Over the last few weeks I’ve learned…

After a few months of trying and not becoming pregnant I started reflecting about how hard I always tried to not get pregnant and I’m wondering if that has influenced my fertility or not.  You always just assume, oh I stop taking my pill and I’ll get pregnant, but it’s not that easy. Did you know that after a prolonged period of time using the pill; it takes a lot long for you to resume a normal cycle. It can take over a year for you to resume normal ovulation. I’ve been off of the pill for almost 21 months so this shouldn’t be an issue any longer but could have played a role in the first 18 months of trying. This only plays a factor in about 10% of women, but it still plays a favor. And considering I took the pill for about 15 years, I’m thinking it might have – but who knows.

Apparently age could also be playing a factor in this, while 31 is not old – in egg years it can be. But also doctors believe that the number of eggs you have at birth determines how long you will be fertile. Did you know that smoking can also accelerate egg cell death? While I know that these factors don’t necessarily play a factor into our issue, but it was just something interesting I learned. “Around age 31, fertility starts to drop more quickly — by about 3 percent per year — until you hit 35 or so. From there, the decline accelerates. "The average 39-year-old woman has half the fertility she had at 31, and between 39 and 42, the chances of conceiving drop by half again," says Adamson. Approximately one in four women age 35 or older have trouble getting pregnant. The average woman can have a baby until age 41, but that's no guarantee.” Also, did you know men can father babies up to their 70’s, really?!?!?

 

Weight, as I spoke about in my previous post, can be a cause for conception.  Anyone with a BMI of over 29, which mine is, can have trouble conceiving. While we all know someone I’m sure that has a BMI of over 29 that have had a healthy baby, this along with several other factors could play a role. A major role has now been linked to carbs (I know I was mad about it too!!!). I’ve been asked to lower my carb intake; no soda, less breads, less pasta – more lean meat and veggies. I know low carb and high protein will also get the belly fat off, but damn I love my carbs!

 

So I have taken some steps on my own to try to increase the possibility for conceiving. I quit smoking about 21 months ago, starting going to an acupuncturist to help with stress and fertility, and I take a daily prenatal. I’m working on weight loss and trying to get out and move more.

 

Praying for Baby B!

 

Jacki