In the world of google, no symptom, syndrome or side-effect is left unresearched and it’s so easy to become overwhelmed by all the information out there.
Whether you are trying to work out what supplements to take, which foods to eat or how to reduce your stress, I’m sure you have found hundreds of different things to try. The problem with choice is that you feel like you need to try it all. And when researching on pregnancy, maybe the next thing you find will be *the* thing to help you get pregnant.
So where do you start?
How can you tell what’s going to work without reading every forum post and trying everything there is?
The good news is, it’s simple. Almost too simple.
Our bodies are incredible things. There are thousands upon thousands of different processes going on in our bodies every minute that we don't even have to think about. We don't have to tell our body to digest our food when we eat or increase our heart rate when we exercise. The body has the capacity to run and heal itself.
When we start to listen to our bodies, they begin to tell us everything we need to know. Those annoying symptoms are your body trying to tell you something and when you start to listen, you learn what foods, supplements and habits will lead you to a healthier life.
This is where journaling comes in.
Fertility Journaling
You can start with a simple notepad and pen. Each day write down some simples things such as:
What and when you ate. (No calorie counting or judgement, just what it was)
What and when you drank.
How your energy varied throughout the day
How your mood varied throughout the day
When and how you moved your body
Any symptoms, aches, pains etc
Where you are in your menstrual cycle
How much sleep you got
With this information, you will begin to see patterns:
You have trouble getting to sleep if you drink coffee at 5pm.
Exercising in the morning makes your feel productive all day.
You get a headache if you haven’t drunk enough water the day before.
Your mood and energy will change depending on your cycle.
You feel bloated in the afternoon after having milk on your cereal in the morning.
This information is priceless. It’s your personal instruction book to leading a healthy life.
Once you get started with this practice, you will notice your body changing as you react to what it is telling you. Finally you'll have the power to make a difference in your health.
Found This Interesting?
Nicola Salmon is a fertility coach, acupuncturist and author of the Nurture Fertility Journal. She is dedicated to supporting women struggling to get pregnant and help them make the best decisions around their health and wellbeing.
Nicola struggled with her own fertility issues and strongly believes that no-one should travel this path alone. Whatever your story, she will support you to choose what is right for you and feel safe in the knowledge that you have made the best possible decision.
To get a quick guide on fertility journaling, you can download her free 7 day nurture fertility journal here.