Signs of Ovulation

If you are trying to conceive, then you already know efforts will be focused on a small window of time during ovulation. However, trying to determine when you are ovulating is not as easy as it would seem. Here are several indicators that you are ovulating.

Changes in cervial mucus can indicate when ovulation is about to occur. Cervical mucus will become very abundant, sticky, and clear as ovulation nears. It often looks like egg whites and is referred to as egg white mucus. When stretched between the thumb and forefinger, it will stretch several centimeters before breaking. This egg white mucus provides an optimal environment where sperm can live up to three days.

Increased estrogen levels during ovulation sometimes cause your sex drive to increase.
As ovulation approaches, the position and firmness of your cervix will change. The cervix will rise, soften, and the cervical opening will begin to widen in preparation for trying to get pregnant. This period is known as SHOW - soft, high, open and wet. After this optimal baby making period, the cervix will lower and begin to harden again. Right before your period, it will feel very hard and pointed. To learn the proper way to check your cervix and determine how it feels, you should talk with your health care provider.

Premenstrual symptoms are an indicator of approaching ovulation. Symptoms can include breast tenderness, abdominal discomfort and bloating, moodiness, and abdominal cramps or twinges. It is up to you to identify your body's cues that will tell you when your cycle is gearing up to make a baby.

Some women experience mittelschmerz. Mittelschmerz is a German word meaning "middle pain." Typically mittelschmerz is felt on one side in the lower abdomen and may last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. The pain descriptions range from a small twinge to severe discomfort (which is rare). Other symptoms may include some vaginal discharge, bleeding and nausea.

There are two possible explanations for this pain. One reason is that pressure and pain is caused when the ovum stretches the membrane when it is released. Another reason may be because fluid and blood are released when the ovum leaves the ovary.

Basal body temperature, your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, is a great indicator of pending ovulation. Basal body temperature usually ranges between 96.0 to about 98.0 degrees prior to ovulation. Hormonal changes caused by ovulation will raise BBT by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees two to three days after ovulation has occurred. This increase in temperature will remain until your next period. This change in temperature can be measured with a special BBT thermometer designed to read temperatures to 1/100th of a degree.

Another sign of ovulation is the LH surge. This cue can only be determined with the aid of a special ovulation testing kit. The Luteinizing hormone, or LH, is responsible for stimulating the ovaries into releasing a mature egg. LH is always present in the blood stream in small amounts. However, the pituitary gland increases the amount of LH dispersed to begin the ovulation process. When LH surges in this manner, it can be detected via urine testing strips or sticks for a short period of time.

These signs are all valuable clues in determining when conception is most likely to happen. As you make efforts in learning your body and its cycle, you will become more confident in determining when you are most likely to ovulate and you can coordinate your conception plans to take advantage of this extremely fertile time.

(Extracted from amazingpregnancy.com)

Meridian Exercise

(Extracted from Heavenly Bodies Clinic)

Meridian Movements Chart

heavenlyBODYworks MERIDIAN EXERCISE
How many times have you joined a gym only to give up going after 3 weeks? It might have been because the way you exercise at a gym can remind you a lot of the exercise you get in life: Lift that load! Press that weight! Fight those situps! You wise up and quit the gym, opting for buying the equipment for your spare room. Pretty soon you're tread-milling or biking 10 mile mornings, while you drink your coffee and read the paper - great multi-tasking - but, you soon discover, ineffective at keeping you in shape.

Focus on the healing element of exercise.
Meridian exercise movements incorporate the 12 postures that are known to energize the 12 meridians. (illus) These postures are simple to learn and do. The movements require a sense of discipline and deep, continual breathing into the abdomen helps you maintain the posture. The body should be relaxed, with no muscle tightness, hip and spine alignment straight, knees slightly bent.

Keep your mind clear and focused on the posture.
Clearing our mind and focusing on the present moment can be difficult. Everyone has reasons not to be mentally present for exercise, as the details of our busy lives vie for our attention. It can seem ever more mentally interesting to rehash the gossip from work; or to go over a million retorts we should have given to the various assholes of the day; and even in the absence of any drama to dwell on, what’s for dinner can grab attention away from our body. heavenlyBODYworks teaches the health-giving, rejuvenating aspects of body movement that brings a deep, healing quiet.

2 Weeks Wait Exercise - Part 3

Cat Stretch Pose

Sit with buttocks on the heels (Vajrasan). Raise the buttocks and stand on the knees. Lean forward and place the hands flat on the floor. This is the starting position. Inhale while raising the head and depressing the spine so that the back becomes concave. Exhale, while lowering the head and stretching the spine upward.

At the end of the exhalation contract the abdomen and pull in the buttocks. Head will be now between the arms, facing the thighs. This is one round. It may be done for 5-10 times .Be careful not to strain yourself.

Benefits
This asan improves flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine. Tones female reproductive system. Can be safely practiced during first 6 months of pregnancy.

2 Weeks Wait Exercise - Part 2

Chakki Chalan Asan (Churning the Mill Pose)

Sit with legs stretched out in front of the body about one foot apart. Interlock fingers of both hands and hold the arms out straight in front of the chest.
Make large circular movements over both feet, trying to take the hands over the toes on the forward swing and coming as far back as possible on the backward swing. Practice 10 times in each direction.

Benefits

Excellent asan for toning the nerves and organs of pelvis and abdomen preparing them for pregnancy. Useful in regulating menstrual cycle. Also an excellent post natal exercise.

2 Weeks Wait Exercise - Part 1

Personally i think Yoga is a better form of exercise during the 2 week wait.


1. Ardha Titali Asan (Half Butterfly)
How to do?Sit with legs outstretched. Bend the right leg and place the right foot as far up on the left thigh as possible. Place the right hand on top of the bent right knee.










Hold the toes of the right foot with the left hand. While breathing in, gently move the right knee up towards the chest. Breathing out, gently push the knee down and try to touch the floor. The trunk should not move. Movement of leg should be achieved by the exertion of the right arm. Repeat with left leg. Slowly practice about 10 up and down movements with each leg. DO NOT STRAIN.




Benefits
It is an excellent practice for loosening of hip and knee joints, which shall enable faster delivery.


2. Poorna Titali Asan (Full Butterfly)
How to do?Sit with legs outstretched. Bend the knees and bring the soles of the feet together, keeping the heels as close to the body as possible. Fully relax the inner thighs. Clasp the feet with both hands.


Gently bounce the knees up and down, using the elbows as levers to press the legs down. Do not use any force. Repeat up to 20-30 times. Straighten the legs and relax.

Benefits
Tension from inner thigh muscles is relieved. Removes tiredness from legs.

Yoga and Pregnancy

Many times we asked ourselves is exercise ok for pregnancy or concieving. Well i think we should forgo those strenous exercise during the 2 week wait and maybe replace by yoga instead.

Benfits of yoga during pregnancy:

Yoga Exercises
These gently work on the reproductive organs and pelvis to ensure a smooth pregnancy and a relatively easy childbirth. At the subtle level, these ensure optimum supply of blood and nutrients to the developing foetus.

Breathing
These powerful techniques ensure the abundant supply of oxygen and a better life force for you and your child. These methods work on your fitness during pregnancy.

Mudras and Bandhas
The psycho-physical stimulation of these gestures and locks have powerful effects on a woman’s reproductive organs.

Meditation
Meditation will help you resolve the deepest of neuroses, fears and conflicts, which are so common during pregnancy. Meditation brings with it an incredible awareness which helps you connect with your child in a way that is impossible to explain.

Deep Relaxation
Yogic sleep is particularly effective during pregnancy for physical and mental relaxation as well as for childbirth preparation.

Tips to have a baby boy

Determining the Time of Ovulation: Determining when you ovulate is vital when you are learning how to conceive a boy. Shettles recommends that you have sex as early as 24 hours before ovulation to no more than 12 hours past ovulation in order to increase your chances of conceiving a boy. Having sex too far in advance to ovulation will dramatically decrease your chances of conceiving a boy. The timing of intercourse in relation to ovulation is a vital factor in increasing your chances of having a boy.

Frequency and Timing of Intercourse: Shettles says in order to increase the chances of having a boy, you should have sex no earlier than 24 hours before ovulation to 12 hours after ovulation.Intercourse closer to ovulation the faster but less robust Y (boy) sperm. The cervical mucus present at ovulation is less acidic and "slippery" enough to help the Y (boy) sperm reach the egg more quickly.

Sexual Position: Shettles suggests that if you are trying to conceive a boy, deep penetration from your partner, preferably with the "doggy style" position, will deposit the sperm closer to the cervix giving the more aggressive and quicker moving "boy" sperm a head start to fertilizating the egg first.

Sex and Orgasms: When trying to conceive a boy, Shettles suggests that orgasms during sex are a good thing as the body produces substances after orgasm that makes the vaginal environment more alkaline, which favors the "boy" sperm.

The contractions which accompany an orgasm help move the sperm up and into the cervix, giving the "boy" sperm an extra chance at being available when your egg is available for fertilization.

Considerations for the Men: Have your partner wear boxers. Wearing tight fitting underwear increases the heat levels around the testes and can, in turn, lower the sperm count. Wearing loose fitting underwear helps keep the testes cooler.Have your partner drink a caffeinated beverage right before sex. This makes the Y-Sperm more active.