I hope this post finds each and every reader healthy and happy. These are some pretty crazy times we are living in, and that makes me extra grateful that you are taking the time to read this entry! With the COVID-19 pandemic taking place, it’s been difficult to determine a topic to write about, let alone whether or not following this blog would even bring value to others at this time. But something has fallen on my heart in the past few days, and I’ve been inspired to write.
All elective procedures in the state of Minnesota, including new patient IVF visits, have been postponed for nearly two months and just this past week have been given the green light to move forward with precautions. During this time of pause, I’ve ironically had several people reach out to me inquiring about any lifestyle changes I made when I began/went through my IVF journey. So, I had an idea – for those who are in waiting right now, or perhaps for those individuals who are just curious, I’ve decided to write about a few modifications I made which I believe contributed to our success.
I’ve always considered myself to be a fairly healthy person – physically and emotionally. Although I have suffered from anxiety since a young age, I am not ashamed to say that I take medication to control it. I exercise regularly, feel secure in my marriage and my career, and have what I think to be the most supportive, loving family in the world. I am fortunate to say that the vast majority of things I have pursued in life, I have accomplished, and I do not say that to gloat or to appear as if my life has been perfect. But I have been blessed with positive outcomes in many of the feats I have set out to achieve. I always anticipated a challenge to inevitably stop me in my tracks after life’s series of positive events. And as predicted, infertility became a part of my story.
When given our diagnosis and told that our chances of having a child naturally would be slim to none, I knew that I wanted to do everything in my power to strengthen our odds of conceiving with IVF. I followed all of our doctor’s recommendations, but particularly after our multiple miscarriages, I felt in my heart I could do more. As a nurse, I’ve always been fascinated by the human body, and particularly the way we can influence it through nutrition, fitness, and other external factors. So, I used that interest and read countless articles, blogs, medical journals and books to come up with what I felt to be the best approach to a healthy lifestyle.
Action 1: Cleaning up my makeup, skincare and hygiene products
There is significant research into the negative effects of phthalates, parabens and BPA, all of which are commonly found in makeup, skincare products, and plastic goods. Specifically, high bodily consumption is directly correlated with decreased egg quality. So, to counteract this, I switched to and have maintained the use of more natural shampoo, conditioner, skincare products, deodorant, and household storage items (i.e. glass food containers instead of plastic). I am in no way saying that if you use more mainstream items you are a reckless person, I just felt that if there is something that I could potentially do to impact a positive outcome for my fertility, I would do it! To note, some of my favorite, cleaner products include:
- Alba Botanica Unscented Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner
- Primally Pure deodorant (finding a deodorant that didn’t make me smell by the end of the day was definitely a mission! This is without a doubt the best deodorant I have found and I will stay with it for life!)
- Beautycounter tint skin foundation
- Pacifica face powder
- Honest mascara
- Burts Bees tinted chapstick
Action 2: Adding certain daily supplements supported by clinical research
If you or someone you know is struggling with infertility, I highly recommend the book “It Starts with the Egg” by Rebecca Fett. While it is a bit scientific, it is beautifully written to guide a woman through tangible steps to improve her egg quality. For example, taking the supplement COQ10 is clinically proven to prevent chromosomal abnormalities and increase egg and embryo viability. In addition, not all prenatal vitamins are created equal. Having a high-quality folate component to your vitamin appears to improve egg quality and IVF success rates. I’ve found Garden of Life Once Daily Prenatal Vitamins to agree with my stomach and hit all of the main components recommended by not only doctors, but the book I indicated above. I also took a Prenatal DHA, Vitamin D, and a Baby Aspirin, as recommended by my doctor. I am deficient in Vitamin D (imagine that – thanks, Minnesota) and this has significant correlation to fertility issues. The Baby Aspirin was to increase blood flow to my uterus, which in turn can increase odds of implantation and, subsequently, pregnancy.
I want to emphasize after writing the above that I am not a doctor, and am in no way recommending that others follow what I have done. I merely wish to share the research I have done, and provide resources for individuals who may be sharing in this journey and need them. Please seek out your own medical professional prior to starting any supplements to support fertility.
Action 3: Acupuncture
Before and after every embryo transfer that we did, I went in for acupuncture treatments. While we did still suffer from multiple miscarriages, I do believe that acupuncture was overall extremely helpful for my physical and mental health.
Acupuncture serves a dual purpose in improving blood flow to the reproductive organs and reducing both the mind and the body’s stress response. During and after each treatment, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. The quiet time in the room allowed me to spend time in reflection, prayer, and gratitude. I would shut off all the noise from the outside world, and the defeats of our infertility journey in order to center my mind and body in the best way I knew how.
Is it painful? Not at all. It may be intimidating to think about dozens of needles being put in your body, but it truly is not uncomfortable. A tingling sensation is common, but that’s about all I would note from a physical standpoint. If you have further questions about my experience I would be more than happy to discuss it with you and provide recommendations!
Action 4: Small Group Involvement
I have been attending Eagle Brook Church for eight years. This church’s mission is to reach people through Christ, and they do so with a main campus in Lino Lakes, MN, eight other satellite locations in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, and online church which can be streamed from anywhere in the world. Two years ago, Eagle Brook opened a campus near our home in Wayzata, and at that time, Dave and I decided we would take a leap of faith and become involved in a small group. That also happened to be the time in which we began our infertility treatments. The group started with six couples, and has become a band of individuals who have influenced Dave and I’s lives in countless ways. We were provided with a new sense of community, a different type than we get from our workplace, family and friends. They were the first individuals who we shared our infertility experience with, and ever since, they have prayed for us, laughed with us, and cried with us. As of recent, they have shared in our journey of parenthood and have been some of our greatest cheerleaders.
Although I have believed in God and attended church all my life, I always felt like something was missing. I would attend church on Sundays, and let’s be honest, many Sundays I would not. But once I found this group of fellow believers, something changed. I came alive in my faith, felt inspired and motivated to become a better Christian, wife, daughter, friend, and most recently, mother. Members of this group have opened up about their own faith journeys and struggles, their highest of highs and lowest of lows. And finding this community came at the most perfect time in our lives, when we needed it the most. If you are ever on the fence with your faith, and feel that you just want that little bit more, I encourage you to take a step. Take a leap. Be bold. You won’t regret it. I believe I have found some of the women, and men, who will be in our lives forever, through whatever it is that comes our way. There isn’t anything much greater than that.
Life during Quarantine
I’d be lying if I said that this pandemic hasn’t brought me anxiety and feelings of social isolation. But I could not be more grateful for the intentional family time we have had. My work days/weeks were significantly shortened as a result of COVID-19, but my time at home with my husband and daughter grew as a result. I have had what I’ve been calling an “extended maternity leave” during this period and have cherished every extra nursing session, smile from my daughter and quality time with my amazing spouse.
Reese is now smiling, babbling up a storm, and interacting with us in such a special way, and I feel so blessed to see these milestones first hand. I am and will always be a working mom, as I feel empowered by my profession and the ability to help people every single day. But this extra time at home has been so very gratifying. Now that elective surgeries are resuming, I will inevitably be spending a great deal of time in my workplace, but I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a group of amazing working moms. Along with elective surgeries resuming includes IVF clinics reopening to new patients, and I hope and pray that this entry reaches at least one person who is in a season of waiting, hoping and praying, just as I was. You’ve got this, mama.
With all my love, always…
Em
North of Hope 