Getting healthy, getting fertile

[twinklestar2]

I've been trying for a baby for 19 months now, nothing is working :(

Since the beginning of the year I have tried to go on a health kick. I have cut back on the drinking (only drunk a couple of times this month), have switched to organic food, no caffeine, drinking green tea and from today I have given up my one cigarette a day habit.

Anyone fancy joining me to get baby ready?

[TWinklyLittleStar]

Hi! Me - and for any confused readers, the OP and I aren't the same person :)

I will post properly shortly.

[Soph80]

Twinkle - I too have been ttc for 19 months. I've limited myself to

[Francescarose]

I'm a big believer in this approach- helped us conceive DS after over a year of trying and we used the same approach this time and have just got a BFP. We went the whole hog and had hair analysis and vitamin supplementation by Foresight Preconception. It worked wonders.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Hmm, I'm in two minds about this. Have you started investigations?

We had fertility problems (discovered after about 18 months TTC). We had treatment for the (reversible) fertility problems and were told we should conceive. However, the month I did get pregnant I'd recently got much fitter, low carb/high protein diet and getting plenty of exercise. I'd finally got my BMI under 30. My GP and I discussed it and didn't think it was a huge coincidence.

Definitely cut out the smoking. Reducing caffiene is not a bad idea but don't forget that green tea contains caffiene! I think eating well and exercising will help your fertility but it won't magically get you pregnant if there underlying fertility problems. If its been 19 months, it does need medical investigations.

[twinklestar2]

Francesca can you please share what things you did?

[twinklestar2]

Hi faith - yes we are in the hands of the docs now. Only issue showing up so far is hubs 2% morphology. I'm doing this to help OH stick to it too.

You're the second person who I've heard got pregnant from a high protein / low carb diet...

[ccsays]

I'm in Going to start TTC around April. Came off implanon two weeks ago, quit smoking four weeks ago, me and DP are taking his and her Pregnacare vitamins, gave up Diet Coke (noooooooooo) and I'm trying to eat healthily and lose some weight (about a stone overweight at the moment, Christmas didn't help).

This will be our first, so I'm really excited to start TTC

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

It surprised me actually, I hadn't twigged that eating more protein would actually keep me fuller for longer...

Our issue was male factor (problem with his prolactin). 8 months after he started treatment I got pregnant and it was about two months after I started exercising/low carbing.

[Francescarose]

Hi twinklestar2

Happy to share the things we did... it was quite drastic as I had been diagnosed with PCOS (totally unexpected as had none of the symptoms except no periods after coming off the pill) and several rounds of Clomid had failed. So this was our last ditch attempt before putting our names down for IVF!

We did:
Hair analysis through Foresight Preconception and taking the prescribed vitamins and minerals (c.20 tablets per day each!!)
No alcohol
No caffeine
No wheat
No dairy
No sugar except fruit
No processed food whatsoever
No aluminium saucepans/ jars/ foil
No plastic food boxes/ bags
Breakfast of home made muesli with linseed, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds etc daily

It was very hard! But my periods returned within a month and the next month we had a BFP. Totally worth it.

I have a friend whose sister had 6 miscarriages then did the Foresight approach and has now had two children. I honestly think it is amazing.

Good luck and feel free to ask any more questions!

[twinklestar2]

Ccsays - it's my first too. Well done with what you've done so far!

Faith - cuts carbs

Francesca - that's brilliant, congrats. It looks very hard tho! What was a typical days menu? Did you hibernate whilst you did it?! What did you do if u went out?!

[tillyann2013]

Me please! No alcohol since New Year's Day, trying to eat healthily and taking omega 3 vitamins as well as pregnacare and folic acid. Hubbie has finally kicked the ciggies too so fingers crossed. Off to checkout preconception hair analysis.

[Francescarose]

A typical day's menu would be the muesli for breakfast as described, a salad with tuna and egg for lunch and salmon fillet with rice and veg for dinner. Snacks just fruit and nuts. We honestly have never been healthier- I lost weight and was only a size 10 to begin with. We did pretty much hibernate as I became very depressed by TTC and avoided everyone. I would not recommend that! We probably did the diet 95% of the time with the odd night off if we were going out.

[twinklestar2]

Francesca - did you cut out meat?

OH and I broke our dry January last night and had a night out with friends. It was really nice but ouch my head hurts this morning! And we didn't smoke - so pleased!

No more drinking for me for the rest of the week, even though I have 2 more nights out planned.

[MaybeAgain]

Can I join please?

We're hoping to TTC #3 in April and I have been attending weight watchers for a while now. My aim is to be at target by then, I have roughly 1 stone to lose. I've also cut out alcohol since NYE and have cut down a lot on caffeine, I did love my Pepsi max. I've been a little poorly for a few weeks so although I've still kept away from alcohol and caffeine, I've not been too good with my diet.

Been back on it big time since Monday, I'm determined to get there. We also have a holiday abroad in April so I have 2 good reasons to get trim and healthy.

I put on over 4 stone both times I've been pregnant, and both times I fell pregnant weighing more than I do currently, so although you cannot follow weight watchers during pregnancy, I aim to eat healthy food throughout and not eat a HUGE bag of maltesers every night because the baby wants them

[Sonics]

Francesca did you eat the muesli dry if you also gave up dairy?

[MrsHuxtable]

What did you cook your food in, Francesca?

[Francescarose]

In answer to questions...

Re. meat- I hate red meat so didn't have to worry about that. Ate lean chicken and lots of fish.
Muesli- you soak the mixture in water the night before so it can be eaten just like that. I guess you could add oat milk or something though?
Cooking- we bought new stainless steel pans. Aluminium ones are meant to be bad.

Another thing I remembered that we did was drink only filtered water. If there's any chance that your water arrives via lead pipes then you' should drink bottled water only.

Hope that helps!

[babyrose]

I'm going to join if that's ok? This is our 2nd month TTC and we are getting fit and healthy!!

Only just started our fitness this wk but better late than never!

[twinklestar2]

I've gone low carb from today. Not cutting them out completely but doing no rice, potato, pasta or bread. Hope it works!

[whiterose2011]

I'd like to join as well if that is ok? Going to start a really healthy month tomorrow. 28 days without processed crap, including my beloved diet coke!

Let's hope it makes a difference! Good luck to us all xxx

[twinklestar2]

I did have a couple of drinks last night as I was out with old friends but I had them with dinner and I made sure I was drinking water too.

Managed to stick to low carbs and feel ok this morning - head is ok and tum feels flatter.

Out for dinner again this eve but that's it for a couple of weeks.

Not drinking tonight.

[Alexandra6]

I'm in! I've heard stories about people sorting out their cycles with diet and exercise. I've got PCOS but I did a low GI diet last year for a while and my cycles did seem less crazy. So starting low GI again and also exercise, cutting down on the booze quite a bit, no coffee, nothing processed or refined, lots of fruit/veg/nuts/seeds and fish.

I just got back from an all inclusive two week holiday and ate and drank loads but as I'm starting clomid next cycle, it's a good time for a health kick!

[twinklestar2]

How should we do this? Post our menus? Diet tips?

[Alexandra6]

A bit Bridget Jones but today...0 alcohol units, lots of walking, wholemeal toast with marmite, boiled eggs, blueberries and yoghurt, cod with wholemeal noodles and veg for dinner. Oh and a glass of juice with Spirulina! How good am I? ;)

[twinklestar2]

What's Spirulina?