Fertile Friday Vol. I

When so much is out of your control when TTC, it feels empowering to be able to influence your chances. Welcome to the first in what might be a semi-regular post series!

Fertile Friday Vol. 1: Vitamins & Supplements

{ rollover the image to see what’s what! }

Juice / Kefir

When trying to conceive, it’s important to eat breakfast. Personally, my digestive system doesn’t want to think about food until I’ve been up and about for 2-3 hours (unless I’m pregnant, in which case I’m starving first thing) so I compromise with a glass of juice or kefir (plain probiotic yoghurt drink) to kickstart my day.

Evening Primrose Oil

• 1000mg
• Once daily

Said to be good for managing endometriosis and optimising hormone levels. After my miscarriage, I had lots of tiny zits by my ears and jawline, so I started taking it 3 months ago. Added bonus: my usually weak nails are the longest and strongest they’ve ever been!

Prenatal

I inherited Momsicle‘s leftover prenatals which I started taking a month before I came off the pill. My favourite brand for convenience, price, and one-a-day dosage is Rainbow Light. I just snagged a 6-month supply at a 40% discount at Soap.com — if you use code FIZGIG20 you can get 20% off your first order, courtesy of Moi. (Yes, I earn points if you use this code.)

DHA

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 240mg
• DHA: 200mg
• Once daily

Said to be critical to brain development of a developing fetus, so I started taking this in May/June.  I use a vegetarian kind by Spectrum to avoid mercury and other toxins often found in fish oils.

Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan

• 6 pills (18 total)
• Three times daily

Prescribed by my acupuncturist on Tuesday to increase Yin energy — this will boost moisture in my body, i.e. increase cervical fluid, but also help with dry skin, eyes, and hair.

Vitamin D3

• 1000iu
• Twice daily

Despite getting 400iu (100% RDA) of Vitamin D from my prenatal, my Vitamin D levels were a tiny bit low at my annual checkup.  My PCP (GP) said to supplement with 1000iu daily.  So I do, even though combined with my prenatal I get 1400iu.  I’ve read that Vitamin D is essential for hormone balance and, later, the absorption of calcium (a growing baby will leech its calcium from its mother).  I use one by Solgar which, although it isn’t vegetarian, comes from deep sea fish whose oil has been filtered for mercury and toxins.

Co-enzyme Q-10

• 50mg
• Once daily

I started taking this in July, on the recommendation of several ladies in the middle of IVF treatment.  It’s supposed to be good for egg quality.

DHEA

• 25mg
• Three times daily

Good for egg quality.  I take this amount as suggested by my acupuncturist.

Vitamin B6

• 50mg
• Once daily

A regular reader and new computer friend told me her GP said to take 50mg daily for increased cervical fluid. Haven’t seen any evidence of that yet, but it looks like I did get pregnant last cycle (even if it was chemical…)

Shi Chuan Da Bu Wan

• 4 pills (12 total)
• Three times daily

Prescribed by my acupuncturist on Tuesday to increase Yang energy — this will help blood circulation in my uterus, to prime it for a healthy pregnancy.

♥

So that’s it — what do you take? Anything you swear by?