The Wonderful World of Books!!

So my partner & I love reading more than almost anything other pastime in our lives! We love to go to the park & read, we love to cuddle up on the couch & read, and we can't wait to be able to share our love of reading with our future children! So here is a review of the books that we (mostly me) have been reading during this TTC journey...

Starting the Journey
So I think that every woman/couple that is even considering TTC should start with some basic books to get a better understanding of what is going on with her body each month. I see a lot of TTC moms on my boards that don't have some basic understandings of the workings of their bodies and although I do agree that is what the boards are partly there for, but when you are using a lot of resources and time I personally feel that you need to have a clear understanding of what is going on *steps off my soapbox*

1) Fertility & Conception by Zita West- I think this type of book is a good "starting point" book. If you already have basic understandings of fertility & conception you will want to pass over this book, but if you are in need of some basic understanding with great sciencey pictures check out this book!

2) Considering Parenthood by Cheri Pies- (yes that is really her name lol) This is an awesome resource not just for future parents to be, but it is geared towards Lesbians! It is filled with a lot of questions that you can talk to your partner about before you decide that you want to try to conceive, during your journey, and as a way to help pass the time during the 2WW.

So you are infertile? Now what?
So unfortunately all of us that have reached this junction in our journey have heard the words or saw the words on paper: Infertile/Infertility. So what do you do when you are feeling alone and feel like your body has turned completely against you? I turned to the internet for support and found an amazing section on Mothering.com called Queer Conceptions that was filled with super supportive TTCers that I could share my journey with. It is great to have a place where I can talk to women who honestly can say I know how you feel because they are there in my shoes!

1) Good Eggs by Phoebe Potts- I cannot say how much I really liked this book! Not only was it a great story that was well written, but did I mention that it is written in "comic book" form? The entire book is in storyboard fashion and I think that is what made me love this book even more! There are so many additional funny things going on in the background of the comic that add to the story unintentionally.

2)  Riding the Infertility Rollercoaster by Iris Waichler- I have just started reading this book, but I like it so far. It is a mix of a guide book and testimonials and is well written, I am liking it thus far.

3) Infertility SUCKS by Beverly Barna- I love to approach all things through humor and this book has been my dose of humor through this very unfunny journey. It is written from the standpoint of this awesome make-believe group called Canned Parenthood and it gives great responses to all kinds of situations that come up in the life of an infertile woman/couple

4) Tick Tock by Lillian Schapiro- I liked this book because it showed that infertility can strike anyone regardless of age or socioeconomic background. This book is not really a book I could identify with because of her role as an Ob/gyn and the advantages she received because of that, but it was a good book nonetheless.

5) Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein- This was a great book about loss, and even touched on adoption. I was referred to this book by one of the ladies on my TTC board and I am so happy that I got this book it def gave me hope!

6) A Little Pregnant by Linda Carbone & Ed Decker- This book is a little different than the other books that I have read because it gives you alternating views from the husband & wife. I started this book, but lost interest pretty quickly because the book had a scholarly feel to it. Now don't get me wrong I love to learn, but I also like my non-fiction books to be down to earth and easy to read, not full of ridiculously large words that you have to stop & think of the definition. It is next on my list to go back and read because it seems like it is going to be good.

7) So Close by Tertia Albertyn- This book is also "waiting in the wings" for me to read, it seems like it is going to be very interesting because this particular woman has endured 9 IVFs (OMG).

8) Inconceivable by Shannon Woodward- I honestly hope that this is a book that I never have to read. This is obviously one of my not well thought out purchases. I think I just skimmed the description of the book or it was omitted entirely, but this is a very religious based book. DP & I are both non-religious, we come from very strong Christian backgrounds, but we are more spiritual than religious so a book filled with things about 1 particular "God" is not our cup of tea. On top all that the book is written for women who have reached the end of the road in their TTC journey and I def have a few good years left in me!

PCOS
So I am quite ambivalent about my PCOS diagnosis, as I am with most diagnosis, so I have purchased the following PCOS books, but I have not cracked any of them open. I have decided that if this cycle does not work I will give in and read the books, but until that point I like being in the dark....

1) What to do when your Doctor says its PCOS by Milton Hammerly & Cheryl Kimball

2) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Dr. John Eden

3) PCOS and your Fertility by Colette Harris with Theresa Cheung

4) The Savvy Woman's Guide to PCOS by Elizabeth Lee Vliet

5) Living with PCOS by Angela Boss & Evelina Sterling

What is DP reading?
Currently DP is reading....

1) Confessions of the Other Mother Nonbiological Lesbian Moms Tell All by Harlyn Aizley- She seems to really like this book, it gives different stories of nonbiological mothers and how they feel about it. She said there are some wild stories in this book! I can't wait until she finishes it, mainly because I want to see what is so great about it, and plus I will be the nonbiological mom to at least 1 of our children and I need to be prepared for that.

Backburner Book
Last but def not least...

1) Times x Two by Kristen Henderson & Sarah Ellis-We purchased this book because we recently decided that once I have a viable pregnancy we are going to start TTC with DP (YAY!) I am so excited to see life grow inside of her, I know that she is going to be an amazing mom! This book essentially discussed "LesbiTwins" moms who got pregnant around the same time. I am excited to read this book as well!

Well that covers all the books that we have or are currently reading while TTC to help pass the time... I am sure as time goes on we will add more books so I will update you guys once we get some new books in stock :-)