Before sharing my experience and tips on pregnancy, I want to acknowledge how difficult it can be for some couples to become pregnant. I feel incredibly lucky that conceiving was easy for us and am very aware that this is not the case for many couples.
ADVICE FOR OPTIMISING YOUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & FERTILITY
- Try to slow down the pace of your life to pay attention to your body and your monthly cycle. Honor the different phases with optimal rest and nutrition at different stages throughout the month.
- Eat balanced, nutritious meals. Try to buy seasonably (to ensure you are getting the optimal nutrients you need for the time of year), locally (so that produce has developed and ripened fully before being picked), and organically (to avoid pesticides and other chemicals in your food).
- Cut back on packaged or processed foods.
- Engage in mindfulness exercises and other stress- relieving activities. (I love waking up and doing 20 minutes of yoga before everyone else in my family wakes up. It’s so nice to have this quiet time to myself.) You can also try meditating, walking or even long, relaxing baths.
- Cut down on stress as best you can. If your job is stressful, can you reduce your hours or make a change?
- Improve your circulation and blood flow by incorporating movement into your daily routine (even if it’s a walk around your neighborhood, yoga or a swim).
- Connect with your partner throughout the day. Try doing yoga together or taking daily walks.
- Pay attention to your fertility signs and symptoms. Have sex with your partner during your fertile window.
“The nervous system controls the function of every cell and organ within the body. For many of us, the nervous system leans towards ‘fight or flight’ mode even when we are not in any apparent external danger. Sometimes those stimuli come from stressors – financial, relationship, work, political – all of which create elements of anxiety and fear. Processing and managing these internal stressors through certain modalities can help shift our autonomic nervous system into a more relaxed and, perhaps, more fertile mode of operation.”
– Dr. Elliot Berlin, award-winning prenatal chiropractor, childbirth educator and labor support bodyworker, referenced in the Zen Mamas book.
Of course, falling pregnant is not always as easy as reducing stress and eating well. There are many factors that can delay or prevent conception or interfere with the body’s ability to nurture a healthy baby.
The importance of knowing that each person is an individual, and while there are so many different circumstances to consider, we should be treating people on a very individual basis.
Please seek advice from a caregiver you trust.
References:
“Nurture” – Erica Chidi Cohen
“Spiritual Midwifery” – Ina May Gaskin
“Zen Mamas” – Teresa Palmer and Sarah Wright Olsen
