Anticipation.

I won't lie.

I am SO excited to stop taking these in three weeks.

At 28, I've been taking these teeny tiny pills every day for 13 years now. In high school, my periods were so irregular they lasted weeks, not days. Frequently, I would vomit as a response to the havoc my hormones placed on my body. The cramps, headaches, nausea, and emotions were terrible. Curling in a ball, Ibuprofen, and heating pads were my saving grace until my gynecologist advised I try the birth control pill (bcp) to help balance my hormones. It took awhile, but soon enough, I couldn't imagine dealing with the nasty symptoms I previously dealt with ever again (acne mostly gone, cramping decreased, length of periods decreased, nausea controlled).

At the same time, I was nervous about all the possible side effects of the bcp, namely infertility, blood clots, weight gain, and mood swings. According to all my natural friends and those who are chiropractors, the bcp is one of the worst medications for women, especially long-term. I ended up deciding the bcp was the right choice for me at the time, but now the time has come to say goodbye.

Yes, I am also nervous to stop taking the bcp. From all the reading I've done, chances are, my body will return to its previous pre-pill state and I will experience the same symptoms I did when I was 15. I expect these to start within five days of stopping the pill. Things like acne, cramping, back pain, erratic emotions, breast tenderness, and increased length of periods will re-appear.  Oh, joy.

And yet, I've also read that my diet and lifestyle can positively impact that dreaded week each month, and that there are a lot of other benefits to getting off the bcp. I'd like to say I've come a long way from my high school days of consuming frozen pizza, Kraft mac & cheese, Doritos, peanut M&Ms, and Dr. Pepper. Today, I am trying to follow a predominately paleo diet, however, I do eat rice and quinoa on occasion. I would also say I am not quite at the 80/20 percentages I want to be at, but am working on it.

I am also supplementing with a prenatal vitamin pack that includes two daily multivitamins, two daily omega-3 fatty acid fish oil capsules, and choline.  The Wellness Essentials - Pregnancy pack prepared by Metagenics also includes two magnesium/calcium tablets, but I've decided not to take those at this point. According the Metagenics, the following describes the benefits of these once-daily supplements. The multivitamin "provides a science-based combination of vitamins and minerals, incorporating 1 mg of folate and an array of antioxidants that reflect the latest research in prenatal nutrition." The choline is an essential nutrient that helps with fetal brain development. The fish oil (or OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 720) also helps with "fetal development, heart health, mood, and overall health support." Finally, the calcium/magnesium tablets support bone health and "may also support muscle relaxation and help ease nighttime limb movement and pregnancy-associated leg cramps." As with most supplements in the U.S., these have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The wonderful thing about these particular supplements is they are high-quality and exclude gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, tree nuts, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and shellfish. Yipee!

I am including an article I found intriguing regarding the bcp. It is written by Lauren, a nutritionist and blogger of The Holy Kale. She writes about what to expect when getting off birth control pills. In addition, here is a link to her first blog speaking more to the pill, pros and cons with using it, and her personal experience.

Overall, I am just excited to be starting our journey to be parents. Being a mom is something I've always known I want to do. No matter what side effects I have to endure, if I am pregnant at the end of the day, I'll be grateful.

Pray for us!