What (may have) helped me conceive?

[Rachel-1992]

Hi all, I'm now pregnant (cant believe im writing that!) And I wanted to share some of the things I did and supplements I took whilst TTC. Of course, I can't say whether any of these actually worked or helped but I know that when I was TTC I really appreciated hearing from others what they were doing, so I hope this is helpful to some people.

First of all, I can't speak highly enough of the book 'It Starts with the Egg'. This is where I got the majority of the advice regarding supplements, so it's a great book.

Supplements I took:

Ubiquinol (for egg quality)

Vitamin C (antioxidant)

Maca Root (balances hormones - I took this for just the last month of TTC to try and lengthen my luteal phase)

Evening Primrose Oil up until ovulation (for fertile quality cervical mucus - again this one I took in the last month of TTC)

Alpha lipoic acid (antioxidant)

Prenatal multivitamin (containing methyl folate, which is more easily absorbed by the body than Folic acid)

Vitamin E (antioxidant)

Vitamin B6 (balances hormones - again I took this one in my last month of TTC)

Things I did differently in last couple of months of TTC:

I had just started charting my cycles. I would recommend the book 'Taking Charge of your Fertility' for this. If you're not charting I would really recommend it as I felt so much more in tune with my cycle and my body, and I noticed that I was ovulating late in the month and had low temperatures suggesting weak ovulation. I also noticed that i had a short lutal phase and a lack of egg white cervical mucus. This lead me to srart taking some extra supplements to help with hormone balancing etc. I wouldn't have realised any of these things without charting and it's not something a fertility doctor would know either.

I also used an ovulation predictor kit, which I had used previously but with no success. Using this alongside charting helped me pinpoint when I did ovulate (much later than expected) and we managed to time intercourse correctly.

I hope some of the above is helpful to someone. I am by no means bragging - god knows I am so so elated and amazed to have conceived, and incredibly grateful! Also, I can't say whether any of the above helped or whether it was just plain luck. If you're wanting to take supplements please do your research first to make sure you're taking what is right for you.

Xxx

[XOXO13]

Really helpful, thank you for sharing!

I was taking most of those supplements prior to my IVF journey. There’s so many different supplements that I then did some further research and found a supplement that contained everything that book (it starts with the egg) recommends in one supplement, FertilitySmart. Unfortunately for me it didn’t work prior to me starting IVF but I’ve read some positive stories with women and men who have taken both supplements to include all of the above you’ve mentioned so I think there is merit to it for sure.

Do you mind me asking how many months you were on the above? I know some you say just the last month before falling pregnant, before the others? I may start taking them all individually again and give it a go. I’ve also just ordered a Basal Body Thermometer that arrives today to give that a go.

I won’t be doing my fourth transfer for a couple of months and I’m fearing I’ll need another egg collection so want to try conceive before both and if not, at least make sure my egg quality is good!!

Best of luck with your pregnancy! Xxx

[Rachel-1992 in reply to XOXO13]

Hi! I was taking the other supplements for probably about 7 or 8 months before I conceived. I started them about 2 months before my IVF and that failed, but I know it can take at least 3 months for some of them, especially the antioxidants, to make a difference.Yes charting your BBT will be helpful, but also tracking your cervical mucus as well. I never realised how much I could learn from that before I started doing it.

Best of luck with your next transfer! Xx

[XOXO13 in reply to Rachel-1992]

Yes definitely, I’ve been tracking that for a long time and I actually get a lot of EWCM. Last summer, I went for a scan on CD13 and she could tell me that I was going to ovulate on CD15/16 due to the size of my follicle, and that put me 5 days earlier than what I had been tracking. But then I ended up having EWCM for like 6 days which totally threw me off 🤷🏻‍♀️

I kind of gave up tracking my cycles as I started IVF as it was one less thing to stress about... but now I may start it again and just see how it goes and hope for the the best! It’s so complicated at times! Xx

[Rachel-1992 in reply to XOXO13]

Yes I've got to admit, as well as being enlightening I did also find it really confusing at times, especially when it didn't seem like my cycle was looking like it should do!

[XOXO13 in reply to Rachel-1992]

I’m pleased it worked out for you, always lovely to hear stories of hope xx

[Hidden]

Congratulations. It’s great to hear positive stories and advice xx

[Millbanks]

Congratulations I also ready "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" which is how I figured out that I had a short luteal phase and low progesterone.... it is also what made me get the ERA test done. Highly recommend it! xx

[Rachel-1992 in reply to Millbanks]

Yes it's such a great book for understanding what's happening in your own body!

[Millbanks in reply to Rachel-1992]

I learned so much - it's brilliant xx

[Jane8412]

Congratulations Thanks for sharing. Agree that 'taking Charge of your Fertility' is a great read. Very interesting and informative. I wish we had been taught this stuff in school and I could have avoided 20 years on the pill! Love charting too. So good to understand how our bodies work. xx

[Rachel-1992]

Oh, and also just remembered I used the Ferti-lily conception cup for the first time on the cycle I conceived.

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[R1985]

hi there, I know this post is really old but could you pm me the maca root you took? Many thanks