3 Postpartum Issues No One Warns You About!

getting pregnant Pregnancy
3 Postpartum Issues No One Warns You About!

You’re expecting, congrats!  In this article we will address three postpartum issues that some women experience and are not told about.

While it’s common to accept morning sickness, bouts of hormones that make you cry or laugh randomly, craving pickles with whipped cream, enduring the pains of labor that feel SO good (yeah, right!), and those sleepless newborn nights, there are just some things that no one warns you about!

1. Postpartum Issues- Morning Sickness

Most all women have some sort of encounter with ‘morning’ sickness, that is, morning sickness, brunch sickness, noon sickness, 2 o’clock sickness, night sickness, and no reason at all sickness.

Great fun! Not.

After nine or more months of sickness, then giving birth, should bring the reward of a normal you, right? Well actually, even after you’ve pushed out that little bundle it takes some time to get all those lovely hormones out of your system. Which for you means that the sickness caused by those pregnancy hormones may not completely subside until your body regulates back to its normal hormone levels.

Morning Sickness Remedies

  • Postpartum IssuesKeep hydrated
  • Choose foods carefully
  • Notice nausea triggers
  • Breathe fresh air
  • Snack often, rather than big meals
  • Vitamin B-6 supplements (pyridoxine)
  • Ginger
  • Over- the-counter options such as doxylamine (Unisom)
  • Your Doctor may prescribe anti-nausea medications
  • Hypnosis
  • Acupressure wristbands
  • Essential oils can help

2. Pregnancy Hemorrhoids

Oh hemorrhoids! These pesky things are caused by increased blood flow and pressure of the veins in the rectal area… so a varicose vein in your bum!

During pregnancy there is a great increase in blood flow to your ‘lady bits’ and also the pressure of a baby, uterus, placenta, and fluid. So, don’t be surprised if you start to develop hemorrhoids, especially if you already have the awesome pregnancy symptom of constipation.

Some women are lucky enough to escape this dreaded side effect, but are surprised to find that the strain of giving birth causes hemorrhoids to appear- with a vengeance!

Hemorrhoids may last for a week or for the rest of your days, giving one more annoying obstacle of postpartum recovery.

Pregnancy Hemorrhoids’ Remedy

  • Have warm baths and soak the area. Don’t use soaps.
  • Avoid long periods of sitting. Prefer to lie on your side or stand.
  • Apply witch hazel medicated pads to your anal area.
  • Speak to your Doctor about a suitable hemorrhoid cream.

3. Postpartum Issues- Stinkiness

It makes sense that during pregnancy you may sweat a little more from carrying around that bowling ball of a baby. However, did you know that for many women your once not smelly sweat turns into a stench a lumberjack would cringe at?

There’s just something about giving birth that causes your crazy hormones to make you sweat more and smell not so great.

It’s believed that breastfeeding adds to the odor because of the hormones released. And not to mention the lovely after birth discharge your body gets rid of, called lochia. It can have a strong unpleasant smell and make you feel dirty and just plain gross. After knowing that, who wouldn’t want to have a baby?

Pregnancy Body Odor Remedies

  • Regular showers.
  • Deodorants and antiperspirants.
  • Wear loose clothing made from natural fabrics.
  • Use foot powders on feet.
  • Eat healthy nutritious food.
  • Drink plenty of water, keeping hydrated.
  • With lochia, having a bad, or odd smell may indicate an infection. See your Doctor if this is the case. Antibiotics is the usual treatment.

 

Even after all of the pains, aches, and frustration of pregnancy and birth, there is absolutely nothing more amazing than holding your precious creation for the first time and knowing you really are Super Woman- you gave birth, you can do anything! Postpartum issues will eventually go away.

Fertility Foods- Keeping Track Of What You Eat

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Fertility Foods- Keeping Track Of What You Eat

It has to happen now and then. I take the palm of my hand to my forehead and say, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” So, what did I do and what has this got to do with fertility foods?

Keeping a Fertility Foods Log

I was reading Fertility Foods by Jeremy Groll, and he casually wrote that one of his patients uses an online food log to help her keep track of what she’s really eating. With a daily count of calories in terms of carbs, protein and fat, she found it to be one of the most important parts of her low-carb fertility lifestyle.

Now this is exactly what I need to know.

I haven’t yet concluded what the optimal daily caloric distribution is for carbs, protein and fat, but I have absolutely no idea what I am getting right now.

First, I thought I’d figure out the optimal distributions and then find out what I’m eating. Bad idea. Why? Because although I don’t know the exact distributions yet, I have a very good idea.

Here’s what I Know About Balancing Fertility Foods

fertility foods logCalories from protein should at least match the number of calories from carbs, and fat should be about half of that: so roughly 30-40% carbs, 30-40% protein, and 20-30% fat. These are just ranges, however, it still gives me a good idea of about where I want to be.

So, I stopped reading mid-paragraph and made a bee line to my computer.

In less than ten minutes, I created an account on FitDay.com (the same website Dr. Groll’s patient used) and entered what I’d eaten for breakfast into my account – for free! Oh how I love the internet – you just need to know where to go.

My Results

My caloric distribution shocked me! I thought I wasn’t getting enough carbs because I was relying heavily on vegetables – eating only a small portion of whole grains each day.

What I found is that vegetables are a good source of carbs and my carb intake was about equal to my protein intake, which is good.

What isn’t good is that I was getting 52% of my daily calories from fat!

They were healthy fat sources like olive oil and lean meats, which are essential to the fertility diet, but over fifty percent is not a balanced diet.

Immediately, I adjusted my diet by cutting down the amount of olive oil I used in recipes and stopped eating a whole avocado every day. I then upped my vegetable and poultry intake to keep the calories the same.

It’s looking good. Not there yet, but my fat is down and varies somewhere between 35 to 45 percent. It’s progress.

And an awesome add on to this whole calorie counting log at fitDay.com is that it also gives you a complete breakdown of your daily intake of nutrients and compares them to the recommended daily allowances.

Sometimes, life is easy!

Fertility Foods to Consider

Fats for Fertility

  • Organic free range eggs. They contain vitamins A, D, and E, all essential vitamins for fertility.  Also Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and choline.
  • Eat oily fish such as wild salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring (2-3 portions a week). These foods contain essential fatty acids which can improve female fertility due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Fish oil is very beneficial for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and important for the baby’s brain development.
  • Eat coconut oil and use it for cooking rather than other oils. It can withstand high heat without oxidizing. Coconut oil contains lauric acid providing anti-viral properties, and it is metabolized easily for energy.
  • Eat nuts, seeds, avocado, and flax seed/flax oil.
  • Include some saturated fat in your diet such as butter, full fat milk, cream and red meat.

Carbs for Fertility

  • Starchy tubers- sweet potatoes, batata, jerusalem artichoke, cassava, tarot, and bamboo
  • All fruits
  • Brown rice
  • Vegetables

Proteins for Fertility

  • Eat organic grass fed or wild animal protein. Not all animal proteins are equal. grass fed animals offer much healthier nutrition as opposed to animals raised in intense agricultural settings where they are fed on grain and are full of hormones and antibiotics.
  • Add a quality protein powder to your food. Whey protein or plant based protein powders.
  • Organic free range eggs.
  • Nuts, beans, chick peas, quinoa, lentils, pumpkin seeds.
  • Organic oats,
  • Cottage cheese, greek yoghurt
  • All types of fish.

If you enjoyed reading my fertility blog, please write a comment here or bookmark it to a social bookmarking site by using the link below. Thanks!

How to Cope with Stress During Pregnancy

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How to Cope with Stress During Pregnancy

In this article we will look at how to cope with stress during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be an exciting happy time. It can be very fulfilling to know that your baby is growing within you, and you can look forward to meeting your baby.

However, pregnancy can also be a stressful time.

The rest of your life doesn’t stop when you’re expecting, and so you could still be dealing with stress from work, family, concerns about your baby and pregnancy worries, or stress from other factors.

Too much stress is bad for you both physically and mentally.

You may not be able to eliminate stress completely from your life, but you can learn to cope with stress.

How to Cope with Stress During Pregnancy

Yoga

how to cope with stress during pregnancyYoga is a unique combination of exercise, stresses, and breathing that focuses not just on keeping fit, but on overall health and well-being. It is as focused on releasing stress and tension as it is on burning calories.

Exercise on its own is known to help combat stress, and yoga is the ultimate example of this. There are special antenatal yoga classes specifically tailored for pregnant women, or it may be offered in conjunction with birth classes.

Check out our article on the 8 benefits of yoga.

You Time

When you are pregnant, it can sometimes seem as though you cease to exist as a person and are just a baby-maker.

People tend to talk to you about your pregnancy rather than anything else, and it does affect your life on a daily basis. So you may be a bit neglected. I know that I, especially during the first trimester, felt very tired, and so most of my hobbies were neglected in favor of sleep.

If you’re feeling stressed, schedule in some time for you. It doesn’t matter if it’s just ten minutes a day. Make some time that is just for you as you… not as a mother-to-be.

You can use this time for whatever you want. Paint your nails; read a book; watch your favorite TV show; draw a picture; go for a stroll.

It’s not important what you do as long as it is something that is special and fulfilling for you. Just making a little time for yourself will help you cope with stress during pregnancy.

Romance

pregnancy yogaDuring pregnancy, your relationship with your partner can change. You’re about to have a baby, and naturally that will affect you both. Also, you may not be feeling your best and confidence may be waning.

Make time for romance. It is important that you are not just co-parents, but a happy couple as well. Howard W. Hunter taught that, ‘One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother’. If you are happy together, you will be happier individuals, and make better parents.

Make time for romance. Go on dates. Date at home. Take time to talk to each other. Make sure that romance and intimacy are still a part of your life while you’re pregnant…and your stress levels will drop. Honestly. It’s hard to feel stressed when you’re being pampered by your loving partner.

Sleep

Whether you’re pregnant or not, sleep is an under-rated commodity. Being tired makes everyone more irritable and more easily stressed.

During pregnancy, you will probably need more sleep than normal, because your body is busy taking care of your growing baby.

If you’re feeling stressed, try taking a nap or going to bed early. Just getting more rest really can help.

Your problems won’t go away, but they will seem more manageable after a good night’s sleep.

Other Methods to Cope with Pregnancy Stress

  • Eat regularly and nutritiously
  • Avoid alcohol, cigarette smoking, or drugs
  • Don’t think about stress
  • Avoid negative responses to stress
  • Ask for help
  • Play music
  • Take a long bath
  • Get out into nature
  • Watch a feel-good movie
  • Meditate

How to Cope with Stress During Pregnancy- Conclusion

You can’t eliminate every source of stress from your life when you’re pregnant. However, you can follow these tips to help you cope with stress during pregnancy.

Fifteen Weeks Pregnant

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Fifteen Weeks Pregnant

I’m fifteen weeks pregnant! I don’t tend to think of myself as being very far along in the pregnancy because at this stage you don’t have the big recognizable pregnant belly and you can’t feel the baby moving around all the time. But I actually realized that by the end of this week, that’s fifteen out of just forty already done!

Fifteen Weeks Pregnant- Getting Out in the Garden

This week we have had beautiful mild weather, and we took advantage of it by spending a lot of time working out in our garden.

Our house has a large (and previously very overgrown) vegetable patch that we want to have cleared and planted for the spring.

We picked weeds, pruned back bigger plants, and pulled out enormous root systems for stinging nettles and brambles. We turned over the soil to get it ready for new plants.

Moderate Exercise During Pregnancy

Fifteen Weeks PregnantRegular exercise is recommended during pregnancy, and garden work is a great way to get that. However, you should always be sure not to overexert yourself.

Strenuous exercise can actually cut off blood flow to the placenta, so if you begin to feel out of breathe or overly tired, stop for a rest.

Luckily, we had our inquisitive toddler out working with us (she loves being outside and has her own little set of gardening tools).

We had frequent stops to admire the things that she found to show us, including worms, stones, and even a bone that had been in the soil. We also found an old bird’s nest, and she enjoyed learning about that.

I believe that being outside in the fresh air and getting some sun is good for you. However, make sure to stay well hydrated, especially if you’re working outside.

Also, although I normally like feeling the earth and plants on my hands, I wore gloves all week when working outside. Pregnant women should wear gloves and then thoroughly wash their hands afterwards when working with soil because of the risk of toxoplasmosis in the soil.

This is usually harmless to adults (in fact you probably won’t even notice that you’ve been exposed to it), but it can be really dangerous for your little baby.

Although it’s still not usually obvious, I felt like I began to show this week. I can still wear my non-maternity clothes, although I did begin wearing some of my maternity clothes (mostly just to expand my wardrobe). If you’re not already, most women begin showing around this time.

Baby Development

As far as your baby goes, they are in a period of rapid growth. Most babies are just over 3 inches long by now and weigh about 80 grams. They are already preparing for life outside of the womb, and can move around, swallow, suck, and practice breathing. The bones in the baby’s ears are developing, which means they are beginning to hear for the first time.

If you enjoyed this post, go check out My Fertility Blog for more on my pregnancy journey.

Having a Successful Pregnancy When You Have Ulcerative Colitis

getting pregnant Pregnancy
Having a Successful Pregnancy When You Have Ulcerative Colitis

When a woman gets pregnant and has ulcerative colitis there can be problems. Since I have ulcerative colitis, when my sister-in-law who is also a sufferer of ulcerative colitis became pregnant, my wife and I were consulted. Of course, not being a woman I had not had to face the problem but found that there certainly are problems with respect to being pregnant and having ulcerative colitis.

It was very difficult to reassure my sister-in-law because she was concerned about the possibility if passing the illness on but, as we had found, there was a bigger chance of that occurring in Crohn’s disease. In researching that fact I found that if one parent has the illness, odds are seven to ten percent and if both parents do the odds jump to 35 percent

The second problem that we had with my sister-in-law’s pregnancy was that her ulcerative colitis condition was active which meant she had to be on steroids and that meant the baby had to be monitored very closely. She could not remain on the medicine long without harming the baby. It was a tense time for all of us.

Of course, since the illness was active there was another problem. With the problem of sickness, came the problem of diarrhea which as a combined problem from pregnancy and ulcerative colitis presented as a real danger for becoming dehydrated so fluids were all important and frankly a daily challenge because we never knew how she would be able to tolerate anything.

One thing that was in my sister-in-law’s favor was that she was in good health. She never had been a smoker. Women who are smokers should stop. She was used to exercising which meant her body was in good shape. It was prepared to have a baby. Further, she had always eaten right and that was in her favor.

Ultimately a healthy little girl was born. My sister-in-law had to endure a lot because the ulcerative colitis remained active pretty much throughout the pregnancy and the baby and her body while carrying the baby could not tolerate consistent medication.

When it comes right down to it, an ulcerative colitis pregnancy starts with the same basics as any other pregnancy and that is self-care with respect to exercise, hydration and correct diet. The major change only occurs if the woman has an active illness. If the illness is not active then there is very good chance the pregnancy will be successful.

Reference:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/pregnancyibd/a/pregnancyibd_2.htm

Pregnancy and Stress: How to Cope

getting pregnant Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Stress: How to Cope

Pregnancy can be a beautiful time in one’s life as they prepare for their unborn child, but for many people, it can also be a very stressful time. Besides the added stress and tension that comes with all the hormone and body changes pregnancy brings, many people also experience other traumatic events that leave them feeling anxious and worried. Here is a look at some different ways to help deal with stress during pregnancy.

One great way to help relieve stress during pregnancy is to try some prenatal yoga. While not all yoga moves are suitable to try during pregnancy studies are now showing that there are many yoga moves that are perfectly safe and effective to try during pregnancy. Yoga has long been associated with relaxation and bringing the body to a great state of calmness. In addition to helping you with your stress it is also healthy and will help prepare you for your big delivery day. If you are not familiar with yoga or any of the yoga moves that are safe to do during pregnancy there are many pregnancy yoga DVDs available to purchase on web sites such as Amazon.com or ebay.com that are fairly inexpensive. Another option is to look in your local yellow pages or check with your local YMCA to see if they have any prenatal yoga classes you can enroll in. Even just practicing it for ten minutes a day can really make a difference and help reduce the amount of stress you feel.

Another good way to help relieve stress is to take some time for yourself. Currently being pregnant myself I can honestly say it helps to just get away for an hour or two and head to the local mall and just walk around or even taking a bubble bath at the end of the day with some candles burning. If you have the means and people around to help you it can also be beneficial to get away overnight or for a weekend. Even if it is just visiting a couple of towns away and staying in a hotel can help you feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again. Getting away can really help take your mind off of things for a little bit and help you get back to the real world with a brand new prospective and a clear head. It is important to not forget about YOU. Pregnancy can really drain you and you can become so focused on the baby you can neglect yourself. Take a moment to do something for yourself everyday. This can be as simple as taking 20 minutes out to read a chapter of a favorite romance book you have to going to get your hair done. While it is true the baby will be the main focal point of your life you still have to keep yourself feeling good inside and out.

If you are at a point in your life where you are stressed because you do not know where you are going or how the new baby is going to affect your life take a moment to sit down with a pen and piece of paper and re-evaluate everything. First take a moment to write down everything that is bothering you. Next write down all the good things you have going on in your life. Finally you should look at the list of things that are bothering you and think of some realistic ways to try and fix these problems. This can include making a to-do list of things you can do at that present moments to goals you would like to achieve over a period of time. Sometimes just setting a goal and realizing there are solutions can really help lift the stress.

Lastly, if are still feeling the effects of stress do not be afraid to talk to someone. Let your doctor know your feelings and they can help refer you to someone to talk to or reach out to a friend or family member who will listen. Remember you do not have to be a hero and carry everything on your own. Just hearing that everything will be okay can help you get back to feeling right again and help get you ready as you continue your journey to meet your new baby.

Unclear and Waiting

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Unclear and Waiting

Going in was easier today. All I needed to do was get my blood drawn to test my HCG value and give the doctor the ultrasound results from yesterday. In and out. That was my plan. It all looked good with a waiting room with only two other patients. Before I even cracked open my magazine they called my name to draw blood. I sat down and examined my needle marked arms. The right arm looked like it would take another needle.

Putting pressure on the fresh prick in my arm, I waited outside the doctor’s office. Hand him the results and this will all be over for today, I thought while waiting. He called me in. I stumbled over my words when I handed him the ultrasound scans from the clinic we went to without his prior knowledge. He paused with a raised eyebrow but accepted the printouts. Initially, he said he saw no reason to do another ultrasound today. I agreed. Then he looked over the results and I told him they had found a cyst on the left ovary. He face became serious. He looked over the ultrasound pictures and said he changed his mind we wanted to look. “Um, OK,” I said. What the hell, I thought; it’ll be over faster than me arguing with him.

He looked around and before long said he could find no cyst on my left ovary. This didn’t surprise me since his ultrasound does not have near the resolution as the one yesterday, but OK. For some reason I am not the least bit concerned about his finding and this existent/non-existent cyst. I want to know what is going on with this pregnancy. Whatever information comes in addition to that is put on the ‘to be dealt with later’ shelf.

He moves on to examine my uterus and does find something new. Loose blood. He shows me the area at the top of my uterus that is a grey speckled circular area. “Don’t be surprised if you begin bleeding soon,” he says to me and examines it for the next few minutes. Finally, he removes the wand and I get dressed and head back into his adjoining office. ‘I can go home now’ is for some reason the only thought that wants to be in my head now.

To say the least I am surprised when I sit back down at his desk to see his every increasing look of concern. He goes on to tell me that should I have any pain I need to go immediately to the hospital. “OK,” I say obediently. “And depending on your values today we will potentially have to conduct daily ultrasounds to avoid any dangers with an ectopic pregnancy and keep you overnight in the hospital.” Alright, he is sounding serious which is good that he isn’t taking me lightly anymore. Maybe the visit to another office had that effect, or maybe he truly is convinced that this is a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, in which case makes me less committed to my get in and get out motto for the day.

The phone call regarding my HCG value is supposed to finally put an end to all this. I have five hours until my cell phone will ring. Somehow the hope that crept in yesterday has left while I wait for the call without anxiety – working and getting back to my life before all this. As the time gets closer though I realize I’m not one hundred percent indifferent and Richard sits down to watch a recorded episode of Seinfeld with me. About thirty seconds into the show my phone rings. My value fell by 4. It is now 756 instead of 760. “Stop taking the progesterone,” the nurse says, “and come in on Friday for another ultrasound.”

Richard is obviously disappointed, “It’s like we don’t know anything new. The value didn’t go up or down.” “Yes, but it should have doubled if this were a viable pregnancy, and if it’s ectopic then it seems like my body will end the pregnancy by itself,” I counter. His disappointment is palpable. Back to Seinfeld.

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Just a Painful Miscarriage?

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Just a Painful Miscarriage?

The Pain of Losing an Unborn Child · Pint-sized TreasuresI find myself here…again.

I’m having a miscarriage, but it may be worse – yes, there is a worse – it could be another ectopic pregnancy.

My HCG values which should be going down since I am miscarrying have decided instead to stay the same. On Monday the value was 125 and on Wednesday it was 142. So actually it went up slightly but my gynecologist said that she considers the values to be the same since HCG is normally measured in the thousands and the slight difference in the hundreds is outside the measurement’s precision.

Originally, I was scheduled to have my HCG values tested on Thursday but the terrible cramps that woke me up in the middle of the night on Tuesday prompted me to reschedule my appointment for Wednesday.

Wednesday’s visit didn’t provide me with any new answers though, just a prescription for pain medication. Since then I’ve been bleeding and each night I have terrible cramps. The pain medication certainly helps but could this please just come to an end. My frustration is building and my sense of relief that I spoke about in my last blog is dwindling.

My next appointment is set for Tuesday. She’ll be checking my HCG values and probably doing another ultrasound.

I hope my body figures this out on its own. Luckily, I have a gynecologist that also wants to give my system a chance to short this out. Until then I have a winter wonderland to look out the window at and two cats that think it’s cool I’m lying on the couch. Friends have invited us over for an evening of cooking and a movie this weekend. Hopefully, I feel up to it because an evening with friends couldn’t sound any better than right now.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum During a Pregnancy

getting pregnant Pregnancy
Hyperemesis Gravidarum During a Pregnancy

Halfway through my second pregnancy, I had little hope that the vomiting would end. My first pregnancy was worse, vomiting in excess of eight times a day. I was 20 weeks along in my second pregnancy and we had already resolved that this would be the last child for us. I was too sick to care for my two year old full time and I could barely manage a simple daily routine. Since I was sick until the day of delivery with my first daughter, I had given in to the idea of about 20 more weeks of continued illness.

The most popular drugs for this condition made no difference and I had become somewhat apathetic towards trying anything new. I had literally tried it all. Thankfully, my obstetric nurse had something new for me to try, and she was insistent that I do it soon. I had tired the combination of B6 and Unisom with my first pregnancy. I took the combination every night before bed. It was no more effective than Zofran, Tigan, Reglan, Phenagrin, or any of the assorted other prescriptions I had tried.

I contacted my sister first thing and made arrangements for her to watch my two year old for three consecutive days. I bought a bottle of Unisom, the blue tablets, and a bottle of quality 100mg B6 vitamins. I did my own online research to determine the risks of these medications to my unborn child and finally resolved that I should try the plan.

The doctor’s orders stated: A Unisom and a B6 vitamin 3 times a day for three days.

On a Thursday night I took a Unisom and B6 and went to bed. When I woke at 7am, I repeated the dosage. Again at 3pm and 11pm I took a dose. I continued this regimen through Sunday night. When I awoke on Monday morning, I returned to a normal schedule, only taking the Unisom and B6 at bedtime. The only time I vomited during this was on Saturday night, about midnight.

It has only been one week since I completed the prescribed treatment, but it is literally the first week that I have been pregnant that I have not vomited. Never before have a gone longer than 48 hours. It has been a miraculous transformation!

When I asked the nurse who prescribed this how it works, she said that it reprograms your brain. I suppose since doctors don’t really know what causes Hyperemesis, that is an adequate answer. My brain has been reprogrammed and my life has been returned to me! And maybe, I will be willing to have a third baby!

Digestive Health: A Fertility Diet Principle

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Digestive Health: A Fertility Diet Principle

Best fertility foods to help you conceive

My digestive system has quite a personality. And I mean that literally. When it’s not working right, it influences my mood drastically. I’ve been known to head into the bathroom in the morning in a foul mood emerging a short time later with my hands in the air and a smile on my face screaming, “Wahoo!”

This sounds ridiculous, but that’s my life.

My bowels get slow sometimes. I’ve gone days before without relief, which not only puts me in a bad mood but over the last couple of years has left me wondering, “Is this affecting my fertility?”

Julia Indichova, author of two books on infertility and director of the Fertile Heart™ Studio in New York, in working with infertile couples has noticed a link with the observation, “…a large number of these people had digestion-related complaints” (1).

This isn’t a total surprise though since we know that the digestive system plays a crucial role in our overall health. Our digestive system is responsible for breaking down and absorbing the nutrients, energy and water we need to live from the food we eat. If all goes well, the body gets everything it needs and the waste products are ushered out the back door.

So how do we know if everything is indeed working well? According to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen in their book, YOU The Owner’s Manual, an important diagnostic for measuring your digestive health is, yep you guessed it, how shall I say it – your poop.

Let’s not try and make this sound scientific: let’s be direct. Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen give the following criteria for healthy poop:

  • banana shaped (not pellets)
  • attached to you when it hits the water

Or as Foxx-Orenstein, president of the American College of Gastroenterology, stated, “An ideal stool looks like a torpedo—it should be large, soft, fluffy and easy to pass.” What isn’t good is a stool that is hard and dry, liquidy, pencil thin, grey or black, floats and smells or is bloody (2).

And with regard to regularity, Foxx-Orenstein says that although bowel movements should be regular everyone is different. Regular can mean as few as three bowel movements each week and still be healthy. What isn’t good is diarrhea or constipation (constipation being defined as too much straining with bowel movements, passage of small hard stools or a sense that the bowels have not completely emptied) (3).

So what have I done about my digestive health?

Well, initially I did what all the experts recommended: I ate lots of fruits and veggies (easy as a vegetarian at the time), got plenty of exercise and drank plenty of water. This didn’t seem to be the solution to my problem, though, so I did a colon cleanse. Although the cleanse helped, I still had bouts of constipation.

More recently, I eliminated all cheeses and increased my vegetable intake further, especially including regular servings of parsley and the green leafy vegetable called rocket or arugula. This wasn’t enough so I traded my regular morning breakfast for vegetable soup. This helped quite a bit, but it caused a new problem – too much weight loss.

Then, ironically, in an effort to meet my other diet principles I added something that seems to have solved my digestive problems: poultry (see my blog: Vegetarian no more…).

This seems so odd, but I haven’t changed anything else in my life over the past several weeks. I’m thinking the poultry did something. There is one other possibility though. I stopped eating gluten about two months ago – suspecting it as a culprit to my digestive woes. So, it’s also entirely possible that the gluten free diet has slowly taken hold (more about gluten and fertility in an upcoming blog). Right now, I’m going to celebrate my happy digestive system, “Wahoo!”

If you enjoyed reading my blog, please write a comment here or bookmark it to a social bookmarking site by using the link below. Thanks!