By Jackie Rose Like the notorious pre-delivery pubic shave of your mother's or grandmother's day, many of us assume that post-partum support belts and girdles are a relic from the past... but are they really? Well, don't count them out just yet!
Angie and Kelly Malchose weren't even trying to get pregnant when they conceived their son, Jordan. So five years later, when the Malchoses, of Dickinson, North Dakota, decided to go for baby No. 2, they expected instant success. But to their dismay, months passed, and there was still no baby.
What does it feel like to have postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety? What are the signs or symptoms? How do you know when you have it? And if you do have it, what should you do? Below we will explain the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety, but in what we call "plain mama English."
These stores offer products to enhance fertility including
fertility supplements, cervical mucus enhancer, fertility
monitors, pregnancy tests, ovulation tests
Fertility Monitors / Ovulation Tests
Ovulation monitors help predict ovulation which aids in
conception.
Supplements to Enhance Male Fertility
Buy fertility supplements for men from the following
sources:
FertilAid for Men
(from Fairhaven Health)
Doctor-designed, non-prescription formula to promote the
formation of healthy sperm and improve reproductive health
- clinically shown to increase the total number of motile
sperm.
FertilityBlend for Men
(from The Daily Wellness Company)
FertilityBlend is the leading nutritional supplement that
helps enhance both women's and men's reproductive health
as an integral part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
MotilityBoost for Men
(from Fairhaven Health)
Includes vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and the amino
acid L-carnitine specifically to help improve sperm
motility (or movement).
Optimal Male Fertility Blend
(from East West Essentials)
Offering a unique combination of research-proven amino
acids, antioxidants, fatty acids, minerals and herbs
blended to specifically enhance sperm quantity, quality,
and morphology.
ProXeed® Plus
(from Sigma-Tau)
A dietary supplement for natural sperm enhancement, for
men who are ready to optimize their reproductive health.
Countboost for Men
(from Fairhaven Health)
Doctor-designed specifically for men with low sperm count.
Contains vitamins, antioxidants and herbal ingredients
scientifically shown to increase count.
Supplements to Enhance Female Fertility
Gather information and purchase supplements to enhance
female fertility:
FertiliTea - Fertility Tea
(from Fairhaven Health)
A doctor-designed, organic tea to help balance the
hormones and improve reproductive health. Includes vitex
(chasteberry) and other herbs that’ve been shown to
enhance fertility.
FertilityBlend for Women
(from The Daily Wellness Company)
FertilityBlend is the leading nutritional supplement that
helps enhance both women's and men's reproductive health
as an integral part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
Optimal Fertility Supplements
(from East West Essentials)
Optimal Fertility Supplements for men and women -
Recommended by leading doctors from the Eastern and
Western medical profession to improve reproductive health
and infertility.
OvaBoost for Women
(from Fairhaven Health)
A natural formula to improve egg quality and ovarian
function, ideal for women with PCOS or for those trying to
conceive later in life.
FertilAid for Women
(from Fairhaven Health)
FertilAid for Women is the ObGyn-recommended fertility
supplement designed to enhance fertility, promote regular
ovulation and hormonal balance, and improve your chances
of conceiving.
FertileCM Cervical Mucus Enhancer
(from Fairhaven Health)
A doctor-designed supplement to help improve the quality
and quantity of your cervical mucus, a fluid that plays a
vital role in the conception process.
Audio and Video on Infertility Treatment and Support
DVDs, Videos, CDs, and Audio Download (e.g., MP3) on
fertility yoga, fertility acupressure, tubal reversal,
fertility guided imagery
Bend, Breathe & Conceive Fertility Yoga DVD
(from Fairhaven Health)
An innovative fertility yoga program that is suitable for
all levels. Led by Anna Davis, PhD, a neurophysiologist
and certified yoga instructor.
Fertility Acupressure DVD
(from Fairhaven Health)
Gentle acupressure and stretching techniques designed to
help improve reproductive health. Led by Shasta Tierra, a
licensed acupuncturist and certified yoga and acupressure
instructor.
Guided Imagery CDs
(from Anji)
Enhance fertility and emotional health using the Mind-Body
connection. Guided Imagery and Relaxation recordings
designed specifically for fertility cycles (natural,
medicated, IVF) are available.
Education
Main
Fertility basics
Causes of infertility
Testing & diagnosis
Fertility treatments
IVF main
Selecting a clinic
Selecting a doctor
Costs
Egg donation
Selecting a donor
Selecting program
Costs
For egg donors
Surrogacy main
Gay parenting
Drugs / medications
Male infertility
Vasectomy reversal
Financial options
Insurance
IVF refund programs
Grants/scholarships
Legal issues and laws
Psychological / social
Infertility Organizations Providing Support
This web page lists national, non-profit, infertility
organizations providing ongoing support for consumers and
patients. IHR's InfertilityProfessionals.com Web site has
a Professional Infertility Organizations page with links
to professional organizations, which often provide useful
information for consumers and patients.
American Pregnancy Association - National health
organization committed to promoting reproductive and
pregnancy wellness through research, education and
community awareness; offers a toll-free education line,
discussion forum, and interactive tools.
C.O.T.S (Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy) -
Surrogacy information
Endometriosis Association - Non-profit, self-help
organization dedicated to providing information and
support, educating the public and medical community, and
conducting/promoting research
Growth House, Inc. - End of life support, including
support with grief related to pregnancy and infant death
Hannah's Prayer - Christian infertility and pregnancy loss
support network
Infertility Network - registered Canadian charity
providing information and support to those who have
difficulty conceiving, or carrying a pregnancy to term, to
help them make informed choices about their options
Male Reproductive Health Alliance (MRHA) - This alliance
is a national group of societies with the mission of
promoting public health and public awareness of male
reproductive issues.
National Infertility Network Exchange (NINE) - a national
not for profit organization for persons and couples with
impaired fertility, and the professionals that serve them.
Organization of Parents Through Surrogacy (OPTS) - mutual
support and surrogate parenting information
Path2Parenthood - an inclusive organization committed to
helping people create their families of choice by
providing leading-edge outreach programs and timely
educational information. The scope of our work encompasses
reproductive and sexual health, infertility prevention and
treatment, and family-building options including adoption
and third party solutions.
PCOSupport - The Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association -
Voluntary organization dedicated to promoting research and
understanding of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
RESOLVE - Nonprofit organization that assists people to
resolve their infertility by providing information and
support.
SANDS - Support group for parents who experience
miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death
Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) -
contains information about male reproduction and urology
physicians
Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
(SREI) - professional Web site, however, contains a search
function for finding Reproductive Endocrinologists
Society of Reproductive Surgeons (SRS) - contains
information about reproductive surgeons
Stepping Stones - a Christ centered ministry for couples
facing fertility challenges or pregnancy loss
Surrogate Mothers Online - Provides information, support,
and friendship to surrogate mothers and potential
surrogate mothers as well as parents and prospective
parents via surrogacy.
Infertility and IVF Research Programs
including clinical trials which provide IVF treatment
This web page lists infertility and IVF research programs
that are seeking men, women, or couples. Some research
programs are clinical trials that provide treatment. IHR
adds new research programs as they become known to us, so
if you are interested, please check back to this page.
Websites With Links to Lots of Clinical Trials (including
infertility)
CenterWatch - lists lots of infertility clinical trials
ClinicalTrials.gov - The National Institutes of Health and
the National Library of Medicine connects patients to
clinical trials, including infertility clinical trials.
Individual Research Trials for Infertility
Study - The Impact of Infertility on Occupations and Roles
- study of how daily roles and occupations of an
individual may be impacted by infertility ~ posted on
9/10/15
Study of Oral Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to Treat
Previously Unexplained Infertility - The Center for Human
Reproduction
Infertility Survey - "If you have ever experienced
infertility, we would appreciate your completion of our
survey, for a future book. Everything you report is
confidential." - ~ posted on 3/30/11
Pennsylvania State University - "Marital Couples’ Use of
Social Networks during Infertility" - Researchers need
volunteers who are willing to share their infertility
story. Participants would take a confidential online
survey about their marriage and social networks in
relation to infertility.
Women's Health and General Health Websites
Aphrodite Women's Health - Offers up-to-date information
on women's health issues.
Healthline - Health information website. The following
pages are of particular help for infertility issues:
What causes infertility? 12 possible conditions
BodyMaps - Uterine tube (Fallopian tube)
Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs - Fertility & Pregnancy
Channel
WebMD -
Health information website.
The following pages are of particular help for infertility
issues:
Infertility & Reproduction Health Center
Treatment & Care
Womens Health Guide - About.com (operated by Tracee
Cornforth) - Provides extensive information, bulletin
boards, chat, and a newsletter about women's health.
Fertility Support Groups
In-Person Groups and Online Groups
If you are looking for emotional support and/or answers to
your infertility questions, here are some fertility
support groups.
Adoption
alt.adoption - Google group for those involved with or
contemplating adoption
DailyStrength Adoption Support Group
Egg Donation
Parents Via Egg Donation - Created to provide an
informational and supportive environment where parents and
parents-to-be can come together to exchange information
Medical Providers
The following pages provide lists of providers. Some of
these providers will answer your questions via email or
their website message boards:
Donor Egg and Surrogacy Services
IVF Fertility Clinics
Natural Methods
Sperm Banks
Infertility
alt.infertility - Google group
DailyStrength Infertility Support Group
FertileThoughts Infertility Forums
RESOLVE Online Support Community - online support groups