Ready to Jump on the Baby Making Bandwagon?

Anyone who has tried to get pregnant knows that its not always fun and games. After trying for so long, not to get pregnant, it can become frustrating when it does come time to actually try and conceive. It's not always as easy as one would think!  I have had alot of friends come to me recently who are trying to get pregnant and wanted to know what vitamins or supplements they can take to help ensure a healthy, viable pregnancy.  I write this blog to share some of the information I obtained, used, and recommend to those who are trying to get knocked up!

1. Prenatal Vitamins should be taken when a woman decides that she wants to try and become pregnant. This supplement helps to ensure the body is getting enough nutrients to support a growing baby. 
2. Vitamin C is essential for both men and women when trying to conceive. It is shown to improve sperm count, mobility and viability. Vitamin C can be found in most fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, red peppers, pineapple, etc.
3. Folic Acid or Folate belongs to the B Vitamin Group. This has been shown to prevent birth defects, but is also important in improving fertility in both men and women. Food sources rich in folate include green leafy vegetables, oranges and enriched grains. It is important to continue to take Folic Acid in early pregnancy to prevent serious neural defects by up to 70%
4. Zinc improves the production of testosterone in men which helps sperm mobility and count and helps the woman's body to use estrogen and progesterone more efficiently. Sources of Zinc include meat and seafood, wheat germ and whole grains.
5. Evening Primrose oil is rich in Vitamin E and the essential fatty acid GLA. It helps to increase the woman's cervical mucus which helps create a more successful environment for sperm to swim to the egg and also allows sperm to stay alive for up to 5 days, which can enable conception even if intercourse doesn't happen again by the time ovulation occurs. Once pregnant you will want to discontinue use of these supplement, but hold on to it, because it is essential to use the last couple weeks of your pregnancy.
6. Vitamin B6 and B12 are also beneficial to conception. These vitamins help to increase sperm count and play a key role in the development of new tissue, which helps during ovulation. These B vitamins are found in eggs, meat and grains. 

Most people know that the woman needs to increase her vitamin and supplement intake when trying to conceive, but it is also essential that men do as well. After all, it takes two to tango and both partners need to take care of their bodies and get the nutrients needed to ensure a successful pregnancy. Deciding to have a child is a wonderful, life changing experience and you want to try to do whatever you can to give your baby the best possible chance at life!

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but before I end this post I wanted to share some knowledge that I wish I would have known before I started my baby making journey. I wish someone had told me, or that I would have researched for myself, how common miscarriages are. They happen 50% of the time. I know first hand because unfortunately, I suffered a miscarriage before both of my beautiful children. No matter how early in the pregnancy miscarriages are a very emotional time for both the mommy & daddy to be. Just the excitement of being pregnant, and envisioning your future with the child can be very hard when the pregnancy doesn't work out. As cliche as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. Miscarriages are actually a good thing because it is your body's way of getting rid of something that did not have the greatest chance of survival. But it doesn't make them any less upsetting. If you do have the misfortune of suffering a miscarriage it is important to remain positive because it means that you do have the ability to get pregnant. You can use this time to get your body healthy and ready to try again, and know that you are most fertile for 3 months after your miscarriage, so you can have fun trying to make another baby!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Be Selfish! Breastfeed!

Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your baby. It is such a special time to share with your new little bundle of joy while also offering a plethora of nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical and environmental benefits. The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding are the most crucial because it is usually between this time that most mommies tend to get frustrated and give up. As a certified Lactation Consultant I love working with mommies to overcome any obstacles they encounter to help them try to breastfeed for as long as they can. Especially working mommies, because I know first hand how hard it could be to pump at work and get an adequate supply. I encourage women who breastfeed to try and keep it up as long as they can.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby include lowering the risk of SIDS, boost the babies immune system (even better than vaccines!), lower risk of obesity, protect against allergies by building antibodies, boost brain development and make stronger and healthier adolescents. Breastfeeding your baby for as long as you can helps give them the upper hand in the health and well being department over formula feed babies.  Most people are aware that breastfeeding has multiple benefits for babies, but many don't know about its benefits for the Mom as well. Breastfeeding helps offset type 2 diabetes and reduce cancer as well as reduce stress and lower the risk of postpartum depression.

One concern of mine after returning to work with my daughter, and now again with my son, is how to increase breast milk supply when returning to work. I did some pumping when I was on maternity leave but it's hard to pump when you are already exclusively nursing full time. When I returned to work I was worried because the amount I pump while at work is much less than my kids drank each day, which stressed me out because I was worried about what would happen when I ran out of my frozen milk supply. I began researching my options because I wanted to avoid giving my baby formula if possible. I learned a few tricks that worked for me and helped increase my supply.

It is important for moms to have an understand of the breastfeeding laws in the state in which she resides. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389 gives alot of good information regarding these laws. Most states require employers to allow moms to take pumping breaks. Fortunately for me, my company is very Mommy friendly and has a private lactation room as well as a special fridge to store our milk which makes it really convenient and relaxing to pump while at work.

The problem for me, which I mentioned earlier, is that I don't get much output when I pump. I began to get discouraged and researched some sites to see what I could do as I want to try to breastfeed my son until he is at least a year old. I drink Mother's Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals as well as take some Fenugreek supplements which contain herbs that help increase milk supply. I also eat oatmeal in the morning as this is also considered a galactagogue, which means that it helps boost milk production. I also try and pump every 1.5-2 hours while at work. A couple of sites I found made the following recommendations which I follow. I feed my son before I drop him off to daycare and then when I get to work I try to pump within 20 minutes of arriving. I then pump every 1.5-2 hours until about an hour before I am supposed to go home. I have asked my daycare provider not to feed him too close to when I pick up the kids so that I can nurse right when we get home to re-establish a bond and keep my supply up. Pumping is not as efficient at getting the milk out as your baby is so the amount you pump could be significantly less then your baby gets in a feeding, so you don't want to get too hung up on the amount of milk you pump. As long as your baby is gaining weight and seems satisfied after a feeding then you shouldn't be concerned with your supply. With that being said, it's still helpful to be able to pump as much as you can to ensure that your baby can have enough to eat while you two are separated. I continue to nurse as much as I can through the evening and into the night.

I have noticed an increase in my milk supply in the past couple weeks and have been pleased. Unfortunately, I still do not pump enough to satisfy my little man during the day so in addition to the milk I have pumped for him, I also supplement with Dr. Meyenberg's Powdered Goat's Milk because Goats milk most closely resembles mother's breast milk, contains more calcium and is less allergenic than cow's milk formula. I add some cod liver oil to add some DHA to his supplement and have been very happy in my choice to supplement with goat's milk rather than commercial supplements for various reasons.

My favorite part about breastfeeding is just getting to share that special time with my beautiful baby. During our feedings we just stare into each other's eyes in amazement and I feel more and more bonded with my child each time. This has to do with the fact that breastfeeding releases endorphins in both mom and baby creating feelings of relaxation and well-being. I just love it and hope that I can breastfeed my son for even longer than I did with my daughter, obviously for the benefits, but also for my own selfish reasons of wanting to give my kids the best and doing whatever I can even if at times it isn't the most convenient solution.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.