Okay, sorry I haven't written in a few days. Here's the deal. We did get pregnant but had another chemical pregnancy. I've had a really hard time with this one because it's our third in a row. I'm kinda tired of losing my babies. It down right sucks. I have a feeling there are some other underlying issues so I've looked into immune and blood testing to see why my babies don't seem to implant very well. So we'll see what comes of all of that. The doctors I've spoken to don't seem to understand my need to find out why this is happening so I have an appointment with a new doctor tomorrow (Thursday) to see if she can help. One thing I've realized is after three miscarriages I believe you are considered high risk once you are pregnant. Not a label that I really wanted to have.
John and I have decided to take a break from IVF and fertility treatments for a while. We are definitely burnt out and tired of all the needles and procedures. So in the meantime we have decided to do a "fertility diet" and I'm also doing fertility massage. I figure it couldn't hurt and maybe we'll get pregnant on our own again! Here's the jist of what I'm doing in case you want to try it out yourself.
Here's what I'm taking:
Fertility Blend for Women
-It has vitamin B6 in it, which if you have a shorter luteal phase (the time between when you ovulate and have you period) it will increase it. If its 10 days or less it can be very difficult to conceive. I've had short luteal phases in the past so that's why I'm taking it.
-It has Chasteberry Extract in it which helps balance your hormones and normalize ovulation.
-It has L-arginine and it helps maintain healthy uterine lining. I'm also taking a baby aspirin (81mg) per day to help with implantation. Since all my miscarriages have been during implantation I'm hoping that will help.
I'm also taking Royal Jelly which also helps regulate hormones and most importantly for me helps with egg health. My Fertility Specialist thinks this is the main cause of my issues, so I figure if my eggs are healthier maybe I'll make better babies that will stay! It also "boosts your libido" so having sex more often tends to lead to more babies.
;)
John is also taking Fertility Blend for men which helps boost sperm health and quality.
The fertility book I'm reading, "The Fertility Diet", by Jorge E. Chavarro and Walter C. Willett, gives ten diet changes to help boost your fertility. Here's what they say:
1. Avoid trans fats, the artery-clogging fats found in many commercially prepared products and fast foods.
2. Use more unsaturated vegetable oils, such as olive oil or canola oil.
3. Eat more vegetable protein, like beans and nuts, and less animal protein.
4. Choose whole grains and other sources of carbohydrate that have lower, slower effects on blood sugar and insulin rather than highly refined carbohydrates that quickly boost blood sugar and insulin.
5. Drink a glass of whole milk or have a small dish of ice cream or full fat yogurt every day; temporarily trade in skim milk and low- or no-fat dairy products like cottage cheese and frozen yogurt for their full-fat cousins.
6. Take a multivitamin that contains folic acid and other B vitamins.
7. Get plenty of iron from fruits, vegetables, beans, and supplements but not from red meat.
8. Beverages matter: water is great; coffee, tea, and alcohol are OK in moderation; leave sugared sodas unopened.
9. Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing between 5 and 10 percent of your weight can jump-start ovulation.
10. If you aren't physically active, start a daily exercise plan. If you already exercise, pick up the pace of your workouts. But don't overdo it, especially if you are quite lean- too much exercise can work against conception.
So we will see what happens. John and I are also taking a romantic vacation in a couple weeks so that can't hurt either! Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers.
Jane
