I became a mother when I was almost 19. I remember being absolutely terrified, since I was young and hadn't even considered having children yet. Plus, I was in a very abusive marriage, and pregnancy wasn't exactly the best news at the time. At the time, I had absolutely no idea how much my life was about to change in the most beautiful ways. Kyle was born 15 years ago, and being his mom has been the single best thing I have ever done. I am a better, kinder, gentler person because of him. Sure, it hasn't always been easy, but everything has been so completely worth it.

Luckily, I was able to leave my abusive ex-husband once and for all. Since then, I have remarried a man I have actually known since I was 13. He was my first "real" boyfriend, so imagine my shock when I would up with him again so many years later. It had to be fate.

When Dan and I got married, we started trying to conceive almost immediately. We wanted to expand our family and give Kyle siblings to grow up with. He was pretty sick of being an only child by that point. It should have come easily, right? After all, that's what our bodies are designed to do: Make babies and preserve the existence of the human species.

Well, it usually takes between 6 months to a year for most couples to conceive. Many of them conceive much, much more quickly than that. I remember seeing all of my friends getting pregnant left and right, while each and every month, we were left with disappointment...Again. We even suffered 3 very early miscarriages. It was devastating, to say the least.

We headed to the doctor to see what, if anything, they could tell us about why we were having such a hard time getting and staying pregnant. Dan's swimmers checked out just fine, but they determined that I have PCOS, which can make it difficult to have a baby.

Difficult, but not impossible....

Rather than allowing the diagnosis of Secondary Infertility to bring us down and crush our hopes of expanding our family, we decided to keep trying. We made some lifestyle changes, and even used sperm-friendly lube to help us along the way.

Today, we are blessed with Sophie, who is 5, and Xander, who was born just 12 months after his sister. Yep. Back to back pregnancies, which came as an absolute shock and delight. After all of the heartbreak, all of the losses, and all of the tears, our family was finally complete.

Here are my top 3 tips for couples like us who have their hearts set on trying to conceive a child:

1. Take Care of Yourself.

Proper diet, plenty of water, and getting a good night's sleep are SO important when you're trying to conceive. Your body needs to be in tip-top condition to take on the very important job of growing a baby. Everyone knows a woman who is already pregnant is eating for 2. This is also true for women who are trying to become pregnant. Nourish your body before pregnancy the same way you would if you were nourishing the baby you long to have inside of you.

2. Take Vitamins and Supplements

There are plenty of supplements that can be taken to help fertility. My husband took Zinc, which is beneficial to sperm production, every day. I took Folic Acid, a Prenatal Vitamin, and a special supplement for women with PCOS daily. I truly believe that making sure we got the best nutrients for fertility helped us conceive.

3. Use Sperm-Friendly Lubricants

Using a sperm-friendly lube like Astroglide TTC™ can help assist you in your fertility journey by supporting healthy pH levels in the vagina. This supports the sperm in reaching their ultimate goal.

HOW IT WORKS:

When trying to conceive, it is vital to provide an environment where sperm has a chance of survival. Environmental conditions are affected by pH levels, osmolality (the concentration of substances like sodium and potassium) and the consistency of egg white cervical mucus.

While traditional lubricants may affect these conditions and inhibit sperm motility, studies have shown that Astroglide TTC is compatible with sperm, oocytes and embryos and allows sperm to move freely.

TTC is specially formulated with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to that of your own cervical mucus, making it less likely to hinder sperm motility than traditional lubricants. TTC also contains galactose, which is found naturally in semen, as well as fructose, the main source of energy for sperm.

Like all Astroglide products, TTC also temporarily relieves vaginal dryness during sexual activity.

Astroglide TTC™ retails for $12.99. (This is a great price, folks!)

You can purchase it at Amazon, Drugstore.com, CVS, and other fine retailers.

Connect with Astroglide on Facebook and on Pinterest.

You can even submit your own testimonial.

Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine

Welcome to the Give Your Feet A Break Today Giveaway

Hosted by: A Medic's World

Sponsored by: Hydrofeet

Sometimes walking can be painful for many reasons. Whether it is lower back pain, or conditions with your feet, maybe the type of shoes that you wear, all of these can add up to uncomfortable steps that you are taking on your feet. Why not try adding a pair of insoles that will help alleviate some of those problems? Let's introduce Hydrofeet, a therapeutic liquid messaging insole made for men and women, with children sizes coming soon. Let's check out the full review Tom over at A Medic's World did here.

So how does a chance of winning 1 of the 10 pairs available of these sound? Yes, 10 lucky people will each get to pick 1 pair from the size chart below.

“Our goal was to evoke a little fun, and remind you to smile when you’re using your mouse,” said Charlotte Johs, global vice president of computer peripherals at Logitech. “We combined a splash of color, a touch of playfulness and a dash of spirit to create this year’s 2015 Logitech Play Collection. The color combinations and designs are inspiring, cheerful, and add personality to your desk.”