Gettin' Personal

This blog post needs a disclaimer for sure.  You all have probably been accustomed to hearing about my lady parts but this one is going to take things a bit further. STOP right now if you don't want to hear about it! I'm serious!  Back out now while you still can!!!! 

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I'm a member of a couple holistic mom's groups on FB and I saw "vagina steaming" a couple times and it sparked my interest.  Now, I'm sure your reaction to that statement is much like my husbands and my mothers.  A lot of laughing and "Are you seriously considering that?" comments.  At this point in my infertility career, I'm willing to try just about anything.  After the insane amount of "steaming" comments, I made DH listen to a web cast from  http://www.birth-institute.com/alternative-medicine-and-childbirth/vaginal-steams.  Fascinating stuff!  I encourage you all to check it out.  DH was much more on board once he listened to it all with me.  Without totally grossing you out, one of the biggest eye openers was about the color of my AF.  Ms. Arvigo asked if AF was dark in the beginning, middle, and/or the end.  Our periods should be pink and mine?  It's RARELY pink.  You can get more info about it at the link but dark blood means old blood and I have a LOT of old blood.  I'm not getting cleared out the way I should so that's where vaginal steaming comes in. 

Last week I walked into Whole Foods for the first time in my life.  I've been to Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and our current favorite Earth Fare but never Whole Foods.  I went in with the intention to buy organic herbs for my "steaming."  I couldn't get fresh organic oregano (so I got two kinds of dried) but I did get fresh organic Thyme, Basil, and Rosemary.   Of course the lady checking out my herbs just had to ask, "So, are you doing anything specific with these?" I said, "I don't think you want to know."  She then said, "Oh come on, what are you making?"  I smiled and just said, "I'm using them for aromatherapy."  Which is totally true but uh, what if I would have said, "Yep, I'm going to use them to steam up my vagina!"  ?? I just snickered as I walked out...

Ok, so here's the low down:  I boiled approximately two quarts of water (with the lid on) with about a cup of fresh organic herbs and about 1/2 an ounce of the dried oregano.  I simmered the pot for about 10 minutes and then let it steep for 5 more minutes (my kitchen smelled nicely of an Italian dinner!).  I brought the pot upstairs and put it under a plastic chair with slats.  I wrapped my half naked self in a blanket and then took off the lid.  Ahhhhh... (20 minutes of steam and then an hour in warm blankets in bed...if nothing else, it sure was relaxing!)

You're supposed to steam 3 times the week before you get AF.  I was able to do it twice and the second time was COMPLETELY different than the first.  I ordered this Sitz bath from amazon and the experience was much, much different.  (It was MUCH hotter with a whole lot more steam so be prepared for that if you do it with a sitz bath!)

Vaginal steaming is supposed to "clean out" my uterus of old blood, moisten the cervix and also my ovaries.  It can also help with cramping and for after birth cleansing. It certainly can't hurt anything and it will be interesting to note if there are any changes to AF.  Currently I'm on CD 3 and I'm not sure of any differences yet (should take approx. 3 cycles for changes), though I had much MORE cramping this time around.  It was also advised to do a steam on the morning of a IVF/FET transfer...It's worth a try!

I have my first chiropractor appt tomorrow and my first acupuncture appt on Wednesday.  I'm nervous! 

Please let me know if any of you out there try vaginal steaming!  I'll be doing it again next month and this time with organic lavender and oregano.  :)