After a lifetime of hearing warnings about safe sex and avoiding unintended pregnancy, women are often surprised if they don’t conceive as soon as they start trying. There are some things you can do to naturally enhance your fertility, before you head off to the nearest fertility clinic for a consultation. Many of these techniques will benefit your health and your baby, when you do conceive.
A healthy diet can increase your chances of conception. Foods believed to improve fertility include fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, including carrots, red peppers, mangos, figs and blueberries. There is some evidence that increasing your intake of dairy and calcium can also help. These are all easy additions to your diet that will benefit your baby when you do get pregnant.
Reducing stress is an important consideration, if you are trying to get pregnant. Cortisol is a stress hormone that has been shown to interfere with the normal menstrual cycle, which can negatively affect your chances of conceiving a baby. When you are trying to get pregnant, people often tell you to relax, and it can be annoying, but there may be some wisdom to that advice.
Find a stress reducing activity that you enjoy to help keep your stress levels down as you are trying to get pregnant. Relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga have all been shown to reduce stress and are beneficial both before and during pregnancy. Try a few different methods to find the one that works best for you.
There are some herbs that have long been believed to offer benefits for your fertility. Nettle leaves and Dong Quai are two that are said to increase fertility. There are special teas that you can buy in health food stores that are formulated to improve your fertility, or you can make your own herbal infusion at home.
For more information on natural ways to enhance your fertility and increase your chances of conception, read the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility.
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