Join me!

Dear friends

Come and join me and Manhattan – based Holistic Practitioner Meg Richichi as we discuss her views on the building blocks of the fertility process through her integrative methods.  She includes Nutrition, Acupuncture, Intuition and other modalities which has an all encompassing focus on laying the foundation for general wellbeing and dealing with challenges on infertility . Most importantly this has a huge impact on the fertility process which is likely to bring about a much higher success rate!  This applies to anyone struggling to fall pregnant naturally or intending to take the route of medical intervention through IUI, Super Ovulation or IVF  (ART).  She will address a wonderful subject of the Divine Feminine, which imight be a different perspective to many of you, in an approach to fertility issues and wellbeing.

Call in with your questions or email them to  louise@keystoclarity.com beforehand.  Register on www.blogtalkradio.com so you can participate in the chat room to comment or ask questions during the show. (you’ll also get reminders of upcoming shows!)   Don’t forget to rate the show so we know you liked it!!

Showtime is 4pm EST.  Don’t forget if you miss it, you can download it later as a podcast.  But if you want to get your questions in – listen LIVE!

Get all the juicy details by clicking on the following link  www.blogtalkradio.com/KeystoClarity-Coach 

Excitedly yours,
Coach Louise Crooks

Hi All,

Lets make a little bed for the little guy!

I hadn’t heard of this before, so I wanted to share it with you, just in case you hadn’t either.  Another option as part of IVF besides, ICSI and AH,  is AEC (or above).  You will be able to find more info on this I’m sure, but the overview is that to create a more natural enviroment for the embryo to grow in (in the lab before transplantation) – the RE does a biopsy of the uterine lining, to get some cells to create a bed for the embryo to rest and grow in.   This seems to be logical thing to do in my opinion, as the more natural the enviroment for the embryo to grow in the better,  I should think.    I look forward to doing a little more research to see what studies have been done.  If any of you out there, have experienced this, or who’s RE has suggested this, please post and let us know about your knowledge and experience.  I am sure there are lots who will be interested.

Curiously yours,

Coach Louise

Hi All,

just love these old strollers!

I saw a quote earlier from one of our Anon bloggers, who had used this website as a resource.  Thank you very much!   Anyway, it is a wealth of information for those of you interested in learning more about various aspects of infertility.  So I encourage you to check it out.    I will post the website address on my Resources page for future reference.    Happy surfing…

www.conceivingconcepts.com

Excitedly yours,

Coach Louise

Not my sunset?....

I am not sure what is going on, but my AF is all over the show.  For the last 4 months I have had quite irregular periods.  The first month, I came on a week early, bled for a day or two, then stopped and started again 5 days later.  Since then I am going through this again for the 3rd time!  We have been travelling a lot and things have been a little topsy turvy, but I am wondering if maybe this isn’t just my system out of whack (because I am like clockwork generally and this has never happened before),  then maybe I am pre-menopausal?!  Mmmm..  that is definitely not where I want to be!   So I think I will call my RE or my gynae and have a chat next week, once AF has left.    Any comments out there!?

Warmly,

Louise

Hi All,                                                            

Me hopefully! in 2009

I finally decided that I wanted to wait until next year 2009 to start the IVF treatment. (No 4)  I feel I need the space to focus on the building blocks of creating a baby, by first focusing on me.  Even I had been planning to in the last few months, I haven’t been able to give it my all because of other distractions, like overseas visitors and travel.  So now is the time.  I am really starting now on  general health, eating and exercising.  Both need improvement, although I am not doing too badly on the eating.  I was told that my cholesterol was very high 294 today, which is amazing because my diet is actually pretty good.  Although I believe it is a genetic problem in my family.   We  also need time to do the research so we know who we want to go with – RE -wise, when the time comes in January.  Yes, we will not be wasting any time once the new year hits!    We both have a couple of trips planned in October and November, and it is going to be crazy trying to physically plan an IVF around those.  So our decision has taken the pressure off!  And I do feel better for it.   Now I can devote my time to really focusing on making a nice fuzzy warm landing place for that little embie/s when the time comes.   

So who is going to join me in the Fertility Foundation Powercircle?!  Whatever stage of the cycle or treatment you are in, feel free to join, to get the much needed support through this process.  We will make the journey lighter, and perhaps even have a little fun!   I really want that for myself in the upcoming preparation.  What do you want for yourself?       (See the post at the top of the site for info about the Powercircle)

Warmly,

Fellow BDer, Louise

Hi Everyone,       

Serenity

I just came across an article from one of Oprah’s emails on being able to empower yourself by saying No.  And I’m sure some of you already know how much of a fan I am of creating balance and reserving Energy by doing just that – saying NO.   In the article she give scripts for different scenarios, so you’ll never get stuck!  Sometimes it can get awkward!   This will make it a much smoother experience, especially for those trying to create life balance during fertility treatments.  

Here is the link:

http://www.oprah.com/article/spirit/knowyourself/pkgempoweryourself/200807_omag_no

Good luck!

Coach Louise Crooks

Hi to all of you out there!

So I introduce to you , The Fertile Foundation Powercircle.  The reason why I use the word ‘foundation’ , is because  we, the group, will ensure that all the groundwork is covered, to create a solid ‘foundation’ or process, to create successful results!  We will also be there to catch you if you fall, and if the results you get aren’t what you expected.  We will be there throughout!

What is a powercircle?  It is a small group of ndividuals that meet by phone or in person with the group to create action around their intentions/goals, and to support one another in doing that. 

In this particular Powercircle, we will meet once a week by phone as a group. We will check on how you are doing with the goals and intentions you had set at the beginning. Each journey is different and will be honored accordingly.  We will clarify what that is for each of you are at the beginning in some detail.  This can be particularly helpful for those out there who are preparing for a cycle – to keep you on track, or those who are going through treatments, to keep you feeling supported and focused, and to keep you sane!   It really helps to have people supporting and rooting for you. There is also the ‘accountability factor’, knowing that each week we will be checking in with you to see how you are getting on, and holding your feet to the fire if that is what you want!  For example, one of your goals might be to give up coffee which might be a struggle. The group will hold you accountable and support you when you get stuck.  I will also coach anyone who is having difficulty or finding they are blocked in some way to getting where they want to go!  It will be fun, and the results will be tremendous!  This is a great way to experience coaching without the expense!- and an opportunity to meet with people who will support you unconditionally without leaving your house.

What are the benefits?   Working with an intimate group of people, who care about your success. Eliminating isolation.  Sharing ideas and possibilities. Staying on track.  Living day to day with purpose.  Support for those moments where things aren’t going so well.  Celebrating your successes, no matter how small!  The list goes on….

This group will start on Monday evenings from the first week in November 2008 at 6pm weekly.  It will be 1 hour in duration. The group will be no larger than 8.   Once the group is full, due to my commitment to confidentiality and creating a safe space, new members will not be admitted after the 1st 2 weeks, unless expressly requested or agreed upon, by the group.  I am happy to start a new group for new members if needed.  This will be an opportunity to get support and create strategies around managing through the holiday / festive season! 

If you are interested, please email me at louise@keystoclarity.com, and we can discuss more details!  I offer a money back guarantee for the 1st month!  You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose!

I encourage you to take this opportunity to love yourself first, so you really can create the life and family that you want!   Don’t forget there are only 8 spaces, so act quickly.  Welcome to the Fertile Foundation Powercircle!

And don’t forget time-zones and geography don’t make any difference anymore.  Call in on Skype!

For anyone who has comments or feedback about this – please post!

Warmly,

Coach Louise

PS  For anyone interested in the Super-Solopreneur 100 Day Challenge, for small business owners, particularly coaches and holistic practioners, please look on my other blog http://keystoclaritycoach.wordpress.com   for details.

Did you know that!?   In fact I believe the Japanese have a contraceptive made thats main ingredient is peas.   I frickin’ love peas!  So when I found that out, I was thinking well no wonder I can’t get pregnant!  Ok its a bit more complicated than that.  But I was eating them like I normally do, like crazy!  Well, I wanted to share that with you, as I have my last big bowl of peas, soaked in butter, as I start the build up to my next IVF.  Yummy.   Migraine has me laid low today, peas are a comfort.   DH is away on a course, so I will indulge… butter is an indulgence for me too.  I have generally cut butter and margerines out of my diet, even from sandwiches.  Its amazing how quickly you can get used not having it.   My cholesterol is an issue, and if you get pregnant, you naturally get even higher cholesterol!    Well, I have to say I would welcome that if it meant being pregnant!  In the meanwhile trying to do what I can to lower it – except tonight.   The rainy weather is causing a pressure system which is probably causing my migraine.

 Hmm that makes me think, I will have to start curtailing the types of painkillers I use, to really be ready to for the IVF.   Not looking forward to dealing with that.  It means constipation – bad!!  Was that more information than you needed?  too bad! hehe!   So its actually is harder to manage the migraines when having to get ready to go through the IVF.  When I fell pregnant on my 2nd IVF ( miscarried at 6 wks 5ds)  last year, I was migraine-free for the duration.  What a great side-effect.   See, there are so many reasons why I should be pregnant!   For those of you who don’t have any idea of what cluster headache / occular migraine is,  I can have between 1 to 5 (sometimes more) migraines in a week.  It is one of the worst kind.  (yes there are lots of different types of migraine) and this type is generally diagnosed more in men.    Wow wouldn’t that be amazing – to be pain free for 9 months AND to have a baby at the end of it!    For some people migraines can get worse through pregnancy, but it has the opposite effect for others.   I found I was one of the latter. 

I went to my Resolve support group last night for the first time in ages.  It was so nice to connect with Michelle and Sue, who were the only others that came, which was perfect because they were ones I wanted to reconnect with.  So we were able to have a good chat.  I hadn’t been for about 4 or 5 months, and didn’t realise how much I had missed it.   It really is a place where you can totally be comfortable talking about your experiences knowing there is understanding, empathy and no judgement.   Generally speaking, when someone hasn’t walked in our shoes, it is very difficult for themno to understand what we are going through, and generally anything they might say, can be irritating or inappropriate….. so support groups are a blessing.   If you haven’t been to one, or joined one, and have infertility challenges, do yourselves a big favour – join one!  Especially if you are one of those who is not willing to share your experience with anyone you know.  It gives you the outlet to talk to others with confidentiality and stops you from feeling isolated, which can easily happen with this experience. 

Well enough rambling from me…

Next week, I will be setting up appointments with a couple of new IVF doctors… thinking of the clinic in Shorthills, NJ, and Weills-Cornell in NY.  My old doctor says he has done all he can….  a fresh perspective is called for! I am not ready to give up yet.  Besides we only found out I had a couple of gene mutations after my 2nd IVF and miscarriage!  So not giving up yet!

love to all on this journey,

Coach Louise

I had to bring attention to Invisible Illness Week which is this week.  Especially when it comes women dealing with chronic illness or pain  and also having the challenge of infertility!  Infertility could also be seen as an invisible illness.  I don’t like it being referred to as a ‘disease’  which kind of makes me feel a victim, or being broken, or something you can catch…  Anyhow the combination of pain or illness and fertility is a really big challenge.  I know what this is like because of being a migraineur (cluster headaches/occular migraines) and I am sure that the physical and emotional stress of that together with trying to creating a life can have a huge effect. It probably also has a lot to do with why I haven’t been successful yet on the road to creating a family through treatments.   So I really want to support those of you out there who have this double condition, and know that you are not alone. 

Warmly,

Coach Louise Crooks

Hi all,

I have been gathering testamonials as I know how important they are for anyone who is looking to work with someone!  You will find the site has been updated with a few, and more will be added soon.  It really does warm the cockles of my heart to know that I have been able to add value to such special people and their lives.

Thanks.

with my credibility in tact!

Coach Louise Crooks