Everyone has a different path. A different way to accomplish a task than their neighbor, sister, brother, or spouse. Yet, we can all learn from each other and celebrate in everyone's "big wins."
When I lost my 3rd pregnancy in a row in April 2016, I knew I needed a plan. It had been 11 months of positive pregnancy tests, miscarriages, and grief. I'm not one to give up on my dreams. I always complete whatever I start, and I knew I hadn't given conception it's fair chance. Sure, I had started taking prenatals a couple of years ago, improved my diet in 2013, and switched from over-exercising to healthy movement, all for the sake of improved fertility. But for me, it was time for my husband to get on board too.
Conception is a team sport. You've got to have two healthy people to have the best chance at a healthy baby. It takes about 42-76 days for a sperm to mature and 90 days for an egg, and many specialists suggest a 180 day pre-conception plan for couples who want to see the most health benefits from improved diet and lifestyle.
So on April 10th, 10 days after my 3rd loss, my husband and I sat down and had a family meeting. We discussed what we could do together for the next three months, to improve our egg and sperm quality. We really didn't want to lose another pregnancy.
Conception is a team sport. You've got to have two healthy people to have the best chance at a healthy baby. It takes about 42-76 days for a sperm to mature and 90 days for an egg, and many specialists suggest a 180 day pre-conception plan for couples who want to see the most health benefits from improved diet and lifestyle.
So on April 10th, 10 days after my 3rd loss, my husband and I sat down and had a family meeting. We discussed what we could do together for the next three months, to improve our egg and sperm quality. We really didn't want to lose another pregnancy.
Our Plan
Jenessa
Nutrition:
- Drink ~60 oz water a day
- follow Chinese medicine foods for a healthy cycle. Basically you focus on different foods for the 4 different phases of a menstrual cycle. (PDF downloaded from this link)
- e.g. pineapples contain lots of bromalein, which is said to help with implantation. I ate fresh pineapple once a day after ovulation for about a week to assist with implantation when it was time to conceive.
- e.g. Magnesium is important during the luteal phase (post ovulation phase), so foods like leafy greens, avocados, and sweet potatoes are all recommended.
- follow Weston A Price guidelines as best as possible
- Grass-fed liver once a week for folate and other vital nutrients
Supplements:
- Red Raspberry & Nettle Infusion daily for uterine health, magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamins, and more.
- To Make: add 1/4 cup red raspberry leaf and 1/4 cup nettle leaf to a half gallon mason jar. Pour boiling filtered water and let steep for 4 hours or overnight. Strain out the leaves and keep in fridge. Drink 8-16 oz a day.
- Vitex daily to balance hormones and promote healthy progesterone levels
- I used Gaia Vitex liquid gel capsules because the liquid aborbs better in my body than the powder capsules or pills.
- 1 prenatal/day (I use Vitamin Code raw prenatals)
- Progesterone cream on Day 14-28 (for me I just waited until I ovulated before taking it because my cycles are about 40 days long and taking it early could potentially impede ovulation).
- I used Progensa 20 Natural progesterone cream for the first cycle and stopped when my period started.
- I switched over to Emerita Pro-Gest cream when I had a feeling I was pregnant (cycle #2) because it doesn't contain any herbs like the Progensa that could potentially negatively influence a pregnancy.
- Castor oil packs for uterine health 5-6 days/week on days 1-ovulation (video here, article here and here)
- Blue ice royal cod liver oil daily
Exercise:
- Conception yoga 4-6 days/week
- walk & bike when energy allows instead of driving>>>Aim for between 10 AM and 2 PM for optimal vitamin D from sun.
Rest:
- Take naps when tired
- Aim for an average of 8.5 hours of sleep/night
- Do fertility acupressure 3-5 times/week
- these are 4 different locations, one on each wrist and ankle.
Fun:
- Girl time weekly
- relax and have fun with life!
- weekly dates with Marshall: ENJOY BEING US!
Other:
- Open communication with midwife
- Wear slippers or socks to keep my feet warm. Warm feet=Warm uterus
- Review plan every month
Marshall
Nutrition:
- ~70 oz water/day
- 2 Brazil nuts/day for selenium
- Kimchi daily for zinc
- Follow Weston A Price guidelines as best as possible
- Grass-fed liver once a week for vital nutrients
Supplements:
- Vitamin D
- Obtain selenium from Brazil nuts
- Obtain zinc from kimchi & homemade sourdough
- Blue Ice Royal cod liver oil daily
Exercise:
- Sit ups & push ups 5 days/week
- Cardio from riding bike to school
- yoga 5 evenings/week for proper circulation
Rest:
- Aim for an average of 6.5-7 hours of sleep/night
Fun:
- Weekly dates
Other:
- Review plan every month
...........................................................................................................................................
At first glance, this list may seem LIKE A LOT! However, many of the things on here I was already doing, and was used to. This list just gave us a goal to work towards as a couple, and it spelled things out so it was easy to follow. I kept the list on our fridge where it was easy to remember and reference.
During this time, we focused on each other and becoming a stronger couple. We also knew that our conception was in the hands of the Lord, after we had done our part, to the best of our abilities. I felt relaxed and confident about our plan. My cycle was getting back to normal after the miscarriage, and as the weeks passed, the urge to try for another baby became stronger and stronger.
The plan was to wait 3 cycles or 3 months.
But sometimes, the Lord has other plans.
Comments
Post a Comment