Making Babies...

[Vermilion]

So in Jen's recent thread it was mentioned that one way of dealing with being broody is to do all you can to prepare yourself for pregnancy. Anyway, at some point in the next few years I would like to start a family and I got to thinking - what have you heard/have you experienced as being good for preparing yourself.

I know folic acid is good, but am not sure how to get it or what, exactly, it's good for.

On the other side of the coin I actually know quite a bit about what *men* can do to give themselves super sperm, but would still like to hear what everyone else knows. Apparently oily fish and zinc is good - and no hot baths or tight underpants!

So come on, there are some very knowledgable women - and men - on here, so teach me something I don't know.
x
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[Safe_Bet]

So in Jen's recent thread it was mentioned that one way of dealing with being broody is to do all you can to prepare yourself for pregnancy. Anyway, at some point in the next few years I would like to start a family and I got to thinking - what have you heard/have you experienced as being good for preparing yourself.

I know folic acid is good, but am not sure how to get it or what, exactly, it's good for.

On the other side of the coin I actually know quite a bit about what *men* can do to give themselves super sperm, but would still like to hear what everyone else knows. Apparently oily fish and zinc is good - and no hot baths or tight underpants!

So come on, there are some very knowledgable women - and men - on here, so teach me something I don't know.
x
V

My own experiences may not be "normal" because, they always give me fertility drugs prior to my IUIs (which is why I'm going to have my second set of twins). What I do (which is as instructed by the doctor) is make sure that I am getting good nutrition, I start taking pre-natal vitamins a few weeks prior and I exercise a lot (especially Kegels).

I don’t know if it helps me get preggers easier (not that it ever has been a problem), but it does get me in the routine that I follow throughout my pregnancy.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

So in Jen's recent thread it was mentioned that one way of dealing with being broody is to do all you can to prepare yourself for pregnancy. Anyway, at some point in the next few years I would like to start a family and I got to thinking - what have you heard/have you experienced as being good for preparing yourself.

I know folic acid is good, but am not sure how to get it or what, exactly, it's good for.

On the other side of the coin I actually know quite a bit about what *men* can do to give themselves super sperm, but would still like to hear what everyone else knows. Apparently oily fish and zinc is good - and no hot baths or tight underpants!

So come on, there are some very knowledgable women - and men - on here, so teach me something I don't know.
x
V

If you don't want to eat the fish, just take fish oil capsules... make sure it's from a reputable company with NO mercury. Or you could eat flax seed or take flax seed oil.

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects - which lead to spinal problems (things like spina bifida.)

It's best to be at an optimum weight, of course, and in good shape - but being overweight doesn't mean you will have an unhealthy pregnancy.

If you want to go overboard, switch to all organic food, organic cotton clothing and bedding, look into options like cloth diapers and learn everything you can about breastfeeding.

There are also herbal fertility things you can take when you actually start trying - false unicorn root, and others - to help with ovulation, implantation, and to prevent miscarriage. Here's a link...

You can chart your periods and your daily temperatures, just to know what your averages are before you start trying to conceive.

Or you can throw all of that out the window and just have sex and see what happens.

 

[neonlyte]

....
Or you can throw all of that out the window and just have sex and see what happens.

Or even try not to get pregnant since 50% of pregancies are unplanned

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The quickest way to get pregnant is to have sex every other day from the end of your last period. Seems to work every time!

Takes a man 36 hours, on average, to fully "recharge"

 

[Safe_Bet]

The quickest way to get pregnant is to have sex every other day from the end of your last period. Seems to work every time!

Takes a man 36 hours, on average, to fully "recharge"

I am SO glad I don't have to deal with any of that. It really is nice being able to go to the sperm bank and pick out Mr. Mystery Dad and then get preggers by appointment.

 

[cloudy]

I know folic acid is good, but am not sure how to get it or what, exactly, it's good for.

It's in orange juice, and Selena already explained the rest.

 

[neonlyte]

You could always try the Nicole Kidman way : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7633455.stm

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I am SO glad I don't have to deal with any of that. It really is nice being able to go to the sperm bank and pick out Mr. Mystery Dad and then get preggers by appointment.

spoilsport

 

[Vermilion]

If you don't want to eat the fish, just take fish oil capsules... make sure it's from a reputable company with NO mercury. Or you could eat flax seed or take flax seed oil.

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects - which lead to spinal problems (things like spina bifida.)

It's best to be at an optimum weight, of course, and in good shape - but being overweight doesn't mean you will have an unhealthy pregnancy.

If you want to go overboard, switch to all organic food, organic cotton clothing and bedding, look into options like cloth diapers and learn everything you can about breastfeeding.

There are also herbal fertility things you can take when you actually start trying - false unicorn root, and others - to help with ovulation, implantation, and to prevent miscarriage. Here's a link...

You can chart your periods and your daily temperatures, just to know what your averages are before you start trying to conceive.

Or you can throw all of that out the window and just have sex and see what happens.

Well, this is my last month on the pill, then it's back to barrier contraception for a couple of years while we get our finances together - that's what makes this an ideal time to give my body a bit of an overhaul in preparation... Just like Jen I would like babies now, but we just can't afford them - financially or time-wise, so I'm doing this as a holding operation, so I feel I'm making progress.

x
V

 

[Chantilyvamp]

Well, this is my last month on the pill, then it's back to barrier contraception for a couple of years while we get our finances together - that's what makes this an ideal time to give my body a bit of an overhaul in preparation... Just like Jen I would like babies now, but we just can't afford them - financially or time-wise, so I'm doing this as a holding operation, so I feel I'm making progress.

x
V

they have a good prenatal vitamin at boots that has folic acid in it...i can find the name of it for you when i get home. Heck i take it sometimes still when feeling stressed.

really hon just try to eat healthy and be active in every way. If all else fails the nhs has a list you can sign up for AI and then on to IVF it it gets to that point. (I had hormone pills and shots that I had to do wityh the AI.)

That and check with the CF society near you for any tips on dealing with that while pregnant.

 

[epiphany65]

Folic acid is good. Take it! But -- it is not a magic bullet to prevent NTDs. My mother ate properly before and while she was pregnant with me and I was born with spina bifida. Folic acid reduces the chances of having a baby with a NTD but if it runs in the family or there is some sort of genetic predisposition for it all the folic acid in the world won't prevent it. For some reason, people of Celtic heritage are much more likely to have a baby with spina bifida. I've talked to mothers who took it and still had a baby with spina bifida. You can do all you can but still not defeat gentics and if, God forbid, your child is born with some sort of birth defect, don't blame yourself. The debate on folic acid is ongoing. The rate of babies born with spina bifida is statistically down, but that is in part due to abortion. Something else to bear in mind that is very important -- spina bifida and other NTDs occur within the first 3 weeks of gestation, before the mother knows she is pregnant, so it's essential to take folic acid before pregnancy.

 

[Emerald_Dragon]

I would make sure that your iron is in the good range too. I couldn't take the prenatal vitamins and fought with a borderline low iron count for my entire second pregnancy.

I would READ. Knowledge is power!!

Be aware too that if you have ever smoked pot, had lead poisoning, live in an area where there is mercury in the fish... all of these things can be stored in your fat and when you breastfeed you can pass these things on to your baby through your breast milk.

Make sure too that if you are buying a house that it doesn't have lead paint or anything in it, especially if it is a fixer or you are planning renovations. A good deal of lead poisoning in kids is caused by the lead that gets in the dust from taking down drywall and stuff because kids put everything in their mouths.

Lead damage is permanent and can't be fixed. Just a little checking can ease your worries.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Good books:

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Birthing from Within by Pam England
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin

 

[starrkers]

Don't smoke, cut back on alcohol.

Find and use ways to lower stress levels - this is good not only for getting pregnant but also very good training for being a parent

Eat well, exercise. Pamper youiself too - you don't get much pamper time with a kidlet.

 

[SlickTony]

What an interesting concept...preparing to conceive. Never did it, either time.

 

[cloudy]

What an interesting concept...preparing to conceive. Never did it, either time.

I didn't either...all three of mine were surprises.

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[Safe_Bet]

I didn't either...all three of mine were surprises.

If I ever have a "surprise" pregnancy Amy is SO going to kick my ass!

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[Vermilion]

What an interesting concept...preparing to conceive. Never did it, either time.

Well, like I said, it's a holding operation so I feel like we're actually doing something towards starting a family, but without actually getting knocked up, cos right this moment we can barely afford to feed ourselves, never mind support anyone else. If we didn't have a free flat we'd be out on the street - well - moving in with my parents. That's how tight things are and that's why we're waiting a wee while before babies.

Also, I don't drink or smoke, and how the heck do I find out if I've got lead or mercury stored in my fat???

x
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[OhMissScarlett]

Also, I don't drink or smoke, and how the heck do I find out if I've got lead or mercury stored in my fat???

Well, you can't really know without a hair strand test, I believe. But, you could probably look into doing some sort of a liver cleanse at your local health food store. If I were you, I'd just stay healthy, avoid bad carbs, fried foods, and toxic stuff. Studies show that an organic diet can help you conceive, but that's expensive, so just wash food thoroughly and stay away from foods that have a high mercury content. You can find them HERE.