This is not intended to replace your own research, doctor's advice, etc., but to supplement or prompt you into your own.
Time for some background on my health:
So with Samuel I got pregnant right after I turned 27, and with this baby, right after I turned 30. I have never had regular periods, and if I had gotten proper testing, I would probably be diagnosed with PCOS - as I have most of the symptoms. I got my first period right before I turned 14 years old, and never had a 28 day cycle - but both my mother and my sister did. I also don't normally get much by the way of mood swings - like PMS type stuff. I have one or two heavy days, and my period usually lasts 6-8 days. Currently, I am pregnant, so I don't have one, and I'm going to be curious to see how my post partum periods are after this baby. In between Samuel's pregnancy and this one, I used the Keeper Cup as my menstrual hygiene choice. I had apparently developed an allergy to a chemical in mainstream maxi pads, I also became aware of all the chemicals in tampons and pads and uncomfortable with those options, and I was able to get the keeper cup through a co-op I'm in for just over 20$. It worked for all 6 periods I had - like a charm...the first month or two was definitely a learning curve, but with a little time and patience, I was hooked. There are many types of cups out there, so research what one you might think is best. A lot of the chemicals in tampons and maxi pads actually interfere with hormones. It makes me wonder how much of the problems I had as a teen and young adult were related to the chemicals I was sensitive to, causing me issues. Not everyone is sensitive to things like this - which is why some people can eat junk food and stay thin, and others of us look at a soda sideways and gain 5 pounds....I am the sensitive one, so I simply take more precautions than "normal" people. However, sometimes we aren't aware of the damage being done, so being "sensitive" is sometimes a blessing too. Anyways, I digress.
I have skipped months of my period when I was in college especially(and I was celibate). I blame it on stress of college plus living in a dorm with so many other women. When I graduated in '07, I also started birth control...I used the NuvaRing - several girls at work recommended it, and it was a lose dose birth control, non-abortive, and it gave out consistent hormones, right to the vagina, vs. taking a pill that runs through the digestive system, blood stream, and eventually gets to the source - this happens every day - hormone levels rise and fall and this happens daily...that concerned me. I am still confident in my choice of NuvaRing at the time...I wish I had made other choices in life all together at that time...and didn't go on it at all.
While on birth control, I didn't get pregnant, but my periods weren't as predictable as they should have been. I'd still be a day or two late from time to time. I still had acne issues, thin and greasy hair, etc. After being on it for about 2.5 years fairly happily, my need for it was gone, I had moved to FL from PA, didn't have a prescription or a doc down here, so I decided to stop it altogether...and then I waited for a period. And waited...and waited. After several months, I mentioned it to my chiropractor, and she put me on two liquid herbal supplements through Standard Process and I got a period - a normal one - as if I had been menstruating all along. These supplements were expensive, and my chiro was far from my house, and I figured I must have "reset" my uterus, so to speak, so I stopped the supplements after I ran out....and waited again...for a LONG time. A total of a year after I stopped NuvaRing, a period finally returned on its own - without supplements. So in the 12 months of being off birth control, I had one herbally induced period. It was still extremely irregular at that point when it came back on its own...I probably got 6-7 periods a year - whenever they wanted to show up- never 28 days apart, always very late. I told my now husband, when we were dating, that conceiving might be difficult because of all these things...he loved and married me anyways :)
So after about a year of marriage, irregular periods, several pregnancy "scares" that ended in tears of frustration, I delved deep into fertility diets, supplements, etc. We weren't trying to get pregnant, but I was OVER my hormones being ridiculous. SO much of what I read and researched said "exercise 3 times a week, eat healthy, and take your multivitamins." - *eye roll*...I already did all of that, probably more so than the normal pregnant person at the OB. I had a period Sept 2012, and then nothing for Oct/Nov until Dec 2012. I went to the OB to get a pap smear since it had been a while, and mentioned my ideas about PCOS testing and she said "oh, those tests are expensive and you're a cash patient and don't have a real job [I was working for the state as an independent contractor in the local courthouse] - you probably just have weird hormones - I'll see you next year for your pap". I didn't love that answer.
So I learned a lot on my own, and two months later, found myself pregnant with my dear son, and had a great pregnancy. With this current pregnancy, I had a completely different story. I'll be brief. Basically, after I had my son in November 2013, I didn't get a period until I completely weaned him from nursing - May 2015. After about 5 periods, I experienced a miscarriage(Oct 2015), and then 2 missed months of no period(but I lactated, that was fun :( ), followed by one "rough" cycle, and then got pregnant with my current pregnancy. I did a few things differently with conception this time, so I'll put it all in one list but under Baby 1 or Baby 2. I don't think all of this is necessary for most women, but it is what I did and I went pretty gung-ho...so hopefully it helps someone. All of these things I continued until my supplement ran out, as they are safe during pregnancy as well. Many I continued into pregnancy and nursing, but that will be covered in the later blogs.
Baby 1:
- Eat FAT! I would eat bacon and eggs, with avocado on top, with buttered toast for dinner many nights a week. (all sourced well, organic, etc.) I didn't gain an weight doing this either.
- Probiotic cleanse: I wanted to restart my gut and make sure my flora and fauna were working FOR me, instead of against me. This cleanse was easy, short, and relatively affordable - even Daniel did it with me.
- Omega 3's - healthy hormones: I swear by this supplement. I used it with both babies as a fertility aid.
- Vitamin D and Vitamin B: I used both of these also. Vit D is important in fertility and B vitamins are important for brain health, overall. In human biology, we learned that hormones often start in the brain, and then get sent through the body in a complex system from gland to gland, before the message is truly "sent"...I wanted to make sure that the brain itself was getting what it needed as far as fat - to transport the messages, and B vitamins to properly nourish the brain itself to send the right messages.
- Iodine: I use this brand, Iodoral. Everyone knows that iodine helps the thyroid and it is key to a lot of health issues, but iodine doesn't JUST nourish the thyroid - it nourishes the brain, uterus, breasts, etc. This particular brand is doctor formulated, recommended by my chiropractor, and is very affordable. The 12.5 mg is a daily pill, and 180 pills lasts you 180 days - about 6 months for about 30$. Again, safe while pregnant and nursing...to be covered later. Kelp supplements contain FAR LESS than one pill of this and this is in the proper ratio for optimal absorption...kelp supplements are ok, but are far more inferior as a supplement, unless you are taking like a whole bottle at a time - which I don't recommend. 1 pill of iodoral has over 30 times the amount of iodine that 1 capsule of kelp has. (12.5 mg vs. 400 mcg) So you're saving money and increasing efficiency by going with a more potent supplement.
- Multi-vitamin: I shouldn't have to explain why this is a good thing. We don't always eat well, or absorb nutrients well, so this is something to sorta help us along in our dietary journeys. I use/d whole food, organic multivitamins and think they are just good no matter who you are. I use the Garden of Life brand - you pick what suits your needs. I've used both their prenatals - RAW Vitamin Code and Mykind Organics.
- Acupuncture: It is getting a lot of press lately for improving lots of different health concerns, not the least of which, fertility. PCOS seems to be helped by acupuncture too. I have a great local acupuncturist who has very affordable prices. She is great for all kinds of things! I highly recommend her and if you aren't local, email her, and she will help you find a good one in your area! This was absolutely my favorite too...it helped lower my stress levels, I generally took a very deep nap during it, and seriously loved it each and every week. I started in late August 2015, and got pregnant Feb 2016 - just to give you a timeline...and I'm the only one who testifies to this kind of rapid results.
- Tinctures: tinctures are essentially extracts of something...in this case, herbs. My midwife recommended several to me. You can take them in capsule form, but they are just dried herbs and still need to be digested, where as the extract is more powerful. I prefer to just put them all in one little glass and chug. I take enough other pill forms of supplements, taking some non-pills was nice! The ones recommended were:
- Vitex (chaste berry): There are studies, probably lots of studies, but this has been used for centuries to help with hormones and fertility. It has been found to increase follicle stimulating hormone, progesterone levels, etc. This is my FIRST thing I recommend to people with hormone problems or seeking fertility.
- evening primrose - this is a good one to take....I can't find much info on it, but my midwife recommended it, so I took it.
- oatstraw - This one is supposed to help calm nerves and encourage ovulation.
3. I also did a lot of the same things I listed above with Baby 1. I did my prenatals, the healthy hormones omega supplement, and the iodine - I always do all of those. I didn't eat as well or as high of fat, and when I was going to buy my probiotic cleanse, I found out I was pregnant.
4. Chinese herbal teas - I have no idea what was in them, but my acupuncturist blended and sold them to me - some tasted terrible, some were ok....it was a very potent and strong blend each time though, so I think it helped, for what it was worth.
5. Checking cervical mucous - this is often recommended to check for ovulation, as well as checking temperature. I wasn't diligent about the temping...it seemed so daunting and annoying. But I shower every morning, so I would check it in the shower...not so hard.
With all of these changes in diet and supplements, my acne has cleared up substantially(basically gone) and my hair is thicker and less greasy. I sleep well and have reasonably good energy, even while pregnant.
I am sure there are TONS of other things out there to do, or not to do, but these are what I researched and felt comfortable with. I also don't have insurance, so that was absolutely a factor in my decisions, because of cost and such. I also don't respond well to medications, overall, so I definitely wanted to give herbs, vitamins, and acupuncture a good try before trying medications.
I also highly recommend this book, Beautiful Babies. I didn't read basically any books about babies except for Beautiful Babies and one about birth (which I'll cover in the next blog). I felt very prepared with just that one book for all kinds of baby stuff and didn't need to read "what to expect"... :) It talks about fertility/pregnancy/post partum and it is easy to read, not very expensive either.
A great FREE resource - Chris Kresser's "healthy baby code".
I hope this has helped you :)
In fertile health,
Becca H.
P.S. do not take folic acid. If you are wanting to supplement with folic acid, take folate instead.
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