Doctor Visits

I went to the OB/gyn today and I love that she is always optimistic, but today's visit depressed me. She is confident I will get pregnant, but I worry about how much of that relies on how financially capable we are for extra measures.  She is currently putting me on clomid to regulate my ovulation, so I am following through with the early steps. Although my hormone levels are normal, I have only ovulated twice in the last 4 months, making it harder to conceive.  Coupled with my husband's semen analysis, which is mildly abnormal, the two of us lower the chance of conception.

It's difficult thinking ahead when feeling discouraged.  But my OB/gyn and I discussed when it was appropriate to re-evaluate my current treatment, infertility options & costs, and success rates.  And the whole thing just sucks.  The gravity of trying unsuccessfully for a baby alone is harrowing, but it is emotionally exhausting after losing my daughter.  It's difficult finding the motivation to plan or make decisions about what should be done to ensure conception.  And it is easy to place blame elsewhere.  

I think today is a a 30 minute yoga flow day.  I included a video in case anyone is feeling the same way.   

      

Read More

Why Do We Need Cookbooks?

A majority of us already know how to cook, so why do we have cookbooks? Cookbooks remind us to eat real food.  They are a way to get us excited and motivated.  Instead of reaching into the fridge and removing anything that will hold us over until our next meal, recipes help us focus on the foods we should be eating.  Tired from work, tired from school, impossible deadlines, weighted projects, depression, my husband and I easily forget proper nutrition.

The other day, I caught my husband with an avocado sandwich and I was so upset with him.  Granted avocados are rich in many nutrients, but that is all he was going to eat for dinner.  Two slices of bread, vegan mayonaise, and 3 slivers of avocado.  What healthy baby is coming from that?!  So I mixed two recipes together using Gluten Free Vegan and the Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook to prepare a quinoa dish topped with "cheesy" eggplant and roasted vegetables on the side.

 

Although I was annoyed my husband ignored everything I said about eating more balanced meals moments after it was discussed, his poor choice helped me refer to my pile of cookbooks.  They helped me present a meal rich in vitamin A, various B vitamins, selenium, and protein.  I was happy with this dish because I found an interesting excerpt from the Fertility Diet Guide highlighting many vegetables I used.  But don't tell my husband.  He might make another sandwich!

Here are the two recipes (click to enlarge):

 

  

Read More

Day 1 and Hopefully More to Come

Now that I have completed my undergraduate program, I have time to address how unhealthy I have become since losing my daughter.  In the last few days I made a point to walk to various local health stores for items I took in 2014 when trying to conceive.  I also purchased a few things I noticed many women over 40 use when trying to get pregnant.  

☑ spirulina
☑ maca
☑ raspberry tea
☑ nettle tea
☑ dong quai tea
☑ milk thistle
☑ evening primrose oil
☑ high folate (as prescribed by OB/gyn)
☑ juicing
☑ vitamins
☑ NO sugar
☑ NO gluten
☑ NO dairy
☑ 1 hour activity
☑ music 
☑ 30 minutes restorative yoga

Many of these focus on balancing hormones, detoxifying the mind & body, improving digestion, acting as adaptogens, and minimizing the effects of stress.

As an aspiring scientist, I have been lazy researching clinical studies to determine if there is evidence suggesting improved health and fertility effects.  I came across anecdotal cases and blogs reiterating other websites but have not investigated much further to confirm legitimacy.  I did find background information and interactions with different medications, as well as an NIH article on maca.  I've also read comments intimating limited evidence for using particular herbs to achieve specific medical goals.  But other than these few links and reading The Fertility Diet, which discusses studies from the Nurses' Health Study linking conditions and foods to irregular ovulation, I have not spent much time compiling individual studies.  

With a 65 day cycle, normal hormone levels, a good ovarian reserve, and no physical uterine or ovarian abnormalities, I guess I'm open to almost anything with or without evidence.  Maybe it's mind over matter?  All I need is a good sugar pill to help me opt for healthier dishes and open perspectives.  And an efficient compass for finding humor in such heavy endeavors.

Read More