How I Supported My Reproductive System

Way back when I was first married, my husband and I wanted to start a family right away. Little did I know just how much we would struggle! My cycles were normal and regular before marriage and after I was married, they spaced out to almost 90 days between cycles and never the same. We practiced Natural Family Planning, so I was constantly tracking things. I would see a build up to ovulation, but then it would drop back down, and I never knew if I'd ovulated. Then the cervical mucus would build up again, and we'd try again, then it would back off and disappear again. Finally, I think I ovulated, and a couple weeks later, we'd be depressed with my period starting. This went on for two and a half years before we finally conceived.

We sought help from a fertility specialist. By conducting a transvaginal ultrasound, he noted that there were about 30 follicles less than 5mm on the left and about 20 on the right. The volume of the left ovary was 15.3cc and the the right side was 11cc. I had NO other signs or symptoms. None. I was advised to lose weight (I was slightly overweight, like 15-20 pounds overweight) and to begin taking a medication normally used to treat type 2 diabetes. This would address the insulin resistance I was assumed to have, and would somehow help us conceive.

Medication sucked! I was SO sick. I couldn't eat anything. I was throwing up. I didn't understand why I had to be so sick just so I could get pregnant and endure morning sickness. I was working my way up to 2000 mg a day, beginning with 500. I never made it past 1000 mg. It was awful. I felt like that medication was way too harsh. The same dosage would be prescribed for someone who was obese. I didn't understand how my body was supposed to tolerate that amount. I finally had to stop taking it. I couldn't do it. The doctor's advise to lose weight sent me over the edge. I began severe calorie restriction and over-exercising. I did lose weight. I did not get pregnant.

When I finally ended up going to a treatment center for an eating disorder (already existed but made worse by the trigger of what the doctor advised), I was made to eat and my exercise was significantly limited. As soon as I came home, we conceived. This was two and a half years after being married.

Okay, fast forward to a year ago. My son was two years old and my husband and I wanted to start trying to conceive again. My periods had returned. I was still breastfeeding and cosleeping, but my periods were regular. My cycles were even consistently around 36 days. At least this time, we were going to have more than four tries per year! After six months of trying, nothing. We felt like we were right back in that frustrating, depressing, awful era of trying to conceive. I knew that my essential oil company made a blend that was supposed to support female hormones. I figured it couldn't hurt. I ordered Progessence Plus. I applied 1-2 drops to the back of my neck and 1 drop on my forearm, then rubbed them both together. I also began applying one drop to the inside of each ankle of Clary Sage. Clary Sage is reported to support reproductive organs of both genders.

I had my husband using the blend called Mister on the bottom of his feet, and he was also taking Nugenix supplements.

Well, one month later, we found out we were pregnant! I don't know what exactly to attribute this to, but I do feel that my essential oils were helpful. I don't know if my ovaries became un-polycystic. All I know is that I conceived and didn't have to take Metformin, didn't have to feel horrible, didn't stress about losing weight. I simply added some oils to my daily routine. If we decide to have another baby after this one, I won't hesitate to use my oils again.

Today I'm 13 weeks along and having no complications whatsoever! Things are looking great and we are looking forward to expanding our family early next year!

*Please also see my post on Adrenal Support as it ends up being part of my conception story.

My Story with Adrenal Support

I see a dietician regularly to maintain a healthy me. She often asks me questions that seem totally unrelated. For a while, she was hinting that maybe my endocrine system needed more support, specifically, my adrenals. I didn't want to believe her because I'm a pretty healthy person and honestly, I have a fear of something being "wrong" with me. I always brushed her aside. When my son turned two, my husband and I decided to start trying for baby #2. I was still breastfeeding on demand, and cosleeping. My son would nurse every 1-3 hours at night, so I was never getting a full night of sleep. After about six months of trying unsuccessfully, I decided to maybe address some of the issues my dietician spoke of.

For me, my essential oils were the best approach. I had tweaked my diet and I really was eating a very balanced and nourishing diet, so I wasn't sure I'd see much results from changing much else. I began a protocol of using a blend of rosemary, clove and nutmeg. I mixed it in an old bottle. For every teaspoon of carrier oil (I used organic olive oil), I added 7 drops of rosemary, 3 drops of clove and 3 drops of nutmeg. Every night, I would put 1-2 drops of the mixture in my hands, rub them together, then rub them on my back above where my adrenals are located (above my kidneys, so basically, both sides just at my bra line). The first week or so, I actually covered the area after I applied the oils with a hot washcloth and I laid down for 15-20 minutes. I found this very relaxing even if it didn't "do" anything. The hot compress is supposed to help your body absorb the oils. After that first week, I went to just applying the 1-2 drops before bed, then smelling my hands with a few deep breaths.

After about a couple weeks, I noticed some differences! I was shocked! If you had asked me about these symptoms before I started the routine, I never would have been able to identify them because they had become so normal to me. For example, I suddenly felt like when my muscles were relaxed, they were truly relaxed. I could now identify that I had always been holding a little bit of tension in my muscles. The other thing were my thoughts and reactions to stressors. I noticed that my thoughts seemed to be slower and more manageable. When I was faced with a stressor, my reaction wasn't so dramatic or drastic. My husband could talk to me without pushing my buttons. My toddler didn't frustrate me easily. It has been an amazing change! As an added bonus, we were able to conceive after only one month! I have since stopped using the blend every day because I'm super sensitive to smell, and because clove oil, used in excess, can be dangerous to maintaining a pregnancy.

Adrenal fatigue can be triggered by any sort of stressor: getting married, moving, working long hours, death of a loved one, parenting small children, or big children, being a caretaker, surgery, dieting, chronic infections, etc.

Some symptoms include: anxiety, fatigue, feeling tired even after sleeping all night, weight gain, craving salty or sweet snacks, changes in your period, hot flashes or night sweats, mood instability (for me, it was manifested in anger outbursts), low tolerance for stress and decreased libido.

In addition to maybe trying some essential oils, also address stress in the ways we've all heard of: meditate, laugh, enjoy good company, pray, listen to music, gently exercise, practice yoga, deep breathing exercises, journal, and eat a healthy, balanced diet, limiting processed foods.

Try it out and see what might change for you!

**Please also see my post about supporting my reproductive system as it ends up also being part of my conception story.