101 Celebrities Who Got Pregnant / Gave Birth / Became Mothers After Age 40

Who says it's just about impossible to have a baby when you're 40 or over??? 40 is the new 30, baby!

If it really was *that* hard to get pregnant after 40, I can't imagine I would have been able to find over 100 celebrities who did it! And no, I do not believe they all had to go see fertility doctors. I got pregnant at 43 and never saw a fertility doctor once. If you take good care of yourself, take the right supplements, get enough exercise, eat the right foods, keep a positive attitude, and are able to fix or rule out medical issues... you can get pregnant! And by the way there are ways you can fix a lot of infertility issues... including blocked tubes! (I'm going to do a post about that).

In the last 5 years of TTC it's always been inspiring and fun for me to see lists of well-known women who have given birth in their 40's. Many of the lists I've seen would just feature about 10 people at a time, but I wanted a more complete list (and one that was sorted by age!). I tried to include as many Over-40 Mommies as I could find. Please note that the ages and info were compiled via information from Wikipedia and other common internet resources, so... I realize a few items could stand to be corrected, but to my knowledge it's pretty accurate.

Hopefully this list will inspire you. When I look at it, I think, "Wow... that's a lot of Moms over 40!" So don't give up hope! If you think of yourself as capable, young, and healthy, and you are taking great care of yourself, eating healthy, doing what you can to improve your egg health (see related post here) and you're still menstruating... there's a good chance you can still get pregnant!

In cases where I read an article or quote by the celebrity, that they had used IVF or a surrogate, I noted it. However, I realize many more of the women on this list could have had assistance with their pregnancies. If they choose to keep it private, that's their business. But it is nice to see women who are really honest about getting help! I have also included a few mothers who have chosen to adopt (in these cases I have noted it also). Good for these women for not letting anything stop them from becoming a Mom! : )

Here's the list... the age will usually represent the woman's age (to my knowledge) when they gave birth (in cases where they weren't new mommies, this is their age when they gave birth to their youngest child), or became a mom via surrogate or adoption. In some cases (like Molly Sims) I am listing celebrities who are pregnant and due to give birth. Again - If it was a known adoption or surrogacy, I will note it next to their name / age. I listed a couple of women twice (like Halle Berry... because she gave birth twice over the age of 40) but there are still 101 different celebrities on this list.

The list just keeps growing... the last time I posted this, there were 80 celebrities. I just added 21 more. I know the list will just continue to grow, but I thnk 101 is a pretty good number for now : )

40 

 Emma Thompson - Actress, 40

Helen Hunt - Actress, 40

Jackie Brambles- TV Presenter, 40

Kelly Rutherford - Actress, 40

Gena Rowlands - Actress, 40

Jennifer Connelly - Actress, 40

Eva Mendes - Actress, 40

Jenna Fischer - Actress, 40

Yolanda Adams - Gospel singer, 40

Ulrika Jonsson - TV Presenter, 40

Katharine Ross - Actress, 40

Nia Long - Actress, 40

Audrey Hepburn - Actress, 40










Amanda Holden - Actress, TV Presenter, 40

Naomi Watts - Actress, 40            

Mary Louise Parker - Actress, 40








41

Annette Bening -Actress, 41

Thandie Newton - Actress, 41

Tina Fey - Actress and Comedienne, 41

Brooke Shields - Actress, 41

Helena Bonham Carter - Actress, 41

Alfre Woodard - Actress, 41

Carrie Grant - Vocal coach, 41

Courteney Cox - Actress, 41

Mo'Nique - Comedienne / Actress, 41

Garcelle Beauvais - Actress, 41

Halle Berry - Actress, 41

Jennifer Beals - Actress, 41

Jerry Hall - Supermodel, 41

Holly Robinson Peete - Actress, 41

Julianne Moore - Actress, 41

Kate Silverton - Journalist, 41

Pauletta Washington - Actress, 41

Madonna - Singer, 41

Mariah Carey - Singer, 41

Molly Sims - Model / Actress, 41

Mariella Frostrup - TV Presenter, 41

Meryl Streep - Actress, 41

Nicole Kidman - Actress, 41

Salma Hayek - Actress, 41

Molly Ringwald - Actress, 41

Mira Sorvino - Actress, 41

Kim Basinger - Actress, 41











Alyssa Milano - Actress, 41










Maya Rudolph - Actress, 41











42 

Celine Dion - Singer, 42

Diana Krall Musician - Singer, 42

Jane Krakowski - Actress, 42

Mariska Hargitay - Actress, 42

Laurie Brett - Actress (Scottish), 42

Uma Thurman - Actress, 42          

Rachel Zoe - Celebrity Stylist / Designer, 42

Savannah Guthrie - TV News Anchor, 42








43

Caroline Quentin - Actress, 43

Carla Bruni - Italian / French Singer / Model, 43

Amanda Peet - Actress, 43

Michelle Duggar - Reality TV Mom, 43 







44

Christie Brinkley - Supermodel, 44










Gwen Stefani - Singer, 44

Iman - Supermodel, 44

Jane Seymour - Actress, 44

Sarah Jessica Parker - Actress, 44 (Twins via surrogate - also had a previous daughter)

Caroline Rhea, Comedienne, 44                  

Lisa Hartman-Black - Actress, 44

Marcia Cross - Actress, 44

Mira Sorvino (again!) - Actress, 44

Marcia Gay Harden - Actress, 44

Ursula Andress - Actress, 44

Diana Ross - Singer, 44

Meera Syal - Actress, 44

Sharron Davies - Olympic Swimmer, 44

Sarah Palin - Politician, 44

Kim Fields - Actress, 44                    

Sian Williams - TV Presenter (BBC), 44

Lisa Loeb - Singer, 44

Julia Bradbury - British TV Presenter, 44

Kathryn Morris - Actress, 44








45 

Cherie Booth (Blair) - British Barrister (Wife of Tony Blair), 45

Mimi Rogers - Actress, 45

Nancy Wilson - Rock Musician, 45 (via surrogate)

Patricia Hodge - Actress, 45

Mary Stuart Masterson - Actress, 45

Monica Bellucci - Italian Actress and Fashion Model, 45











46

Sara Edwards - TV Presenter (BBC), 46

Deborah Thomas - Celebrity Apprentice Advisor, 46

Susan Sarandon - Actress, 46

Halle Berry - Actress, 46 (pregnant AGAIN!)

  

Viola Davis - Actress, 46 (Adopted)

Kristin Davis - Actress, 46 (Adopted)








47


Arlene Phillips - Choreographer, 47

Angela Bassett - Actress, 47

Holly Hunter - Actress, 47

Jane Kaczmarek - Actress, 47      

48

Geena Davis - Actress, 48

Kelly Preston - Actress, 48

Helen Fielding - Writer, 48

Nancy Grace - CNN Anchor, 48







49 

Laura Linney - Actress, 49

Beverly D'Angelo Actress, 49 (via IVF)










Sonia Kruger - TV Host, 49






50 

Elizabeth Edwards - Attorney, Author, Healthcare Activist, 50 (IVF)








  Janet Jackson! You go, girl. By the way, she has the same water machine I've been raving about : )

52

Cheryl Tiegs - Supermodel, 52 (surrogate)










54

Joan Lunden - Newscaster, 54 (surrogate)    











If you find any errors in this list, please feel free to email me the correct info at knockknockbaby@gmail.com (I just ask that you include a link to your reference!)  Also, if you'd like to suggest a celebrity I've left out, please let me know!

Thanks, and good luck and baby dust to all you TTC'ers!

EB

  

Reflecting on the past year...

Today is January 26th.

A year ago today, I found out I was pregnant, for the very first time in my life. I was pregnant for seven weeks, until my pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and I haven't been pregnant since (though it hasn't been for a lack of trying!)

I can't believe it's been a whole year since that happened. It seemed like, my whole life changed from that moment. Even though I didn't deliver a full term baby, I still felt like my life had changed a lot from that pregnancy. I suddenly became one of those people who had actually gotten to experience what it was like to be pregnant. I got to feel the symptoms of pregnancy. And also the many fears that go with it. In a way, it was like I actually did get to be a Mom. Even though it was short... once you realize there is a little life growing inside of you, it all becomes very real. You aren't just thinking about being a Mom anymore... you ARE one. You are now responsible for this little embryo inside of you, and you have to take good care of yourself and nurture this little life the best you can... because the plan is, it's supposed to be a part of you for the rest of your life. 

I was excited and nervous and scared and more than anything... overwhelmed, imagining how my life was going to completely change, and I was going to have to kick things into high gear to prepare for a baby. I spent the entire 4 weeks of knowing that I was pregnant, going online and looking up symptoms of pregnancy, and different health insurance plans (my husband is a contractor and makes good money but he opted for a higher hourly wage over health insurance). 

The whole thing taught me this more than anything: I am a total worrywart.  I worry about EVERYTHING. Which makes me worry even more about becoming a parent. I will be honest here. I feel like I shouldn't be admitting this "out loud" but I'm just going to do it.....

I was a pretty sad pregnant person. I am NOT saying I don't want to become pregnant again, because for whatever crazy reason, I still do. But I think I am trying to look at the bright side of the fact that it hasn't happened again, since then. I am 44 years old. And although I've been taking pretty damn good care of my health and taking CoEnzyme Q10 to improve my egg quality and taking fertility herbs and supplements galore... I realize that some things are still just not up to me, and it may never happen again. Some people try every single thing they can think of, to have a baby, and it just doesn't happen. And, unlike Giuliana Rancic, Nicole Kidman and Sarah Jessica Parker... hiring a surrogate is just not an option for me!

I think that, if you could rate a person's desire to have a baby, on a scale of 1-10... "10" being someone who wants a baby more than anything in life, and a "1" being, someone who has never wanted a kid in their entire life... I'd be at about an 8.5 right now. I'd say last month I was probably at about a 9.5... and it was making me crazy. I've gone down a slight notch, and am feeling a lot better. It's not that I don't want a kid, but I am just feeling a lot less pressure, and I'm not letting it drive me nuts. I think 8.5 is a safe place to be, because I still really want a kid, and yet I'm leaving some room for the possibility that, given my age, things could genuinely be out of my control at this point.

I remember when I was in my 30's, I had a friend who was telling me about a couple of her friends who were in their mid-40's, still trying to have a baby, and I was like, good luck with that! To me, it sounded impossible... and now here I am, in that same position. It's like, when you're young and go to a club and you see people in their late 30's and 40's there and you think, what in the world are they doing there? They must be delusional!  Don't they realize how old they are???  And now I guess karma is biting me in the ass, for thinking those things.

Yep, karma's a bitch all right.

For the entire time I was pregnant, I was kind of miserable and whiny. Though I think this was largely because I suddenly stopped ALL caffeine intake, AND exercise, at the same time. Now I didn't have either of those things I usually rely on, to pull me out of a depressed mood in the dead of winter. Then add a slightly nauseous feeling to that, and pretty bad back pain, and... I was just not a happy girl. Even though I never really had bad morning sickness, I just couldn't seem to get to a place where I felt good. There was always this kind of "bleah" taste in my mouth that just wouldn't go away. I became obsessed with food, wanting SOMETHING to just taste good again, but it never really did (I feel selfish admitting this but it's true). And I hated feeling sick and fatigued, because I'm used to feeling pretty damn good and energetic throughout the day. And then I worried a lot. I worried about having an ectopic pregnancy. I worried about health insurance. I worried about money. And most of all... I worried about how much my life was going to change. Permanently.

I feel like, I was pretty self centered while I was pregnant. I mean, on one hand, I think it was pretty good of me to give up caffeine and try to eat extra healthy and I even sang songs to the baby and talked to it. I wanted it to be happy and strong and healthy. And yet... I just hated how crappy and anxious and worried I felt! 

My mother says that there is a genetic tendency in our family, to want to be alone.... and I know I am no exception. Oh my God I can't believe I just said that out loud. For some reason I feel this crazy, huge sense of relief in saying this. I feel like someone who just came out of the closet! But there, I said it. It's true. I like being alone. Not all the time, but... I have always craved a balance of being alone (about 2/3 of the time), with being with people (about 1/3 of the time... or less). I know it sounds crazy to say that when I'm married, but... my husband is gone at work most of the day, and then when he comes home at night, I'm on my laptop and he's watching TV, and we get to connect before we go to bed. Yes, we do talk, and we do spend some quality time together. I really, really love him. 

But I also really, really like being alone. I CHERISH my "alone time" in the house while he's at work. 

I know there are some women out there who want to have a baby, so that they will have a companion, and never be alone.  Well, I am definitely not one of those people.

So the thought of having a baby around me, ALL THE TIME, like, 24 hours a day, kind of scared the crap out of me. Like I said, I feel like someone coming out of the closet, saying this. Scared as shit, but also, feeling a huge sense of relief in saying it. 

When I was about 5 weeks pregnant, I spent a couple of days with my niece - my brother's daughter - who is just about 1 year old. My brother was moving out of the state, and I was helping him get packed up and ready to leave. My niece was at that really cute baby stage, so you'd think I would have wanted to dote on her and hug her and kiss her and spend ever second I could with her, knowing I was barely going to get to see her, once they moved. After all, she is my neice, and she was moving out of the state!

But suddenly, all I could think was, "Oh my God. I'm going to have one of these.... I'm going to have a REAL BABY. And it's not like, this temporary thing. I'm going to have a baby attached to my hip, all the time, every day of the week, every week of the month, every month of the year, every year for the next 18 years." I was basically freaking out inside. My brother asked me if I could watch her for a while while they were packing. I said sure. And I took her outside and we just kind of strolled around the perimeter of the apartment complex where they lived, and... I just couldn't block those thoughts out of my head:  Oh my God, how am I going to handle this, all day, every day. When am I ever going to get time to myself again? I know... it sounds horrible to say this. But I have to be honest... that is exactly what I was thinking. The half an hour I spent watching her, by myself, felt like an eternity.

I do realize that pregnancy hormones could have had something to do with it. I had never been so freaked out and worried, about every single little thing imaginable, as when I was pregnant.  And I really do think that, if I hadn't been pregnant, I would have really cherished that time with my niece a lot more. She is sooo cute. I am convinced that, if I wasn't pregnant, I would have had that kind of "longing" feeling you get, for a baby, when you hit your 30's and your clock starts ticking and every baby looks like the cutest baby in the whole world.  It's that "dreamy" feeling you have, when you are simply wishing for something, without actually having a freaking clue of what it would really be like! It's like Mother Nature's way of tricking you into having a baby. It's only when you have one on the way that you get that actual dose of what it would really be like... like a shot in the arm. Now the reality is in your system and there's no denying it!

I know there are people out there who just plain KNOW they do not want kids. I know three people who have ALWAYS known, they do not want kids. For whatever reason, they can just feel it in their gut somehow. I almost wish I could be one of those people, because it would make my life so much simpler! I could skip the whole scenario of having to worry about a child for the rest of my life. Not just when they're a child, but even as an adult. 

When I told my aunt and one of my best friends that I was pregnant, they were so happy and excited for me. They actually screamed. And then when I told them about my miscarriage, I know they felt bad. My friend who has two kids herself told me that of all the people she knew, she thought I deserved to have a kid more than anyone. We had been roommates in our 20's, and then she moved across the country and stayed in touch over the phone over the phone and now via email and facebook. She is one of my best friends ever. And I take it as the highest compliment that she would have said that.  I've had other people tell me over the years, that they think I would make a great mom. When you get into your 30's it becomes like, the ultimate compliment, because when your clock is ticking and you find yourself really wanting a baby, it just becomes so much more valuable to hear that. 

But one more thing that my friend said was, that she knows I value my alone time, more than anyone she knows. It's a pretty funny combination of things, to hear someone say they think you deserve a kid more than anyone they know, but they also know you like being alone more than anyone they know! And having a baby will FOREVER CHANGE THAT. 

I am on day 29 of my cycle, and I know that I'm probably about to get my period any day now. I'm not feeling any particular symptoms of pregnancy - at least, not the ones I felt last year, before I found out. No lower back pain (well, not like last year), no crabbiness, no fatigue, and minimal "boob pain." I've probably been drinking too much caffeine, so maybe a pregnancy just couldn't "stick" this time. It's not like I've had a ton... never more than 100 mg per day (usually just 40). But who knows what your body really can handle when you're in your 40's and TTC. 

The day I found out I was pregnant, I told a different girl friend - who had also been trying to conceive (she already has one daughter), about my condition. I didn't tell a lot of people, but I told her because we talked so much about trying to have a baby for the last 3 years (and I knew she would be happy for me because she knew how hard I'd been trying, and she wouldn't feel jealous because she already HAD a child). We met up for coffee at Starbucks the evening I found out, and for some reason, she insisted on buying me little presents in the store. It was really cute and sweet - like her little baby shower to me, where she showered me with decaf chai and little gifts. 

For some reason she really wanted to get me the Coldplay CD they had there in the store. I thought it was kind of funny and cute and odd and insisted she didn't need to get it for me, but for some reason she really wanted to - even though she had never heard it before. Add now I am so glad she did. Because I listened to it a lot while I was pregnant, and now when I listen to it, it brings back a flood of emotion and - if you can believe it - fond memories for me. Like how every time I listen to "Home" by Phillip Phillips, I will think of the Olympics... Every time I hear "Paradise" by Coldplay, I will go back to January and February of 2012 and feel pregnant all over again. I know, I said I was miserable and scared. But I was also full of excitement and hope, and pure raw emotion. And I still have hope, that it could happen again.  And listening to this song takes me back to that moment in time, and actually makes me feel really good. 

Despite all the pain and fear that went along with being pregnant, I think the most beautiful thing was, just knowing I was able to create a life. I was finally able to do it, and do it with a man I really loved. Yes, things are rocky sometimes, but I really, really love him. And there are few more beautiful things than being able to create a child with someone you are in love with. And there was that anticipation and excitement of knowing that I was creating this brand new person, and it was my responsibility to take care of this person and help them become a good, productive member of society who helped make the world a better place. See, maybe that's why I felt so much anxiety. I take the whole parenting thing pretty seriously. I want to be an attentive, hands on parent who helps to make my child into a good, productive human being. I know that any new child brought into this world will consume a HUGE amount of natural resources - gas, electricity, water, food.... It's HUGE. So I look at it like, I'd better raise a pretty damn good person in order to justify all that consumption.

Reading this, I can see how I was giving myself so much anxiety! There is a great big part of me that is wondering if I can even handle parenthood at all, and then another part of me that wants to do everything perfectly. 

I am still hopeful that it will happen again. I think I would be a lot more prepared, and careful this time. I will expect to be worried. I'll expect to feel nauseous, and expect for nothing to taste good. I'll expect to be scared, and freaked out, and worried the entire time. But despite knowing all of this... I figure that if I still want to have a kid... I must really, genuinely want one.

Like I said, I know it's not up to me. I really do think it's up to a higher power at this point. True, I have to do a lot of the work on my end, but... after that, I need to let go, and let God.

So we'll see what happens in this next year. The main thing I need to do is keep moving forward with my life, try to work as hard as I can to be successful, and just hope and pray that everything will work out, in the grand scheme of things, the way that it is supposed to.

EB

TTC = BACK PAIN

OK so I know it's been a while since I've written anything in this blog... and I've been enjoying the time off!

Last month I was so obsessed with trying to get pregnant, that I think I burned myself out to some degree, and this month I'm taking things a lot easier. Not completely, but let's just say I'm only doing about 2/3rds of the things I was doing last month. And guess what.... my back pain has practically vanished!!!!

Last month, when I was feeling more fertile than ever, my back pain was HORRIBLE. A couple of times I wondered if it could have anything to do with all the crazy things I was doing to increase my fertility, but I'd shrug it off, thinking, why would my back pain get worse just because I'm extra fertile?  Well, I still don't totally get why, but nowI'm convinced  the two things are related. The fact that my back feels great this month... after I've finally cut back a bit on the fertility treatments... seems to be a lot more than just coincidence.

One day I was complaining about my back pain, to a friend of mine who had gone through major fertility treatments (clomid, IVF) and she told me she had terrible back pain while she was doing it! I really think there must be a connection. 

So I just wanted to write this to warn women not to get discouraged. When I have back pain, I just feel terrible, and am more prone to feeling cranky. I started worrying a lot more too, like, "How am I ever going to be able to deal with being pregnant for 9 months, and then carrying around a 7 lb, 10 lb, 15 lb, 30 + lb BABY, for the next few years, when I have this kind of miserable back pain? There was a little voice that would creep into my head saying, "um.... whyyyyyy, are you doing this, again???"  Not really the best state of mind, for someone who is trying to have a baby.

So it is a relief to realize the back pain is probably just temporary!  I can't believe how much better I feel, this month, now that my fertility isn't as jacked up as it was last month. I am still taking lots of vitamin D (over 6,000 IU/day) and that does seem to help my lower back (whereas last month it didn't seem to help like it usually does!)

Things I stopped doing this month, that I did last month:

-Eating Yams (I haven't had a single one this cycle)

-Drinking He Shou Wu

-Eating Pumpkin Seeds (I ran out, and just never got more)

-Taking extra Oil of evening primrose (I still take it, but not as much)

-... and I'm only eating about half the raw vegetables, that I did last month. Mostly due to laziness. 

I don't have nearly as many "pangs" in my ovaries, this month, as I did last month. And though I did feel miettelschmerz, a couple of times, it wasn't nearly like it was last month. Last month was like fireworks!

I am still taking Fertil Plus, though I could definitely be better about taking it at the right time of day. I'm also taking Fertile CM, garlic, and Coenzyme Q10, in addition to the Visalus Vi-Pak.

I haven't taken a single ovulation test this month either. It was partly because I ran out of them, but I was just too tired to order more. On the day I had the bladder infection, I saw some test strips on sale at the store and did get them, but never used them. 

Like I said, I am enjoying taking a break right now. I'm not giving up, I'm just not going nuts this month. I'm going to keep eat well and do what I can to just be healthy, and see what happens. 

EB

------------UPDATE 10/11/14: For about 3 days straight, my back was KILLING me, and I realized it was around the time I was ovulating. I have been taking Astragalus and CoEnzyme Q10 and exercising, and seriously, I had so much cervical mucus, it felt like I peed in my pants. I also felt pangs in my ovaries, which i hadn't in a long time. My hair is getting oilier. And I can't help thinking all this is a sign that I am in "Ovulation overload" of some sort. I keep thinking of my friend who agreed, when she was doing fertility treatments her back got really sore, and so did mine about a year ago when I was kind of overdoing it on the fertility treatments. For several reasons I am taking a break on actively trying to conceive right now, but I'm trying to preserve the quality of my eggs just in case (by taking the CoEnzyme Q10 and Astragalus). I like to think it's working!!!

How to get rid of a UTI / Bladder Infection... I can't believe this actually WORKED!!!

Note: this post gets kind of long so if you want the nut nut on what worked for me, scroll all the way down for the gist... 6 things that REALLY DO WORK... it will be highlighted in yellow... "How to Prevent ant Treat UTIs... 6 critical things to remember."  NUMBER SIX is the one thing that you probably have never even heard before, that seemed to work like magic for me!!!  Please note that if you have a kidney infection or leave your UTI untreated for too long, it could become dangerous. So, while this stuff worked great for me (someone who has had them pretty regularly for over 20 years), please remember I'm not a doctor and am not trying to dispense medical advice.  If you think you have a serious health condition, please seek medical attention immediately. And there's my official CMA. 
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Yesterday I woke up with a horrible UTI. Ugh.

It was one of those things where, I could kind of feel something coming on the night before, but it just felt like dryness and a certain amount of irritation from having more sex than usual.  It didn’t occur to me that I could wind up with a full blown bladder infection.  It’s been over a year since I had a bladder infection, so I managed to forget how horrible they are, and forget about the fact that you have to NIP THEM IN THE BUD ASAP!

My hubby had the day off on Friday and we ended up having sex twice that morning. The second time we did it, I just assumed that because we’d just had sex a few hours earlier, and since I still hadn’t gotten out of bed, then I must still be sufficiently lubricated.

WRONG!!!  

Well, the combination of me not being lubricated enough, not drinking enough water that week, my husband having an extra hard you-know-what (so there was more friction than usual... especially since it had been about a week since we had sex), me NOT going to pee right after sex, then lying there with my heated blanket on high for a few hours, eating a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast that morning, and drinking WAY too many sugary drinks (large bottle of kool aid and an extra large Sprite from McDonalds) turned out to be the perfect recipe for a full blown Urinary Tract Infection!

I used to get UTI’s all the time in my 20’s and 30’s.  They are just horrible. I feel like it totally immobilizes me and I can’t think about anything else until I can get relief.  I think part of the reason I get them more often than regular people is because I took so many antibiotics for acne, and also took Accutane (which dries up your mucus membranes). Some people try to say that your body goes back to normal after you finish Accutane but that is not the case for a lot of people (if you don't believe me, google "Accutane" and "side effects" and just read the comments on the message boards). 

I hate UTI’s with a passion, particularly since I seem to be cursed with them. I will never forget the day I got the worst one, I was at work in an administrative position and had to leave early. I felt like I was going to have to go to the emergency room, I was hot and sweaty and had the chills. It was the worst one EVER. I think I got it because the guy I was with just took Viagra (he was  harder than usual…. Which fuels my theory that we chicks need to be extra cautious of an extra hard dick, and take extra precautionary measures NOT to get an infection later!!!).  There was another time I went to a clinic for antibiotics and because I hadn’t filled out the right paperwork ahead of time, they said I didn’t qualify for the low-cost program and I had to pay over $500 or they would ruin my credit!!! I couldn’t believe it. I was so mad, but I paid it.

Anyway, yesterday when I realized I was dealing with a UTI, I scrounged around for antibiotics in my medicine cabinet. I seem to get them at least once a year, so I sometimes have an extra pill or two on hand. Yes, I know, I shouldn’t have any “extras” because you’re supposed to take every pill, but I don’t because a) I don’t like to take too many pills, and b) I feel like I need to save one or two for when I need them in case of an emergency like this, as I would literally beg, borrow and steal for them on a day when there is no clinic open and you can't get it over the counter. I did manage to find an old bottle of “Cippro” but it was slightly expired. So I took the two that were in there and hoped for the best.

      The Cippro didn’t seem to do anything, so I went to the drugstore looking for  Cystex, which is usually pretty awesome. Seriously, I was so happy when they stared selling it in stores. It is the closest thing to antibiotics, because it helps control the infection, whereas AZO  and Uristat only help with the pain till you can get to the doctor (I still love Azo though, because it has always worked fast... so I could GET to the doctor).

I did get AZO because Safeway was the first place I went looking for over-the-counter meds (they didn’t have Cystex), and it was on sale… just $3.49 (normally around $7).  I took two in the car, had lunch, then went to Rite Aid.  I had to pee so the first thing I did was go to the bathroom. And there, I discovered.... a huge glob of egg white cervical mucus on the toilet paper. Great. My body is trying to ovulate while my lady parts are totally out of commission.

I bought the Cystex, took two, went home, and took a hot bath. For some reason it didn’t seem to help much, I still felt horrible.

So I took two more of each. Two more Cystex and two more AZO. Oh yeah, and I’d also taken odorless garlic pills, hoping that would help fight the infection.

Still felt like crap.

A very dear friend texted me to just say hi and see how my day was going. I told her about my condition, and how I felt like I was stuck in bed all day and didn’t want to move, or even have my laptop on my lap because it felt uncomfortable. She is so sweet, she immediately wanted to help. She even offered to run to the drugstore to get some meds for me, and/or go to the health foods store in our neighborhood, to talk to the guy who runs the place, since he knows a lot about every type of health condition.

She knows that I have been trying to get pregnant, and I also told her that I’m ovulating. She wanted to ask the Health Food Store Guy about his recommendation for people who are TTC, who have a bladder infection.

Honestly, I didn’t really think he was going to have a good solution for me. I thought, he’s probably going to tell me to do some crazy thing that’s going to cost way too much money and I’m going to have to buy way too many full price products and end up spending like $60, when it would cost me $10 to visit the local clinic on Monday when they open (well… if I could hold out that long).

When you are suffering with a UTI, you don't want to screw around with stuff that isn't proven to work. When you have a UTI, you are like someone with a house on fire. You're in a state of emergency, and having someone suggest something that even remotely sounds "homeopathic" would be like someone handing you a squirt gun when your house is going up on flames. So, hearing any kind of advice that sounds like it may not work, is just a distraction, and therefore, ANNOYING. 

But still, my dear friend called the guy at the health food store, then called me back, and told me that he said I should take probiotics, and do a mega dose of at least 50 BILLION beneficial flora.

To be honest I really didn’t think it sounded like it would work. I mean, if that would actually work, then wouldn’t most of us women who get these damn recurrences, have heard about this cure by now? I just read that Urinary Tract Infections are responsible for nearly 8.3 million doctor visits every year, and they’re the 2^nd most common type of infection in the human body. In the United States alone, UTIs generate SIX BILLION DOLLARS in direct healthcare costs. 

My friend happened to have some probiotics in her fridge (I learned that you are supposed to keep them refrigerated!).  I told her I had a bottle of them, which I’d gotten for free a few years ago through a Walgreen’s or CVS rebate. I ended up using it to try to treat a yeast infection I got in October when we were having a heatwave, and it actually did work (I did use some yeast infection cream too... but it was at least 5 years old so I wasn't sure if it was still good). It seemed to take days for it to subside. It’s funny, I was so anxious for it to go away, I ended up scheduling an appt. to go to a clinic, but by the time I got there, they told me it had already cleared up. So I was bummed about wasting the time, but glad I’d bought that bottle of probiotics! It just never would occur to me that it could work on a UTI!

 

Anyway, I had 6 probiotics pills left. The brand was Ultimate Flora .They were 15 billion each, and they were a few months past the exiration date, so I took all of them. Then my friend brought over her bottle and she gave me a bunch of hers, since hers weren’t expired and had also been refrigerated.  Her pills were 2 billion each. I took about a dozen with a slice of apple, planning to take more later. I also put a few on the side to stick them “up there” for good measure.

I went to Walgreens to look for more probiotics, and got the Ultimate Flora Critical Care Capsules with 50 Billion Flora (there were a few different types). Also, it has 10 probiotic strains, and this particular type has a “delayed release” so that it doesn’t all get burned up by your stomach acids, like many probiotics do.

I took two capsules last night, and inserted one vaginally for good measure. When I went to pee, I did not see anything that looked like a capsule come out, so I'm assuming it did dissolve. The next time(s) I did this, I opened the capsule and inserted both halves, hoping it would dissolve faster / easier. 

Whatever the case...

I feel GREAT today. UTI? What UTI??? 

It was like it had never even happened. This was the first time in my entire life (and in probably about 40 UTI's) that I haven't had to take antibiotics to completely get rid of it!!!

It’s true, I did also consume about half a gallon of water yesterday. And yes, I did take Cystex and AZO and garlic and some Cippro (that didn't seem to do ANYTHING yesterday so it really should have been tossed). But I really can’t help thinking it was the FLORA, more than anything, that got me back in the normal position I am in now, because the Cystex and AZO just didn't seem to be kicking in like they normally do. The garlic didn't seem to be doing anything. And normally, drinking more water doesn't exactly take the UTI away. I am SO grateful to my friend for telling me about this!!! Now I just want to spread the word and pay it forward!

I am the kind of person who researches all kinds of DIY approaches, at-home remedies and the like, and had never seen anyone mention using probiotics for a UTI (but when you think about it, it makes sense... why not get the GOOD bacteria to kick the bad bacteria's butt??).  So that inspired me to write this post. It is just insane how many things there are, that actually WORK, but people just don’t  know about them because everybody keeps repeating the same old crap that doesn’t work. Like cranberry juice.

You know how much cranberry juice I’ve had after a UTI kicks in? Way too much. It doesn’t work for me at ALL. At least, not the regular cranberry juice. The excess sugar in the juice makes the problem WORSE. Cranberry pills do offer some relief (I’ve heard that something about the cranberry juice changes the bacteria’s texture, so it doesn’t have the “barbs” – like barbed wire – that makes it stick to the inside of your urinary tract). But regular cranberry juice? The thing that everybody says to drink when you have a UTI?? It’s totally bogus. Well, at least it doesn't work for someone like me, who usually needs something super strong to clear it up.

If you ever find yourself with a UTI, ladies, PLEASE… try Probiotics... I can't believe how well this actually worked!!! You should be able to get them in any drugstore or any health food store.  The guy at the health food store who said I should take 50 billion flora, was going to also recommend some other stuff for me to take, if I came down in person, but just the probiotic recommendation alone, seemed to do the trick. I am really grateful to my friend for asking him about it, and to him for telling her about it!!!

The type I took is pictured here on the left. You can get different varieties of "Ultimate Flora" at the drugstore, and probiotics are also available at health food stores. I just like this one because it was convenient....they managed to stuff 50 billion probiotics into ONE PILL! You can probably take just about any brand, just make sure it's not expired, that it's been kept cool, and take enough to equal 50 billion flora / live cultures.

Of course, now that I've HEARD of using probiotics to treat a UTI, I was able to do a related google search and found that there have been studies that show probiotics do help prevent a UTI, but that info never seemed to come up without actually inserting the word "probiotic" into the google search... so not many people would ever FIND that info "by chance."

You can read some relevant articles below. FYI in the studies, the women took probiotics on a regular basis, but I didn't have to do that. Maybe one day I will do that but honestly I'm taking so many supplements and vitamins right now, I can't imagine having to add any more pills... they wouldn't even fit into my huge pill minder!!! So for anyone who is more interested in a quick fix and is not really concerned with prevention... I can vouch that taking 50 billion at a time did seem to work. Again... I did take Cystex, but would not be surprised if the Probiotics would have just worked on their own.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/260450-how-can-i-cure-my-uti-without-antibiotics/

http://www.thirdage.com/news/probiotics-may-help-treat-uti-study-says_04-19-2011

So here is the gist of 
How to Prevent and Treat UTIs... 6 critical things to remember!  (Including one thing you probably have never even heard of before... that DID THE TRICK!!!)

1) PEE RIGHT AFTER SEX. I cannot stress this enough. It really does work, like magic. It sounds so simple but it ALWAYS works. I had a roommate in my 20's who told me to do this and I didn't listen because it sounded too simple to work. I also think I had some kind of mental block against it because to me, Pee was equivalent to "Dirty"... so how could it actually "clean out" the bad stuff? But I later realized she was totally right. Urine is STERILE.... and it actually has antibodies in it. And every single time I've had a UTI, I realized, I hadn't peed right after sex, and have never ever had one when I did. The key is, to make sure you drink lots of water BEFORE sex, so you feel like you HAVE to pee after (otherwise it's way too easy to fall asleep)! It's also important to stay well hydrated thoughout the day (it helps to have a water bottle you LIKE to drink out of, that doesn't leak and is easy to carry everywhere).

Of course, if you are TTC and don't want to pee after sex, I get that... that is part of the reason why I didn't pee after sex this time around. I realized, I could have used a diaphragm or Instead cup (Softcup) to hold the sperm in while I went to pee, but if you do this, you have to make sure it's "shoved up there high enough," because otherwise it can push down on your urethra so it will actually be harder to pee (FYI this is not usually an issue with a diaphragm but with the Softcup it kind of is). I think I may have even heard once, that using a Softcup can actually cause a UTI in some cases, but that has never happened to me, and... what the hell, if you've already got one, how much worse can it get? (Why do those sound like famous last words...).  Anyway... all this is a good enough reason to drink lots of water and limit your caffeine intake.

Even just a little urine flow can help clean out the bad bacteria that causes a UTI. And don't make the mistake of thinking that just because it's winter time or because it's cold out, and you don't FEEL dehydrated, that you aren't (especially if you have a heated blanket on yourself like I did... duh!!). Also, it doesn't hurt to make sure both you and your man are nice and showered, though you can still get a UTI even if you both just got out of the shower!

2) Use enough lubrication during sex.  Astroglide Natural is the bomb. It's probably better to avoid lubricants that have "heat inducing" qualities (but that's just a guess). As a little side note, taking "FertileCM" really does seem to help increase the quantity and quality of my cervical mucous, so if you tend to be pretty dry down there, this could be a great supplement to take. 

3)  CYSTEX is THE BEST over the counter medication you can buy (in my opinion... the opinion of someone who's had at least 40 UTI's in her entire lifetime). It usually fights off the infection AND the pain, while AZO and Uristat just fight the pain (and make your pee turn bright orange like something you'd dip an easter egg in). AZO and Uristat can help with the pain temporarily, but they will NOT do anything to help clear up the infection. It's just like putting a band aid on a really bad wound. When you really need relief you'll take any kind of help but just remember AZO and Uristat are very temporary.

4) AVOID CAFFEINE, SUGAR, AND CARBS (which turn into sugar).

5) DRINK LOTS OF WATER... It MUST be filtered and unchlorinated, otherwise it will make your problem worse.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SPECIAL WATER I DRINK. I'm not saying you HAVE to get this water to get rid of a UTI. You don't. If regular filtered water is all you can afford, that's fine. But this water I drink now is beneficial for SO many reasons, AND IT'S CHEAP TO MAKE (you can make it for less than $1 per gallon) and it helps women with so many issues. Many people who drink this water have reported that they no longer get chronic UTIs or yeast infections after drinking this water, and I have to say, I haven't had a single UTI since I've been drinking it for the last nine months. It is able to hydrate the body like nothing else can.  I also believe it could potentially help women with endometriosis because I know Pycnogenol helps women with that, and this water is a powerful antioxidant, like pycnogenol (maybe even stronger). A friend of mine swears she reversed menopause by 5 years after drinking it so I can't recommend it enough. I'm going to write another post about it when I have time.

I do want to emphasize that part of the reason why I am such a strong proponent of this water is, I no longer trust bottled water OR tap water. CLICK HERE to see why. There is a brand of Lady Lee bottled water that showed 91 parts per billion of trihalomethanes. This is INSANE (21 parts per billion can cause a 50% increased risk of death from bladder cancer). Most bottled water is oxidizing (aging to the body) INCLUDING Essentia and Smart Water. The water I recommend is highly alkaline, full of antioxidants and electrolytes, and cheaper than just about any bottled water you can buy, including home delivered water. The water I drink now has such a high level of antioxidants in it, they actually last for two days. There is no other water that comes close to this.

I have also heard that trihalomethanes, which are a chlorine byproduct, can seriously make it harder for a woman to get pregnant. And trihalomethanes are in MOST water supplies in the country. You can learn more about trihalomethanes HERE.

6) TAKE PROBIOTICS. This is IMPORTANT. Fifty billion of them (live cultures in capsules). And stick a pill or two "up there" for good measure. I recommend the "Ultimate Flora" brand because that's what I used, but I'm sure just about any other type would work. Keep it in the refrigerator and it will last much longer. I still can't believe how well this worked for me! When you see how well it works for you, please spread the word.  One day maybe we can actually get rid of the stupid rumor that regular cranberry juice actually works!


-Ellebelle

PS... UPDATE: Two weeks later... I can confirm that my UTI really did clear up by taking Probiotics and Cystex, without having to go to the doctor. For the first time in my life (and I'm talking about 20 years of suffering with UTIs) I did not have to go get antibiotics, woohoo! I will tell you that I did end up taking a few more Cystex (you're supposed to take 2 at a time, so I probably took 8 more... 4 doses). I did this because I could still feel a slightly raw feeling down there, it's was like, an elevated temperature thing that made me a little worried it could come back full force. So I took the Cystex and continued to also take the Ultimate Flora, orally and also used a pill vaginally about 4 different times... and the UTI really did clear up completely. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!

Please tell your girlfriends about Probiotics. They are way better for your body, than taking antibiotics!!!

UPDATE 10/11/14: I also recommend THIS BRAND of probiotics (Nature's Bounty) also. It has 20 billion cultures. I've been taking it for over a year and love it. Please note that they do sell this brand (but in a lower dose) at most drugstores like Walgreens or Rite Aid or CVS (I get the one with 20 Billion at Costco). A common one I've seen is labeled as Acidophilus and has about 100 million flora. So you'd have to take a lot to get the equivalent of 50 billion strains. If you're at a drugstore and you're having an emergency, I'd recommend you look for the Ultimate Flora brand.

I'm not a doctor but this is the stuff that REALLY WORKED FOR ME. I really hope it will work for you too! Again, please pass this info on to other women you think it could help!!  

EB

Back to the Drawing Board... Cycle day 1

Started my period yesterday. Yes, Aunty Flo came knocking loudly on my door around noon. I dared her to show up by wearing brand new, light grey t-shirt colored undies (ok it's true they were protected with a liner). But she took me up on my challenge all right. This month was the first time in 3 months, that I did not get it on the 27th. But I guess it made sense that I'd get it at least 2 days later, given the fact that I ovulated so late in this cycle (on day 17).

At least it's good to know that Fertil Plus really does keep my cycle pretty regular! (Btw my New Year's Resolution is to be a lot better about using my checklist, religiously, to make sure I take it at the right time, 3 times per day... 8am, 3pm, and 10pm). The month I did get pregnant, I had alarms set up to remind me to take it at the same time every day, but lately I've been bad about it. So maybe there really was something to it.

On one hand I am disappointed that I didn't get pregnant this time, and can't help wondering if maybe I'm just not meant to have children. I'm starting to wonder if getting pregnant might be one of those things that will happen for me only when I don't really care if it happens or not. You hear about that kind of thing happening all the time. Women decide to finally stop trying and BAM! They're knocked up. But it's frustrating that it seems to work that way. Can't I just admit that I really do want to have a baby?

It's kind of like being in a relationship with someone, and wanting that person too much. It's only when you truly don't care, that they start calling you like crazy and can't get enough of you. Maybe babies are just like that. Maybe we're not supposed to want them in some crazed, possessive sort of way, like that's just bad karma. We're just supposed to be doing our thing, being busy with our lives and enjoying our lives. And then the babies are supposed to show up, just like men do, ceremoniously crashing into our lives when we could care less, as if it's some kind of big test of God, to see just how much we can really handle at once.

Well, I'm not going to stop trying (and I'm getting to the point where my FertilPlus is about to run out so I am going to have to order more soon). My guess is that I was just under way, way too much pressure this month, to be able to conceive.

Reasons I think I didn't conceive this month include:

-Putting myself (and my husband) under WAY too much pressure!

-Getting into a pretty big fight with the hubby, about 5 days after I felt like I'd gotten pregnant. If that didn't drive my cortisol levels up to the roof, I don't know what could. No, the fight wasn't pregnancy related. We don't fight all the time, but when we do, it is not pretty. Luckily we made up and he was very apologetic, but sadly I no longer felt pregnant the day after the fight.

-Maybe the timing was just wrong and I didn't get pregnant after all, and the "pregnant feeling" was just caused by the progesterone cream. Although I did think we had the timing right (we did it about 10 hours after I took a VERY positive ovulation test, and had been testing every 12 hours), I am wondering if maybe it was just too late. This cycle I need to be sure we do it at night, more often. It probably would have been better if we'd done it the night before!

-Maybe it was just a bad egg or the wrong sperm fertilized my egg. I did kind of wonder, as I was practically standing on my head in order to help my hubby's sperm reach my egg(s): "Could I be making it easier for the wrong sperm to get to the egg?"  What I was doing was, after all, kind of going against Darwin's theory. You see YouTube videos of magnified sperm under a microscope, and you can't help thinking... ok, clearly there are some sperm that are just supposed to be left behind. Some are swimming around in circles, crazed, dazed, confused, directionless.  But being in the vertical position that I was... I couldn't help wonder if maybe I was encouraging some of those spermies that just... weren't... right.... to win the big Egg Marathon.

So if the reason I didn't get pregnant this time around, is because the egg/sperm/zygote/blastocyst just wasn't as strong as it needed to be... I want to thank God for the intervention, because getting a monthly period is like a vacation to Cabo, compared to what it is like to go through a miscarriage.

The other thing I am grateful for, is that I didn't wind up with an ectopic pregnancy. Which I was slightly concerned about, since I could swear I was ovulating from my right side for the first time that I can ever remember. In 2009 I had an HSG test which showed that my right tube is slightly blocked. Or at least, it took a lot longer for the dye to go through it, than it did for the dye to go through the left tube.  I really felt like I was ovulating from both sides. There were strong pangs going off from the left and the right, for over a week.

So the whole time, I was a little worried that I could wind up with an ectopic pregnancy. I know this will sound completely insane, but there was even a day (after I thought I'd conceived) when I took about 3x my usual dose of oil of evening primrose, and then went jogging, in an effort to somehow try to help the blastocyst or zygote keep moving along the tube. It was hard for me not to picture it getting stuck in the tube! Who knows, maybe I caused it to just keep on sliding and never stick in my uterus at all.

See, THIS is why it's probably better for people like me, to get pregnant by accident, when you're not even thinking about it. Because thinking about it all the time, every day, will make you insane and do crazy things that you probably shouldn't.

Anyway, my plan for this month is to keep good track of what I'm doing, get enough rest, keep a checklist of everything I'm supposed to be doing (including taking supplements at the right time, drinking lots of water). And we'll see what happens from there!

As usual... will post my progress as I go along!

EB

And the pregnancy test reveals...

... a BFN!

Yep.  I should have known better than to take a test on Christmas. I just couldn't seem to help myself, I guess largely because I knew I was going to be tempted all day, so I decided to just get it over with. At this point I'm 11 days past ovulation. I do realize there is a chance I could still test positive within 4 or 5 days but I'm not going to put too many eggs into that basket. I checked that test strip about 3 times and there was not even the faintest sign of a positive line. True, it was a test strip that I'd cut open over 2 weeks ago so maybe it wasn't good anymore, but... I had it all wrapped up, with the silica gel packet still inside, so I would think it would still be good.

As much as I was feeling and seeing weird symptoms, I have not been feeling fatigue.  Though... ok I have to say, I don't think I really felt that much fatigue the first time I was pregnant. But I do remember my back hurting quite a bit. And this time, the back pain is even worse.

I really do feel like I have been showing pregnancy symptoms, though. It's weird. Even the amount of discharges that I've been experiencing. It's been a lot, and that's not normally the case (though it was while I was pregnant). I remember, when I was pregnant before, I sometimes felt like I had my period, because I was wet down there so much of the time. So I'm not sure what is going on, or what happened, but... all I can do is try to look at the positive side of things.

On the positive side, I feel like I can probably go ahead and have a cup of decaf coffee if I want. And I can breathe a sigh of relief that I have a little more time to secure a full time job without having to worry about my employer and co-workers (rightfully) accusing me, 4 months down the road, of getting a job, right after I got pregnant, knowing I was pregnant and would have to take maternity leave.

It's hard not to go over in my mind, all the things that I could have done differently. If I hadn't gotten into that argument with my husband the evening before I ovulated, we could have had sex the next morning and I would have gotten the timing just right. Or, if I had been pregnant, maybe if I hadn't been under so much stress about 5 days ago, maybe the pregnancy would have "stuck." Or if maybe I hadn't had that glass of wine at Christmas Eve dinner. Or maybe if I hadn't talking about every single little thing as it happened, giving the blogger play by play. Or maybe if I could just take a chill pill and stop worrying about every little thing so much! One thing I definitely know for sure. A lot of my worry is money-related, so I need to figure out a way to fix that.

I definitely do plan to keep trying, and will be increasing my dosage of CoEnzyme Q10 to try to make sure my eggs are as healthy as they can be. I realized I was only taking about 200 mg per day, but I really could and probably should have been taking 400-600mg.

I spent the morning eating junk food, sweet bread rolls with lots of butter, watching the Disney Christmas Parade and throwing myself a little pity party while my husband is still asleep in bed. I guess I had to just get it out of my system.

Now I'm going to go get on my exercise bike and listen to Madonna and get pumped up to start all over again. If this cycle is like the last 3 I will be getting my period on the 27th. If for some reason that's not the case, I'll do another post!

EB