Hi Everyone!

There is always hope!

Just a heads up for anyone who would like more information on the journey we go on as we deal with fertility challenges!  I have been invited to talk about Infertility and how coaching can support you going through this experience – so I am sure a lot of your questions will be answered!  If they are not, please comment on this post, with your question.  Please also comment if you liked what you heard, and want to know more.    For anyone who does post a comment on this post regarding the show, I will be giving away 5 Resolve magazines  (Resolve), that just landed on my desk today, to the lucky individuals – I will do a draw to decide who receives these great resources of info!  They have an article called ‘The Light at the End of the Tunnel’ which immediately draws my attention as its very much in alignment with my coaching philosophy!

Listen to the recording on this link  Conscious Choices Radio

Warmly,

Coach Louise

Hi Everyone,

Spring is round the corner!..

Conceive wrote an interesting article today, which I found interesting because its been something I have been wondering about for myself.  I have had severe period pain ever since I started in my early teens, and now I am 40 and I am still having great discomfort at that time of the month!  I am questioning in my own mind now, why my RE hasn’t recommended that I have a laparoscopy to check out what’s been going on inside.

Conceive wrote:

Endometriosis—which occurs when tissue that’s supposed to be lining the uterus winds up outside it—can be mild or severe, with symptoms or without. Some women with the disease will have no trouble getting pregnant. But others will need proper treatment to conceive.

To read Conceive’s article click on this link:

http://www.conceiveonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=126

An update with where we are right now…

Well, nowhere to be exact!  We are in discussions (DH & I) as to whether to do a final IVF treatment or not.  He is steering towards the No and I am steering towards the Yes.  He will do it, but I want him fully invested in the process.  Why should should us women be the only ones to do any preparation… it takes an Egg AND…a sperm!!

Can you tell I have some emotion around this! Well yes, I am working on it, and know for sure that it has to be something we both want to do – together!

Warmly,

Coach Louise

Hi Everyone!

I have been absent for a couple of weeks it feels, but I am still here.  I am still in inbetween land with our next move,  so no news on our front yet.  The conversation about what we decide to do next is still lurking, but its kind of heads in sand right now….

In the meanwhile I want to share my colleague Dawn Davenport’s show on BlogTalkRadio which she does weekly, and regularly has professionals from the Reproductive community on her show as guests, so there is some great information on all sorts of topics regarding Fertility Issues.  Here is the link to go to her latest show which discusses the pros and cons of going to the option of donor eggs or sperm.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/creatingafamily/2009/02/11/Are-you-Ready-to-Move-to-Donor-Eggs-or-Sperm

I hope you find the information interesting and useful.

In the meanwhile, I can update you that I will be starting my Fertility show again in March,  where the first show will be a coaching panel with myself and Connie Barrow Peebles, talking to women going through the fertility journey.   We’ll discuss how to keep on track with life balance, taking steps to take care of yourself and all other questions you might have in this regard.  We are looking forward supporting you on your journey.  This type of show might become a regular feature depending on its success.  Come and support us!  If you have any questions that you would like answered on the show, please send them to me at louise@keystoclarity.com , or call in on the live show.  Details will be posted shortly.

You can access archived podcasts of various topics regarding Fertility at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/KeystoClarity-coach

Warmly,

Coach Louise

This clip will give all of those around you an insight in what its like to go through fertility issues, IVF etc – with a touch of humor to keep us all sane!

lovingly,

Coach Louise

Dear Friends,

I just had the wonderful opportunity to be on the first of 8 daily calls with an organisation called The Journey who I believe do the most amazing work worldwide.  To learn more about this experience I am having, and how you can participate too (for FREE) please click on my other blog to get the details!    www.keystoclaritycoach.wordpress.com  or see on side of page.   Or you can just go straight to www.thejourney.com

I really encourage anyone getting ready to do an IVF or IUI in the next couple of months to investigate as it is a wonderful and supportive way to prepare yourself!   That is what I’m doing!

Warmly,

Coach Louise

PS Its not too late to join!  They are recording the calls so you can catch up and join the rest!

Get Inspired...

Dear Friends,

A new type of support group (with a coaching twist to keep us on a positive track) is starting soon!   The exciting part is that you don’t have to drive anywhere, you can just call in on a specific telephone number (that I will provide) at the same time each week for one hour.   This support group is quite different to any other that you might have come across in the traditional sense.   We will be coming to the calls from a place of love, non-judgement, and positive energy.

 I have found that groups I do coaching with over the phone, really enjoy a close connection with each other, and I believe part of that is the fact that no one knows one another, and can’t see each other!  Hard to believe!? 

Everyone relaxs in that space and just takes the time out to be nurtured, to share, to be coached, and to set inspired actions that week that will support the ongoing journey in trying to conceive, whether naturally or through medical assistance.

 This group is specifically for those who face the challenge of infertility and the steps they take from that diagnosis.  There will be two groups, one for newbies who are new to this journey, and another for women who are at least 1 year in. 

If anyone would like to enquire or book their space ( limit of 8 to a group, so everyone gets to participate) please email me at louise@keystoclarity.com or call me on 732-2992347.   The cost of belonging to this group is nominal to cover my personal outlay, as I see this as a way to give back a community that has been very important to me over the last few years.   The monthy fee is $50.

Baby Dust Powercircle     (for Newbies)  will take place at 12pm Noon EST or – 5 hrs GMT

Mega Baby Dust  Powercircle  (for the more seasoned ladies who have been on the journey for over a year) will start on 20th Jan 12pm Noon EST (or – 5 hrs GMT)

Please pass this information or link onto anyone you know who might like to know about this opportunity.  Many thanks!

Warmly,

Coach Louise

The possibilities...

One of my coaching clients, lets call her Jane, asked me about some information regarding fertility.  She was addressing her concerns at being 37, and not being in the right place in her relationship to start trying for a baby, even though the topic was on the table.    

One of the first things we can do is just have a couple of simple blood tests to create a baseline to work from.  It will give us an understanding of where we are in terms of our fertility.

Testing the FSH levels.   The Follicle Stimulating Hormone, stimulates the growth of the follicle to become an egg.  The harder the hormone has to work to stimulate this growth, the higher the hormone reading will be.  High is not good.  When all is working smoothly the FSH levels will be at a lower level.  If the reading is high, your RE (reproductive endocrinologist) or your OB/GYN will always read it as this level, even if you get a better reading the next time you have the test.  They are looking at worst case scenario.   I won’t give an indication of the levels for the readings as different clinics seem to use different methodologies.  Ask your doctor to explain which one he uses, and how it works.  From this test, it will indicate the quality and quantity levels of your eggs/follicles.

Estradial Testing, is to test the level of your Estrogen Hormone.  This is important for the lining of the uterus to thicken when trying to fall pregnant.

LH Testing, or the Luteinising Hormone, indicates the level of the hormone when ovulating. 

Your doctor will also give you an internal exam / ultrasound to see that your uterus etc is all looking okay.

Your doctor might also ask you to go for an HSG (a Hysterosalpingogram) which is an x-ray using a contrast dye flowing through the uterus and fallopian tubes, to see if there are any blockages or abnormalities that might prevent pregnancy.   It can be a little uncomfortable, but is tolerable, and doesn’t take too long.

This is a pretty basic explanation of what they can do to start with.   Its not particularly invasive and may allay fears or at least give you a picture of where you are in your fertility at this point in time.

Also consider your what your values and needs are.  My client wants to be married before she tries for a baby.  She wants to try for her own biological baby.   She knows that if it works out that the timing isn’t right that she would be okay with this, as she sees her life as full and wonderful with or without children.  These are great questions to ask yourself.

Warmly,

Coach Louise

PS.  If you are starting your journey and would like support and guidance along the way, consider joining the Fertile Foundation Powercircle starting at the beginning of November.  See previous post on the Fertile Foundation Powercircle.   This is an opportunity to take charge of your fertility.

PPS:  If you would like more information generally, have a look on the Resources page.

Join me!

Hi to all my dear friends,

If you are thinking how nice it would be to talk to people going through the same or similar things to you, and get some real support, then this is the place for you. 

We will meet once a week on the phone, teleconference style, to talk as a group (limited to 6 people).   I am so looking forward to facilitating this type of meeting where we can be heard, speak authentically, and take small steps to creating our amazing future, with or without the end result we desire so much.  We will be there every step of the way.  We have a big one coming soon – the holidays… how do we handle family, and friends, and  gatherings with children/babies in tow?!  This is just one of many things we will get to discuss in our special group.  Lets take the opportunity to empower ourselves!

If you are interested and want to know more about this, please email me on louise@keystoclarity.com or respond to this post.    The group starts on the Monday the 3rd of November 2008 at 12noon Eastern Standard Time.  (GMT -5hrs)  

lovingly yours,

Coach Louise

PS  I know there are some wonderful women I have been blogging with on this special journey (you know who you are)  and I would be so happy for you to join me by participating in this unique experience!  Consider yourself invited!

Hi All,

I am at the start of my vacation – staying in UK with family, and then going onto Spain to meet more family and friends, and meet my goddaughter (20mths) for the first time.  She is so cute, I can’t wait.  About to get a real dose of living with a grumpy toddler for a bit. Might make me think twice about desperately wanting my own baby!  One can only hope!  Well, I am sure in saying that I will absolutely adore the experience, and be even more determined!

In the meanwhile, unfortunately my hubbie Clive isn’t able to join me on this trip as he is with his Dad who is having heart bypass surgery today.  I was very disappointed initially but what can you do!  |Its understandable that he wants to be there for his dad!  Sending positive vibrations to Charles! 

I will be back in the blogging driving seat on the Labor Day weekend!  And I intend to embrace my time away, so I have fun, and get to enjoy the company of my dear friends and family that I only get to see every couple of years.  I was struggling with the frustration of not being able to get on with things because of all the trips (not all for fun) we’ve been taking this summer.  I have decided its not worth getting caught up in that emotion, because it certainly isn’t going to serve me (or anyone else for that matter.)   I intend to sun myself and enjoy!

SO HERE I COME -SPAIN!    OLE!

lol

Coaching Louise Crooks

A acupuncturist friend and colleague who focuses on fertility and nutrition, Meg Richichi, mentioned the link between hormones and sugar levels.  I thought this was an interesting topic especially as I noticed a dramatic effect in myself when my sugar gets low……

Here are a couple of excerpts from some articles on this subject.  I hope you find it as interesting as I have.

By Erin Dummert RD, CD from the Diet Channel 

 Good sugars and bad sugars

Why does sugar take the rap when hormones are really the problem? Sugar does cause the body to release growth-promoting hormones, but that is not the whole story. Sugar is very important to life. However, just as there are good fats and bad fats, there are good sugars and bad sugars.

Bad sugars, often referred to as simple sugars, are those in foods that do not offer any other nutritional benefit. Examples of simple sugars include foods like soda, sweets, sugar cereals, juice drinks, and refined grains.

Good sugars, or complex carbohydrates, are present in foods that provide nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber. Examples of complex carbohydrates include foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.

Nancy Appleton writes…     (here is the link directly to her page.. http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm)

She provides a list of the things that complex sugars do……

          Sugar can suppress the immune system.

1. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
2. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
3. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
4. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
5. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
6. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
7. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
8. Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
9. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
10. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
11. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
12. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
13. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
14. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.                                
15. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
16. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
17. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
18. Sugar can cause premature aging.
19. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
20. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
21. Sugar contributes to obesity
22. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
23. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
24. Sugar can cause arthritis.
25. Sugar can cause asthma.
26. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
27. Sugar can cause gallstones.
28. Sugar can cause heart disease.
29. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
30. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
31. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
32. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
33. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
34. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
35. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
36. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
37. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
38. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol  in the blood.
39. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
40. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
41. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
42. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
43. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs)(Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
44. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
45. Sugar causes food allergies.
46. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
47. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
48. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
49. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
50. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
51. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
52. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
53. Sugar can cause cataracts.
54. Sugar can cause emphysema.
55. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
56. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
57. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.
58. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
59. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
60. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
61. Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
62. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
63. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
64. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
65. Sugar can increase the body’s fluid retention.
66. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
67. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
68. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
69. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
70. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
71. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
72. Sugar can adversely affect school children’s grades and cause learning disorders..
73. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
74. Sugar can cause depression.
75. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
76. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
77. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
78. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
79. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to    low sugar diets. 
80. High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
81. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood  proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
82. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
83. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
84. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become underactive and others become overactive.
85. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
86. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
87. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
88. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
89. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.
90. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
91. Sugar feeds cancer.
92. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
93. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
94. Sugar slows food’s travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
95. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.
96. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
97. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
98. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
99. Sugar is an addictive substance.
100. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
101. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
102. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.
103. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.             
104. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.
105. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
106. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
107. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
108. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
109. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
110. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
111. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
112. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
113. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
114. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
115. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
116. Sugar may induce cell death.
117. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.
118. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
119. Sugar can lead to prostrate cancer.
120. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
121. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
122. Sugar can cause low birth weight babies.
123. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia
124. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream. 
125. Sweet food items increase the risk of breast cancer. 
126. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine. 
127. Sugar may cause laryngeal cancer.
128. Sugar induces salt and water retention.
129. Sugar may contribute to mild memory loss.
130. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
131. Sugar can increase the total amount of food consumed.
132. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
133. Sugar causes constipation.
134. Sugar causes varicous veins.
135. Sugar can cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.
136. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
137. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.
138. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
139. Sugar can be a factor in asthma.
140. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel syndrome.
141. Sugar could affect central reward systems.
142. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.
143. Sugar can cause endometrial  cancer.
144. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
145. Sugar can cause liver tumors. 

Certainly food for thought!…….  I know I will be taking a good look at my sugar intake, and making sure that most of sugar sources I have are natural ones!

curiously yours,

Coach Louise Crooks