There is a very small group of health practitioners in the UK whose members have registered with and been trained in the Foresightmethod of preconception care. I am part of this group and use the methods I am trained in to promote the very best possible outcomes for couples seeking to conceive.
The Foresight method involves both potential parents in the process. Preparation for pregnancy (natural or assisted) from both partners is required to optimise the potential for health at all stages: successful conception, a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth, and the post-natal health of both mother and baby. If it’s a task to get your man on board, don’t worry, I find they come around once you lead by example.
Natural preconception care is the safest and most empowering method of overcoming problems conceiving a baby, and is useful for all of the following:
o Treatment of unexplained infertility
o Prevention of miscarriage
o Boosting reproductive health
o Overcoming both male and female fertility problems
o Endometriosis, PCOS and absence of ovulation
Healthy Egg + Healthy Sperm = Healthy Conception
Did you know that the health of your egg and sperm today depends on what you were doing four months ago?
Modern lifestyle choices such as alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine use, sugar, fruit, vegetable and water consumption, stress, and overall health and wellbeing can greatly influence the fertility potential of men and women.
It takes approximately 75 days for sperm to form and 120 days for an egg to mature before being available for conception. During this time, they are vulnerable to toxicity and nutrient deficiency which can damage their quality! This is why we recommend that your preconception care programme begins 120 days prior to any attempted natural or assisted conception.
After conception, embryonic growth is extremely rapid. Unless all building blocks are present and all toxins absent, vital stages of development can be compromised. In the first trimester, fetal mass increases over 2.5 million times as cells multiply rapidly and form all bodily organs including the brain. This phenomenal rate of growth has exceptional nutritional requirements.
By following a preconception plan, you can be confident that you have an abundant supply of nutrients available to support this growth and the demands it places on your body. Everything you put into your own body during this time has an impact.
There are additional benefits to a preconception programme. Shortly after you begin, your energy levels will increase, and you will notice improvements in your hair, skin and weight as the outside of your body reflects what is happening within. You will feel better as you make simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, manage stress, and take more control of your situation.
In addition to the success Foresight preconception care has with infertility, reducing miscarriage rates and the benefits during pregnancy, the incredibly exciting idea is that we can contribute to the raising of truly healthy individuals, whose genetic blueprint was created in an optimally healthy environment. This is the greatest gift a parent can offer their child!
Typically, a four-month preconception programme would involve the following:
Evaluation
The first step in our fertility program is about getting to know you and your partner. We want to know your previous health history, your unique health concerns, and the journey you have been on so far to make a baby. We will thoroughly review your past and current medical history and previous test results, and explore all course of action. In the unlikely case that we determine our methods cannot help you, we will discuss alternative options with you and refer you along to another clinic.
Investigation
Following the discussion about your previous medical history, we may recommend additional medical tests to discover your nutritional state, ascertain the presence of heavy metals, pinpoint your hormonal status, or reveal other hidden barriers to your fertility. We may also request that both partners be referred for a fertility MOT (checking ovarian reserve, sperm health and health of reproductive organs). Again, if we become aware of anything that would prevent us from being able to help you, we will discuss your alternate courses of action and refer you over to another clinic.
Environment
Your nutrition, lifestyle and work/life balance all contribute to the many different aspects that govern your fertility. We will look at possible sources of toxicity in your life that may be impairing your fertility and look at ways to reduce your toxic burden. A natural detoxification program may be recommended, which can also be carried out under our care – we concentrate on gentle, safe programmes that renew and replenish your body.
Supplementation
After we determine what your nutritional status is, a vitamin and mineral supplementation regime is often prescribed. This is the fastest way to get your body functioning at its optimal level for fertility. For hormonal conditions, or where indicated, certain herbs will also be administered. At Birds & Bees, we only use high quality supplements known for their efficacy and purity – ones that we’d take ourselves. Only supplements that are backed up by scientific research are used and we ensure that the most active form of ingredients are prescribed for maximum effectiveness.
Relaxation
Rest and renewal is important as it affects hormonal balance. If relaxation is something you normally do in front of the telly, and meditation simply is not your thing, we’ll work with you to discover ways to help you truly relax and rejuvenate your body and mind.
Diet
A natural fertility diet can do wonders for your overall health and to promote natural conception. Our nutritionist is an unabashed foodie, and will love sharing delicious, healthy food ideas with you no matter what your ability in the kitchen is. You will learn about fertility boosting foods, experiment with new ingredients, and begin cooking great tasting wholesome recipes that will balance your hormones and provide much-needed nutrients to your body and developing sperm/eggs.
Stress Management
Did you know? Your body cannot tell the difference between work deadline pressure and being chased by a tiger! This is because both situations create a fight or flight response which affects blood flow to (among other areas) your reproductive system. At Birds & Bees, we use a combination of herbal medicine, vitamin supplements, emotional release, meditation, environmental audits, and fertility coaching to help couples manage the stressful journey many have when trying for a baby is taking too long.
Cycle Monitoring
Both fertility hormones, estrogen and progesterone, can be monitored by subtle changes in the female body. You will learn to recognise your fertile signs and begin charting them. You will even be able to throw away your ovulation sticks as you learn to listen to your body – which will tell you when you are about to ovulate. This newly learned skill will be with you for the rest of your life, and it can be used for chemical free natural family planning later as well.
Exercise
There is a fine line when it comes to exercise and fertility; too little or too much can impact hormonal balances and sperm health. We will help you learn how much is just right, and which are the best types to help boost your fertility while still suiting your lifestyle.
Yes I want to plan for the best outcome of pregnancy and for the lifetime health of my baby!
Are you ready to get ready? You Fertility Plan is all you need for your preconception preparations, it can help you conceive naturally and healthily, with a head start that can benefit all couples, from those who have had trouble conceiving in the past to those who are ready to try for the very first time. Find out more here
Photo by Aditya Romansa