Originally reviewed for Basil & Spice

For many women who’ve been told they have “bad eggs”, are too old to conceive, have suffered through multiple miscarriages, or put all their eggs in the IVF basket with disappointing and expensive results, Making Babies offers an holistic approach to conception that empowers women and their partners to make informed choices about their fertility.

With a straightforward, layperson’s approach, the authors, one a reproductive endocrinologist and the other a licensed acupuncturist, explore the underlying causes of infertility, the pros and cons of IVF, and offer traditional and alternative strategies to create an ideal environment for conception.

After identifying five fertility types – tired, dry, stuck, pale, and waterlogged – women are then guided through a three-month program with suggestions on nutrition, exercise, rest, and treatments specific to their type. But if you think this is just another book that puts the focus (or blame) solely on women’s reproductive health, you’ll be surprised to see “For Men Only” sections throughout the book that take a look at men’s concerns, like low libido or special tests for low sperm counts or abnormalities.

In our time-obsessed and quick-fix culture, it can be difficult for women who hear their clocks ticking to consider slowing down long enough to work through the issues that have prevented their pregnancies, but wise is the woman who takes the time to remember that conception is a natural process, even if they end up going the medically assisted route.

About the Authors

Sami S. David, MD is a reproductive endocrinologist who focuses on conservative approaches to infertility. www.SamiDavid.com

Jill Blakeway, LAc is founder and clinical director of the YinOva Center. www.YinOvaCenter.com

Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility

ISBN 978-0-316-02450-1

384 pages

Hardcover

Health

Published August 12, 2009