I have had several requests on improving uterine lining and cervical mucus. So I will be discussing it here. One thing I wish during my quest to pregnancy was; why didn't I learn about how to improve my chance, why did no one tell me I had to eat healthy. Truth is we spent so many years eating what we felt like that we totally forgot that our eating lifestyle does not only affect our lives, but also our spouse. One thing couples struggling with infertility always ask is where do I start from? So I shall be tackling them below.
1. Take it easy!!! Yes!! Rome wasn't built in a day, neither will pregnancy! So relax and take things one step at a time. Even if it means going to the spa, having a great vacation with your partner or with your girlfriends.
2. Do you know your body? Yes do you know how your body works? What a cycle is? What is Ovulation? Do you Ovulate? How many days does your ovulation last? How many days are your cycle? So read below:
So what is a menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle is the time from the first day of a woman’s period to the day before her next period. Please do not believe the doctor's myth that every woman should be 30 days. Not true! We all operate differently and so does our body. A cycle can range from 28 days to 35 or 60. Yes I know some that have had cycles for 60 days. Stress, hormones, diet, travel, lack of rest and medications can throw your cycle off. I highly recommend "Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler." You can get it on Amazon, Ebay and also her website.
The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones. In each cycle, rising levels of oestrogen cause the ovary to develop an egg and release it (ovulation). The womb lining also starts to thicken.
After ovulation, the hormone progesterone helps the womb lining grow thicker, ready for pregnancy.
The egg travels down the fallopian tubes. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the egg is absorbed into the body. Levels of oestrogen and progesterone fall, and the womb lining comes away and leaves the body as a period (the menstrual flow)
Why is this important to know? If you have a long cycle constantly then you need to get with a doctor. Do you have LPD (Luteal Phase Defect)? The third phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle is called the Luteal Phase, and is the time between ovulation and start of a woman’s period. It is during this important time that fertilization and implantation occurs. And it should be 12 days. It could be caused by low progesterone, extremely short cycles.
Possible ways to correct LPD: Progesterone Cream(consult a doctor before using), Vitamin B6 (B6 can be found in tuna, bananas, turkey, liver, salmon and many of the greens. ), Vitamin C ( Foods rich in vitamin C are: Kiwi, Apples, Papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, strawberry and oranges.) and Vitex (Consult a doctor before using).
3. Once you have learnt about your body, then you can start monitoring for at least 90 days. This can be done by using BBT and measuring your temps (I will be discussing this in detail later on). The temperatures taken in the phase before ovulation are lower than those taken in the phase after ovulation. The average temperature prior to ovulation is 36.37ºC and after ovulation is 36.72ºC although this varies from woman to woman and cycle to cycle. This small increase in BBT will occur within 48 hours of ovulation and will remain elevated until your next period. Also blankets, stress, travel and too much heat can also affect your temperature.
4. If you can I would highly encourage to get tested, check your ovaries, tubes to make sure there is no blockage. Once you get the results then you will be able to pray effectively about it and know steps to take to possibly correct it. I believe nothing is impossible to God and to those who believe that they can!
5. Change your diet, avoid junk, white sugars, embrace juicing especailly taking lots of carrot juice.
FOODS TO ENCOURAGE CERVICAL MUCUS, FERTILITY & IMPROVE UTERINE LINING:
Carrot Juice: Yes I would highly encourage you to add this to your diet. If you do eat it, please eat it steamed, It can be hard to digest and does affect fertility. I prefer juicing it or purchasing the flash pasteurized from the supermarket. Make sure your partner and yourself drink it.
PINEAPPLES: I cannot stress enough on pineapples, not only will it help improve your uterine lining, it also helps with implantation(helping the fertilized egg stick to your uterus). Fresh is always better. Please do not go eating pineapples all day. 1 cup a day should be okay. I would strongly suggest eating it with its juice before and especially after ovulation.
POMEGRANATE: Highly prized in the Arab countries, pomegranate helps with uterine lining and powerful antioxidants. **Please avoid if taking any blood thinning medication, as it does thin out the blood. **Do not take them after ovulation, stop few days before ovulation.
GREEN TEA: Some say it is a myth but trust me, I have tested it and it works! Green tea does decrease folic acid, so make you it is decaf or use regular but take folic acid. 1-2 cups a day should be okay.
Drink regular tea but I would highly suggest MEN to drink this tea - Salada Decaffeinated Green Tea with Original Antioxidants Citrus - http://www.vitacost.com/salada-decaffeinated-green-tea-with-original-antioxidants-citrus-20-tea-bags You can also get it on Amazon I believe.
It not only contains green tea, but siberian ginseng, vitamin c and vitamin e, which is absolutely necessary for a healthy sperm. Women can take it also but maybe once a week. It comes decaffeinated already.
GRAPEFRUIT: Yes!! It worked for me, every woman is different though but I have had so many women say it worked. Eating the fruit is better but the juice might also work. **Please avoid if taking any blood thinning medication, as it does thin out the blood.
Red Clover aerial parts, blossom (Trifolium pratense): Red Clover has been shown to increase cervical mucous, aiding vaginal dryness. Increases circulation to the reproductive organs. Consult a doctor before using.
WATER: Yes water. Drink enough water and keep those sodas out!
Pre~Seed : Throw away the KY JELLY/ OIL which can be toxic to the sperm. It is a ‘fertility-friendly’ personal lubricant that matches fertile cervical mucous and is safe to use while trying to conceive. Provides moisture inside, where you need it most, without harming sperm. This product is safe for use while trying to conceive. It was developed by a woman Sperm Physiologist to match fertile cervical mucous in pH, osmolality and viscosity, thus providing an optimal environment for sperm in women who are trying to conceive.
Guaifenesin or Robitussin : The trick is to find a cough syrup in which guaifenesin is the only active ingredient, so check labels carefully. Guaifenesin is reputed to “thin” cervical mucus – the fluid produced by a woman’s cervix during her ovulatory cycle.This would be helpful for women with thick mucus. The mucus has to be thin enough for the sperm to swim through, if it is too thick then the sperm might not be able to do its job. I would only suggest days before ovulation and during the ovulation days.
And stop after that, it can cause dizziness and all, so take them at home. It is recommended that you take 2 teaspoons three times a day around the time of month you’re expecting to ovulate.
Water intake should be increased to encourage cervical mucus production and a full glass should take with each dose of guaifenesin.
If you re taking Clomid (clomiphene citrate, Serophene) as an ovulation inductor, it may help to know that it can cause hostile mucus in 30 percent or more of women using it. Higher doses of Clomid tend to be more associated with less cervical fluid and a thinner uterine lining, than the 50 mg dose and Robitussin can help to reverse this.
What cycle days should I take Robitussin? Most doctors suggest taking Robitussin five days before and including the day of ovulation for a total of 6 days during your cycle.This helps provide the optimal environment to help the sperm survive and get to where they need to go.If you take Clomid, waiting until the day after the last Clomid pill is taken before starting Robitussin is suggested.
**** Please talk to your doctor first if you are on any special prescriptions as they may counter-react with other otc meds*****
SEAFOOD - OYSTERS & WILD SALMON:
Shellfish, particularly oysters, are a rich source of ZINC, vitamins D and B12 as well as the minerals zinc, copper, selenium and iron. Just six medium oysters provide as two-thirds of the daily value for vitamin D and nearly three times the daily value for vitamin B12.
