Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Fertility

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Of course, any doctor will tell you that a miscarriage does not necessarily affect your ability to get pregnant again. In fact, for a very brief period of time, there is an increase in a woman’s fertility, especially after an early miscarriage. However, this boost in fertility does not last long; your fertility levels should return to normal within around 4 to 6 weeks after the miscarriage, probably when ovulation starts and you resume your normal menstrual cycle.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to increase fertility after miscarriage. These usually include –

• Following a healthy and highly nutritious diet
• Quitting unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking alcohol
• Eliminating stress and depression
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Exercising on a regular basis
• Undergoing a thorough checkup and scheduling regular doctor appointments

These measures do not guarantee that you will get pregnant soon after you start trying; they only increase your chances of conceiving again.

Diet & Nutrition

A healthy and nutritious diet is very important for everyone, especially those women who are trying to conceive after a miscarriage. There are a few foods that help boost fertility in women and can increase your chances of getting pregnant. Given below are a few foods that you should include in your diet, in case you are planning to conceive shortly –

• Whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, rye, millet, muesli and cornmeal
• Plant-based sources of protein, like quinoa, spinach, broccoli, soy foods, nuts, seeds, peas, beans and legumes
• Whole milk, along with other whole dairy products (yogurt, cheese and cream)
• Fresh fruits, mainly apples, bananas, oranges, pears, mangoes, cherries, melons, plums and various types of berries
• Vegetables and leafy greens, especially spinach, kale, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peppers, sweet potatoes and so on.

Reduce your intake of sweets, refined foods and saturated fats as far as possible.

However, it is best to check with a doctor before making any major changes to your diet, especially if you are suffering from any preexisting medical condition.

Supplements

Sometimes, following a balanced diet is not enough and your health care provider may ask you to add a few supplements to your daily diet, in order to increase your fertility levels. Depending upon your overall health and medical history, your doctor may advise you to take supplements like –

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Zinc
• Folic acid
• Selenium

Your doctor may also advise you to take a daily multivitamin that has been specially designed for pregnancy.

Several women prefer using herbal supplements because they are thought to be natural and free of any side effects. However, do speak with your doctor before trying any “natural remedies” as most of these herbal supplements have not been approved by the FDA.

Workouts

It is a well-known fact that physical activity is good for your body and overall health. Make it a point to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, five days a week, especially when you decide to have a baby. This is because regular workouts improve fertility in several different ways –

• Exercising on a daily basis can help you maintain a healthy body weight and get rid of the extra pounds in case you are overweight.
• Physical activity reduces the risks of hormonal imbalances in the body
• Most forms of exercise help relieve stress, which is often a result of infertility
• The flow of blood to your reproductive organs increases when you exercise, improving their overall functioning.

Some of the different exercises that you could add to your daily routine include walking, running, jogging, swimming or cycling. Certain yoga poses are also recommended for women who are trying to increase fertility. However, make sure that you do not over-exercise, as it could hamper your efforts to get pregnant.

Avoid Alcohol

Many women ask their doctors if it is alright to drink a little bit of alcohol when they are pregnant or are trying to conceive. Health experts usually claim that alcohol can have an adverse impact on your fertility.

Of course, many women have gone on to deliver normal, healthy babies, in spite of consuming small amounts of alcohol before and during pregnancy. However, since there is still no clarity on “how much is too much” it is best to avoid alcohol completely, right from the time you are planning to get pregnant, probably till you are no longer breastfeeding your child.

Quit Smoking

Most of us have heard the phrase “cigarette smoking is injurious to health”; however, did you know that smoking could hamper your fertility too?

When you smoke a cigarette there are over 7000 chemicals that spread through your body and organs. These chemicals can cause harm to your reproductive organs or may even damage your eggs.

Therefore, it is important to quit smoking for at least a few months before you plan to have a baby, especially if you have a prior history of miscarriage.

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC28642/

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