84 Burnett St Bundaberg
Are you hoping to fall pregnant in the near future? Wondering how you can support your fertility naturally?
There are many factors that play a role in fertility for both men and women. Unfortunately, you can’t control all of the influences on your fertility – for example, you can’t change your genetics. But you can take some simple steps to optimise your hormone balance and prepare your body for pregnancy.
Eat nutrient-dense foods
Your body needs a variety of nutrients to fuel the hormonal processes involved in fertility. This is particularly important for women, as their nutrient stores will be critical for their baby’s health.
The best way to get these nutrients in is by starting with a diet filled with wholefoods. Fill up your plate with options such as:
If you can’t eat one or more of these groups due to ethical or health reasons, consider seeking dietary advice. You may be missing out on nutrients that your body needs to optimise fertility.
Manage your stress levels
Another common contributor to fertility issues is chronic stress. This makes sense – the last thing our bodies want us to do when we’re under threat is create another life!
But as the modern lifestyle is the perfect storm for ongoing stress, many couples find stress playing a role in infertility. This can be a catch-22, as you end up constantly stressing about falling pregnant which further hampers your efforts.
Find a way to relieve and manage your stress that works for you. This could be through mindfulness and meditation, a hobby, journaling or even seeking professional support.
Another stress management tip is to make sure you don’t put more on your to-do list than what you need to. Your priority needs to be you and your hopefully growing family!
Get plenty of rest
Sleep is critical for every system in the body, including hormones. How much we do or don’t sleep can affect factors such as stress hormone levels, blood glucose and insulin. These have a knock-on effect for sex hormone balance and detoxification of excess hormones.
Make sure you prioritise 7-9 hours of deep sleep every night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, working with a practitioner can help you to uncover and address the root cause.
Move your body in a way that feels good
Physical activity is essential for general wellbeing. But it could also be important for supporting your chances of falling pregnant.
You want to find a balance when it comes to how often you exercise and how intensely. For example, one study found vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes a day is associated with a reduced risk of ovulatory disorder infertility. However, excessive exercise can contribute to anovulation and infertility.
So the key is to move regularly and incorporate different forms of movement, but still allow yourself plenty of rest and recovery days. If you’re not currently exercising regularly, consider gentle movement forms such as walking and yoga.
Seek support
If you have any concerns regarding your fertility, seeking support is a good idea. Working with an experienced practitioner can help you identify any issues that might be contributing to fertility issues.
Even if you just want to boost your chances of a healthy pregnancy, a qualified practitioner can guide you through pre-conception care.
Are you looking to optimise your fertility and add another member to your family?
Our naturopath Trish is here to support you. As a qualified health practitioner, Trish can arrange any relevant testing and create a tailored treatment plan to address any hormone imbalances and support your fertility goals.
To book an appointment with Trish at our Bundaberg clinic, call us on (07) 41522372
