Taking Charge

We're in the midst of yet another TWW. That's another two whole weeks where we must patiently wait to see if there will be one line or two on the stick(s). Yes, stickS.

I admit it. I went to Dollar Tree looking for pregnancy tests. They're just one dollar. So much cheaper than wasting the expensive ones for negative results, right? That's how I'm justifying this month's POAS (peeing on a stick) obsession. It takes over your life, people.

You start POAS soon after your period ends to make sure you don't miss your LH surge/ovulation, and then you try to wait until at least the supposed first day of your period to start the pregnancy test(s).

Kudos to those women who can wait. But, I love the immediate and definite feedback of a 'yes' or 'no'. At any moment, 'yes' or 'no'. See how POAS can turn into an obsession?

The husband is very involved in life. Work and town politics, along with those regular personal life events. Even his commute is filled with work phone calls or Howard Radio or listening to sports. So, I feel that he's got a lot to occupy his mind and distract him from the sticks.

Not me. I'm always trying to find new ways to kill time during the TWW and reasons to not to want to POAS.

This month I finally took the advice of many women who have been in the same/similar situation and bought 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility". I had once borrowed this book from a friend to learn how to chart my temperature, but never read more than that. Oh, what a distraction it is!

My poor husband has to listen to me giggle and reread outloud the interesting facts I just read , but...

The things that I'm learning! You might already know this, but I'm going to tell you anyway. You were in your maternal grandmother's womb when she was pregnant with your mom. Most of us know that as a woman you are born with all the eggs you will ever have. Thus, your mother was already fully stocked (with you and your siblings) as a growing being in your grandmother's belly.

I'm sure this was explained to me in school during sex education. But I didn't listen nor care. What 6th grader wants to know about semen, menstration, or other (at the time) embarassing things? Aren't we all focused on thinking how cool it would be to work at the bird show at the Minnesota Zoo? Or was that just me?

I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the book, but I'm learning all there is to know about my reproductive health, pregnancy, natural birth control and so much more. And I feel an overwhelming sense of empowerment. A sense that I would have never be able to obtain or appreciate at a young age.

Watch out world! :)

I encourage any one who is interested in their reproductive health to check out this book. Ignore it's out-of-date and ugly cover, and the fact that it's over 500 pages long. Worth the time and money that you will invest.