she was a boy or girl (although as soon as I saw her face, I felt sure that she was a girl). We were overjoyed to learn that we had another daughter and just continued exclaiming how perfect she was. I sat with her in the tub for a good 20 minutes, while keeping her mostly under the warm water and waiting for the cord to stop pulsing. When it was finished, Ryan cut the cord and took her, while they helped me out of the tub to birth the placenta.

It turned out that the reason it hurt so much to push her out was because the little munchkin had her hand up beside her face. Didn't slow her down any, but it was definitely more uncomfortable! Fortunately, I had only 1 small tear that didn't require stitches, so all's well that ends well. :)

Overall, I could not have asked for a more wonderful birth! God really answered my prayers for a peaceful and calm birth. It was definitely hard work and had some challenging moments, but it was short (from active labor to birth, a little over 3 1/2 hours) and very sweet. Having Johanna in the water was definitely a positive experience, and I relish the memory of those first 20 minutes spent just relaxing with her in the warm water.

**Our wonderful birth team, Inya (assistant midwife), Anne (midwife) holding Johanna, myself, friend Angela, and Ryan, a couple hours after her birth**

Our family, enjoying Johanna together once the kids came home to meet her. They're just adoring their new baby sister, and they are both so loving and gentle with her. What a blessing!

I couldn't have asked for a more incredible birth and I am still a bit in awe of it all! God is so good!

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

You might also enjoy:

1. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Considering Homebirth
2. Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: “Labor-Aid” Recipe
3. Sweet Wonders- My Story

Nesting much?

I did this last week (completely emptying, washing, re-filling and neatly labeling all of my spices and herbs), along with a whole slew of other cleaning and organizing tasks. It may be a bit over the top, but it does make me smile to see how pretty it looks.

I need some more distraction, though! It is swelteringly hot here (we're in the midst of an unusually hot heatwave this week), and even though I would normally not mind waiting out my due date or even beyond, I am just so ready for this baby to come so that I can cool off just a little! I'm officially due in about a week, so in reality I don't have that long to go, but the days are dragging by right now.

So just for fun, can I get you ladies to entertain me a little?

I'd love to hear the wacky things you've done while nesting, crazy techniques you've tried to induce labor, or simply funny stories about labor and birth!

Ready, set, make me laugh!

Our Sponsors:

• Spoonk Rider: The Portable Accupressure Mat
• Plan to Eat: Drag & drop meal planner with automated shopping list maker.
• Fertility Flower: Helps women predict ovulation, increasing chances of conception. Outstanding charting tools.
• Experience God as Your Provider: Does Your Financial Future Feel Like a Crumbling Sand Castle?
• Learn to Cook With Sourdough: "Pay What You Can" Classes in Sourdough and Traditional Cooking
• Holy Ambition: If you're thinking, God can't use me, think again! YOU can make a difference.

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