New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and, if you’re trying to have a baby, one of the best things you can do for yourself is resolve to boost your fertility. Leading a healthy, active lifestyle and consuming nutrient-rich foods improve overall well-being and have a positive impact on your fertility. Not to mention the fact that a strong, healthy body and mind will make pregnancy that much more enjoyable once you have a bun in the oven.
Lifestyle changes may seem daunting at first, but they don’t have to be. The Reproductive Care Centre recommends taking it slow and introducing them one at a time. Give yourself time to adjust to one or two small changes before moving on to the next. As you incorporate healthy changes, you’ll find that your increased energy and improved mood will motivate you to continue making positive changes that impact your overall wellness and boost your fertility.
Make a Difference in 1 Month
Changing up your diet is one of the best ways you can boost your fertility, sleep better, and have more energy. The key is to be realistic. Implementing an entirely new diet overnight just isn’t going to work for most people. Patients at The Reproductive Care Centre have found that adjusting what they eat week by week – adding fertility boosting foods and cutting back on things like carbs and sugar – is a reasonable, sustainable way to get on the path to a fertility friendly way of eating. Start swapping out things like red meat and saturated fats for healthy choices such as fresh fruits and vegetables and seafood. Prepare what you eat as often as you can, and avoid prepackaged items whenever possible.
Make a Difference in 3 Months
For various reasons, alcohol is a big part of many of our lives. Some people have a beer to unwind at the end of a long day. Others can’t imagine an evening out with friends or a romantic dinner without a glass or two of wine. When it comes to boosting your fertility, however, it’s best to avoid it completely. Not only does alcohol disrupt many wellness goals – causing restless sleep, consumption of unnecessary calories, and escaping stress in an unhealthy way – for those undergoing IVF it’s also been shown to decrease the pregnancy rate (Hakim, 1998, Rossi, 2009) and possibly increase the rate of miscarriage (Klonoff-Cohen, 2003).
Make a Difference in 6 Months
Stress is inescapable, especially for those struggling with infertility. That’s why having an array of stress-busting techniques can be so beneficial when you’re going through treatment for infertility. There’s no one right answer when it comes to stress relief – exercise, massage, yoga, meditation, volunteer work, nightly baths, daily reading…the list goes on. Experiment and find what works best for you.
Many patients find that monthly, or even weekly, acupuncture appointments make a big difference. It can help ease the stress and anxiety that is so common during infertility treatment.
Make a Difference in a Year
Weight has been shown to affect fertility, so reaching a healthy weight – whether that means losing or gaining – can be a real fertility booster. Being over- or underweight can cause hormonal imbalances and problems with ovulation that make it difficult to get pregnant. For some people, a loss or gain of just a few pounds can put you in the healthy range. For others, the amount may be more significant. Regardless of the amount, getting to an ideal weight isn’t something that happens overnight. Make 2018 the year you commit to reaching a healthy weight – for yourself and your future bundle of joy.
Resolving to make a few updates to your lifestyle throughout the year will result in positive changes that could make 2018 your best year yet. If you’re struggling with infertility and would like more fertility boosting tips, call The Reproductive Care Centre at 905-816-9822 to speak with an expert.