Preconception Care Archives

Vitamin D: Tips for IVF Success

September 14, 2009 By Carol Leave a Comment

An interesting study has indicated that women have higher chances of achieving pregnancy if they have high levels of vitamin D in their serum and follicular fluid (FF) after IVF-embryo transfer.

The results of this study was published recently in the online edition of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. The study was conducted on 84 infertile women who were undergoing IVF to assess the link between IVF outcomes with vitamin D concentration.

Whilst vitamin D levels in the Follicular Fluid were inversely associated with body mass index, after adjustments, scientists observed significantly higher rates of clinical pregnancy and implantation when Vitamin D levels were higher.

This suggests that vitamin D supplements may enhance the outcome for infertile patients undergoing IVF as well as improving overall health.

Although vitamin D is known to play a key role in fetal bone growth, its exact role during fertilization and implantation is not really known. There is a need for scientists to now determine the appropriate doses of vitamin D that may help women during the preconception period and during pregnancy.

If you aren’t taking supplements, it might be a good idea since it is found naturally in many foods that are not often eaten. These foods include cod liver oil, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, herring; Vitamin D fortified milk and cereal, eggs.

Vitamin D is also added to milk and is manufactured in the skin as a result of direct exposure to sunlight.

Diet and Improving Chance of Conception

September 7, 2009 By Carol Leave a Comment

One week of solid nutritious eating on a low calorie plan and exercising has seen me lose just over 1 kilo over the past week. How exciting! I am now officially overweight not obese. Funny how a one kilo weight loss can move you from being obese to overweight according the a BMI calculator. Psychologically, being overweight sounds better than obese!

In any case, I still have a long way to go. In fact, I am aiming to get my weight back into the healthy weight range to help improve my chances of conception. By my count that means losing about 12 kilos (2 stone). With a bit of luck I should be able to get close to that goal by the end of year. I can then kick start the new year with another round of IVF. I’ve tried everything else so might as well try the weight loss option which according to research is one of the most significant reasons why IVF fails.

Surprisingly, I have not felt overly hungry. Well – I did for the first couple of days but my body has now adjusted to the portion sizes I am now eating. I am having 5 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones and this seems to have stopped me from thinking about snacking on lollies and chocolate in between meals.

IVF Preconception Care

August 29, 2009 By Carol Leave a Comment

After several attempts at trying to get pregnant, you sometimes question yourself if there is anything you are or aren’t doing right that is hampering your ability to conceive. Sometimes in doing that, you cause yourself unnecessary pain. It’s called beating oneself up with negative thoughts about what you should or shouldn’t have done. Thoughts like:

– Maybe if I drank a bit less alcohol
– Maybe if I quit smoking earlier than what I did
– Maybe if my diet was better
– Maybe I should have tried reflexology
– Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk all those Coke Zero’s
– Maybe I should drink less coffee or hot chocolate
– Maybe I am just too fat
– Maybe, I should try reflexology.

Although it’s perfectly normal, all these maybes do your head in. I think I have already come a long way from where I was. For a start, I drink a lot less wine these days, I don’t smoke anymore, I take folate, CoQ10, Vitamin C and fish oil tablets. I drink a lot more water these days and I rarely drink any soft drinks – diet or otherwise. I’ve also been exercising regularly for at least the past year or two. Seems to me that a lot of the things I used to enjoy I no longer do anymore.

The one thing I haven’t changed is my diet. Actually I tell a lie – it has gotten worse. Since starting IVF, I have been getting progressively fatter and fatter – in fact my BMI has moved from the overweight category and just edged into the obese category!!! Whilst I don’t think the hormone treatments have helped my cause, I’ve noticed that my food portion sizes have increased since I got married. My coffee intake has also increased significantly.

Given that the human body is a complex and finely tuned machine, I have decided to take up the challenge to improve my diet. I will continue to maintain the positive changes I have made in regards to quitting smoking and exercising regularly, but as of today no coffee, only herbal teas and healthy good food choices. I’ve been reading up on the topic and I think there is a lot of merit in alternative therapies and I think these can be highly successful for some people. Acupuncture is back on the agenda and I might even have a go at reflexology. Now I am not expecting change overnight. I know good preconception care starts about 3-4 months before trying to conceive but if I don’t get pregnant within the next year, at least I’ll know I have done everything in my power to get pregnant. And that my friends is the only thing that I can do.