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This is Dawn's testimony. Greetings to you all. I have been away from the list for quite a while for a variety of reasons, but I must take some time here to share with you all how very important and blessed this list and Brenda have been to me, as I await the arrival any day of my baby. (Mary Rose was born March 2, 2001) I found this list in November of 1999 while searching for info on how to use progesterone cream. How delighted I was to find a site promoting AIM products, dedicated to infertility, and Christ centered !! I immediately started devouring the info on Brenda's site and joined the list. This list was such a strong source of encouragement and motivation. At that point in time I had been struggling with some health issues for 5 years. In '95 my 6th child was still born due to anencephaly. After his birth my body stopped menstruating, I was 34. Doctors had various suggestions, but little was helpful. Eventually a doctor friend of ours put me on Depo-Provera as a diagnostic tool to determine if my problem was progesterone deficiency. Sure enough after 10 days on Depo-Provera, when I stopped it brought on menses. He gave me 2 more packets of 10 day supplies and we hoped it would sort of jump start me! None of this quite set right with me. My goal wasn't to just get pregnant! We believe that children are an unqualified blessing from the Lord! And we have rejoiced with each precious soul the Lord has trusted us with. And though we wanted the Lord to be in control of my reproduction, we wanted to pay attention to the way He marvelously designed our bodies. If I was shutdown there had to be a reason, something at the root that needed to be taken care of, and drugs didn't seem to be the answer. Also if I wasn't healthy, what were the chances of a healthy baby and pregnancy. I had been using AIM™ products on and off for several years, and wanted to get back on track and also add Renewed Balance™ progesterone cream to see if that would help the problem. But nobody knew how to use pro cream. That's when I went searching on the web. Can you imagine my amazement when I went looking for info on AIM™ products and found a site dedicated to healing infertility naturally? She had info on drugs like Depo-Provera, her questionnaire was so thorough and seemed to ask very pertinent questions. The Infertilityworkshop group offered daily support, advice and counsel. Well she put her finger on the problem right away after reviewing my questionnaire. I was estrogen dominant as a result of a life long struggle with constipation. I thought I practiced a fairly healthy life style, we ate salad almost daily, I often baked our bread with fresh ground whole wheat, and always lean towards fresh and whole grain choices. But here is what I discovered ; I drank way too much coffee, I did Not drink enough water, we very regularly ate hormone laden red meat, chicken, dairy, we ate fast food far too often, and junk food. I only moved my bowels once or twice a week! Where was all that garbage going? Also I didn't temp, had no idea about CM, or follicle and luteal phases of my cycle. I didn't exercise or get out in the fresh air enough. I was puffy and about 40# over weight due to all this. Here is what I did, EVERYTHING BRENDA SUGGESTED! MY husband and I committed to make some financial adjustments and sacrifices for me to proceed with this course. First I threw away the other 2 packets of Provera. Then I bought the Fertility Tracker™ and the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". I began the 3 month Shut Down, this was a little hard for me, I was now 39 and didn't really want to loose 3 months but Brenda shared that I needed this time to cleanse and heal and if I achieved a pregnancy too quickly there was a good chance I would miscarry and or not produce a good egg. I followed her advice. I began temping, and using Barleygreen™, Herbal Fiberblend™, Renewed Balance™ Pro Cream, Vitex, and Licorice root. I began juicing, stopped the coffee, began drinking 2-4 quarts of water a day, and did several castor oil packs. As far as food, I ate a living foods diet which basically consisted of fruit, carrot juice and a protein drink that I put my HFB in, in the morning. For lunch I had a big salad with olive oil dressing . I kept raw fruit and veggies on hand for snacks, and drank water, water, water through out the day until I felt like I was going to drown. In the evening I had another big salad with something hot like a baked sweet or white potato, pasta or brown rice with stir fried veggies. I kept things like apple salad with organic yogurt dressing in the fridge, or humus that I would dip carrots in. I ate so well, I was never hungry, my family wanted what I had, so often we all had the same thing. Friends came over begging me to make them a salad. The Lord gave me such creative ideas, I would roast sunflower seeds in Olive oil and tamari with garlic and toss it in the salad. I kept veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, red peppers and onions marinating and tossed them in salad or anything that struck my fancy. I threw chick peas or avocado in the salad. And bought nice vinegar's and sea salt. I used Tahini (sesame seed butter) in all sorts of ways. One thing I'll never forget that Brenda said was " everything I put up to my mouth, ask if it was worth a baby? Or if it was going to beat me". When I was feeling weak I would say it is only for 3 months. One thing a friend just reminded me of that I had forgotten will help illustrate my determination. On Valentines Day My father always sends us all chocolates, everyone gets their own box, and mine is always BIG. Well last year when I saw that package arrive, I drove straight to a friends house took my box and plopped it on her table and said Happy Valentines Day! I then told the children I didn't want to know that their candy was in the house. We only allowed them a piece or two a day with permission. So we arranged that they would have to wait until Daddy got home, ask him, and I couldn't see it, smell it on their breath or even know where it was. Can you tell I have a weakness for chocolate? No walking around the corner smacking your lips. At times I would notice some whispering and they would all sort of disappear for a little while. I just thank the Lord for His grace during this time, I grew to enjoy each day and all I had to do for my body. I needed a chart to get it all in and done. Water was one of my biggest challenges, but now it's such a part of my day, about every hour I just chug down a big glass. I can't believe I got by all those years with out it, every hour I feel dry and thirsty and need it. How did I never feel the need for it before? I shut down from January until March, during this time I did menstruate , what a joyous victory after 5 years with out! About mid June I began feeling nauseated and confirmed that I was pregnant. I will admit that I was a bit nervous, I just couldn't imagine that I was healthy enough to carry this pregnancy. Then at 18 weeks I began heavy bleeding, we rush to the hospital for an ultra sound. It was one of the most difficult drives I've ever experienced. To my shock and amazement the ultra sound showed a baby with a healthy beating heart. There was no evidence that the bleeding was coming from the uterus at all. The bleeding was from me! The pressure of pregnancy has caused something to rupture. We never did find out what had caused the bleeding but my doctor felt that during all those years of estrogen dominance it was a ripe environment for things to grow in. Because of the amount of bleeding there was probably a polyp or friboid or cyst growing on my cervix, and we could be thankful for this pregnancy because pregnancy tends to clean things out. The bleeding continued for a week and I have had no more incidents since. My baby is due any day now, I have continued with the healthy practices I've learned, though my diet is not as strict as it was during shut down. I will be using Barleygreen™ and Herbal Fiberblend™ for the rest of my life. I thank the Lord for the wisdom He provides and that we are wondrously and marvelously made, His design is perfect. Our bodies have an incredible capacity to heal and restore if we will take care of them. And we will suffer consequences if we neglect them. I don't feel am taking any of the glory from God when I say that I believe He lead me to Brenda and that the support and information she provided saved me. I feel that if I had just taken drugs and not changed my habits, before long I would have been facing serious disease. There are usually warning signs to pay attention to. I know that not all infertility issues and sicknesses are lifestyle related but for those of us who do struggle in this way I hope that you may find some little tidbit of encouragement in my testimony. Thank you Brenda for your work, dedication, and the many sacrifices you make to help women. May the Lord bless you and strengthen you and guide you as you serve Him in so many ways balancing this work and the demands of a young family. I have loved Psalm 139 during this pregnancy. "Thou has possessed my reins, thou has covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well." Blessings, Dawn |
