Planning @ MindSay

Men don't usually scour pre-pregnancy books, stocking up on all the right vitamins and minerals, and planning against the hidden dangers that could harm their baby-to-be. But - though in a couple trying to get pregnant the attention tends to be focused on the woman - there is a lot you can do to ensure a healthy pregnancy for your wife and become a proud dad.

Future dads, who are trying to conceive, would do well to avoid the following things:

• Hot water baths: Heat around the testicles may affect a man's ability to conceive. One reason why men have testicles that hang outside the body is that it makes them cooler and improves their capacity to produce healthy sperm. Soaking in a hot bath or spa will therefore adversely affect your sperm production. Besides, it will also harm immature sperm before it develops. Thus, bathing in hot water today may end up reducing the fertility of your sperm up to three months down the line.

• Warm underwear: Warm or tight underwear can also affect your sperm production by raising the temperature in the groin area.

• Too much cycling: If you are an enthusiastic cyclist who cycles daily, you may run the risk of reducing your sperm count. This is because of the overheating of the testicles caused by the fact they remain squeezed between the legs and the seat of the cycle.

• Sex, in case of yeast infection: If you suffer from a yeast infection, avoid having sex with your spouse. You run the risk of infecting your spouse, who can pass the infection back to you and so on. A yeast infection will generally make intercourse less pleasant, and therefore reduce the number of times you have sex; this could indirectly affect your chances of conception. Some also believe that the creams or suppositories used to treat yeast infections may interfere with successful conception.

If you are about to start a family with your spouse, you will often hear about "family planning". But what really does it mean? Family planning is often understood as prevention of pregnancy.

The presence of early pregnancy symptoms is an indication that your spouse needs to undergo a pregnancy test. If positive, it means your spouse is on her way to give birth to your baby.

However, pregnancy-divided into three trimesters-remains a mysterious period for most women. And as for the men, most expectant dads go through these months without a slightest clue as to what is expected of them. Here is a pregnancy calendar to prepare you on what to expect from your spouse and how best to help her.

Pregnancy Calendar: First Trimester

What your spouse will experience:

The sudden hormonal rush during this phase may lead to a host of uncomfortable symptoms and sensations for your spouse. Nausea (commonly referred to as morning sickness) and an aversion for certain foods items may become apparent. Weakness or fatigue is another common symptom at this stage.

What you can do:

As the full import of the pregnancy starts to sink in, you can discuss the baby with your spouse. You could also accompany her during her visits to the obstetrician. Make use of this relatively relaxed period by spending quality time together, at home and outside.

Pregnancy Calendar: Second Trimester

What your spouse will experience:

The initial distressing symptoms such as nausea will now subside. However, your spouse's belly will continue to expand throughout this stage. This will restrict her movements considerably. Bleeding from the nose and gums, heartburn, indigestion, and the appearance of varicose veins or hemorrhoids are the other symptoms that she will have to bear with.

What you can do:

Her pregnancy will increasingly impede your spouse's capacity to live a normal life. You can help by taking over at least some of her domestic duties. This is also a good time to help her plan her pregnancy in detail.

Pregnancy Calendar: Third Trimester

What your spouse will experience:

The developing baby will make further demands on your spouse's body: her weight will continue to increase and may lead to back and hip pain. Swellings on the ankles and face may also be present. Besides, even mild exertion during this period may leave her gasping for breath.

What you can do:

In this final stage of pregnancy, your spouse may become increasingly housebound. Try to find ways to make her feel comfortable and keep her spirits high-an occasional gentle massage will be highly appreciated. This is also the time to finalize arrangements for the birth of your baby.

If you are about to start a family with your spouse, you will often hear about "family planning". But what really does it mean? Family planning is often understood as prevention of pregnancy. However, it is more than just that.

What Family Planning Really Means

Family planning refers to:

• Deciding how many children you will have

• Planning when to have a child and the time interval between children

• Selecting suitable birth control methods to prevent pregnancy

What Family Planning Does NOT Mean

Due to lack of information on family planning, many couples may make decisions that can haunt them for life. Here is what you should know about family planning:

Family Planning is NOT a one-man show

Family planning is a joint decision between the husband and wife. It is important to make informed decisions based on your as well as your spouse's needs. For this, couples should work toward developing an open communication channel between both partners with consideration for each other's feelings and desires.

• Talk about your desires and aspirations.

• Listen to your partner to understand his or her needs.

• Build trust by respecting your partner's feelings and accepting differences in opinion.

It is also important to speak to a family planning counselor who can guide you and your spouse through the various birth control options available and help you evaluate the pros and cons of each.

Family planning decisions are NOT universal

Each couple is different and has different needs. What may be right for you may not be right for another couple. Your family planning decisions may depend on several factors, including personal finances, health issues, and the time you and your spouse can devote for your future children.

Family planning is NOT only about abstinence

One reason many couples opt out of family planning is because they believe it involves refraining from sex. While abstinence is one of the best birth control methods, there are many other options that you can use and still enjoy a satisfying sex life.

Here are some common birth control methods and their effectiveness (according to the Family Planning Council).

• Condoms (for males and females) : 86% – 97% for male condoms / 79% – 95% for female condoms

• Diaphragm : 80% – 94% during first year of use

• Emergency contraceptive pills : 74% – 89%

• Injections (Depo-Provera) : 99%

• Oral contraceptive pills : 95% – 99%

• Contraceptive implants (Implanon) : 95%

• Contraceptive rings (NuvaRing) : 99%

• Contraceptive patches (Ortho Evra) : 95% – 99%

• Intrauterine devices : 98% – 99%

• Cervical caps : 60% – 90%

• Female sterilization : 99%

• Vasectomy (male sterilization) : 99%

• Synthetic hormones (Norplant) : 95% – 99%

• Vaginal spermicides : 50% – 95%

• Withdrawal : 4% – 19%


Remember, each of the above birth control methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the methods are irreversible and may prevent pregnancy forever. Carefully research your options well and speak to a medical expert before you make the final decision.

Dixie currently feels:

 Neutral

 

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Well, today wasn't really a great day to blog about.

 

We had a "life skills" day - and all we did was go over interview techniques and started putting together a curriculum vitae.

 

It's basically just made me realise how pointless my life really is.

How unorganised I seem to be.

 

For the next 5-6 years, at any rate, I have plans...

College and university - but after that I'll be thrown out into the big scary world with a bag full of GCSEs, a handful of A-levels and a pocketful of degrees - and frig all to do with them.

 

 

 

After school I sat down my aisle with Claire - and we laughed over every little thing we seemed to be talking about.

I can't even remember what we WERE talking about.

 

 

We got our school photo order forms today.

There's a big picture of all the year 11s on the noticeboard outside Science block - and we all had a look at it today.

 

I want one - despite hating 99% of my year group, I'd still like to have one - you know?

It's summat to look back on, at any rate.

 

I'm stood right at the back, because I'm short - and Sarah behind me was making me laugh as the camera went off, so I look proper cheesy.

 

Here's the sample I got with the order form, I hope it scanned well enough. It's very wonky:

 

 

 

Even so.

 

I came home, and played a good solid hour and a half of GH3 - online with Stephen.

 

It's odd, he was more impressed with me getting 100% on a Medium song than he was with me getting 98% on an Expert song...

 

 

Oh, and in another note, on the community my groupies were:

 

 

It shan't be long until I have Satan + 6000. :)

Tee hee, I LOVE matching numbers.

 

 

Then we talked over MSN, discussing possible ideas for my Guitar Hero fan fiction - Stephen's great at puns, so we were thinking up witty chapter names by making jokes on band names and album titles.

 

 

I have no idea why "waiting for winter" has come up as a suggested tag - I was so hot on the way home.

I came home and took all my uniform off, and sat in the bathroom in my underwear - with my back to the cold tiles, trying to cool down.

 

It's freezing now though - no idea why.

 

 

Sigh, tomorrow I have textiles, and I have to face the stupid cow.

And after what happened on Monday, I really don't want to...

 

 

I was at a snapping point earlier - thinking about Emily.

I almost went and got SR.

 

 

...I can't remember how I stopped myself, but.

 

Mam came in, bearing good news.

 

On Friday - we're going to Essex!

 

Wooooooot!!!

 

We're off on a 7-hour drive down south, with my mam, my dad, and my nana - off to see my great aunties.

We're apparently going somewhere along the Southend coasts as well.

 

I love my great aunty Betty and her husband, great uncle Roy - they're both really sweet and funny.

Roy never talks, it's Betty who does all the speaking.

 

She's really over the top about everything - and she speaks her mind - PROPER time.

She told some gadge who came to the front door to straighten his tie.

 

But she's sweet, and she makes me laugh.

Roy's really kind too - and I just love going down to see them.

 

I think I've only been to see them three times - but every time, they're always really suprised, because we never give them any warning.

 

The only thing that annoys me about the people in Essex is the way they say Middlesbrough.

 

 

Us, actually from Middlesbrough say it as: 'Middles-bra', which is what it is.

But they say it as: 'Middles bar-agh' - which is a bit irritating.

 

 

Mam's lent me her mp3 player, seeing as how mine is broken, and it's ages till I'll get an iPod.

 

I'm gonna take it with me - cram it full of my top rated music, and some of Emily's recordings, so when I'm trying to go to sleep in the Holiday Inn Express hotel bed, I can listen to her.

 

The beds in those hotels are SO soft.

The breakfast is always fresh, and the milk is always nice too.

 

Oh, and they have POWER SHOWERS!

 

You can control the pressure - so either have a dribble, or blast your skin off.

It's so much fun, and it's so much quicker.

 

I call them turbo-showers. :)

 

 

I have to share a room with nana, but I don't think it'll be all that bad.

She can have the big double bed, and I'll have the fold out camp double bed, like I always do.

 

Even if it is only a fold-out, it's softer than my own.

 

Eee, I'm so excited. :)

 

It'll help take my mind off things, at least.

 

 

I've already decided what I'm wearing too.

On the Friday going down, I'll wear my dark jeans and my Pink Floyd shirt, with blue Converse.

 

On Saturday, I'll wear my Every Great Idea shirt, dark jeans, Anarchy jacket and green Converse.

 

I'll wear my Sonic shirt and blue Converse to come back in.

 

 

I'll take my DS, and mam's mp3 player, with the new playlist, once I've got it sorted out.

I'll take my fic planning book too.

 

 

I found an old excersise book that used to be a Geography book, so I ripped out a few pages and coloured in the box on the front in permanent marker, and wrote "PLANNING ENTIRE" on the front.

 

I plan SO much better on paper, so I'll show you the scans of what's in it so far - character plans for GRODT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And those are my very first drawings of Sprocket and Axel from GRODT. :)

 

After getting more ideas as I was planning - perhaps GRODT may be re-thought, re-written, and re-posted.

 

Huzzah huzzah. :D

 

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Today's song lyrics:

 

Emily - From First To Last

 

 

Smiles and her laughter,
It's the only thing that I've been waiting for, a time.
Regardless of our distance, and our hope, grows greater.
Swept by pretty eyes and laughter for, a time.
The only thing that I've been waiting for.

I hope it's something worth the waiting,
'Cause it's the only time that I ever feel real.
Thunderstorms could never stop me,
'Cause there's no one in the world like Emily.

She's simple yet confusing,
Her sparkling eyes make me weak at my words, they tremble.
Days seem like years in this month of December.
The winter, coldens me for I have yet to sleep.
And never, will I give up trying 'cause you're everything to me.

I hope it's something worth the waiting,
It’s the only time that I ever feel real.
Thunderstorms could never stop me,
'Cause there's no one in the world like Emily.

There's no one in the world like Emily.

PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman's menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, women with PCOS have these characteristics:

• high levels of male hormones, also called androgens

• an irregular or no menstrual cycle

• may or may not have many small cysts in their ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.

PCOS is the most common hormonal reproductive problem in women of childbearing age.

What are the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

These are some of the symptoms of PCOS listed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

• infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding

• infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating

• increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes

• acne, oily skin, or dandruff

• pelvic pain

• weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist

• type 2 diabetes

• high cholesterol

• high blood pressure

• male-pattern baldness or thinning hair

• patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs

• skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area

• sleep apnea - excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep