Keep To A Healthy Weight
If you’re overweight, you may have problems getting pregnant and fertility treatment is less likely to work.
Being overweight or obese also raises the risk of some pregnancy problems, such as high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis,miscarriage and gestational diabetes.
Before you get pregnant you can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to find out your BMI. But this may not be accurate once you’re pregnant, so consult your midwife or doctor.
Having a healthy diet and doing moderate exercise are advised in pregnancy, and it’s important not to gain too much weight.
You can keep to a healthy weight by having a balanced diet and doing regular exercise.
Can Pregnant Women Get Tested For Neural Tube Defects In Their Baby
There are two tests available for the detection of NTDs in the second trimester of pregnancy:
- A blood test that measures the level of a protein called alpha fetoprotein or AFP in the mothers blood. This test is usually performed between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy.
- A detailed ultrasound examination of the babys head and spine. This is usually done between 17 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
These tests are not harmful to the baby and will detect the majority of babies with NTDs.
Vitamins: Trying To Conceive
When you’re planning to conceive, there are certain things you can do that can benefit the health of your future baby. It’s important that you and your partner take care of both your physical health and overall wellbeing, as this can improve your chances of becoming pregnant.
A big part of supporting your health involves eating a healthy, balanced and varied diet to make sure that your body is healthy and ready to conceive. Lifestyle habits like regular exercise and managing everyday stress can also play a key role.
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Do Prenatal Vitamins Have Side Effects
A lot of people wonder about about prenatal vitamins side effects. Some people get nauseated or constipated from taking prenatal vitamins. If this happens to you, talk with your doctor about changing brands or the types of vitamins youre taking.
Prenatal vitamins come in tablets or capsules, so finding the kind that works best with your body can help ease side effects. Your doctor or midwife can help you find a prenatal vitamin that will work best for your body.
When Do I Need To Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a really important time for fetal health and development. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can help reduce the risk of some birth defects. Keep taking prenatal vitamins throughout your entire pregnancy.
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When To Contact A Doctor
A person should talk with their doctor before taking any new supplements. The doctor can advise on whether the supplement may interact with any current medications. They may also recommend other lifestyle or dietary adjustments that a person can make to increase their chances of conceiving.
People who have difficulty conceiving should consult their doctor. About 6% of married couples cannot conceive after 1 year of trying. As age can affect fertility, if the person trying to conceive is over 35 years old, they should seek medical advice after 6 months of trying.
A doctor can check both partners to help determine the cause of infertility. They may suggest treatments, such as IVF or medications to help people conceive.
Optimize Vaginal Health Use A Sperm
Vaginal dryness is more common than we may think. In a study across 11 countries involving over 6,500 women, up to 18% of women aged 1834 years reported always or usually experiencing vaginal dryness4. This can be worse when trying to conceive as there is a tendency to have lots of baby-making sex. Some of the most commonly available lubricants can be harmful to sperm so be sure to use a sperm-friendly lubricant.If you have any abnormal vaginal discharge, it is worth speaking to your doctor. Common vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush, can be treated easily and make trying for a baby easier.
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What Goes In A Prenatal Vitamin
Most high-quality prenatals will include folate, iron, calcium, vitamin D, DHA, and iodine.
- Folate: The CDC recommends folate specifically to women of reproductive age to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
- Iron: Iron is important for making the extra red blood cells youll need for pregnancy and can decrease the chances of complications such as low birth weight and preterm delivery.
- Calcium: Calcium and vitamin D are helpful for building strong bones and teeth for you and your baby.
- DHA: Finally, DHA is a building block of your baby’s developing nervous system.This omega-3 fatty acid can be found in fish and in omega-3 fortified foods like eggs and dairy.
- Choline: Most prenatals lack choline. But growing evidence of its benefits shows choline improves several pregnancy outcomes and protects against certain neural and metabolic disorders.
When youre on your TTC journey, its important to consume enough of these nutrients to meet your recommended daily allowance . This ensures both mom and baby have what they need for a healthy pregnancy. Natalists prenatal provides comprehensive prenatal nutrition that meets or exceedsACOG‘s recommendations for pregnancy.
Shop the Natalist Prenatal for her
Male Fertility Antioxidant Supplements
For men hoping to increase fertility, the goal is to make sure sperm are healthy. Antioxidant supplements can help. Researchers studied 101 infertile men who had abnormal semen.13 The men used an antioxidant supplement from Fairhaven Health called FH PRO. It contains L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 , vitamin E, lycopene, N-acetyl L-cysteine, vitamins A, D3, C, and K, B-complex vitamins, iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, grape seed extract, benfotiamine, and L-arginine. After three months of taking FH PRO three times every day, the men experienced a 33% increase in sperm count.
Sperm motilitytheir ability to move and swim toward the female eggincreased by 122%. The sperm also had a healthier shape after the men supplemented with the antioxidant formula. When sperm are attacked by free radicals, their DNA breaks apart. The antioxidant fertility supplement caused the DNA fragmentation rate to take a 20% nosedive.Learn more about the FH PRO for Men sperm analysis studies.
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Get To Know Your Cycle
How much do you know about your menstrual cycle? Really understanding helps you know when you’re most fertile, says Hillard.Ovulationis the best time to get pregnant. “This is the time to focus on having sex,” Hillard says.
It helps to become aware of the signs of ovulation, such as a change in your cervical mucus. It usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile. Some women may also feel a one-sided twinge of pain.
Ovulation prediction kits can also help you predict the best time to get pregnant, says James Goldfarb, MD, director of the infertility service at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Not only can they help assure you that you are ovulating, “if you are having infrequent intercourse, this tells you when to have it to increase your chances of getting pregnant,” he says.
Here’s how it works: The first day of your menstrual period is considered day one. “Start testing on day nine and keep going until you get a positive,” advises Joanne Piscitelli, MD, an associate professor of gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate on day 14. But many women have longer or shorter cycles, so casting a wide net can help you be sure.
Continued
Best Fertility Supplements To Get Pregnant Fast
Trying to Conceive can be a stressful time in your life. Unexplained infertility among other issues like poor egg health, endometriosis, low sperm count, etc can be present. Its important to make sure your body is healthy and has all the nutrients needed to get pregnant.
I wanted to share the best fertility supplements that work in 2020.
When I started my TTC journey, I researched up and down on what kind of fertility supplements I could be taking to maximize my chances of conceiving. Remember, it takes two to make a baby so both female and male should be taking care of themselves.
My husband and I are dealing with Male Factor Infertility, so I also included a list of fertility supplements for men to increase sperm health.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This list is compiled of supplements that I personally take and have done research on. Please consult your doctor before starting any new vitamin regime.
This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to shop using my links, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.
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What Is Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin that every cell in your body needs for healthy growth and development. Taking it before and during early pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine . Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause problems in overall health, in how the body develops or in how the body works.
To help prevent NTDs in your baby, start taking a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid every day before you get pregnant. A supplement is a product you take to make up for certain nutrients that you dont get enough of in the foods you eat. Start taking 400 mcg of folic acid each day at least 1 month before pregnancy and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Your folic acid supplement can be:
- A multivitamin. This is a pill that contains many vitamins and other nutrients that help your body stay healthy.
- A prenatal vitamin. This is a multivitamin that has nutrients you need during pregnancy. Your health care provider may give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins, or you can get them over the counter without a prescription.
- A supplement that contains just folic acid.
Because nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, you should take a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid each day even if youre not trying to get pregnant.
Is It Safe To Take A Prenatal When Youre Not Pregnant Yet
The very first thing you might ask yourself when youre planning to have a baby is: what can I do to make sure that me and my future bubs are as healthy as possible?
While this article lists all the benefits of taking a prenatal when youre not pregnant yet, you also need to know if its even safe to do so. After all, prenatals are mostly developed for women who are already pregnant.
Well, the CDC recommends that all women of reproductive age take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day, not just women who are already pregnant!
Also, the Mayo clinic states that its generally a good idea for women of reproductive age to regularly take a prenatal vitamin.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also thinks starting early with prenatals is a great idea. They recommend taking a prenatal vitamin at least 1 month before becoming pregnant, but since you cant predict whats going to happen in the future, its a good bet to start when you start trying for a baby. Besides, you want to start early as Ill show you what the science says about how a good prenatal vitamin can actually improve your chances of becoming pregnant faster!
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Stop Smoking Alcohol And Drugs Limit Caffeine
If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs, you should stop before you get pregnant. They can:
- Make it harder for you to get pregnant
- Increase the chance of miscarriage
If you need help quitting smoking, alcohol, or drugs, talk to your doctor or midwife.
Alcohol can harm a growing fetus , even in small amounts. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause long-term problems for your baby, such as intellectual disability, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, and facial and heart defects.
Smoking is bad for unborn babies and puts your child at greater risk of health problems later in life.
- Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with a lower birth weight.
- Smoking also makes it harder for you to recover from your pregnancy.
Drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous for you to take at any point in your life.
You should also cut down on caffeine when you are trying to get pregnant. Women who daily consume more than 2 cups of coffee or 5 cans of soda that contains caffeine may have a harder time getting pregnant and a greater chance of miscarriage.
Limit unnecessary medicines or supplements. Discuss with your provider about both prescribed and over-the-counter medicines and supplements you take before you try to conceive. Most medicines have some risks, but many have unknown risks and have not been thoroughly studied for safety. If medicines or supplements are not absolutely necessary, do not take them.
Do Fertility Supplements Actually Work
- Do Fertility Supplements Actually Work?
A couple might be struggling to get pregnant, but before going to the doctors or seeking out a fertility specialist, they might stock up on prenatal multivitamins. These contain things like folic acid and vitamin B12, along with plenty of other nutrients that can aid fertility.
Supplements, or fertility super nutrients as theyre sometimes known, help to top up your bodys nutrients to help fertility. Women who are deficient in vitamin D, for example, are only half as likely to conceive as those who get enough.
A common fertility supplement is Omega 3 fish oils, thought to help regulate hormones, particularly if you have polycystic ovary syndrome. Other popular fertility supplements include:
Folic acid/B9 doctors suggest taking a daily supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby. You should continue taking folic acid until youre around 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid has been proven to greatly reduce the risk of babies developing serious birth defects, including spinal cord problems such as spina bifida.
Zinc zinc is a key factor in helping make the parts of the reproductive system function properly. A womans body depends on zinc for egg production, maintaining proper follicular fluid levels, and for hormone regulation. Low levels of zinc have been directly linked to miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy.
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Get A Preconception Checkup
Before you officially start trying, get a checkup. Ask your doctor aboutprenatal vitaminsthat havefolic acid, which helps protect against some birth defects, such asspina bifida. Folic acid works during the early stages of pregnancy, so that’s why it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough folic acid even before you get pregnant.
“Do this the cycle before you start trying,” says Paula Hillard, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. “If you have any underlying medical problems, they need to be under control before you can safely become pregnant.”
Antioxidant Prenatal Supplements For Female Fertility
Many fertility doctors recommend that their patients take an antioxidant-rich prenatal supplement. By the time a woman is in her mid- to late thirties, shell have more abnormal eggs in her reserve than normal eggs. So, its critical that that women take steps to protect egg quality. By blocking free radicals before they reach the eggs in a womans ovarian reserve, antioxidants can protect the quality of eggs. For example, melatonin supplementation can improve egg maturation during IVF treatments.6 Coenzyme Q10 is another antioxidant powerhouse that can increase egg quality. In a human trial, supplementation with CoQ10 led to higher fertilization rate and more high-quality embryos.7 CoQ10 also has increased the number of ovarian follicles and improved ovulation.8
Raising levels of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals through a good prenatal vitamin helps resolve issues that may play a role in irregular cycles and unpredictable ovulation. For example, myo-inositol increases the rate of ovulation.9 N-acetyl cysteine increases ovulation and pregnancy rates.10 D-chiro-inositol is another fertility friendly nutrient, as it supports healthy insulin secretion, especially in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.11 When insulin levels are excessively high, it can cause problems that interfere with pregnancy. Studies also have shown D-chiro-inositol can support pregnancy-promoting levels of luteinizing hormone and LH/follicle stimulating hormone.11
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How Much Folic Acid Do I Need When Im Trying To Conceive
The NHS recommends that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day when youre trying to get pregnant. You should keep taking this amount every day until youre 12 weeks pregnant. While youre taking folic acid, you should keep eating foods rich in folate as part of a balanced diet.
Some women who have an increased risk of birth defects will need a higher dose of folic acid, typically 5 milligrams . Your GP will tell you if you need this higher dose.
If You Still Have A Negative Result
Sometimes, life doesnt go according to plan. You might try to get pregnant for a long time and keep getting disappointing results from pregnancy tests. You might wonder whether youre trying the right sex positions for conception, or if it just isnt meant to be.
Many people have to try for several months before getting a positive pregnancy test result.
If you think your partner may have some fertility issues or health concerns, you still have several options for growing your family.
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