Hi ladies
Hope you are all well. I was wondering if anyone can give me some off dietary advice. I haven't started treatment yet but want tonget my body ready.
Is it necessary and do you recommend going organic?
Should I increase my protein intake or is that only during a stims ?
I'm so confused with all the in for out there. I have also started to to the herbal medication shatavari. Has anyone else tried this?
Rinal x
Hiya I was just about to post about diet prep also so would be really good to hear what feedback you receive 
When are you starting treatment ?? Maybe we will be treatment buddies x
Starting treatment in December.. how about you? X
I have an appointment at the start of Nov and will find out but hoping for the same x how are you feeling about it all? Are you nhs or private?
Feeling quite sick and nervous really... which are probably not the feelings I should be having as we are very lucky for our appointment to come round. Just feeling a bit unprepared really! Not that I am very unhealthy but feel like I need to go into Uber health mode ASAP!
Oh November! Gosh really not that long to go now how are you feeling about it all?
We are NHS... yourself? X
November will be when they tell me when I can start so I'm hoping December.
I'm nhs too with UCH hospital. I think nerves are part of the process. We have all obviously been through a significant journey to get to this point. I'm currently doing accupinture which has been a great way for me to relax and distress weekly. Yoga has been wonderful too. After my repeated losses I have began regular counselling which has really helped me with my anxiety.
Try and talk about your concerns and worries. This group has been great in terms of support.
I'm defo on a major health kick too!
Oo yes I do need to find a accupuncture practitioner locally. Another thing I am meaning to do!
Are you informing work about the upcoming treatment? X
Yes I have. I'm a nurse myself and wrk in an a&e department so needed to so that I can ensure I get to all appointments, stop night shifts and try and reduce stress during treatment. My work have been very supportive x
I currently work from home (away from my main office)... I wouldn’t say my bosses are very approachable and I’m worried even my potential being pregnant will go down like a lead balloon! So not sure if to just keep it quiet for a bit... haven’t even told my parents.. I don’t know why I have such difficulty talking about it to them.. x
Why don't you want to tell your parents? Have you had losses before and are worried? For me i don't necessarily want to tell everyone because of my previous losses and fear of building hopes up x
I’ve never been pregnant before... I’m sorry to hear about your losses 
I think the added pressure and of them knowing and always checking up on us and the process might all be a bit much. My husband is a very private person and we have agreed not to tell his family already. This is the first time I’ve spoken to anyone apart from him about it! Sorry I’m unloading it all on you! Haha x
Hi rinsp. Just wanted to wish you well with this. A good diet to have at this time consists of variety, however, I have listed some of the “good” things to have: Carbohydrates - Wholegrain bread and wholemeal pasta, oatmeal, brown rice. All fresh vegetables especially raw or steamed. Over boiling rids them of vitamins and minerals, pineapple juice, apricots, potatoes, all fruit and honey, beans, chickpeas and lentils. Protein - Organic meat if possible, poultry, fish, Milk and hard cheese, nuts and seeds. Fat - Extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oil, avocado and peanut butter, mackerel, sardines, nuts (especially Brazil and walnuts), seeds, sweet corn and sweet potatoes. The things to avoid are too much sugar, processed foods, ready meals, butter, ice cream etc. A little is OK, but not all the time. Drink plenty of water and only a little tea and coffee if feeling deprived. Cut right down or right out – alcohol and smoking. Oh and don’t forget the Folic Acid and vitamin D. Good luck! Diane
Thank you vey much diane! This gives me some clarity. Should i be eating oraganic fruit and veg?
Have you heard of shatavari?
Hi rinsp. Up to you, as most fruit is peeled or skinned, I wouldn't worry to much. I believe that shatavari is derived from asparagus?? If it is in pill form, why not eat the real thing! Diane
Yep it is it. I live asparagus but this allows me to get a daily dose. X
Hi. Oh well, go for it then, with the real stuff as a treat! Diane
Haha sounds like a plan x
xx
Hi Diane, Should we all be taking vitamin D? 🤔 So far I haven’t done that and I start my injections tomorrow! Thanks x
I know I'm not Diane but nhs website recommends it for women trying to get pregnant. Seven seas do a combined folic acid and vit d tablet (think it's called trying for a baby) or all the other brands of preconception multivitamins contain it too. Hope that helps.
Thanks for your help 😁 xx
Hi. Yes. The recommended dose is 10 micrograms a day, so if you are taking a multivitamin tablet, just make up the difference if necessary. Diane
Increase protein and healthy fats, cut down/out refined sugar. Stop caffeine, alcohol. No chocolate post transfer. Lots of fruit and veg though preferably cooked veg not raw. Exercise but scale back so not vigourously after you’ve begun stims. Cut down on cold drinks. Xx
Thank you. Do only increase protein during stims or start from now?
Iv heard of it it's supposed to be good for reproductive system I use ashgwandha but I think I might start usin shatavari along with it xx
Hey hun how are You? If just started to take it and feel quite calm after taking it. It's meant to be great for the reproductive system and hormonal balance
I'm not too bad hun thanks. How are you?
Just got a call from docs to do with my bloods guessing I'm deficient in something so that's just stressed me out (my diet is balanced I take good whole food supplements) scared iv got a malabsorbtion problem it keeps happening. 😕.
Yes hun ashgwandha seems to have the same affect I put some in my turmeric milk on a night along with other things. I think I'll buy some and maybe add to it I know my hormones are out of whack as soon as mid cycle is over I feel like 💩. It's the herb of the lady with 100 husbands isn't it? 💗🤗😘
It sure is lol. It does actually make me feel great.. whether it's actually working or physcological only god knows.
Are you drinking normal milk?
What bloods did you have done?? Are they still checking your hormones?
It must be doing something we are what we eat they say. Keep it up I say. I'm going to look into buying some now.
They did my hormones said they're ok. Although I feel my progesterone isn't enough my bbt doesn't rise enough.
They've done new bloods due to something happening with my joints or nerves. They did some arthritis blood and vitamins can't remember which calcium b12 vitamin d I think something else. Receptionists won't say which is the problem.I can't drink normal milk so I drink almond one. 💗🤗😘
I was advised by my acupuncturist that raw veg is not good but I agree steaming is better than boiling. Also to avoid ice cream and other cold things like cold drinks.
I wouldn't worry too much about organic but eating more protein is a good idea and just a balanced diet overall. Just try not to add worrying about diet to what is already a tough and emotional time.
Good luck
I was advised to avoid cold foods before 7-8 days of my transfer, eat greens, avoid raw eggs, raw meats, have only 100% juices and fresh fruits. I had a lot of spinach, green salads mixed with quinoa and seeds, steaks all made/drizzled with pure olive oils and reduce teas/coffees to once per day.
I was also told to avoid the sun 🤔, swimming or showers for those days and wasn't even allowed to dip my feet in the pool...
I stored away pineapple core and had one small piece daily along with few almonds, 100% pomegranate and pineapple juice. Once I got my BFP I stopped the pineapple juice and continued with the rest and I'm actually enjoying these foods.
I hope this helps. X
I found the zita west ivf book very helpful for each stage of IVF. She recommends healthy fats avacado and walnuts, vitamin c foods such as berries and beta ketatin foods during stimulation such as carrots, squash and sweet potato xx
Hi, I can advise you to stick to a healthy diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. For example, a doctor prescribed a diet for me. I will try to describe to you all the important aspects of the diet. The diet before IVF is an important element of the whole process and the most important part of the entire diet. Indeed, the stimulation of successful conception is the first and main goal of the entire complex of IVF diets. This is a classic protein diet improves the results of in vitro fertilization.
Diet before IVF does not exclude "heavy" meals, and is saturated with natural proteins and fiber. By its composition, it almost repeats the classic protein diet. It is important to know that before performing IVF, you must strictly follow the diet chosen by a specialist. The diet prescribed by an experienced physician before IVF significantly increases the chances of successful artificial insemination. The protein diet with IVF significantly increases the chances of successful fertilization. In doing so, it is also an excellent diet before childbirth, which is very conducive to a healthy course of pregnancy. Using a protein diet with IVF will smoothly transfer it to later types of diets - until the birth and for the mother. It includes protein-rich foods, such as: rabbit meat, turkey, other dietary meats, low-fat cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables. However, the diet during IVF excludes the presence of foods rich in carbohydrates in food, as well as any food that causes flatulence and bloating. A protein diet is often used as a reproductive IVF diet for an egg.
Diet before childbirth contributes not only to the appearance of a healthy baby, but also allows you to start taking care of the health of a young mother in advance, for which the diet is also of great importance. This type of food changes gradually, based on the increase in the period of pregnancy. As the term approaches, the diet prescribed by the doctor before giving birth is increasingly tightened. So, a week before the birth in the diet there is only plant food. And directly on the day before birth, the diet recommends nothing at all.
A professional nutritionist should take into account the individual characteristics of the woman's body - only then the IVF diet will give positive results.
I hope I helped you. I believe that I have provided you with quite extensive and informative information. But the doctor gave this information to me according to my peculiarities of the organism. Be sure to consult your doctor. Let him look at your tests and decide which foods to include in your diet. Perhaps for any products you have an allergy. In such cases, they must be excluded from the diet and replaced with something else, so that you would receive all the necessary vitamins and trace elements. Because the lack of vitamins can negatively affect your body, your immunity will worsen. In general, I believe that after IVF and childbirth, you need to continue to adhere to the diet.
Hi rinsp! I would say go organic where you can, especially with milk as they pump those cows with so many hormones! Refined sugar is also meant to be pretty rotten, and sadly white bread. The book "it starts with an egg" was really informative, but I didn't follow it to the T as it was a little intense! Good luck with everything! Xx
I have this book too! Feel like I'm reading too much and getting confused.
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