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

by Sami S. David, Jill Blakeway

Making Babies offers a proven 3-month program designed to help any woman get pregnant. Fertility medicine today is all about aggressive surgical, chemical, and technological intervention, but Dr. David and Blakeway know a better way. Starting by identifying "fertility types," they cover everything from recognizing the causes of fertility problems to making lifestyle choices that enhance fertility to trying surprising strategies such as taking cough medicine, decreasing doses of fertility drugs, or getting acupuncture along with IVF. Making Babies is a must-have for every woman trying to conceive, whether naturally or through medical intervention. Dr. David and Blakeway are revolutionizing the fertility field, one baby at a time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Health, Adult, Self Help, Science

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

i haven't read a ton of books about trying to conceive, so i don't have much to compare this book against, but i liked it. much of what i have read about trying to conceive seems to be pushing an agenda (ie, go to ART as soon as you possibly can! hold out against ART as long as you possibly can! this method helped me conceive with endometriosis so it will work for everyone! this method didn't help me conceive with low sperm counts, so it's worthless! etc). a lot of what's out there is either too focused on complicated medical technologies that a lot of people will probably never have to use, or too focused on woo woo hippie tips that just aren't going to cut it for someone who really has a fertility issue going on. this book managed to bridge that divide, & did so in a way that was accessible to hippies, skeptics, people who've done their medical homework, & people who hadn't even heard of cervical mucus.

i would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who is starting the trying to conceive journey. while the authors address many potential causes for infertility & offer up a lot of information about what a fertility work-up looks like, what questions to ask doctors based on symptoms that may be presenting, what common fertility issues look like, & what the most popular ARTs are, this book is also chock full of basic info about how to prepare your body in advance for a healthy pregnancy. it even has tips for the dads, on how to maximize their sperm counts, motility, & morphology!

i guess the cornerstone of this book & the whole "making babies program," as they call it, is a series of checklists that help you identify your "type," according to traditional chinese medicine. i was pretty skeptical of this aspect of the book, but one of the types did seem to describe my physical & emotional issues to a T, as well as the roadblocks i have come across in trying to conceive. so hey. maybe there's something to it. following the books making babies program for my type is unlikely to do anything to get in the way of me conceiving, that's for sure. & the book gave me some ideas about basic self-help things i can try that i probably wouldn't have thought of on my own. (even my midwife friends hadn't thought to suggest some of this stuff, but i started doing it & it really does seem to be making a difference.)

for someone who is a few years into the whole infertility thing & has been actively exploring options & explanations for a long time, much of what is in this book will probably seem really obvious. but trust me when i say that a lot of people just don't know what they are getting into when they start trying to conceive. i actually went to midwifery school for a year & i was still in no way prepared for how stressful & challenging this whole mess can be. don't make the same mistake i did & assume that if you just start having more sex, you'll be pregnant in no time. following even some of the most basic tips in this book will hopefully help you make much more educated decisions & feel a lot more agency over the whole process.

[Paula Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far I love this book, makes me feel not so broken...just slightly off balance.

[Samantha Moyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟 audio

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by a doctor who began his career doing IVF, and did one of the first IVF treatments in NY. He seems to believe now that much of the IUI/IVF is overkill, and that couples could conceive on their own if they were given more specific diagnoses. He describes many easy cases such as simple infections cured with antibiotics or inflammation fixed with low-dose aspirin.

When I first read this book, it seemed reasonable, but now it seems like it's aiming at a straw man. Reproductive endocrinologists and urologists do incredibly comprehensive evaluations, especially for simple conditions that can be cured with inexpensive pills. So much of fertility is a race against the clock that it seems necessary to try multiple avenues. It doesn't represent a failure if a couple does a round of IVF before conceiving naturally.

The book also has an intrinsic contradiction. The book is geared to people for the 3 months before conceiving, but in order to apply the Western medical part of this advice, you need to a medical diagnosis, which obviously no one has yet. The first author has a clinic in NYC that does not take insurance, and I've read elsewhere that a consult costs $600.

The other set of advice in the book is based in Chinese medicine fertility types. Implementing all their Chinese medicine suggestions would take a lot of work, and they don't give any evidence to back up either their suggestions or the type determinations. Some suggestions seem harmless or things we already know we should do, like regular moderate exercise and staying warm. Other suggestions are more difficult or expensive, like buying a lot of random supplements, and supplements might not be harmless.

The dietary advice seems off for me. I eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the advice for my type is to eat less produce, less protein, and more whole grains. That seems strange to me. I've tried following it (eating brown rice, quinoa, and rolled cooked oatmeal), and I felt worse. Eating more protein and more vegetables and only a small amount of grains is the right diet for me.

I actually went to the acupuncture clinic owned by the second author once, and it was an interesting experience, but a poor use of time and money.

[Yuliya Baranova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm strongly recommend to read this book for people who are planning their pregnancies or have troubles to conceive.

First of all, the book has an overview to the whole process explaining in details of what can go wrong at each simple step.

Second, the book is written by 2 doctors with Western and Eastern approaches to the medicine. I was quite good familiar with traditional Western concepts, but Chinese medicine has some new alternatives I was not aware of. There are no strange non-proved recommendations. According to the book you need to contact certified acupuncturist if you want to get specific tea or needles treatment, but you can get very specific tips, live-style corrections that match with your fertility type and help you to conceive easily and faster.

Final point, there are certain situations when specific treatment, hormonal drugs or IUI, IVF procedures are required. The book does accept these treatments as needed ones, but it explains when you can get pregnant in natural way, it also has a list of all needed tests and questions about your fertility, food, life style, health-being and exercising that you need to know to make a healthy and happy baby.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who is dealing with infertility issues I found this book very helpful. It is co-authored by a reproductive endocrinologist who was the first doctor in New York to perform a succesful IVF, and a licensed acupuncturist and board certified herbalist. This blending of Western and Eastern medicine produced a very well-rounded look at fertility problems and possible solutions. It was interesting to me that even the endocrinologist felt that IVF and other invasive treatments are over used. My son was conceived through IVF, but after reading this book it makes me wonder if we had really exhausted all our other options. I'm going to give some of the methods in this book a shot before I resort to IVF again.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

My cousin's wife recommended this book.

I can't really write a fair review for it, because I started reading it after reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health.

After learning how to chart my cycle and understand my fertility from the last book, I calculate that I actually conceived on the day that I started reading this book. So either this book has magical powers that impregnate women, or, sorry, it was because of the knowledge I gained elsewhere.

Either way, now I am not really motivated to finish this book, but I will probably hang onto it for a while.

The main thing I remember learning from reading the first 50 pages of it made me feel much more judgy even than before about the grossness of anal sex.

The authors' tone was the opposite of judgy, but they related a story of a couple who was having trouble conceiving until the doctor discovered that the woman had fecal bacteria in her vagina that was thwarting conception. The doctor delicately suggested that they were probably having anal sex, so they should stop doing that, take a course of antibiotics, then try again for a baby. It sounded like it worked, but talk about ewww.

[Terri Kempton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be great if you have never really thought about your fertility and suddenly wondered why you weren't getting pregnant. The authors try to "westernize" TCM and acupuncture information for American women that loses a lot of power in the translation. It is full of great information like: eat right; relax; take vitamins; get lots of sleep. The book does have a nice massage and visualization section. But for women with PCOS, this book has brief, outdated information about the condition that is quite misleading. You might as well put an asterisk for PCOS patients on page one saying *this book does not apply to you! But good luck.

[Natasha Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 4/5ths of this book were dominated by information that I've picked up elsewhere after many years TTC. However, I felt like the fertility typing and tailored pre-mester plans added some value to me. The bulk of the book can be summed up as: adopt a healthy lifestyle and see a TCM practitioner.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars with the caveat that you must cross-check the science. I appreciate the integrative Eastern/Western medicine in this book, but at least some of it is straight-up malarky, per a close friend of mine who is an OB/GYN.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to discover that this most held very little new information for me. That must mean i'm current on my research. SD stresses throughout the book that the ART industry has evolved into profit making rather than patient healing. Many doctors aren't interested in treating the root of infertility or finding out why seemingly perfectly healthy couples struggle to conceive. Too bad I don't live anywhere near the doctors who would look outside the box. I liked the diet, exercise and Chinese medicine suggestions. I'm already on the road with diet and exercise parts. Not sure if I'll return to my acupuncturist.

[Rose Lindgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very educational, especially on the details of how to understand the female fertility cycle. This is also the first book to introduce me to acupuncture and Chinese medicine; it’s inspired me to explore more. I was disappointed that there wasn’t a single reference to the possibility of a non-heterosexual couple (or even a single person for that matter!) making a baby.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright. Probably more helpful if you're just starting the trying to conceive journey and don't know anything about supplements, foods, lifestyle changes etc. But once you've advanced to the support of a doctor you've probably already made those changes on your own.

[Lovprit · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so helpful.in understanding what it's gonna take from both me AND my husband. And even if we haven't started reading it gives me hope that if we were to encounter problems, we have options for solutions.

[Kymberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some great suggestions but lingo was sometimes hard to follow because it was hard to follow the abbreviations. As well thought it was on repeat a little. Wouldn’t mind reading it again sometime.

[Brooke Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information but also outdated

[Meaghan Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

It works. 😘

[Andrea Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like fear mongering but otherwise very informative.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preachy, minimally useful pseudoscience

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the combination of Eastern and Western medicine and the actual focus on getting an accurate diagnosis.

[Oana Cerchezan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been struggling with infertility and this book really helped put things into perspective.

[Megan Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical tips from a holistic viewpoint. I learned so much!

[stephanie Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book if you’re trying to maximize your fertility health.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for all people, both men and women, facing fertility issues. It focuses on the most natural ways of getting pregnant, but mentions medical assistance at the end of that is needed.

I enjoyed the fertility types and the RX for each. I was by far and away the tired type (scored 41 while all the others scored less than 10). And the funny thing is the RX all hit home to me. I love carbs, and spicy food, and staying warm, moderate exercise, etc. All of those things make me feel my best anyway.

I also liked how it broke up the help with hormonal issues, structural issues, etc. to best help people identify what is wrong with them. And bonus! It incorporates the BBT chart, which is a huge help to pinpoint what is wrong.

I would recommend this book of this is what you need.

The Chinese medicine part seemed a little weird to me, but I'm also not used to it at all. I would hesitate to get the herbs they talk about just because I know little about them and the side affects they bring.

[Gwendoline Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores natural solutions for baby-making--a great reminder that half of the battle is remembering to be kind and tuned in to ourselves. Stress, poor eating habits, too much on your plate, genital infections, etc. all make it more difficult to get pregnant.

The authors stress that a lot of conventional fertility treatments are overly dependent on technology, and that half the time, it's simpler lifestyle remedies that better prepare couples for conception.

For instance, did you know that the best position for getting pregnant is the missionary position? Or, that it's best to give the little swimmers help by stay lying down for 15 minutes or so afterwards. And, some women ovulate earlier or later in the month than expected, meaning they need to pay extra close attention to their own body's signals instead of what standard ovulation charts dictate.

We also have to prepare our bodies for pregnancy, which looks a lot like being pregnant: Limiting caffeine and alcohol. Sleeping. Reducing stress. Choosing healthful foods over processed foods. Exercising. Really, this book is a reminder to be kind to ourselves and ot really listen to the cues our bodies give us.

The authors suggest that most couples, if they start paying attention to how they care for themselves and each other, will likely get pregnant within 3 to 6 months, maybe up to a year. For couples with known fertility issues, the authors recommend really knowing why you face such issues. Oftentimes, traditional fertility treatments ignore the reasons why, preferring, instead, to use technology to force biological ailments. The purpose of the book isn't to be anti-technology; it's to get down to the root causes to overcome come then, and when that isn't possible, inquire about the best ways for natural and allopathic remedies to work together.

The last portion of the book draws on Chinese medicine. It assigns a type to you and your partner. Your type dictates how your Chi flows through you, and by better understanding your personal energy, you can choose solutions and remedies to better prepare you for pregnancy.

My husband and I realized we were both Stuck:

Stuck types internalize their stress and falter during transitions. Since they don't express stress easily, it gets carried out physically--nervous stomach, high blook pressure, tight muscles, tight digestion, etc. Recommendations:

- Food: 30% starch - 10% meat - 60% veggies
- Don't stress the liver: choose whole foods
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Essential fatty acids
- Calcium-rich foods when stressed
- Fruit and vegetable juice
- Daily sun
- Small amounts sour foods
- Hot water and lemon first thing in the morning
- Turmeric, thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, garlic
- Sit to eat meals, and chew slowly
- Reduce caffeine, red meat, hormone-injected meat, salty foods, fried and fatty foods, dairy, flaxseed and soy, alchohol
- Low-intensity aerobics, like jogging
- Meditative exercise: Tai chi, yoga, mindful walking, repetitive exercise like jogging and swimming
- REduce stress
- Develop relaxation techniques: meditation, breathing, etc.
- Find healthy ways of expressing and releasing emotions
- Laugh
- Avoid frustrations
- Breathe deeply
- Achieve balance
- Use pads instead of tampons to keep flow going
- Zinc, Vitamin B, Magnesium, Calcium, evening primrose oil, red raspberry
- Acupuncture

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was skeptical about the mix of western science and Chinese medicine, but following the advice laid out for my type definitely improved my overall reproductive health and put me on the path to baby. I do agree with some reviewers that you have to know yourself and adjust some of the suggestions accordingly (diet suggestions come to mind), but if you're serious about trying to get pregnant, I'd hope you've already figured that out.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really learned a lot from this book and the detailed information for each specific fertility issue was so helpful

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of my wishlist since I am in TTC program. I finally finished this book yesterday. It really gives me an insight for doing the TTC program naturally (without any help of Assisted Reproductive Technology). Some benefits that I get from this book is now I know my fertility type and how to treat it right to get pregnant. The treatment includes the diet, exercise that I should do each phase (menstruation, early ovulation, ovulation and implantation) and how to reduce the stress.
In that book, I'm a STUCK type which is prone to be stressed out. I am also diagnosed as having endometriosis. Therefore on my diet I should eat 60% vegetables and fruits, 30% complex carbohydrate and 10% protein. I should avoid red meat and salty dish including cheese also reduce dairy product and any food from soy (tofu, edamame etc).
The book also presents some advice how to reduce stress including self massage, doing yoga or taichi.

I recommend this book for anyone who in TTC programme who seeks other point of view :)

[Lisa]

I didn't love this book, but I think that's more because I'm not the target audience.

I wanted an overview of natural hormone regulation post HBC, and I can certainly apply a lot of what I read, but it's a little unwieldly to read about conceiving for the purpose of avoiding conception. Like, the language is messed up, and sometimes things are oversimplified to make conception/implantation more likely, when really you may just want to balance out synthetic estrogens. Advice against Black Cohosh makes total sense if you're trying to avoid miscarriage, but if you're not even TTC, it might still be helpful in regulating.

The point is, I always want as much info as possible on health, and some day I may reread, but it was pretty complicated trying to suss out how to stay not pregnant from this freaking book. Probably going to skip Fertile Female and just look for some naturopathy titles...

I would give it 4 star, but I don't want to rate it given my poor choice.

[Lisa Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a practicing Catholic so I do not agree with the use of certain aspects of Chinese medicine or artificial reproductive technologies, but this was still a great book. After learning that I have high prolactin and PCOS, I got pregnant but had a miscarriage at 9 weeks. I began reading this book upon my doctor's advice. It showed me how all my symptoms linked together and gave me an action plan to begin fixing the underlying issues. My husband and I are now working on changing our lifestyle and consulting with doctors about treatments and tests we need. I feel empowered and confident that with the suggestions from this book we will be able to have a healthy baby.