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| Fertility |
| Whole Mothering Center Southeast Texas Maternal Resources |
| Copyright 2007 Whole Mothering Center This page updated May 26, 2008 |
For many women, the subject of fertility is a painful one. If you are a woman who has been trying to get pregnant and been
unsuccessful, please know that we are here for you if you'd like to talk. We don't want to exclude you, or overlook you. We
know that infertility and the issues and emotions surrounding it can affect a woman significantly, and we want to listen to
your story.
If you would like to join our Infertility Support Group, or would like to make suggestions for additions or resources to add to
this section, please contact us. We also recommend the motheringdotcommune Infertility Community Forum as a source of
support.
unsuccessful, please know that we are here for you if you'd like to talk. We don't want to exclude you, or overlook you. We
know that infertility and the issues and emotions surrounding it can affect a woman significantly, and we want to listen to
your story.
If you would like to join our Infertility Support Group, or would like to make suggestions for additions or resources to add to
this section, please contact us. We also recommend the motheringdotcommune Infertility Community Forum as a source of
support.
| Infertility |
| Birth Control Options & Trying To Avoid (TTA) |
Birth Control Pills Birth control pills are one of the most readily available and common choices that women use to prevent pregnancy. One of the advantages is that you don't have to rely on the cooperation of your partner to prevent pregnancy. One of the disadvantages is that amny women have reported numerous side effects caused by birth control pills. Some of the pills available today are: Tri-Phasic Pill Low-Dose Pills Mini Pill Barrier Methods Barrier methods, male condoms, specifically, are one of the easiest and least biologically incompatible options. With correct useage, barriers can be quite effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy and are a good option for a woman who has recently given birth. Some barriers allow for spontenaity while others require some advanced planning in order to be used correctly and effectively. Some options available are: Male Condom Female Condom Sponge Diaphram (must be fitted by a health-care professional) Cervical Cap (must be fitted by a health-care professional) Other IUD (must be inserted by a health-care professional) Patches Contraceptive Film, Foam or Gel Injections Important Tip! If you are inexperienced, please don't allow yoursef to be talked into allowing your partner to use the "withdrawal" method! In addition to carrying a high failure rate, the withdrawal method offers no protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Take your reproductive health seriously. Protect yourself! |
There are several different types of methods you can use to avoid pregnancy that do not involve the use of artificial hormones. We focus mainly on the "fertility awareness" method, also called "sympto-thermal" method, which involves paying attention and charting your body's signs of fertility status. This method is not for every woman! It requires taking on the responsibility of monitoring your fertility signs daily and being prepared to protect yourself from unwated pregnancy with other methods during times you may be fertile. Your body changes during each phase of your cycle, and charting allows you to see where you are, fertility-wise, on any given day. These books can help give you an overview of the process. We are currently putting together a class for women who are interested in learning how to monitor fertility signals in the Beaumont area. If you're interested in attending the class, please contact heather@wholemotheringcenter.com for more information. You can also learn more about non-hormonal birth control through: Couple to Couple League, International |
| Traditional & Hormonal Birth Control |
| Natural Family Planning & Non-hormonal Birth Control |
There are many options available to women today to prevent pregnancy. With so many options, you may find it confusing to figure out
which option best suits your needs. Each of those options has benefits and drawbacks, pros and cons. Considering your lifestyle and
fertility goals can help make that decision a little easier. In this section, we hope to bring you a brief look at some of the more common
options and how they may affect you with use.
which option best suits your needs. Each of those options has benefits and drawbacks, pros and cons. Considering your lifestyle and
fertility goals can help make that decision a little easier. In this section, we hope to bring you a brief look at some of the more common
options and how they may affect you with use.
| Postpartum Birth Control |
| We will soon be adding more to this section to help mothers who have recently given birth explore the birth control options available to them. If you haven't spoke with your health-care provider before your baby's birth about birth control, we urge you to talk about it with her soon. For breastfeeding mothers, you may find Ms. Kippley's book interesting. Not many mothers choose to rely on lactational amenorrhea (LAM) to prevent pregnancy, but some have found it to be extremely effective. In either case, it's an interesting 'read' to see how the different biological systems work together after a baby is born to help keep mother from becoming pregnant again too soon. Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing by Sheila K. Kippley You can also learn more about birth control while breastfeeding at KellyMom - Birth Control & Breastfeeding. |
| Fertility for 'Tweens & Teens |
The thought of talking about the "birds and the bees" with your child is enough to send some mothers screaming into the night.
But in today's sexually aware culture, we mothers cannot afford to 'wait until they're older' to start having frank discussions with
our children about sex and fertility and helping them develop a healthy image of their body.
Whole Mothering Center is currently registering for our "Body Awareness" class, designed for pre-teen girls to attend with their
mothers (or other female guardian) that covers the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty. We will also have
a "Young Women's Natural Family Planning" class that focuses more on avoiding pregnancy using non-hormonal birth control
methods in the next couple of months. If you're interested in learning more about either class, including the curriculum we will
be using, or to register, please contact heather@wholemotheringcenter.com.
The American Girl Library's The Care & Keeping of YOU is a fantastic introduction to maturity for young girls entering puberty.
This book discusses how things change from head to toe in a young girl, without getting into matters of sexuality.
For the older girl, the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler is a fantastic resource for mothers and daughters
to read together. Ms. Weschler does a beautiful job of explaining how the female body works that is so far above and beyond
what the "menstruation awareness" class we all got in 5th grade did for us. Her tact and terminology reclaim the female
reproductive system and educates in a way that recalls to mind the beauty, complexity and honor it is to be a woman, capable
of bringing forth life.
Coming soon: resources and recommendations for mothers with young boys!
But in today's sexually aware culture, we mothers cannot afford to 'wait until they're older' to start having frank discussions with
our children about sex and fertility and helping them develop a healthy image of their body.
Whole Mothering Center is currently registering for our "Body Awareness" class, designed for pre-teen girls to attend with their
mothers (or other female guardian) that covers the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty. We will also have
a "Young Women's Natural Family Planning" class that focuses more on avoiding pregnancy using non-hormonal birth control
methods in the next couple of months. If you're interested in learning more about either class, including the curriculum we will
be using, or to register, please contact heather@wholemotheringcenter.com.
The American Girl Library's The Care & Keeping of YOU is a fantastic introduction to maturity for young girls entering puberty.
This book discusses how things change from head to toe in a young girl, without getting into matters of sexuality.
For the older girl, the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler is a fantastic resource for mothers and daughters
to read together. Ms. Weschler does a beautiful job of explaining how the female body works that is so far above and beyond
what the "menstruation awareness" class we all got in 5th grade did for us. Her tact and terminology reclaim the female
reproductive system and educates in a way that recalls to mind the beauty, complexity and honor it is to be a woman, capable
of bringing forth life.
Coming soon: resources and recommendations for mothers with young boys!
On this page, we will address common concerns and questions that you may have. If you don't see what you're looking for,
please contact us and let us know!
We will soon be offering several support and discussion groups and classes on fertility and surrounding issues (body
awareness, entering puberty, natural birth control options, TTC support, infertility support) to women in Southeast Texas. If you
are interested in attending, hosting or speaking at one of these functions, please contact us! We would be happy to meet with
you to talk about it.
please contact us and let us know!
We will soon be offering several support and discussion groups and classes on fertility and surrounding issues (body
awareness, entering puberty, natural birth control options, TTC support, infertility support) to women in Southeast Texas. If you
are interested in attending, hosting or speaking at one of these functions, please contact us! We would be happy to meet with
you to talk about it.
| Trying To Conceive (TTC) & Early Pregnancy |
| We know how wonderful, and how frustrating, working on getting pregnant can be. We wish all of our moms who are currently TTC lots and lots of baby dust! If you aren't charting your cycles and you've been trying unsuccessfully to conceive, or are planning on TTC in the near future, we highly recommend that you register with a site like Fertility Friend (free) and learn how charting can help you time intercourse so that you optimize your chances of becoming pregnant. Charting can also help you identify potential problems with conceiving or with staying pregnant (i.e.: a short luteal phase) or other health related issues (such as a thyroid problem). If you have been charting your cycles and you know you're in the 'two week wait' phase of your cycle, then best wishes to you and we have offerings to help make that wait go by faster - TwoWeekWait.com and PeeOnAStick.com for all things home pregnancy test (HPT) related! |
| Fertility Friend The leading destination for women trying to conceive! motheringdotcommune TTC Community Forum Everything you ever wanted to know about pregnancy tests and more! |
