Natural Conception Advice
I am a self-confessed health passionist and it is my wish to work in Natural Fertility Management one day!! Sadly, there are just so many things that couples can do that doctors do not inform their patients about and it makes me so frustrated!!
Firstly, consider consulting a Naturopath specialised in natural fertility management. Most people make the doctor their first visit when having trouble conceiving, but there is actually very little that conventional medicine can offer apart from expensive procesdures and synthetic hormone drugs which arguably cause more harm to fertility. Naturopathic advised Pre-Conceptual Care Programs are tailored for the individual couples needs, and are much more successful in treating sub-fertility than the conventional medical sphere.
From a naturopathic perspective, the main reason couples are finding it so hard to fall pregnant these days is because of a significant increase in the amount of toxins absorbed and stored by our bodies. When the body reaches a certain state of toxicity, sperm stength and quality become poor. Even when the male sperm are strong, often the female body wont allow a pregancy to occur as it is protecting a potential baby from being exposed to toxins within her body. Toxicity comes in the form of pesticides in our food, heavy metals in our water, pollutants in the air, artificial birth control pills, alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs, toxic chemicals in personal care products such as deoderant, skin cream, etc- and this is just the tip of the iceburg.
So, some practical changes a Naturopath will tell you to do to assist with detoxification;
- Avoid all drugs: alchohol, caffeine, tobacco and pharmacuetical drugs (ie- painkillers).
Alcohol makes sperm co-agulate ('clump together') and it also mimics estrogen in the body- leading to weaker sperm and hormonal imbalance for both parties. Drugs such as painkillers make your liver have to work very hard to break them down, and subsequently just add to the toxic load. Your husband may wish to explain to his mates why he is avoiding alcohol so they are supportive of him and so he does not feel pressured to drink. Caffeine causes the body to leach calcium, as well as other essential trace minerals which are essential for healthy conception. Caffeine is in cola, chocolate, hot chocolate, coffee, tea and some energy drinks.
- Get on to natural personal care products. The brand 'Miessence/Mivitality' is a certified organic brand - the purest available here in Australia. They also do make-up and nutritional supplements. There is an article here on belly belly about their 26 superfood + probiotic supplement 'In-Liven'- highly recommend for couples trying to conceive. Miessence is available online or from health stores. If you would like a cheaper alternative, the Sukin range is an alternative and is still void of most of the chemicals that are present in the mainstream brands.
- Start using natural cleaning products so you are not exposing yourself to unessesary chemicals (available from your local health store). White vinegar and bi-carb soda can do wonders!!!
- Avoid paint, solvents, insect sprays and other toxic volatile substances.
- Eat Organic where possible. Conventional vegetables, fruits and grains are laced with pesticides and insecticides which over time can devastate fertility. The range of organic produce in regular supermarkets is increasing due to popular demand. Otherwise your local health store should be able to advise you on where to purchase organic produce.
- Avoid artificial additives in food (ie- artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers, thickeners, whiteners, etc). Usually these will be presented in the ingredients list as a number (their chemical code- ie- MSG is E621). If you are not sure about what is and isn't safe, you can go to additivealert.com - they even sell a book which lists all of them and their effects on the body.
- Start to detox yourselves. I placed a post in the general conception area here about friends of mine who feel pregnant after doing the Quick Cleanse 15 day detox that is available from most chemists and health food stores. Prior to this they had been trying for 2 and a half years to fall pregnant naturally. Its very important that your hubby does it with you. As I wrote in the other post- there's no point turning your womb into a greenhouse if your hubby's sperm is sluggish with booze and other nasties!!
A diet rich in seasonal fresh vegetables and fruit, wholegrains, seeds, nuts (your ABC-almonds, cashews and brazil are best), and fish low in mercury content (google to find out), with plenty of pure water is the diet eaten by the communities of the world who have the longest lifespan. It is also the diet recommended for fertility experts. If you cut out saturated fats (dairy, processed meats), sugar, white grains (white bread, pasta etc), processed foods (biscuits, cakes, chips, lollies), carbonated drinks (coke, lemonade etc), this will also increase your bodies' ability to start eliminating toxins. Plus, you can do simple things like using avocado or tahini instead of butter as a sandwich spread, olive oil instead of butter or canola oil in your cooking, and using Oat or Rice Milk instead of dairy in your cereal.
Limit your drinks to water (filtered if possible), herbal tea (peppermint, chamomile and rooibos are safe during pregnancy), and 100% fruit juices diluted with one-third water.
I really hope this helps somewhat. It is really worth both of you exhausting the natural road and undergoing extensive, rigorous detox before you give up. But please consult a qualified Naturopath to get personalised, professional advice. They will also be able to construct hair and saliva analysis tests to check for heavy metal toxicity etc, as well prescribe certain supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies which are applicable specifically to you and your partners constitution. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture also have great success in assisting fertility. You can contact ANTA (Australian natural Therapists Association) if you want to find qualified natural therapists near you.
Best of luck and stay strong.
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