Did you know that every year on March 18 some people celebrate Goddess of Fertility Day? Did you even know there was such a thing as a Goddess of Fertility Day? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Would you like to venture a guess how it might be celebrated?
In all seriousness, Goddess of Fertility Day traditionally celebrated Aphrodite and other gods and goddesses of fertility. The ancient Greek goddess, Aphrodite, is perhaps the most well known goddess of fertility (the Egyptians called her Isis and the Romans called her Venus). People would pray and make offerings to Aphrodite when seeking to create a family. The Goddess of Fertility Day was always celebrated just a couple of days before the Spring Equinox (the first day of Spring).
In modern times, Goddess of Fertility Day isn’t celebrated with Greeting Cards and TV commercials selling fertility products. And although I have no idea who “created” Goddess of Fertility Day, I do have some pretty good tips on how you can create parenthood by increasing your chances of getting pregnant—especially if March 18th coincides with your ovulation.
If you want a healthy baby, it is good to start with a healthy body. A diet high in saturated fats and refined sugar is not ideal for a healthy reproductive system. Eliminating processed foods and focusing on fresh organic fruits, vegetables and meats goes a long way towards creating a healthy body and a healthy baby.
Stop smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking recreational drugs. Sure, some women get pregnant while high, but you don’t want to be one of them. Besides negatively affecting a growing fetus, smoking and drinking also affects ovulation and fallopian tube functioning making it more difficult to get pregnant and stay pregnant. You should also avoid over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs as much as possible.
You need to know when your body is ovulating. You can’t get pregnant naturally if you don’t make love at the right time during your cycle. About 20% of women know they are ovulating when they get a twinge of pain or a series of cramps on one side of their lower abdomen. This is thought to be caused by the release of an egg from the ovary. Most women will release an egg-white-like fertile mucus that you can actually stretch between your fingers until it breaks. (And you thought the fun of making a baby was only in the bedroom). If you don’t know when you ovulate, buy an ovulation kit. They’re inexpensive and quite accurate.
While it is true you can get pregnant only during your ovulation cycle, excessive lovemaking during ovulation (days 12 to 14 for most women) is counterproductive. Besides, ovulation can occur before or after those days. Keep in mind that male resources are not abundant and inexhaustible. Excessive sexual activity at the wrong time will ensure failure when the time is right. The best way to conceive is to make love every other day beginning on day 10 until day 20, for women with regular 28 day cycles. For shorter menstrual cycles of 21 to 26 days, start on day 6 or 8. For longer menstrual cycles of 30 to 36 days, start on day 12 or 14. By the way, there is no difference between starting on even or odd days when it comes to conception success.
Most fertility experts agree that reducing stress is key for many of their patients. Stress signals the pituitary gland that the body is in trouble, which can slow the release of the luteinizing hormone, which in turn triggers ovulation. Even if ovulation occurs, a shortage of the luteinizing hormone could mean a lower level of progesterone, a hormone necessary to nourish and sustain an embryo’s implantation.
For couples experiencing fertility challenges (unable to conceive after trying naturally for one year), a series of treatments with a state-licensed, board certified acupuncturist and herbalist who has been specially trained in reproductive Oriental medicine, has been repeatedly shown to improve fertility rates. For more information on fertility acupuncture go to www.NaturalFertilityHealthCenters.com.
And last, but most importantly, you are the altar of creation. It is your body in which a new life will take form, develop, and become a living, breathing person. Honor your womanhood, your intuition, and your feminine energy and you will create your optimum level of health and well-being thus allowing you to conceive and bring a healthy baby to term. You are a fertile spirit. You are the goddess of fertility.