Where to from here?

[maybebaby]

Hi All.
I am a relatively new bellybelly member currently ttc #2.
It's officially 12 months this month and AF arrived yesterday. I really thought his month was it. I am devastated.
We are moving to a completely new area so I will have to find a good doctor and get a referral to a FS.
My bicornuate uterus may be to blame as it caused my prem labour with #1.
I have been US and everything looks as normal as it can be and DH sperm count is great with good mobility.
What other things can I do to assist my fertitlity, as I am sure I won't get to see the FS this cycle.
Any herbal remembies, chinese medicine, acupuncture, diet e.t.c.? Any advice would be great.
Cheers in advance
em

[ticklish]

Hi Em,

The TTC journey can be difficult can't it. It took us 11 months to concieve DS, so things can naturally take awhile and nothing need be wrong. Sorry, I can't help with the bicornuate uterus - not something I am familiar with.

If there is a preconception diet I have probably read it, followed it, taken it etc! What would you like to know?

From the Natural Health Bible - Preconception Care:

A preconceptual program (I am paraphrasing)
- Stop the contraceptive pill six months before you TTC as the pill can interfere with vitamin and mineral levels
- get to know your body and learn to recognise when you are ovulating. This will help you in the long term to know when it is right to concieve
- follow a healthy diet - eat three regular meals a day, cooked meat, fish or vegetable based meals allow a good intake of essential nutrients, especially protein. Eat one cooked main meal per day. Eat at least one portion (120g) of meat, fish, or vegetarian protein. Ensure a good intake of food high in folic acid. Enjoy good sources of calcium. Eat three portion of fruit per day and two portion of green leafy vegetables per day. Eat two or three slices of wholemeal bread per day - those on weight reducing diets may need less. Use good quality vegetable oils which are high in essential fatty acids - cut down if you need to lose weight. Eat foods rich in essential fatty acids such as oily fish and nuts. Trim the skin and fat from meat and poultry. Get your partner to follow the same dietary regime.
- do not consume any alcohol
- avoid smoking
- take a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement that contains 400mcg of folic acid and vitamin B12 but not vitamin A as retinol
- take three of four good sessions of exercise per week
- avoid chemicals where ever possible
- sort out stress in your personal and work life

I can't say that I follow anything to the letter. I think it is important to eat healthy and be healthy and don't stress about it. I know the signs when I am ovulating and try to time things right - because really this is what it is about.

Are your cycles regular? Mine are now for the first time in my life and I am doing acupuncture to help! It is doing wonders. Chinese Medicine has lots to recommend for the TTC journey and it is individualised to treat your particular deficiencies.

Good Luck. If you want any further info re something in particular, just post further details and someone will be able to help.

HTH
TICKLISH

[krisp]

Dear Maybebaby, When I was TTC my DS I took a herbal remedy called Chaste Tree or also called Vitex. I also saw a Naturopath and an Acupuncturist. They made me feel great, centered and healthy. DS took 3 months and we are currently preg with our DD due Novembr 14 after hitting the jackpot 1st go! We feel blessed to have these two precious gifts with us as I have had breast cancer and had chemo so that is the reason for the treatment by a complementary health practitioner. I can't recommend it highly enough, we thought we might never realise our dream of becoming a family after my treatment by it happened quite easily so don't give up. Give a Naturopath some thought. Good luck.

[satya]

I can also recommend Vitex, I fell pregnant after 9 months of trying after just a few weeks on it, but went on to m/c in March and I haven't fallen pregnant since so maybe it had nothing to do with it.

One thing I've read is that Transfats can be very bad for those TTCing so avoid them whenever possible.

A cup of green tea a day is said to do wonders but you must also be taking a folate supplement if you drink it and stop drinking it if you think you are pregnant.

Pineapple juice is meant to help with implantation - just drink a glass of it a day after O until you think you might be pg then stop as it can cause contractions.

Full cream dairy products are meant to aid fertility so avoid low fat dairy whilst TTCing.