I can't count the number of times I have blogged about Welcome Womb.  I still credit it as one of the amazing things God gave us to help Joey become a living part of our family.  The awful taste that still reminds me of morning sickness and what ruined most every beverage I used to enjoy, is worth every contagious giggle and head butt that is supposed to be a kiss.  If you want to know more about Welcome Womb you can read the testimonials at the top of the page including mine.

If you have a history of miscarriage or know someone that does, I can't recommend this stuff enough.


To enter to win this 2 ounce bottle of Welcome Womb, all you need to do is share a little bit about your miscarriage in our forum so that others may be better able to prepare for what they might expect.  If you aren't comfortable sharing that, you can share you go-to recipe here. 

The cycle that Doug and I conceived, he was taking FertilAid for men.  He seemed to like it because anytime I happened to ask if he had taken it he had.  This is coming from a guy who routinely forgets to take his prescription medications!  Again, do we know if this was what "did the trick?"  Nope!  Will we use it again in hopes of the same results?  You betcha!
To win this one month supply of FertilAid for Men, you will need to complete this easy crossword puzzle!  Have fun and good luck! Remember that you have to be signed in in order to complete the puzzle! 

When I was pregnant (for that brief time) I was feeling so sure about the pregnancy that I started doing so research into local midwives for my next birth.  I emailed a midwife in the area and asked her about 5 big questions about midwifery care and how it differs from an OB.  About a week and a half later I got a wonderful and very helpful email answering all of my questions.  After reading all of her responses I was heartbroken.  She was exactly what I wanted from a health care provider and now I had no reason to meet her.


I replied to her email thanking her profusely for taking up so much of her personal time to answer my questions and that while I am 100% confident that I want a midwife for my next pregnancy, I was no longer pregnant.  I explained that it was my 7th loss and asked her if she knew of any other herbs or supplements (other than Welcome Womb) that might be of benefit to me.  Then, I offered to make an appointment with her so that I could ask her more questions if she would prefer.  I figured she would probably want compensated for her time, right?  Turns out, she was more than happy to continue corresponding with me via email again confirming that she was who I wanted to have next to me when I am blessed again. 

We exchanged several more emails over the last few weeks where she would ask me a few questions about my history and then chat with her other midwife friends.  She would report back to me what her and their advice was. 

After about 5 or 6 emails, her most recent one might be a real game changer.  She suggested that I look into Celiac Disease and see if that might be the issue.  After a quick google search, I am pretty sure that this could very well be an issue.  Without going into way too much information, I have had digestive issues almost daily since college.  When I say digestive issues, I mean, issues that require I find a private bathroom within minutes.  At one time my doctor put me on a medication for irritable bowel but when it didn't change things I stopped taking it and just decided that this is how my life was going to be.  Believe it or not, after racing to the bathroom 4-5 times a week for more than 10 years, it was my normal. 

So after a quick search about Celiac and miscarriages, I learned that there seems to be a correlation between women with recurrent losses with Celiac Disease.  Then I found this study where women who had recently been diagnosed with Celiac Disease were found to have an even higher predisposition to recurrent miscarriages when they also had PAI-1 (a gene mutation that I have).  My jaw dropped and I thought to myself, maybe this is it.  Maybe this is my answer.  I would love nothing more than to finally have an answer to all of my losses.  I would love to be able to go to Dr. M and show him that to stop looking for answers is not just depressing for a patient, it is irresponsible.  I hope I get to say that. 

Snap, Crackle, and Pop look so happy.  Gluten Free must be awesome!

So starting tomorrow, I am saying a hearty goodbye to Gluten.  This is going to be a tough change for this pasta-loving Italian girl.  But, if I am not running to a bathroom almost every single day at least once AND I get to be pregnant and stay that way, it will be worth every tasty baked good in the world.  Plus, I might actually lose some weight which is a plus!

If you have any information, input, or resources, I would love to hear from you!  I have a lot to learn!

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When I was pregnant with Gavin, I have this very vivid memory of laying down on the exam table, lifting my shirt proudly for the doctor to do her routine palpitations and measurements.  The words that came out of her mouth will forever ring in my ears.  She said, "Looks like you gained too much weight."

I smiled awkwardly as I explained, "I thought a pound a week was pretty standard at this stage."

"Oh.  Yes.  But I'm talking about all of these stretch marks."

My mind raced.  I smiled at her and said, "Oh."

I had no idea I had stretch marks.  Doug was apparently smart enough to not tell me.  When I looked down, all I could see was a bump and two sets of toes poking out from underneath.  When I got home, with the help of a hand mirror and some contortion, I was able to see that underneath my big beautiful baby bump was road map of fault lines from my pelvic bone region stretching up toward my belly button.  It wasn't pretty.  There was not much I could do at that point.

I wish that I had thought to use a cream that could prevent them.  I realize that gaining too much weight didn't help, but I can't help but think that I could have been more proactive in preventing the long purplish reminders of every extra helping of desert I had throughout my pregnancy.

Dream Belly Butter combines natural, plant-derived butters and oils for deep moisturizing along with antioxidants from grapefruit and rosehip oil to heal, soothe, and revitalize strained skin. I can't think of a better, more natural, and pleasant way to prevent the most unattractive parts of pregnancy.  Also, I can't thin kof any reason why you couldn't use it on your breasts as many women have some real expansion in that department too!  Plus, if you are being extra cautious about what chemicals you are putting on your skin, Dream Belly Butter contains no petroleum products, parabens, artificial colors or artificial preservatives.  That is awesome! This is certainly something I want to have on hand for when I start growing a big belly! 


FairHaven Health is offering 5 Dream Belly Butters to 5 lucky winners in US and Canada!  To enter, all you have to do is submit a quote HERE on ttccommunity.  It can be a quote about TTC, pregnancy, parenting, or life in general. 

I am an addict.  There is no meeting for my addiction (unless you count my trying to conceive groups) but I can't seem to resist the urge to pee on things.  Unfortunately peeing on things can become an expensive habit so I am always sure to have some cheep but sensitive test strips on hand.   And, you can pee on them two at a time if you want when you have 20 of them!

The tests did not expire in 07.  This image is from Amazon.com

  All you need to do to enter to win these tests is to answer this poll.  It takes about 3 seconds!  Ironically the same amount of time it takes to dip one of these tests!  Good luck!

I have posted before about how much I liked using Fertile CM.  In fact, the cycle I started it was the first time I was able to get pregnant in 20 cycles!  Could it have been the supplement?  Only God knows, but I bet you wouldn't mind seeing it it works for you!

To enter this giveaway you will need to go HERE and complete this fun and easy quiz about TTC.  I had fun making it and I think you will have fun taking it!  Have fun and good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready?  Set.  Go!  Today is the first of the 30 Days of Giveaways!  Since most of us are either trying to conceive or pregnant, how about something for both!

Image from Amazon.com

This Boppy Pregnancy Wedge is perfect for those who have a growing belly as it is designed to be tucked under your growing bump for a bit of support.  No bump yet?  Is it just me or does it look like it is perfect for placing under your hips for after a bit of baby dancing?

 So... have at it ladies!

If you didn't get a chance to see the video I posted last night, take a couple of minutes to watch it now.  Then, go HERE and tell me what your words of wisdom are.  If you already shared advice that didn't fit into the video, you can use the same words of wisdom.  It can be funny, serious, thoughtful, silly... whatever as long as it is honest.