9 Tips to Help You Achieve a Normal Healthy Pregnancy and Delivery
Eat the right foods
Whatever your eating habits are (and they should be healthy), add the following foods to your everyday diet:
- Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, Swiss chard, arugula, spinach, broccoli rabe, turnip greens
- At least one superfood: maca, spirulina, royal jelly, bee propolis, sea veggies
- Green juice: make your own in a blender from greens and water or juice, or use a purchased organic green powder
- Raw salad of greens, lettuces, tomatoes, avocado, raw walnuts or almonds, mushrooms, apples, blueberries, and anything else you like
- Eggs: Raw in smoothies (use only pastured eggs), poached, soft boiled, or hard boiled in salads. The less they’re cooked, the more nutritional they remain.
Flush your system
First thing in the morning, drink 4 glasses of water, with or without lemon. This may sound like a lot of water, but you don’t want to risk dehydration, a common problem among women of all ages.
Perform a self-massage
The ovaries often suffer from malnutrition simply because of the way the female reproductive system works, because of where they’re situated in the body and because they are encumbered by the remains of menstruation. Fertility self-massage can boost your chances of getting pregnant by increasing circulation and sending more oxygenated blood to the ovaries along with the nutrients that blood carries with it.
Self-massage will also help to balance hormones, reposition the uterus, alleviate cramps, relieve stress on the liver, reduce menstrual clotting, strengthen reproductive organs, clear out the Fallopian tubes, help with digestion, relax you, and more.
First a note of caution:
Do not do a fertility self-massage once you become pregnant since this may cause abortion. Do not do a fertility massage while menstruating.
You will do the massage according to your 28-day menstrual cycle. Day 1-5 is the menstrual phase; days 1-13 is the follicular phase; day 14 is the ovulation phase; days 15-28 is the luteal phase.
You can do the massage any day during days 6-14. This is when the egg is prepared for release and sending more oxygenated blood to the reproductive area will help improve its development.
Do not do the massage during the luteal phase, days 14-28, just in case the egg has been implanted. Massage at this point can cause miscarriage.
So, how is it done?
These two very simple techniques are very effective in increasing circulation, increasing nourishment to the eggs and improving strength and resiliency of the uterus.
Reproductive Organs:
The uterus is located vertically about 4 inches below the naval, above the top of the pubic hairline, just above the bladder. The ovaries are about 3 inches to the left and right side of it. The uterus and the ovaries are linked by the fallopian tubes.
- Using all four fingers, gently press these areas for about 60-90 seconds.
- Next, press deeply and move your fingers using a small, circular clockwise motion for another 60 seconds (in each area). Work your way around the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. This will stimulate them and relax them, and help to push out any debris such as blood clots and tissue.
Femoral Artery:
Next locate the femoral artery at the point where the inner thigh meets the torso.
- Press down heavily in this crease with both thumbs for 30 seconds to stop the flow of blood. The back-up of blood flow in the pelvic region increases nourishment to the area.
- Release your thumbs and repeat on the opposite side. You should feel the blood rushing into your thighs.
- Do this 3x on each side 2x daily up to the ovulation phase.
Cut back on caffeine, cola and alcohol
There is no evidence that a moderate amount of caffeine adversely affects fertility. It’s generally considered safe to consume some caffeine, somewhere around 2 cups (8 ounces each) or 200 milligrams.
If you’re a big coffee drinker, however, cut back. Five or more cups a day has been associated with lower fertility rates and more miscarriages.
- Surprisingly, according to Germaine Buck Louis of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, caffeine affects fertility in both men and women. And don’t forget to include cola drinks as caffeine.
- Studies have shown that women who drink just 2 alcoholic beverages a day had 60% decreased fertility. And even though alcohol affects everyone differently, just one unit of alcohol a day poses a threat to fertility.
Be aware of workplace issues
The workplace can pose unusual problems for fertility or infertility. The emotional stress that might accompany infertility will cause you to become distracted. You may need time off for medical appointments. Talk to your human resources advisor and be honest. Look at your companies HR policies regarding time off and privacy.
You may be concerned or stressed about what will happen to your job if your company finds out you’re trying to get pregnant, particularly if they’re planning a restructure. Don’t share your private aspirations until you’re sure of anything. Then, don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by bosses who won’t give you time off or hold it against you. Know your rights.
Don’t douche
Your body has natural lubricants and bacteria that protect the delicate vaginal lining and birth canal. Douching can damage bacteria designed to protect against infection. If you already have an odorous discharge, itching or burning, douching will not cure the infection. Have it taken care of (as well as your partner) and avoid douching altogether.
Quit smoking
Cigarettes are arguably one of the worst things man has ever invented. They’re toxic and dangerous to everyone’s health, and they can damage your eggs and cause problems with fertility in other ways. They cause the ovaries to dry out (along with all your other tissues), and make implantation more difficult. If you’re a smoker, quit. You will get back some of your ovarian function.
Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate
Whether you’re at the right weight or not, exercise at any time of life has it benefits, but it can be particularly important when you’re trying to conceive and even when you’re pregnant. When your body is fit, it can do what it’s supposed to do easier and better and that includes pregnancy and delivery.
If you’re a super gym bunny, continue working out, but remember not to overdo it. Don’t tax your system, add weights to your routine, train for a marathon, or push yourself too hard.
Check your lubricant
Physicians suggest that vaginal lubricants may decrease fertility. There recommendations are based on the effects of lubricants on sperm in vitro and their survival rate. Look for a very low-risk product such as Pre-Seed which has “no demonstrable adverse impact on semen parameters” when used according to manufacturer’s instructions.
