As the winter months draw in, the evenings are darker, and the nights much longer – what does this mean? It’s baby-making time! Have you noticed how many babies arrive in those late summer/early Fall months? I definitely have. I think there’s something about the cosiness of winter that brings us closer. I also think many women make the decision to start trying for a baby around New Year when all our hopes and dreams become the focus.
However, we don’t tend to associate the winter months with being at the height of our best health. This is the time when you might be more sedentary, eat less health-consciously, tackle colds and flu, and feel a little less bright. In fact, prolonged darkness due to wintery weather and seasonal shifts can cause you to stop ovulating consistently or experience changes in your cycle. All of which means that if you want to conceive it’s a good idea to really concentrate on amplifying your fertility with some targeted, intelligent diet and lifestyle choices.
I have put together the 5 best ways to naturally improve your fertility, particularly at this time of year. These are just some of the things I personally did to get my own body ready for baby. Getting pregnant is about so much more than taking a pre-natal vitamin and folic acid – although, I do recommend pre-natal supplementation. I just also recommend you take control by consciously choosing to support your ovaries in succeeding in their vocation!
5 ways to naturally improve your fertility
- Let the sun shine! Sunlight is so important for healthy fertility, but often winter means darker days with long nights and cloudy weather. That natural vitamin D3 boost maximizes your ability to conceive naturally – in fact, I took a little sunshine-heavy mini-break myself prior to conceiving my daughter. Studies have revealed that 93% of women dealing with infertility issues are vitamin D3 deficient. Unfortunately D3 supplements are just not a good enough source to counter this problem, you really do need sunshine. So, if you can, book a mini-break like me to someplace where stretching out in the sun by the pool or on the beach is the main motivation for the trip! Be sure to avoid chemical-laden sunscreens though and switch up your diet instead to protect your skin.
- Boost your breakfast. The absolute best winter season breakfast if you’re looking to get pregnant is buckwheat and cinnamon! Good thing it’s delicious too! Hormonal balance hinges on a good, nourishing breakfast and this combination will stabilize your blood sugar and support regular ovulation.
- Revitalize your vagina! Your vagina has its own little eco-system going on and that eco-system needs to be in balance and harmonious for your body to welcome a baby. Issues with the health of your vaginal flora in the way of “bacterial vaginosis” (which some 30% of American women likely suffer with) can lead to the prevention of fertilization of an egg, spontaneous miscarriage, and a higher risk of preterm birth. Your vagina’s well-being is sourced in your gut!! Your gut health/gut microbiome impacts your vaginal microbiome/eco-system. There are 3 supplements you can be taking to avoid or to heal bacterial vaginosis.
- Avocuddle! You want to be eating an avocado a day when you’re trying to conceive. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health discovered that avocados contain the best kind of monounsaturated fat and the least saturated fat, making them the ideal food for boosting the health of your eggs. Avoiding saturated fat – found in the likes of butter and red meat – is equally important to making sure you’re getting those good fats from extra avocados. I love avocados for breakfast and as a snack – try some of my recipes.
- Get a jump on! I have one piece of exercise equipment at home and that’s an urban rebounder. I jump on my mini trampoline first thing in the morning for 10 minutes to get some low-impact, lymphatic circulation-boosting, estrogen-metabolizing fun! I sometimes even jump back on during the day to take a break from sitting at my desk. It’ll bring out the kid in you and help you conceive a kid of your own!
Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!
to your FLO,
Alisa
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Hey Alisa,
My husband and I just got married – I am 28 and he is 31. I am hoping that we have a baby soon! We are practicing NFP (Creighton model), but not actively trying to get pregnant. We are going to see what happens. I have PCOS where I bleed for prolonged periods of time. I was doing pretty well for a few months (bleeding only lasting 7-8 days). However, this time around the bleeding hasn’t stopped yet (it is day 13 today). It has been mostly light bleeding, which is abnormal for me (my bleeding tends to be heavy). My doctor says it could be the stress of the wedding, moving to a new state and going back on my regular travel schedule (flying somewhere every week). I am hoping that is what it is. What do you think?
Morning,
I just had surgery to remove a fibroid tumor and the doctor ended up finding endometriosis. Everything is intact and looking perfect now and should be able to start trying again at the beginning of the year. Do you have any suggestions on foods I should stay away from for endo and fibroids? I really want to give myself the best possible chance these next few months because I know the likelihood of them coming back is pretty common in the next few years.
Hi,
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for nearly 3 years. We have been pregnant 2 times. One time with a second term miscarriage due to trisomy 18 and one at 10 weeks. I have read your book and re-read many parts. I have been doing most of what you suggest for over a year now. I recently (5 weeks ago) gave up dairy. I have an MTHFR and COMPT hetero and homozygous mutations I’ve learned about and am taking bioavailable B vitamins and eat lots of fresh greens. I started taking the controversial DHEA a few months ago. Throughout the many changes I’ve made, my hormonal and at times cystic acne has stayed with me. My skin improved this last (dairy free) cycle but have had a turn for the worse since my menstrual phase. Most of my adult life I’ve had mild to moderate mid-cycle bleeding. I didn’t have any this last, dairy free cycle, however this was only my second egg after a miscarriage and things don’t feel settled yet. We have tried a few cycles of IUI, last winter, with no success. I may re-engage with the fertility clinic in October but if my eggs aren’t up to the job, how can they help? It’s difficult not to feel sad most of the time. My hilarious husband is a help.
I’m so ready for a baby. We want to have a baby.
Why won’t my body balance?
P.S. I’m 36 🙂 It looks like I ovulate every month. I have dark clots in my menses. I have tried abd massage, acupuncture, vitex etc.