A Promo for US Kids - Why I think it's something every person (who is struggling to have kids) should think about!

In this post, I've done my best to show you why foster parenting can be a really great thing. Even if you don't ever decide to foster a child, I wanted all "potential parents" to have this information. There are a few benefits to fostering that many people may have never considered.

The first benefit I want to mention (just because I think a lot of people don't know this is true) is that it can cost you little to NO money to adopt a foster child. Whereas a "standard" adoption can cost from $15,000 to $50,000! Taking care of a foster child will cost you less money than taking care of your OWN biological kids, because the state pays for the majority of the child's expenses.

I hate to put this as the first thing on this blog post because the money shouldn't matter, but I was worried that if I didn't put it first, some people would click right OFF this page because they thought it would be too expensive or thought they couldn't afford it. Many people don't realize how it all works (I didn't), so I wanted to share this information with others. You can see a video by some foster parents if you scroll down the page (it's the very last video at the bottom) that will explain a bit about how it works.  There are a lot of myths about Foster Care... you see many of them "debunked" by clicking HERE.

When I got pregnant at age 43, it was shortly after I'd watched several videos by the Adoption organization Adopt US Kids.  I'd never heard of them until I had seen this commercial on TV (below), and then ended up watching a ton of tear-jerking videos on their site. I was so moved by the videos, it really made me want to become a foster parent! Although I was never adopted, I do have a few friends that were adopted (and they are great people). I also relate to some of these kids who keep getting shuffled around and are very frustrated because they can't seem to find a permanent home (more about this later).

My mother was a social worker, and she was always asking me if I had any friends that might be interested in fostering. She said there are never enough foster families to provide good homes for all the kids that need them! 

One of my coworkers from a job I had when I lived back home, ended up becoming a foster parent. He wasn't perfect (who IS??), but the key was, he had a BIG HEART. It's funny... when I worked with him, he always appeared a little lonely and sad, but when I talked to him after he became a foster parent (this was years after I moved out of state) he seemed a lot more cheerful. He ended up fostering several children and my Mom told me he was one of the best foster parents they'd ever had.

After watching the videos on the Adopt US Kids site, I was SO SURE this was the route I was going to go down... to the point that when I actually did end up getting pregnant, I yelled "NO F---ING WAY!!!" I almost felt as if it was throwing off my new plan! It was just like John Lennon said: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans."

Being That Person (or couple) who makes a Pivotal difference in Someone's Life

Did you know that John Lennon, Steve Jobs, Bill Clinton, Faith Hill, Richard Burton, Nelson Mandela, Marilyn Monroe, Edgar Allen Poe, Director Michael Bay, Sarah McClachlan, Melissa Gilbert, Jamie Foxx, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jesse Jackson, Eartha Kitt and Babe Ruth were all adopted? (there are MANY MORE adopted celebrities but that's just a handful). I realize most of them were adopted at a young age, but I'm  just saying.... providing a nurturing and supportive home for a child can have a huge impact on a child. They may not become a movie star, famous songwriter, or the president of the United States, but you could really make a difference in their life.

You can see a list of even more adopted celebrities, by clicking HERE. (and even this will just be a partial list).

Going with the flow of the Universe

We've all heard that there are many cases where a couple decides to adopt a child and then suddenly the woman gets pregnant, because she is no longer freaking out about her fertility. Well I can't help thinking that was part of the reason I finally got pregnant. I didn't actually adopt a child, but I had decided that adoption could be a really good option for me, and that enabled me to stop freaking out about trying to have a baby just because my clock was ticking.

Great things in life aren't supposed to happen in a really stressed out way. Seedlings don't strain to grow. The sun doesn't strain to rise and set. And we women aren't supposed to freak out and stress out and strain to have babies! At the time I got pregnant, I had decided that my quest to get pregnant was really interfering with my life. I decided I wanted to train for a marathon (I'd put it off for years because I was worried it would negatively affect my fertility). I decided not to worry about it so much anymore, and if it happened, it happened. And then BAM... as soon as I started worrying so much about things... I got pregnant! It's true, I was still doing a good amount of things to increase my fertility, but I knew that by going running I could screw it all up (and I did it anyway!).

Wanting to get pregnant for the Right Reasons

Have you ever tried really hard to get a man to like you or pay attention to you, and it just DIDN'T WORK? I can't help thinking it's because there is a Great Power up there going, there's something wrong with this picture. She's doing that for the wrong reasons. She needs to feel confident in herself, and love herself FIRST, and stop worrying about what a man thinks of her! Whenever I tried too hard to get someone to like me, it had way too much to do with my ego, and it wasn't about me loving someone for the right reasons.

When I was trying to get pregnant, looking back at it, it seems like I was trying to do that for the wrong reasons, too. It had a lot to do with me just trying to see if I COULD get pregnant. I didn't want to be one of those women who couldn't, or who would be forever labeled as infertile or barren or incapable. I didn't want to be the only single parent out of all my friends who seemed to be getting pregnant left and right! How come they were able to have babies (seemingly at the drop of a hat) and I couldn't??? You could say I had something to prove.

When I finally got pregnant (shortly after I'd decided I really wanted to foster a child) I couldn't help feeling like The Universe was finally saying, OK you've passed the test. It's obvious you wanted to have kids for the right reasons, because it wasn't "all about you"... you really did want to provide a loving home for a child, including a foster child, and try to make the world a better place because of it. I'm not saying this is for sure what happened, but that's certainly what it felt like. Obviously, if God or the Universe put this test on everyone, then there would be no parents out there who would be having their children taken away. But I still can't help there was a higher spirit involved in me getting pregnant, and somehow there were some spiritual reasons behind it. Sadly, I did have a miscarriage which I will always believe was the result of taking a mega dose of Vitamin C (you can read about that in one of my other posts listed to the right), but I also think it was because I just had too much stress in my life.

Babies have been one of the last things on my mind recently (I've got a lot of stuff going on), despite the fact that my clock is ticking VERY loudly (I'm 46).  I revisited the Adopt US Kids website last night and was bawling all over again. There are sooo many kids that want to be adopted and just want a permanent home!!!

Why (in my opinion) Couples who struggle with Infertility could make good foster parents 

I think that couples who have been struggling to conceive will have a slight advantage over other parents, because they know what it's like to not have things come easily. If you have been frustrated by your own infertility, you know how frustrating it is to see all the people around you having babies, babies and more babies, while you still don't have a kid of your own. You know pain, and you know heartache. And you also know what it's like to go through this private hell while trying to put on a happy face and pretend nothing is wrong.  So there is a part of you that will probably have some real empathy for a child who feels unlucky, frustrated, and different from all their peers (but has to keep trying to put on the happy face). These kids must spend a lot of time wondering, "Why me?" "Why can't I just have a normal life like everyone else?"

Why I can relate to Foster Children: I know how frustrating it is to not have a permanent "home" when you really want to stay in one place.

I was raised by a single mother, and there were many summers where she would send me and my sisters to live with my grandparents. I loved my grandparents, but didn't feel comfortable there because it wasn't my home. They were very strict and I often felt like I just couldn't relax. I knew they loved me, but... it was no comparison to being at home. Like Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz: There's no place like home. There is nothing like feeling like you're in a place you're familiar and comfortable with, and you can just relax and not be constantly worried that you're about to do something wrong!

Another reason I can relate to foster kids...

From the years 1998 to the present, I have had way too many temp jobs. Partially because I like having the time and the freedom to write. I never wanted to work in a corporate environment, permanently. And yet, it was hard not to want to have the health benefits and 401k plan, etc., that come along with being hired as a full time employee. 

Well, there were many, many times where I would be at a temp job, filling in for someone on maternity leave, and I would get really used to the place, and end up loving it, and want to work there, permanently... but couldn't. Once the woman came back from maternity leave, I was out of a job... I had to pack up my stuff and move on to the next job. I knew from the getgo, there was a chance that maybe the woman I'd be filling in for would decide to become a stay at home mom, and not return (temp agents sometimes tell you this, to make the assignment sound better). But it never happened. They always came back, and I was always having to find a new job. And... it... sucked.  It was like, DAMN. Just when I was totally getting used to the place and it started to feel like home... I have to move!!?? It didn't help matters that I only wanted to be a receptionist, and didn't have a college degree, so there weren't a lot of other places in the company where they could put me.

One day I had this revelation that, Omg, this must be what it feels like to be a foster child (only it must be way worse for the foster child). It was then that I thought, I really want to be a foster parent one day. So although I am still doing what I can to hang on to my fertility, I know that I may never end up having a baby on my own (biologically). It just may not be in the cards for me. Yes I want a baby, but I don't want one so badly that I would actually go through fertility treatments. Honestly, I would rather adopt a foster child. And even if I ever do get pregnant, I would still like to try to adopt a foster child one day.

My own Personal Experience with Fostering... and how REWARDING it is

Although I have never fostered a child, I have fostered many cats, and can tell you it is an extremely rewarding experience that is worth all the effort you have to put into it. Whether you're fostering people or pets... the love you feel in your heart will be greater when you know you are making a big difference in the life of another being.

I have a few adopted cats that were once feral, and I have to tell you... the one that was the most feral (and therefore least likely to be adopted into a "regular family") is my favorite. By just giving him food and shelter, being really sweet to him on a daily basis (and knowing when to give him his space), he went from being constantly fearful and insecure and afraid, to being incredibly sweet and gentle and appreciative of all the love and attention that I give him. I've had  him nearly 10 years, but when I feed him, he still sometimes looks up at me like, "Are you sure it's ok for me to eat this? Is this food really for me?" I've had several cats in my lifetime, but watching him eat his dinner gives my heart an incredible surge, like nothing I've ever experienced with another cat, it's because I know I have truly made a difference in his life. He doesn't have that sense of "entitlement" that my other cats seem to have! (I'm not saying cats or children AREN'T entitled to have a good life, but... you're probably less likely to see "entitlement issues" in a foster child, than a biological one).

He taught me to be a better individual. I am a better "pet guardian" than I ever was. He (and my other feral cats) have taught me an incredible amount of patience. I've learned when to give him attention and when to let him be alone. I know that I am a better person because I took him in and gave him a good home where he can always feel safe and secure. I am always aware that if I didn't step in and help him, he would still be flea ridden, hungry, cold, afraid, injured from other cats or dogs, and could have easily contracted a number of cat diseases like FIV, FIP, or FELV. He could have been hit by a car or swallowed rat poison from someone's property while scrounging for food. Giving him a good home actually increased my confidence and feelings of self worth, in a way that I never experienced with other (non-feral) cats (and I have had many, from childhood through adulthood). You always have this sense that you're pretty damn awesome for making such a big difference in "someone's" (even "just a kitty's") life. Even just thinking about it, right now, makes my heart feel big. So imagine how good you'd feel if you were providing a better life for a CHILD!

Like I said earlier.... there just aren't enough good foster families to go around. You can see some of the sad statistics about the current state of the Foster Care system by clicking HERE.

Here are a few commercials (below) from the Adopt US kids website. Overall I think these commercials are good, because I'm sure they recruit a lot of good people and families who may have been afraid to foster because they just didn't know about it or think they were good enough. I'm really grateful these commercials were made, because if they weren't, I'd have never looked up that site.

But I also want to comment that every child deserves a good home. Sometimes I wonder if foster kids watch these commercials and feel offended because they think, why are they trying to stick me with these wacky people? But if you're a foster child reading this for whatever reason, I can tell you this much. Pretty much every parent out there is a little wacky. The single ones are wacky too. The rich ones are wacky, and often have children who have very little appreciation for all they have. I grew up in a pretty poor, dysfunctional, chatotic (but loving) family. THE most important gift you can get from a parent is love. If for any reason you don't get enough of it, it's because they don't have enough love for themselves, and you shouldn't ever take that personally. You need to learn how to love yourself first because just like the song, that really is the greatest love of all. And one day you will have the ability to give as much love, to a child, as you want!

Omg this one would be me....

Just a few touching SUCCESS STORIES... 

(You can find many more adoption success stories if you just go check out YouTube).

Can you imagine how nice it would be, if even 1/10th of the people out there, who were trying desperately to have a baby, could just take a break for a couple of years, and commit to adopting a teenager for a couple of years and say, for the next two or three years we are just going to SHOWER this kid with as much love and attention and support as we could possibly give them!

Adopting a teenager in need could be a good thing for all parties, for many couples who are TTC, for several reasons: 

-It's just a couple of years (though if you have a great relationship with them, you will probably have their love for a lifetime). I truly believe that you could greatly improve your chances of conception if you spend the next two years taking great care of your body, taking CoEnzyme Q10 and Astragalus (see my post: "An Easy way to improve the quality of your eggs".. listed to the right... or just look up Astragaus and "telomeres" if you don't believe me). Also by adding regular exercise, PEMF (see post to the right), Vitamin D (again... see post to right), drinking plenty of water, and stopping the fertility drugs... I really do believe your body will be in BETTER baby-making shape than it is now... EVEN if you are in your 40's!! (this may be just my opinion but I can tell you I've been feeling SUPER FERTILE at age 46, and these are pretty much the only "fertility" things I'm doing). 

-It could get you to stop obsessing so much about your biological clock, and focus on what's really important: Loving a child and providing them a solid, nurturing environment so they can become a good, productive member of society.

-Watch the videos below, about "Aging out" - and you will see, the experience of being adopted at an "old age" is PRICELESS for a child.  

-If you feel anything like I do, when I take care of my feral cats, your heart will feel BIG (not empty because you don't have a child). And this could probably help you get pregnant if that's still what you want!

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I'm not saying teenagers are easy (trust me, I know... my stepdaughter is a teen), but it would be a great preparation for what it would be like to have another teenager one day (it could make having your own biological child seem like a cakewalk). And a child adopted through the foster care system will probably have more appreciation for your support (whether they show it or not), than a biological child could ever possibly feel.

I know that if I ever adopt a teenager, I'm going to make sure to NOT expect it to be a piece of cake, or easy (I think a lot of foster parents probably fail and can't handle it because they expect the child to show appreciation and gratitude and love when this poor kid who does NOT want to be in the foster system whatsoever... I know I sure wouldn't!!!). It's probably best to never expect the child to be grateful, happy, laugh a lot, etc.. (they probably WILL, on occasion, but expecting it will only set you up for frustration and failure).  I'm going to expect them to be miserable, brooding,  uncomfortable, etc. etc.,... but hang on to the hope that if I just SHOWER them with love and support, every chance I could possibly get, for those few years that I do have them... then I will have done a good thing for the kid (or kids) and it will all be worth it. Any small sense of love or appreciation that I might get back, will just be gravy.

Foster kids talk about what it's like to be a foster child

Watch the videos below and you will see, there are sooo many kids who need a good home, and they LONG to be adopted so that they can just have that validation that someone cared enough about them to go through the legal process. They say it can just take ONE person to make a huge, life changing impact on a child's life. You could be that person!

And here is that video about what it's like to train to become a Foster Parent. 

If you're interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE ADOPTUSKIDS SITE.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Even if you end up conceiving naturally or adopting a child through regular adoption (or just plain decide to remain "child free"), I think it's important to get the word out.

EB

Got Blocked Fallopian Tubes? Endometriosis? Don't Despair ... there are things you can do!!!

When I took my HSG test in 2009, I discovered that one of my fallopian tubes was partially blocked. During the X ray, I could see that the dye in one of my tubes did go through, but it took a little longer than the other side. So I know there was at least some blockage. Luckily it didn't seem blocked to the point where it would cause a huge issue, but yeah... it could have gotten worse if I hadn't taken the right supplements.

I know it must be devastating for women to find out that they have blocked fallopian tubes, and/or endometriosis, but there are things (besides surgery) that you can do that could help... and your doctor probably will NEVER tell you about some of the things that really can help you! 

It REALLY REALLY TICKS ME OFF how doctors and websites like this HUGGIES SITE are perpetuating the idea that there is no cure for endometriosis, and if you have it, you're stuck with it and there's nothing you can do (well... except maybe surgery).  That is TOTALLY NOT TRUE!!!!

Not only can some cases of endometriosis be prevented, but they can also be reversed (to the point where you may be able to get pregnant) by taking Pycnogenol.

I want to bring up some of the things that can cause blocked fallopian tubes.

Here is some interesting info I found on this page:

What is a Blocked Fallopian Tube?

Blocked Fallopian Tube or Fallopian tube obstruction is a major cause of female infertility. Blocked fallopian tubes are unable to let the ovum and the sperm converge, thus making fertilization impossible. Fallopian Tubes are also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges (singular salpinx).

What Causes Blocked Fallopian Tubes?

Scar tissue within the fallopian tubes is a major cause of blockage, and this can be triggered by infections, endometriosis, or inflammatory bowel disease, amongst others.

HMMM!!! Endometriosis can cause blocked fallopian tubes?? Why is it that I've never heard of this, OR the fact that eating too many white flour / sugary products can cause endometriosis, which can cause blocked tubes and therefore, infertility?

If you suspect that you have endometriosis OR blocked fallopian tubes, I would highly, highly recommend that you please read THIS POST about Candida... which can CAUSE endometriosis!!


When I was a teenager I used to watch the soap opera "The Young and the Restless." I remember hearing one of the characters, Faren, telling her man, Andy, that she couldn't get pregnant because she had endometriosis. That was the first time I'd ever heard of it, and it sounded like this really scary thing, like it's just something that some people are destined to get, and can't do anything about it. Or, maybe it was a little over dramatic because after all, I was watching a SOAP OPERA.  But, seriously... it is a very real thing that can cause serious problems for people. As I have mentioned in previous posts, both my aunts on my dad's side had it, and one was unable to have kids because of it. My other aunt had kids, but also had serious complications during one of her pregnancies, because of it.

But now that I truly believe that you can get rid of endometriosis on your own (please google: get rid of endometriosis). It will really help to change your diet, eat more healthy food (and by this I mean LOTS of vegetables, fruit and WHOLE grains), and cut way back on sugary foods and processed white flour products. Like bagels. I'm not saying never have a bagel, but if you are eating them regularly, it's time to STOP. They are not healthy. You can find them on several "foods not to eat" lists, like this one.   Of course, I think they'd be ok in moderation, but definitely not as a daily meal if you have endometriosis and are trying to have a baby.

If you suspect that you have endometriosis, I would highly recommend you take Pycnogenol. Studies show that it can really help clear it up. YES, it's been PROVEN TO WORK. Again... you can read more on my post about pycnogenol, and how it helps women with endometriosis, here.

I would also HIGHLY recommend THIS BRAND of pycnogenol, which is less expensive than the Costco and also the Puritan's Pride brands which I previously recommended! (I just found this out). This is by far THE cheapest place I have seen, to get it, and overall, the reviews make it sound like it's pretty good.

I would also highly recommend you check out a supplement called Serrapeptase. Serrapeptase is an enzyme that dissolves scar tissue and has other health benefits. Please do your own research to see if it is safe for you to take it. If I thought my tubes were still blocked, I'd definitely take it.

I just read this review for this brand of Serrapeptase online:

 Purchased this product because I was informed I have 2 ..., September 4, 2014

By 

quin

Verified Purchase 

This review is from: Doctor's Best High Potency Serrapeptase (120,000 Units), 90-Count (Health and Beauty)

Purchased this product because I was informed I have 2 blocked fallopian tubes
The first 3 days of taking this product a huge mucus plug came out! I looked onl
ine to see blocked tubes look like with scar tissue and mucus and the mucus plug I passed look exactly like the gross pictures of tubes filled with gunk. Thank god this product worked so fast I will continue to take it and do a follow up HSG in 4 months. If I get a BFP I will return for sure either way I will update in 3 month.

Wow... I had never heard of that whole "mucus plug" thing.

So I googled it, and found some info on this page.... and this statement:

If the fallopian tube is in fact blocked, it is often blocked by a mucous plug

You can read more about the mucus plug (and the reason we have them) HERE.

I have copied the following info below, from THIS SITE.

Laparoscopy for Proximal Tubal Occlusion (PTO)

   

Fig. 12Fig. 13Fig. 14Fig. 15

Sometimes the tube is blocked at its narrowest part, at the point where it is closest to the uterus (fig. 12). This is called Proximal Tubal Occlusion or PTO. This blockage is most often caused by spasm of the tube, thin scar tissue or a mucus “plug”. The end of the tube is entirely normal and reopening the tube can be successfully accomplished with simultaneous hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgery.

"OR SERRAPEPTASE." (note from me...just my opinion) 

First, a fiberoptic hysteroscope is gently inserted through the cervix and advanced into the uterus. A camera attached to the hysteroscope will project a magnified view of the uterine cavity and the opening of the tubes on a video monitor. A thin soft catheter is guided to the tubal opening (fig. 13) and advanced into the tube, clearing away the mucus plug.

Blue dye is injected into the tube (fig. 14)

The laparoscope, allows the surgeon to see the other side of the tube (the one closer to the ovary) and make sure that the dye injected into the tube (fig. 14) exits from the end of the tube (fig. 15), confirming that the tube is now open

Laparoscopic scar tissue resection

Scar tissue or adhesions occur most frequently after pelvic infection, previous surgery or endometriosis. Adhesions may cause pain and/or infertility when they involve the ovaries or the fallopian tubes. Bowel obstruction can occur when the adhesions involve the intestines.

  

Fig. 16Fig. 17Fig. 18

When mild scar tissue (fig.16) involves the end of the tube (closer to the ovary), surgery is often successful. The delicate part of the tube responsible for transporting the egg into the tube can be nicely restored (fig. 17). When severe scar tissue involves the tubes and ovaries (fig. 18), surgery is unlikely to be successful, and IVF should be considered instead.

During laparoscopic surgery, absorbable adhesion barriers are often utilized to cover the surgical area and to minimize the risk of recurrence of scar tissue. It is important that your doctor is an expert in laparoscopic fertility techniques, handling the tissues delicately to avoid further damage and scar tissue formation.

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In my opinion, it's better to try alternative treatments like herbs first, if you are able to and they are safe for you, and if that doesn't work... maybe do surgery.  But I would only want to do surgery as a last resort.

Next topic...

I have never tried herbal tampons, but I would totally use them if I felt that my fallopian tubes were any more blocked than they already are. I trust this company that makes them, because they also make Fertil Plus, which I believe was one of the key reasons I got pregnant in just about a month! You can find their herbal tampons by clicking here

If you do enough research, you will see that there are a lot of women online who say their tubes were once blocked, but they were able to unblock them, either with herbal remedies (herbs taken orally or used with a herbal tampon), surgery, or a combination of both. But I truly do believe it is possible for most women to unblock their tubes with herbs, exercise, and of course, eating healthy and taking care of yourself! (those other things are really important!!!)

I may be adding more to this post later but this is what I've got for now.

EB

Every woman should know this before she has a baby! Please do this simple test for Candida.... it could change your (unborn) baby's life!

This is what your blood can look like when you have candida (and  have been eating way too much sugar). Many people may not be aware of this, as I wasn't.... until I looked at my own blood under a microscope, and was utterly MORTIFIED. This is not my own blood (it's blood from a woman in a video you can see further down the page). But my blood looked so much like this, when I had been consuming a ton of sugar, and it's scary to think I had no idea just HOW BADLY that sugar was damaging my body... or could be damaging to a growing baby! I figured there are a lot of women out there who probably have no idea, either. Just think about it.... when you are pregnant, you are SHARING your blood with your baby. Do you really want blood that looks like this, to wind up in your baby's body?

The thing that's frightening about candida and too much sugar consumption, is that we can feel good despite the fact that our blood looks like this.... so many women can be completely unaware that this is what's really going on, inside their body, when they're consuming a lot of sugar! 

Years ago I spoke to a woman who said that she was sure (based on a bunch of research she had read) that Autism is caused by a woman having too much yeast in her body while she is pregnant. That always stuck with me, and recently I did some more research about it. I know it sounds crazy, but... I would have to agree, there is a lot of evidence to support the theory that there is a strong link between yeast overgrowth, and autism. And the scary part of that is, a lot of women may not even realize they have an overgrowth of yeast! What is even more scary (and disturbing) is to think of how many women will never hear this from a doctor.

I also discovered that I am one of those people who has too much yeast (which can lead to endometriosis, which I am pretty sure I had... and I know for sure both of my aunts had it... and it caused infertility in one aunt and pregnancy complications in the other). It was a real wake up call to find out that I have Candida, or Candidiasis - which I believe was the root cause of my (what I suspect was endometriosis). I did not realize I had this. I always thought I had a high tolerance for sugar, and didn't realize that the amount of refined sugar, soda and other junk I was eating could be causing such major complications with my health... or my ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby! (It's not that I always eat like this, but I definitely go through phases).

I want to make it clear that I do not think yeast is the only thing that causes Autism, or that this means women who have Autistic babies must have had yeast issues. I know that is not always the case. And I know that many women who have autistic children did nothing wrong and probably did everything they could, to have a healthy baby. Nobody is to blame. But it is frightening to think that almost no doctors ever seem to mention that there could be a connection between yeast overgrowth (which can be caused by something so simple as eating too many foods with refined flour and sugar, like boxed cereal, bagels, crackers) and autism. I am guessing the biggest reason they don't mention it is, they have never heard of the connection... and even if they did, I'm not sure they would believe it to be true.

For me, I can develop major yeast / candida problems by just eating too many of the wrong foods (that are considered normal in the American diet). Bagels, bread, pasta, cereal, crackers, soft drinks, beer (ok I know the soft drinks and beer are not exactly considered "good for you" but I'm just saying... it's easy to not realize how bad they really are, when they are so heavily advertised in the US... you'd practically think these things are good for you!). All of those things started to give me allergic reactions (namely, ITCHING) which I hated, but now I think of those allergic reactions as a blessing. There I was, trying to have a baby, while I had an underlying issue with candida, which could have caused some serious health issues for a growing fetus.

The American diet has so much more sugar in it now, than it did 40 years ago.  And the rate of Autism has risen 600 percent in the last 2 decades. Please have a look at the similarities between these charts below. I know this doesn't mean there's definitely a connection, but... it's something to think about.

Note the green line in the graph below, that marks the rise in "Sugar Consumption" since the 70's...

... and see how it compares with this chart, that marks the rise in autism since the 70's... do you see how, in both charts, there is a plateau in the 70's, but a very noticeable rise in the 80's? I don't know if this is from the PepsiCola company getting Michael Jackson on board with commercials in the 80's, or what, but.... SOMETHING's got us all consuming WAY too much sugar! And the increasing size of soft drinks that are given in fast food joints definitely does not help matters.

You can see if you have Candidiasis by doing a simple "spit test" in a glass of water (sadly, I FLUNKED this test... BIG TIME!!).

By the way I think this photo was intended to say "Saliva" (not Salvia) : D

The information below, showing how to do a candida test, can be found on this page. 

Saliva Test: A simple test to determine if candida may be a problem is to do spit your saliva into a glass of water, upon waking in the morning. Do this prior to putting anything into your mouth. You may have to work up some saliva to spit into the glass, and may do so a few times to ensure that you have enough in the glass to cover the surface of the water. Observe the reaction of the saliva in the glass every few minutes for a half hour.

If there are “strings” coming down from your saliva, if the water turned cloudy, or if it sank to the bottom – chances are that you probably have candida! If you do NOT have a candida concern, your saliva should stay at the top of the glass and will eventually dissipate after 30 minutes. Although this simple test is a relatively quick, economical way to determine if you have a yeast problem, sometimes people will test negative so it is best to pay attention to the symptoms presented and see your physician who can then perform further studies.

I would encourage any woman who is planning to have a baby, to please google "candida," "yeast," and "autism" or "autism connection." Don't just take my word for it... please look it up and draw your own conclusions.

The article below is from THIS PAGE.

The Infection/Autism Connection

Understanding fungal infections may be the key to unlocking the mystery of autism. When a woman has a systemic fungal infection (candidiasis) she can infect her baby, and neither of them may have any visible symptoms!

Babies born with yeast in their gut (inherited from mothers with candidiasis) lack the normal healthy bacteria that establish a thriving immune system.  

1. Side note, added from this page: Most people, including many physicians, do not realize that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, making a healthy gut a major focal point if you want to achieve optimal health.

A baby's blood-brain barrier isn't formed until 6 weeks after birth. Before the blood-brain barrier is formed,there is potential for fungal, bacterial and viral infections to enter your baby's brain.

A baby born without an inner ecosystem and therefore a healthy immune system is not a good candidate for vaccinations like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). Their weak immune systems cannot develop antibodies to the viruses and instead the infant actually becomes infected with the disease that the vaccination was intended to prevent!

Vaccinations were originally created for people with strong immune systems who had resistance to the pathogens that were injected into their blood stream. Newborn babies have not had time to build strong immune systems. Without a healthy inner ecosystem, the immune system will never be strong.

Most parents of autistic children tell us that their child appeared to be "normal" upon birth. They may have had some health issues like digestive disturbances, constipation, frequent colds and ear infections - yet when vaccinated (often with the MMR at 18 months) their child began to regress in their language development and social behaviors. They behavior even becomes abnormal, much like a schizophrenic. If you look at photos of these children you can see from their eyes that they appear to have an infection in their brain.

Our theory at Body Ecology (based on my research) is that upon inoculation with these three live viruses, the child who is not strong enough to be vaccinated is instead infected. The mumps virus in particular will cause the child's blood pressure to elevate. Elevated blood pressure will open the blood brain barrier. Any infections in the body can then easily enter the brain. Even though current research shows clearly that the blood-brain barrier opens when blood pressure is elevated, your child's pediatrician may not know this, since it is not taught in medical school.

While a child is supposed to develop immunity, his/her immune system is not developed because the inner ecosystem was not established and maintained at birth. The immune system is already overwhelmed dealing with an inherited fungal infection. The child has no ability to resist the assault from 3 live viruses: measles, mumps and rubella (measles has been found on the gut wall by Dr. Andrew Wakefield).

For more on autism and fetal health, read The Myths and Truths of the Mercury/Autism Connection.

Mom's Mood

Establishing a vibrant inner ecosystem is just one way an expecting mother can influence her baby's health; a mother's mood can also help or harm her unborn child.

When a mother is under a lot of stress during pregnancy, her fetus ends up with expanded adrenals and the baby is unable to handle stress. (Adrenals are glands that provide energy to every system in your body.)

When the adrenals are healthy, a person is calm and centered with excellent mental focus. Children who experienced expanded adrenal cells in the womb will be highly intelligent but will find it difficult to concentrate. These children are usually diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD.

Nutrition and lifestyle can significantly impact your health and the health of your baby. If you are planning to have a child, the Body Ecology program is your foundation for creating wellness.

Body Ecology's Pregnancy Protocol

The Body Ecology program's emphasis on establishing a healthy inner ecosystem, cleansing your body of built-up toxins, and nourishing your adrenals is an ideal way to prepare your body for pregnancy.

If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, it's not too late to start thinking about your own health!

The best things you can do to prepare for pregnancy are:

1. Start the Body Ecology program - this will help both parents build health and vitality to pass on to baby.
2. Build up a storehouse of nutrients in your cells.
3. Eliminate toxins that have been accumulating in those cells throughout your life.
4. Eliminate stress as much as possible before and during your pregnancy.

 TIP FROM ELLIE: STAY AWAY FROM EXCESSIVE SUGAR!

In the first minute of this video you will see what normal blood is supposed to look like. And then if you scroll to about the 1 minute mark you will see the blood of the woman who had blood like mine (when I was consuming excessive sugar) looked like (the pic at the top of the page). She took pycnogenol, but pycnogenol is pretty expensive, so I drank antioxidant water, which helped (both are very powerful antioxidants, and I believe the water can give you more antioxidants for less money, than pycnogenol). HOWEVER, I do want to point out that I was consuming SO MUCH sugar, no amount of pycnogenol OR antioxidant water would be able to fix the issue completely, until I eliminated the source of the problem: Getting rid of the sugar. It's not that I never have any sugar at all, but just eliminating sugary drinks, for me, was HUUGE.

 



Note from Ellie:
In addition to antioxidant water, I would highly recommend taking probiotics, which greatly helped me to clear up my athlete's foot (a sign of candida, which I didn't understand was a sign of candida!). I would also recommend coconut oil, which I've found to be more effective than anything else I've tried (and I've tried a LOT of stuff)... to kill candida. You can even use this vaginally, with probiotics, if you're getting a yeast infection. 

This is the kind of probiotic I currently take, and it's awesome: Nature's Bounty Advanced Probiotic 10 120 Capsules  





This brand of Coconut Oil has the best reviews on Amazon... over 5,000 reviews with a 5 star average. It's really inexpensive, and Organic! The kind I got was from Costco but I wish I'd gotten this kind instead, because Costco only sold a huuge tub of it, and it could go bad before I'm able to use it all!

 

 

 Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Ounce 

the 16 oz jar shown above is around $12, but for less than $5 more you can get twice as much!

Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 32 Ounce 

Please note that there are several different books you can check out on Amazon, (that have high ratings), that can help you beat Candida. You can see some of them here.

If you have any friends or family members who are trying to get pregnant, please share this information with them!

EB

PEMF and Fertilty: How PEMF may help improve the Quality of your Eggs

I have been using a PEMF device, after seeing Dr. Oz rave about how it can improve your overall health. Studies show that as we age, the mitochondria in our cells become less able to produce energy, and therefore, the quality of our eggs naturally goes down. You can read more about that in this post.

Well, guess what.... PEMF (at the right frequency) is shown to help the mitochondria produce more energy!  Maybe there's a way to "turn back the clock" after all!

I have to say, I've definitely noticed a difference in my cycle since using PEMF. My cycle seems to be longer, and the last time I got my period it even lasted a full week (as opposed to the 5 days I was getting used to). Which I guess is good and bad, right... but if it's a sign I could be turning back the clock, I'm all for it. Also, when I get my period, it's more of the "bright red blood" than the "dark blood" I was getting used to seeing.

I got the following information (in green) from this guy who has been using the The Earth Pulse Machine (which I highly recommend) for many years (you can see this same info on his videos). I'm posting one of his videos below. His testimonial is pretty amazing.

The mitochondria have 2 important roles:

1) Generating the cell's energy supply by converting oxygen to ATP, and

2) determining cell aptosis (programmed cell death related to the loss of mitochondrial integrity).

David A. Hood, York University, discovered mitochondria have resonant frequency of 10 Hz.  If stimulated at 10 Hz for several hours, the mitochondria improve their integrity, function and efficiency; thereby delaying programmed cell death. 

In 2003, NASA research proved that a 10 Hz pulsed magnetic field turned maturation genes "off" and developmental genes "on."

The EarthPulse "Recover Mode" uses a 10 Hz pulsed magnetic signal and results in extraordinary rejuvenation effects.

As a little side note...

This is the guy who developed the Earth Pulse machine (pic on the left) and wrote the info (above) on his video. According to the video below, he is in his 50's. I'd say his body looks pretty damn young for someone in his fifties.

He also says...

"I can surf more days in a row, and more hours per session, than I could be when I was 25."  (Please watch the video below... he says a lot more... he had all kinds of really bad injuries which he feels were completely healed with the Earth Pulse machine!)

What's utterly CRAZY to me is, the guy SMOKES. On his website, he says:

"I smoke a pack of natural tobacco non filtered cigarettes per day (sometimes more), and don't surf or play golf nearly as much as I'd like to. My SAO2 is 99%, I can hold my breath for 2:30 seconds, swim 50 meters under water (diving off one end) and mostly I'm chained to this desk much of the time. EarthPulse™ makes aging a cake-walk."

Imagine how much better of he would be if he just QUIT SMOKING! (Ugh - i hate cigarettes).

Here is his video (which also features his dog, who has an INCREDIBLE amount of energy for a 15 year old dog!



You can see another pretty cool testimonial from Health & Fitness Expert Ben Greenfield, HERE.



PEMF machines range in price from $150 to $20,000. I'd recommend the Earth Pulse Machine to any woman who is TTC (because it has great reviews and is affordable). But please note, you shouldn't use PEMF once you BECOME pregnant...but I would highly recommend it for improving your health beforehand.

Basically, this machine just makes your body more in line with natural frequencies produced by the earth. I know it sounds nutty but I've done a lot of research on it and I can tell you that PEMF therapy really has helped improve my overall health... which in turn, may improve fertility. You can read about it yourself... I would encourage everyone to check out the reviews for his machine.

If you want more information on the PEMF units I have, just contact me via the form on the right.

Have a great day!

EB