How to avoid beign Pregnant Without Using Birth Control

If you are in a relationship and do not want to become pregnant, you may be undecided about your birth control method. If you don’t want to rely on hormonal birth control or barrier methods, you can try fertility awareness. When you know the days you have a high chance of becoming pregnant, you can avoid intercourse on those days. In the fertility awareness method, both the man and woman are responsible for preventing pregnancy together.

How It Works

The only time you can become pregnant is about 24 hours after ovulation. If you use the fertility awareness method, you track your signs of ovulation to pinpoint the time when you could become pregnant. Since sperm can live inside your body up to five days, you must refrain from having sex — or use a barrier method like a condom — in the days leading up to your ovulation. Estimating your ovulation date correctly is the key to making fertility awareness work as a way to prevent pregnancy.

Methods

Track your ovulation using different methods. You could take your basal body temperature every morning, and write it down on a chart. The day after you ovulate, you’ll see a sharp spike in temperature. This can show you a pattern as to which day in your cycle you ovulate. You can also monitor your cervical mucus by sticking your fingers inside your vagina and swiping them around the cervix. If there is a lot of clear mucus that is stretchy, you are more fertile. You can also simply count the days in your cycle or use ovulation test strips, which show a surge in luteinizing hormone about a day or two before you ovulate. Combining more than one of these methods will give you a better picture and can help make this work for you.

Avoiding Pregnancy

If you want to avoid a pregnancy using the fertility awareness method, you need to avoid sex for five days before and three days after ovulation. Ovulating on time is never a sure thing, though, so to account for errors, you may want to add three days to the beginning and end of that estimation. Aside from abstaining from sex, you could also use a barrier method.

Considerations

Fertility awareness is only effective in women who have a regular cycle. If your cycle is irregular, you will never be able to predict the day you ovulate.

Warning

The only method of birth control that is 100 percent effective is abstinence. According to the American Pregnancy Association, fertility awareness can be 90 percent effective if you are following the method correctly. However, typical use involves a larger margin of error. Failure rates of the average user are around 25 percent.

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Make Your Baby a Genius While Inside the Womb

You naturally want your child to grow up to be his best, and preparation for that starts in the womb. While nothing that you do can guarantee that you’ll be dropping him off at Harvard in 18 years, research has indicated that the choices you make while pregnant will affect the type of child that you have. A baby’s brain grows at an enormous rate, and he is aware of what’s going on outside the womb.

 #1

Eat your fruits and vegetables. You might be craving a milkshake or corn chips, but your baby is craving real nutrition. The vitamins that you’ll find in healthy foods can support your baby’s brain development more than junk food.

#2

Take a prenatal yoga class. A mother that’s experiencing negative emotions, like stress, nervousness or anger, can pass these on to her baby. A child who’s more relaxed may have an easier time learning in school. Regular yoga classes not only help you to relax, but they stretch your muscles, making you more comfortable.

#3

Play classical music. You don’t have to buy special earphones to place on your belly. Playing the music as you go about your daily activities can help build neural bridges in your baby’s brain, according to the BBC.

 #4

Take a DHA supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids also encourage brain development. These are present in fish oil, but there is a slight risk of mercury contamination in fish oil. Instead, take a plant-based DHA supplement. Discuss taking any supplements with your health care provider.

#5

Avoid drugs, alcohol and other contaminants. These have proven harmful to the developing brain.

#6

Carry your baby full term. Science Daily reports that babies who are born prematurely do not have the same levels of brain development as babies who are born full-term. Though the baby’s going to come when she’s ready, you can take care to avoid situations that might put you into early labor.

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These red flags could prove that your partner is cheating

You might have suspected them for some time, but how can you tell for sure whether your partner is cheating?

While you might be inclined to check their phone or hack their social media accounts it seems that most deceitful spouses, however sly they may be, unknowingly show hints of their infidelity; you just need to know what to look for.

According to David King, managing director for Lipstick Investigations – an Australian private investigators – there are six signs that could suggest your partner is being unfaithful, and that 80 per cent of time your intuition is right. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, King revealed that one of the giveaway signs is a strange change in behaviour which typically connects to the way they look. Alas, if your other hald has started sprucing up their hair, dressing smarter or smelling better, they could be up to no good.

Similarly, suspicious mobile phone use such as putting a new password on it or being overly secretive when a message comes through is also a red flag.

While King says he is unable to comment on the psychology of a cheating person, he did reveal that many of his clients report their partner acting more aggressive than usual.

Be it behaving irrationally and picking fights or storming out the house, these are, he says, all a result of guilt.

Likewise, your partner finding endless excuses for not coming home on time or needing to go out unexpectedly should also be a big red flag. 

If these tell-tale signs aren’t enough to expose your cheating spouse though, King says it might be time to bring in a professional who can catch your partner in the act on film using forensic tools, hidden cameras and even night vision equipment.

Or some people use a honey trapper - a decoy that’s sent to tempt your other half and see what happens next, using this method could catch out a potentially unfaithful partner.

But it’s not King’s preferred option. 

“People have quite unrealistic expectations of how it [honey trapping] works,' he said.

“If clients want the service I try to talk them into surveillance as a preferred option as it is going to give them the same answers.

“I'm not saying it's morally wrong, but it's not my preferred direction.”

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WOMEN ARE HAPPIER BEING SINGLE THAN MEN

Women are happier being single than men are, because being in a relationship is harder work for women, new research suggests.

According to a study by data analysts Mintel, 61 per cent of single women are happy being single, versus 49 per cent of single men.

The survey also found that 75 per cent of single women have not actively looked for a relationship in the last year, compared to 65 per cent of single men.

And the proposed reason for this is that for women, being in a heterosexual relationship is actually a lot of hard work, and generally requires more effort and labour than for men.

“There’s evidence that women spend longer on domestic tasks than men and I think they also do more emotional work - so they still do more housework and cooking and things as well as more emotional labour,” Professor Emily Grundy, of the University of Essex, told The Telegraph.

From spending more time and money on upkeep of your appearance, doing more chores and putting more effort into resolving problems or arguments, being in a heterosexual relationship typically involves a lot of effort for a woman.

What’s more, women are simply happier being single than men are. We’re better at socialising by ourselves and are more likely to have close friends we feel we can turn to in times of need. 

“Women tend to be better at having alternative social networks and other confidantes whereas men tend to rely quite heavily on their wives for that and have fewer other social ties,” Dr Grundy explains.

“Certainly there’s a common finding from a lot of studies that women who don’t have a partner tend to do more social activities and more friends compared to women with partners whereas with men it’s the reverse - men without a partner tend to do much less of that.

“So it may be that women have a wider range of alternatives,” she said. 

There’s also the fact that the stigma of being a single woman is gradually changing. 

The concept of spinsters and bachelors is on the way out, and society is finally realising that yes, many single women aren’t in relationships because they’re actually happy being independent, doing whatever they want with their time, and they don’t actually need anyone else.

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Breast Pains & Pregnancy

The enlarged breasts associated with pregnancy might be the one weight gain you are enjoying. Even if you like the look of your new chest, the pain that comes with it might be more than you can bear sometimes. Breast pain, a natural part of pregnancy, is often one of the first symptoms a woman notices before she pees on the stick.

When Your Will Feel It

Many women start to feel breast tenderness or pain in the first weeks of pregnancy. Unfortunately, this is during the same time as a normal period, when breast pain might also occur. Breast pain that continues for weeks might be a sign of pregnancy. Throbbing pain might occur the edges of the breast. Tingling in or around the nipples might accompany the pain. The breast pain may range from tenderness to intense pain.

What Causes the Pain

Breast pain during pregnancy is a direct result of the increase of hormones in your body. According to the Ohio State University Medical Center, estrogen, as well as follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, oxytocin and human placental lactogen, flood a pregnant woman’s body and encourage breast growth, causing pain.

Why The Pain is Good

Breast pain signals a pregnancy, leading a woman to verify and seek medical consultation. Breast pain can contribute to a mom’s early intervention to care for her child. Your breasts grow and tingle as they prepare to be filled with milk to feed your baby. When the pain starts to bother you, remember the healthy benefits and bonding time your breasts are preparing for your child.

What Else You Will Notice

The breast pain may come with other symptoms. Your nipples may grow and darken. They may start to expel milk. Although this normally happens near the end of a pregnancy, it could happen any time during the gestation. This early milk may ooze out with a yellow tinge. If your breasts feel hot or unusually tender, consult your doctor to ensure you don’t have an infection. Otherwise, this yellow fluid is likely colostrum, a normal early milk full of immunity-building nutrients.

Finding Relief

As your breasts start to feel heavy and bouncy, invest in a nursing bra that will support the full breasts. While you may not want to purchase a lot of maternity clothes, a bra will serve you even after you give birth and will relieve pain throughout the pregnancy. Look for a bra that comfortably holds your whole breasts to avoid any rubbing or chafing that could cause more pain. A bra pad insert will help with the early milk.

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"Pregnancy Boobs" Learn From this 9 Women

When your body is making room to grow another human, it makes sense that things might get shifted around and change during the process. You're certainly familiar with the obvious changes (ie, growing a belly), but what about some of the lesser talked-about symptoms, like the millions of ways your boobs can look and feel different? 

According to the Mayo Clinic, in your first trimester, you might have breast tenderness, and in your second trimester, you might notice more changes like general breast enlargement. Not to mention color changes and fluid discharge. Bodies: they're wild! This can be caused by hormone changes your body is making to prepare for breastfeeding.

Just like everything with pregnancy, no symptoms are universal. Here, nine new mothers (and some who are pregnant right now) share all the details about how their breasts evolved throughout their pregnancy:

1. "During pregnancy the first thing I noticed — before even taking the test — was how sore my boobs were. As I got more and more pregnant my boobs got huge and heavy. As a formerly small-breasted lady, I had always wanted bigger boobs, but I found myself really not enjoying it. I hated taking my bra off because my boobs would hit my stomach and it just felt awkward and weird." — Jacqueline, 31

2. "During my first pregnancy my breasts immediately became more full and my nipples were super sensitive and felt very sexual. During breastfeeding, whenever my nipples were touched by anything, (even shower water!) they elicited an unwarranted sexual response and sexual urge, kind of like the feeling right when you hit 'air-time' when going down a roller coaster, except in my pants. They increased by two cup sizes even before I gained very much weight — by the second trimester!" —Jen, 35

3. "I actually thought I was pregnant at first because of the way my breasts and underarms felt. I had soreness for about a week, and I kept thinking ‘Did I work out too hard or something?’ Since we had been trying to get pregnant for a year, I thought I should take a pregnancy test. It was positive! My breasts grew during the whole pregnancy and my husband made sure to let me know as well." — Jennifer, 36

4. "Throughout pregnancy, my breasts have gone through a wave of evolution. While my belly has grown from the size of an orange to a watermelon, my breasts have transformed from hard little apples to big, juicy, easily bruised mangos. The first trimester they felt sore and tight all the time, with a constant prickly pain that was amplified three times by even the slightest touch, brush, or jab. The second trimester they felt itchy, tender and squished—I had to upgrade to a bigger bra to make room. Now, near the end in my third trimester, they are just big and in the way—they feel like they could spill out at any moment."—Krystal, 35

5."When I got pregnant for the first time, I was a small B cup. My breasts grew to a C cup and breasts felt full and heavy — like they do when you get your period. An extremely noticeable difference in my breasts during pregnancy was when they started to leak colostrum! I would have yellow fluid, (sometimes called "liquid gold" by lactation consultants) leaking from my nipples and making crusty marks in my bras. It was a very strange sensation to be able to expel fluid from my nipples before my breastmilk was anywhere near being produced. I also HATED wearing any underwire during this time so I opted for camisoles with built-in shelf bras for maximum comfort but minimal support. My rib cage expanded a lot to make room for the baby, so I ended up going from a 32B to a 36C during my pregnancy. After pregnancy, my breasts have definitely changed physically, but my relationship with my breasts is what changed the most. They went from being a part of my sexual identity to my children's food 

source and then a very long road back to being sexual again."—Kenna, 30

6. "One of the first things I noticed during my pregnancy was my breasts starting to feel larger and heavier. More there than before. As someone who barely fit into a B cup before, it's kind of shocking to all of a sudden have such a boob presence. They're also much more noticeable because they're so sensitive. I've even had to back off on great big hugs because it can kind of hurt. I'm glad I used to always wear bras that were a little too big — now they fit perfectly." — Laura, 28

7. "While pregnant with my first, my breasts were ginormous. They were seriously bigger then my belly until about seven months. They were the focal point of my whole body… They were heavy and sore and then heavy again. While they didn’t change color, they were just so big I had to buy several new bras. After having the baby, they ballooned to a size H — I did not know that even existed. But [they] gradually shrunk as I breastfed."—Monica, 39

8. "My breasts are very sensitive to the touch and need to be gently massaged before sexual activity so that they don’t cause pain. Throughout my past pregnancies I noticed that my areola became bigger and darker. One tip as you get bigger is to put powder between your breasts and under them, so that they don’t get irritated and sweaty rubbing together and sitting on your belly." —Kelly, 32

9."My breasts were extremely sore and very, well... bloated. They felt like they were going to explode! If I was able to view them from the inside out, I would swear they were bruised. They were very, very painful to the touch. Post-pregnancy wasn’t any better as breast feeding is also painful at first, but there was some relief once I was able to discharge milk." —Jennifer, 45

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You Are Someone's Choice! Pre-wedding Photos Of This Curvy Lady & Her 'Dwarf' Groom Melt Hearts

Relationship expert,  Solomon Buchi Bartholomew shared these beautiful photos on Facebook to inspire those with low-self esteem, he wrote;

Always remember that you’re someone’s choice; just the way you are, without editing or recreation. You’re everything someone needs, and your flaws will be beautiful to them. Never for a moment regret how you look, or the natural features you came with.
People will make jest of your big nose, small ear, short nature, fat body, but believe me when I say your flaws beautify you. To feel bad about them is to feel bad about your selling point.
Cool. Some folks don’t like it. But there’s someone who’d die for you for just the same reason others left you.
Build your esteem with your own words of value. You’re beautiful. Deserving of love. Enough. And someone’s choice.
It’s okay if they reject you. Someone’s praying to have you.

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