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With the start of a new year, many people are setting goals and trying to be hopeful for things to come in 2012.  But if you struggle with fertility issues, the New Year often comes with a mixture of feelings.   For some, the New Year can be a reminder of a year gone by where things may not have happened as you had hoped.  You may be reminded of the ups and downs that have occurred during this past year.  Depending on where you are in your treatment, you may need to set some goals which help you approach your fertility treatment in a renewed way.

Here are some suggestions:

• Try to do things regularly that improve your mood (i.e.: take a walk outside, sit by the fire with a loved one, buy flowers to put in your home, etc.)   You may need to spend some time thinking about what you enjoy or what brings you happiness.  Consider writing ideas down and picking something daily or weekly to try.

•   Be realistic about new diet/exercise goals.  This may not be a good time to make drastic changes in your health.  Making a daily commitment to be active and eat healthier is always a good idea.

• Take advantage of the support around you.  Family and friends can be a good support while dealing with fertility challenges.  Sometimes attending a support group or talking to a counselor can be helpful too.  This may be your first time to try a support group or counseling.  Many people find support groups and counseling to be more beneficial than they had thought.  

•  Attend the monthly mind-body group, “exhale,” at The Fertility Center to learn stress reduction ideas.  See our website for additional details.

 The Fertility Center also offers on-site counseling at no cost to our patients.  You may call the office and schedule appointment at your convenience.

 Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW (counselor at the Fertility Center)

It’s getting slightly darker earlier every night.  I feel the shift toward the next season. 

 It is interesting that no matter what we are going through, some things are constant.  The seasons change.  Good and bad things happen.  Life continues on.

 However, despite the unchanging aspects of life, we are constantly able to evaluate our circumstances and change our approach to any challenge we face. 

 Fertility treatment can, at times, be difficult. 

 Ask yourself what could happen if you change just one thing about how you approach your fertility journey.  Could you feel more hopeful?  Could you sleep better?  Could your relationships with others improve?

 If we mentally connect to a positive outcome, we are more likely to have real, sustaining change.

 Certain aspects of fertility treatment are consistent – appointments, medications, tests, etc.

 Other aspects – our attitude about treatment, the way we care for our body, our priorities – we have the ability to change.

 “We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.”  ~Author Unknown

 For additional information or help discussing your own situation, feel free to schedule an appointment with Kristin at the Grand Rapids office.

 Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW (counselor at the Fertility Center)  September 2011

Infertility treatment can be emotionally difficult for patients. It is important to find ways to take care of yourself during treatment. Today is the day to make yourself a priority and do things that make you feel more balanced.

• Start the day with a healthy breakfast. Consider planning the other meals for your day so that you are more likely to continue making healthy food choices throughout the day.

• Schedule your day so that you have time to exercise and time to relax. Being active and being restful are both important ways for our body to cope with stress.

• Have conversations with people who make you feel good about yourself and your situation. Healthy, positive relationships are important in supporting people through difficult times.

• Try deep breathing or relaxation techniques before bedtime to help you sleep better. Make sure that your sleep environment is peaceful since sleep is a critical time for our body to restore its energy levels.

The Fertility Center offers counseling to help our patients explore ways to approach treatment in a healthy way. Counseling is available at no additional cost for patients at any point in their fertility journey. Feel free to call the Grand Rapids office and schedule an appointment.

Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW (May, 2011)

We have scheduled the next FREE patient seminar for Thursday, March 3 from 6:30-8:00pm in our Grand Rapids office. Please email Amy at awade@mrivf.com to register or with questions.

At The Fertility Center, we recognize that the journey through infertility can be very overwhelming.  We understand that there are many questions in making the decision to proceed with treatment.

For these reasons, we are offering FREE patient education/information seminars for potential patients to discuss infertility, diagnosis, and treatment options. We encourage you to attend one of these seminars to help answer your questions in a non-intimidating atmosphere.

 There will be a Fertility Center physician along with our nurses present.  Also a billing representative will be available to answer financial and insurance questions.

 All that attend a seminar will receive a coupon for a FREE initial consult with one of our physicians.

 The upcoming seminar dates are listed below with more to follow:

Thursday: March 3

6:30-8:00pm    Grand Rapids Location   

                   3230 Eagle Park Dr. Ste 100

                         Grand Rapids, MI 49525

 For more information, please email: awade@mrivf.com  

 Or call 616-988-BABY(2229) ext. 128

Please also call or email to Register soon as space is limited!