The Fertility Journal - a book review & give away
Posted on July 1, 2008
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When I heard the editor of Conceive Magazine had created a guide to “getting” pregnant, I was hopeful it would be a resource friendly to the infertility community. I then read a book review from an IF blogger (Jen - I think) and was disappointed to hear the journal was not as IF friendly as I had hoped.
We’ll I decided to do some research and bought myself a copy of the fertility journal. Keep in mind that I am reading and critiquing the journal based upon someone who is no longer in the IF struggle. Although, I’d love to be pregnant again, it just isn’t ever going to happen. So, I hope I offer a neutral point of view in this review.
Three things I liked:
1. The opening foreword by Dr. Geoffrey Sher - good intro for fertiles to read and maybe be more appreciative of the fact they can conceive easily while also becoming more aware that it’s not so easy for others.
2. Each monthly chapter addresses some aspect of infertility, whether it’s how diet can impact fertility/pregnancy, how stress can impact our ability to conceive, or fertility issues for him. Months (chapters) 10 and 11 focus on taking time for yourself and your partner. This is a very important aspect of the baby-making process, especially when it is not going as planned.
3. There are 40 pages of this journal dedicated solely to infertility with two six-week sections allocated to tracking fertility treatment cycles.
Two things I didn’t like:
1. Month/chapter 12 is titled “Preparing for Parenthood.” For someone not yet pregnant this can be a disheartening way to end the 12 month tracking/journaling. I think this chapter could have been titled something less “in-your-face” for those not pregnant yet.
2. I didn’t see questions in either the 12 month sections or the infertility section on sample or suggested questions to ask your doctor. I think this would have been valuable information, especially in the infertility treatment section.
Overall review:
If you purchase this journal at the beginning of your trying-to-conceive journey I think it would be very helpful. If you’re already in the middle of IF I wouldn’t recommend it because much of the information you already know and I’m not sure it would provide any additional comfort or assistance.
I do think this will help educate the fertile community a little bit more about infertility. Because even if they get pregnant the first or second month, there is a chance they’ll have skimmed the very beginning and later portions of the journal just out of curiosity. Even the slightest amount of knowledge on their part can make a big difference regarding IF in the near future.
I’d like to give away my copy of the fertility journal. It is not perfectly new and shows a little wear on the binding, but there are no markings on the inside and it is completely usable. If you’d like to win this journal, please leave a comment on my blog, any post, from July 2-16th and use the initials “TFJ” at the beginning or end of your comment to be entered into the drawing. I’ll draw a winner on July 18th. Please return to my blog on July 21st to claim your prize. If you don’t claim the journal by July 23rd a new winner will be chosen.
» Filed Under Infertility, Resources, pregnancy
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3 Responses to “The Fertility Journal - a book review & give away”
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TFJ
Thanks for the review! I had glanced at the book at Target and wondered if it would be worth it to buy it. Since I’m already past the 12 month TTC mark and waiting for my dr. appt to start the infertility testing process I’m guessing it’s too late for me to find the book very helpful.
Over the past couple of years, I have co-authored a book with a friend of mine which should be available in the next few weeks addressing this topic. Our book differs in that it is for couples who are in or beginning the process of INFERTILITY dignosis and treatment. My co-author went through 6 years of this before becoming a mom. We had much input from people who have also traveled this journey with and without ultimately becoming parents. Our hope is that it can become a guide/record-keeper/resource for infertile couples to avoid some of the pitfalls which make this process more difficult than it has to be. It is titled The Infertility Assistant. Please feel free to contact us, if you would like, at the above e-mail or visit our website.
Ann,
This looks like a fabulous resource for women starting their fertility treatments. Thank you for creating a much needed journal.
Kelly