So, you want to get pregnant. . .

You all know Dave and I have been trying for years to get pregnant. Now that we are doing IVF, I can stop using all those products I tried early on. While these items didn't work for us (because of my endo situation) they did work for my friends who recommended I try them.

Which then got me thinking, maybe I should recommend some of these items to those of you out there just starting the journey. Here goes:

EVERY HIGH SCHOOL GIRL SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

One of my best girls gave this to me (well, let me borrow it. . . I was to return it when I got pregnant. . . 3 years ago). It helped her conceive both her children.

This book basically tells you everything you ever needed to know about your reproductive body. It should be taught in the schools (or not, apparently this issue is a hot topic in my grad school discussions).

The book teaches you how to take your body basal temperature every morning and chart your findings. It also teaches you to chart other signs and symptoms; over time you find your ovulation pattern. This helps you either avoid getting pregnant or know what days in your cycle to 'really try'.

The book is $16.47 on Amazon. You'll want to invest in a digital thermometer as well, roughly $10 at any drug store. So, for under $30 you can start conceiving without feeling like a kid lost in the supermarket.

Now, this book is not for everyone. I, personally, got stressed out trying to remember every morning to take my temperature (I'm not a first-thing-in-the-morning person).

FOR ALL YOU GADGET LOVERS!!!

Another friend gave me this product after she successfully conceived using it. Essentially it does the same thing the fertility book teaches you (minus the morning temperature readings and mental exertion).

You definitely pay for the convenience, it costs $130 on Amazon and you have to buy the test sticks which range from $40 - $50 a box. My friend used her employee flexible spending account to pay for this product (or put it on your holiday wish list to Santa).

I loved using the digital monitor because it did most of the work for me (I was tired of charting my body temperature after 14 months with no success). However, there is so much wonderful information in the fertility book, I strongly urge everyone to read it regardless of how you choose to monitor your ovulation cycle.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the techniques and methods out there to help you conceive (I never promised that). This is a small list of things I have personally tried and know to be successful because I've held the babies that later followed.

Good luck to all just starting, still trying or don't want to think about it for another 10 years (which better be my little sister)!