Pregnant women’s risk of contracting the coronavirus is low. Here’s what you need to know about this respiratory infection and how to stay healthy.

Because pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes that make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 pregnant women should take preventative action to avoid this infection, the flu, and other ailments.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

According to the Center for Disease Control, symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms may appear in as little as 2 days and as long as 14 days after you’re exposed to the virus.

How can you prevent and avoid coronavirus?

It’s very simple, wash your hands, frequently for at least 20 seconds each time. Wash them before you prepare food, eat, after bathroom use, when you cough or sneeze, and if you are caring for sick people. When you don’t have soap and water, use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Otherwise:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow, or cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue into the trash
• Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces with a disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe

How does coronavirus spread?

Because COVID-19 is new, there remain many unanswered questions about how it spreads. But experts believe:

• The virus may spread from person to person, between people who are within about 6 feet of each other, and through droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• It spreads from contact with infected surfaces. Touching a surface or object that has the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes is one way it may spread, although the CDC says it is not believed to the main way of spreading the virus.
• It may spread before people have symptoms.
• It is not airborne, so you can’t catch it from breathing.
• It spreads easily. Not all viruses do, but the CDC believes COVID-19 spreads “easily and sustainably in the community” in some geographic regions it has affected.

Can pregnant women pass the virus to their fetus or newborn?

According to the CDC, the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly by close contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets. Whether a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 to her fetus by other routes of vertical transmission (before, during, or after delivery) is still unknown. However, in limited recent case series of infants born to mothers with COVID-19, none of the infants have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Additionally, the virus was not detected in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk.

Can an infected mother pass the virus to her baby through breastfeeding?

Much is unknown about how COVID-19 is spread. Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how flu and other respiratory viruses spread. In limited studies on women with COVID-19 and another coronavirus infection, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been detected in breast milk, However, the CDC does not know whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk.

Should mothers continue breastfeeding if they have coronavirus or come in contact with someone who is sick?

Yes. A mother’s breast milk contains antibodies and other immunological factors that can help protect her infant from flu. She is the recommended source of nutrition for the infant, even while the mother is ill. If a mother is too sick to breastfeed her infant, she should express her milk so that the infant continues to receive her breast milk and she doesn’t risk decreasing her future supply. Prior to breastfeeding or expressing, mothers should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?

Not yet. And any working vaccine is at least a year away. But several research universities and drug companies are working on it. At least one possible vaccine is ready for phase I human trials.

How is coronavirus treated?

There is no drug treatment yet and antibiotics are effective only against bacterial infections. Experts recommend treating symptoms: Try ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen for pain and fever; get rest, and drink plenty of water. People with more serious cases need to be in the hospital, where they may need help with breathing and other support.

Is coronavirus worse than the flu?

Per the CDC, there have been at least 29 million Americans sickened by the flu this season, compared to more than 100 who are known to be sick with coronavirus here. While more than 90,000 people are confirmed coronavirus patients worldwide, the numbers are still minuscule compared to the flu.

The flu is also well-known to scientists and doctors, although each year’s strain is slightly different. Flu treatment plans are well-established, and vaccines exist. This coronavirus is brand-new, and health officials are still learning about its spread. It is also possible the virus mutates into multiple strains, as the flu has.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said there are some key differences people need to understand. First, COVID-19 doesn’t seem to spread as efficiently as the flu. The second big difference is that people get sicker from COVID-19.

“While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains, COVID-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity. That means more people are susceptible to infection and some will suffer severe disease,” he said.

Can I get coronavirus from a package?

The CDC says there is likely a “very low risk” of it spreading from products or packaging shipped over a period of days or weeks. “Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. Currently, there is no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods, and there are no cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods,” the agency says. But it is always good practice to wash your hands after touching shipped objects and certainly before eating or touching your mouth or eyes.

How long does COVID-19 live on surfaces or outside of the body?

The World Health Organization says studies show that COVID-19 may last for a few hours or several days on surfaces. It depends on temperature, the kind of surface, and humidity. Using a simple disinfectant on all reachable surfaces is a good idea.

How is coronavirus diagnosed?

The CDC is supplying states with test kits. Each test result must be verified by the CDC before a diagnosis is confirmed. If you believe you may have COVID-19, call your doctor’s office before you go. Alert them to the situation so they can prepare for your arrival. Do not just go to urgent care or emergency room without calling first. If your health care professional agrees you may have coronavirus, they will contact your state and local health departments.

Is the coronavirus seasonal, like the flu?

It’s possible the coronavirus will die out once warmer weather hits but Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases says we don’t know enough about the virus yet to know for sure.

Most respiratory viruses, like the flu, are seasonal. Coronavirus may behave like the flu and we may see cases go down in spring and summer but it’s premature to assume that.

Information on the coronavirus comes from the Centers for Disease Control.

The post Coronavirus & Pregnancy: What Moms Need to Know appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Let’s First Look at How Pregnancy Happens

To get pregnant ovulation must take place. This occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed through the fallopian tube, and is available to the sperm for fertilization. The lining of the uterus has thickened to prepare for a fertilized egg. If conception does not occur, the uterine lining will be shed. This shedding of an unfertilized egg and the uterine wall is called menstruation.

Key Facts of Ovulation:

• An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary.
• Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation.
• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness, hormonal imbalances, travel, or significant changes in weight, exercise, or sleeping patterns.
• Some women may experience light spotting around ovulation.
• Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation.
• Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are waiting to be released during ovulation.
• A menstrual period can occur even if a woman has not ovulated.
• Ovulation can occur even if a woman has not had her menstrual period.
• Some women feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called mittelschmerz, which means “middle pain” in German.
• If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining.

How to Get Pregnant Faster

Know when you’re ovulating and having sex during your fertility window will increase your chances of conceiving. Use our free Ovulation Calendar to determine your most fertile times.

Ovulation Tracker

A woman’s monthly cycle is measured from the first day of her menstrual period until the first day of her next period. On average, a woman’s cycle is between 28-32 days, although some women may have much shorter or longer cycles.

Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of their last period (LMP). This is what many refer to as the “fertile time” of a woman’s cycle because sexual intercourse during this time increases the chance of pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at any point during this window and may occur on a different day each month.

Signs You’re Ovulating:

• Change in vaginal secretions.Just before ovulation, you may see an increase in clear, wet and stretchy vaginal secretions. Just after ovulation, cervical mucus decreases and becomes thicker, cloudy and less noticeable.
• Change in basal body temperature. Your basal body temperature (body’s temperature at rest) increases slightly during ovulation. Using a thermometer specifically designed to measure basal body temperature, take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Record the results and look for a pattern to emerge. You’ll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. This is the best time to have sex.

Fairhaven Health’s OvaCue Fertility Monitor predicts ovulation up to seven days in advance plus confirms once ovulation has taken place. No messy urine testing. It’s over 98% accurate. Fairhaven is a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association.

Ovulation is one of the most important processes a woman should understand about her body as it is the determining factor in both getting pregnant and preventing pregnancy. Nonetheless, it can be somewhat difficult to understand. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about ovulation.

How Do I Increase My Chances of Getting Pregnant?

• Have sex near the time of ovulation.Have sex every two to three days per week starting soon after the end of your period. This can help ensure that you have sex when you are most fertile.
• Maintain a normal weight.Overweight and underweight women are at increased risk of ovulation disorders.
• Fertility-friendly lubricants. Use lubes that are sperm and egg-friendly. Fairhaven’s BabyDance lubricants are specially designed for couples trying to conceive.
• Consider a supplement. Fairhaven’s FertilAid delivers all of the essential nutrients both women and men need to ensure the best chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy and baby.
• Don’t smoke. Tobacco has multiple negative effects on fertility, not to mention your general health and the health of a fetus. If you smoke, ask your health care provider to help you quit before conception.
• Don’t drink alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can decrease fertility. Avoid alcohol if you’re hoping to conceive.
• Cut caffeine. Research suggests that fertility isn’t affected by caffeine consumption of less than 200 milligrams a day. That’s about one to two cups of 6 to 8 ounces of coffee per day.
• Don’t overdo strenuous exercise.Strenuous, intense exercise of more than five hours a week has been associated with decreased ovulation.

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant?

With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Of all couples trying to conceive:

• 30 percent get pregnant within the first cycle (about one month).
• 60 percent get pregnant within three cycles (about three months).
• 80 percent get pregnant within six cycles (about six months).
• 85 percent get pregnant within 12 cycles (about one year).
• 92 percent get pregnant within 48 cycles (about four years).

Your best chances for conceiving naturally are during your 20s. Your fertility begins to decline as you age. A healthy 30-year-old has about a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant each month, but by the time you’re 40, you have only about a 5 percent chance. By age 45, very few women get pregnant naturally.

How Long Should We Try Before Getting Help?

If you and your partner are struggling to get pregnant, it’s possible one of you may have an issue. Often it’s immediately assumed that the woman is infertile, but infertility affects both men and women.

It’s Easy to Check His Sperm Count

According to the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, up to 40-50% of infertility in couples is linked to the male. One of the most common problems contributing to male infertility is low sperm count. You can check if your sperm count meets the threshold for fertility quickly, easily, and privately at home with SpermCheck Fertility. This FDA-cleared kit is available online or at your local retailer and is a product of DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. SpermCheck is simple—like a home pregnancy test— and results are ready in minutes. Keep in mind that other fertility factors like sperm mobility and morphology are also important and should be checked by a healthcare professional.

If you’re younger than 35 and haven’t gotten pregnant after trying for a year, or you’re older than 35 and you’ve been trying for six months, it may be time to see a fertility specialist.

If you still have further questions regarding ovulation, we encourage you to talk with your health care provider or contact the American Pregnancy Association for more information. Being informed about how your body works can help you feel more in charge of your health.

The post How to Get Pregnant appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

YES, thanks to Nightfood’s new Nighttime Ice Cream pregnant moms can more safely satisfy their cravings with eight flavors of yummy deliciousness without the sugar spikes, heartburn, and insomnia of regular ice cream.

The team of sleep and nutrition experts at Nightfood formulated their ice cream to be a pregnancy-friendly, guilt-free nighttime snack with a sleep-friendly nutritional profile that completely satisfies your crave monster.

Why Do Pregnant Women Have Cravings?

Doctors don’t know exactly why women crave certain tastes, textures or flavor combinations. According to the Journal of American Dietetic Association, most cravings are the body’s attempt to obtain vitamins or minerals that are missing through normal food consumption. It may be changing hormones or the extra work your body does to sustain your baby.

It’s important to eat a nutritious diet when you’re pregnant and that means lean meats, fish, eggs, plenty of fruits and vegetables. Avoiding sugar and fat along with regular exercise are important to a healthy pregnancy.

The Best Ice Cream to Eat While Pregnant

Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream is the Official Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association because it includes more protein plus prebiotic fiber, digestive enzymes, amino acids and a special mineral blend that includes magnesium and calcium. They also include glycine to help suppress acid reflux, prevent sugar spikes and make it more sleep-friendly. Because it also has less sugar, fat, and calories, it’s more waistline-friendly too.

Forget the Pickles and Relish this Ice Cream

Pregnant moms now have a new BFF in Nightfood. It’s sleep expert and crave monster approved, and now American Pregnancy Association recommended.

The post Pregnancy & Ice Cream appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Slumbar Pillows’ Sprout

Why? Because we have rigorously tested, analyzed and used it ourselves. Slumbar Pillows seeks to provide clinically-proven and structurally significant therapeutic pillows that deeply emphasize comfort, safety and the increased health benefits of proper spinal alignment. Experts involved in the development of The Slumbar Sprout include medical doctors, physiotherapists, registered nurses and other healthcare practitioners.

Why Do Moms Love It?

The Slumbar Sprout’s unique design has received critical acclaim from various associations and organizations that understand and emphasize the importance of feeling your best during pregnancy. This pillow’s ergonomic design uniquely supports and contours to the natural shape of mommy’s body to provide maximum support wherever you are. It’s portable size makes it easy to take it to work, yoga – wherever and whenever you need to relieve back pain, muscle tightness and improves circulation in order to keep you feeling your best.

Let’s Relish the Slumbar Sprout Support:

• Sleeping with a Sprout pillow between your knees and underneath your growing stomach provides relief that can dramatically improve your sleep quality during pregnancy.
• When eating, angle The Sproutto support your tummy so it’s easier to digest your food, especially as baby grows and takes up so much more room. This will help minimize acid reflux.
• Babies shift positions many times per day, and may come to rest on inconvenient places, like your bladder or your sciatic nerve – especially when you’re lying down. The Sprout helps with extra support.
• Use it in the car or when traveling.
• Use when nursing for additional support for both mom and baby.

We encourage you to explore the various other products that Slumbar Pillows offers – especially the Slumbar Axis which gently decreases headaches and neck pain. As an on-going leader and educative supporter of the American Pregnancy Association, they are demonstrating their commitment to furthering the mission of the APA and the women and families who turn to us for care and support.

The post The Ultimate Pregnancy Pillow appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

A Relapse Doesn’t Mean Recovery is Impossible

Studies show that using drugs, legal or illegal, during pregnancy has a direct impact on your fetus. If you smoke or drink alcohol so does your baby. If you use marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth, or any drug, your baby also feels the impact of these dangerous drugs and its life is at risk.

Perhaps you already know this and you’re seeking help so your baby doesn’t suffer miscarriage, birth defects, premature labor or addiction. But staying clean and sober is so hard and relapse is so easy. It’s important to understand that relapse does not mean your recovery has failed or is impossible.

Understanding the stages of relapse, relapse warning signs and how to manage relapse can be the difference between being able to use a relapse event as a valuable learning experience or giving up on recovery and slipping back into substance use.

The Definition of Relapse

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, relapse is defined as:

• The act or an instance of backsliding, worsening or subsiding
• A recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

When applied to recovery from a substance use disorder, relapse means that someone who had successfully managed to abstain from their drug of choice backslides into substance use. Relapse may be a one-time event, or it may lead to regular and worsening substance use.

How Common is Relapse?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), between 40% and 60% of people with a substance use disorder will have a relapse event. Although this statistic is daunting, it is important for people in recovery tounderstand that relapse does not equal failure. In fact, many people who have had long term success in recovery look back on their relapses as valuable learning experiences.

Statistics on drug relapse show that relapse rates without professional treatment vary by drug type:

• Opioids (heroin, oxycodone) are associated with the highest relapse rates. More than 90%of people who quit using opioids will relapse.
• Nicotine has relapse rates that are estimated to be between 80% and 90%.
• Alcohol is associated with relapse rates between 50% and 80%.
• Cocaine relapse rates are estimated to be between 40% and 80%.

Relapse rates are lower for people who have completed professional rehab programs, but even then relapse rates can approach 50%. Rather than letting this be a discouraging statistic, it should help people understand that relapse is frequently a normal part of a successful recovery and many people who have enjoyed long-term sobriety experienced frustrating setbacks in the form of relapse.

Studies have shown that relapse vulnerability for cocaine is at its highest in the first 1-6 months after quitting, and relapse for most drugs typically occurs within the first year of sobriety.

Stages of Relapse

There are three stages of relapse:

• Emotional relapse:The first stage of relapse is generally not associated with thinking about using drugs. Many people in this early stage are determined to maintain sobriety. However, an emotional relapse often includes denial, self-isolation and overall poor self-care, which can increase the risk for depression and future relapse.
• Mental relapse:The second stage of relapse is characterized by a gradually increasing desire to use the drug of choice. Many people in mental relapse will bargain with themselves (“I will only use the drug at social events where it is acceptable”) or glamorize past use.
• Physical relapse:The final stage of relapse is the actual relapse event. The best way to prevent physical relapse is to understand the warning signs and symptoms associated with the first two stages.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Relapse

While relapse may seem spontaneous, it is actually a gradual process that involves an “incubation of craving.” As the three stages of relapse progress, cravings often become stronger. If triggers or temptations are present, these cues will further drive the development of cravings.

Relapse Triggers

Triggers are things that remind you of your drug of choice and that promote cue-induced craving incubation. Common triggers are old friends who you used drugs with, places where you used drugs, drug paraphernalia and even songs that you listened to while using.

It will generally be impossible to completely avoid triggers, which is why making a relapse prevention plan is so important. When you can successfully face a trigger without succumbing to temptation, you will gain confidence in yourself and your ability to maintain long term sobriety.

How to Prevent Relapse

Relapse prevention is a crucial component in successfully managing short and long term recovery. Having a relapse prevention plan can be the difference between resisting or giving in to a temptation.

Relapse prevention can be substantially aided by having a solid network of supportive people in your life. Discussing your goals for sobriety and why recovery is important to you with someone you trust can be valuable if you start to question whether the challenges of recovery are worth it- having someone remind you of your goals and inspirations can be incredibly motivating. Aftercare or 12 step programs can be helpful ways to meet new people and develop a new, supportive network of friends.

Untreated co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are significantly associated with relapse. Conversely, a positive outlook and an ability to cope with stressors are significantly associated with successful recovery.

Other tips to prevent relapse include:

• Wait 30 minutes.Most urges will subside over the course of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Re-define “fun.”Find new hobbies or activities to replace your old ones. Exercise, arts & crafts and volunteering can be incredibly fulfilling and confidence-building.
• Learn from setbacks.If you relapse, make sure to take the time to understand which factors contributed to the relapse. Relapse is a learning experience, not a failure.
• Participate in cognitive behavioral therapy or another form of therapy that helps you become comfortable with your new sobriety.

If you are struggling to overcome a substance use disorder, you don’t have to do it alone. Contact the National Alcohol & Drug Dependence Hopeline at 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255) for help.

Article provided by Ridgefield Recovery using these sources:

• National Institute on Drug Abuse. “How effective is drug addiction treatment?” Updated January 2018. Accessed October 24, 2019.
• Velander, Jennifer R. “Suboxone: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions.” The Ochsner Journal, Spring 2018. Accessed October 23, 2019.
• Hendershot, Christian S.; et al. “Relapse prevention for addictive behaviors.” Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, July 2011. Accessed October 24, 2019.
• Moos, Rudolf H.; Moos, Bernice S. “Rates and predictors of relapse after natural and treated remission from alcohol use disorders.” Addiction, September 2007. Accessed October 24, 2019.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Study Ranks Recovery Assets in Cocaine Addiction.” Updated July 2015. Accessed October 24, 2019.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. “EEG Indicates That Cocaine Relapse Vulnerability Peaks 1 to 6 Months Into Abstinence.” September 2017. Accessed October 24, 2019.
• Melemis, Steven M. “Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery.” The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, September 2015. Accessed October 23, 2019.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Cues give clues in relapse prevention.” April 2019. Accessed October 24, 2019.

The post Drug Relapse During Pregnancy appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

How do Environmental Toxins Impact Fertility?

This toxic soup we live in negatively impacts egg quality and sperm health in couples of all ages. Poor egg quality in women makes it more difficult for sperm to fertilize the egg and a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall. Low sperm count and reduced motility in men lowers the likelihood that sperm will successfully fertilize the egg. The risk of having a baby with birth defects or other health problems increases as a result of lower quality eggs and sperm, and miscarriages due to chromosomal abnormalities are on the rise.

While the human body has intricate detoxification systems for metabolizing and eliminating everyday chemicals, these systems can become overloaded with this constant bombardment. Once this occurs, the toxic chemicals are allowed to accumulate in our tissues, where they begin to cause damage to our cells. As a result, chronic exposure to these environmental toxins can impact not only our fertility but also the health of our baby.

Given the toxic load most of us carry around and the amount of time it takes to reduce this load, we should be thinking about detox before actually trying to get pregnant. We’ve outlined some stages below. These stages can be done at the same time but in the interest of taking baby steps (pun intended), implementing change in stages can be less overwhelming. The reward of detoxing is worth it. Babies today are born pre-polluted. An Environmental Working Group study found 287 different industrial chemicals and pollutants in the umbilical cord blood with 180 of those known to cause cancer in humans and 217 of those toxic to the brain and nervous system.1

Stage 1: Reduce External Sources of Toxins That Cause Chronic Inflammation

When a toxin gets inside your body, it can damage cells. These damaged cells release chemicals such as histamines that cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling. Swelling (also called inflammation) is a normal part of the body’s healing process, and it serves a useful purpose in that it helps isolate the foreign toxin from further contact with body tissues. But, swelling is meant to be only a temporary response, and if the inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to health problems down the road. In fact, it is now believed that chronic inflammation a root cause of most chronic disease in the body and fertility is no exception. For example, in women, chronic inflammation can result in hormone imbalances that impact ovulation. In men, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress tend to go hand in hand, which negatively impacts sperm health.

Also, some toxins known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) wreak havoc on the body in a different, sneakier way. Because they are essentially capable of “impersonating” hormones, endocrine-disrupters can confuse systems that rely on our real hormones. EDCs are capable of increasing or decreasing production of certain hormones, converting one hormone into another, blocking the signaling between hormones, telling cells to die prematurely, and clogging organs that produce hormones. Specific to fertility, hormone imbalance due to endocrine disrupters shows up as low sperm count, poor morphology, damaged egg quality, and more.

Avoidance is stage 1 of a fertility detox program. You will not be able to completely avoid all exposure to toxic chemicals, but it is certainly feasible (and important!) to minimize your exposure as much as possible when you are trying-to-conceive, throughout your pregnancy, and while nursing your baby.

Here are a few suggestions for reducing your contact with reproductive toxins:

• Choose organic produce, dairy products, and meats whenever possible. And, if you do eat conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, be sure to wash and peel them.
• Stop eating fast food, a known source of phthalates (a plasticizer used in products such as nail polish. Source: FDA).
• Quit smoking and avoid exposure to second hand smoke.
• Drink filtered water, and consider bathing in filtered water as well.
• Avoid eating fish contaminated with mercury. We recommend Safe Catch Tuna. 
• Use only non-toxic cleaning supplies in your home.
• Purchase personal care products that are free of phthalates and parabens.
• Avoid purchasing food and drinks packaged in plastics containing bisphenol A (BPA). Never microwave food in plastic containers.
• Choose non-toxic alternatives to conventional pesticides and herbicides for your lawn and garden.

Stage 2: Manage Internal Sources of Chronic Inflammation with Supplements

High blood sugar and metabolic syndrome not only throw insulin and other hormones out of whack, but also create substantial inflammation. High counts of free radicals in the body are another internal source of inflammation. In both cases, diet focused on increasing nutrition and reducing empty calories is the solution. While diet is key, certain dietary supplements can offer a big assist as well.

• Diet – Follow a Mediterranean style food plan to manage sugar and minimize free radicals. Good carbs like healthy greens are digested slowly and have a more gradual effect on blood sugar and insulin. Avoid fast burning sugars like those that come from processed flour products. Test gluten and dairy as they are known to be inflammatory for many people. And make sure you eat plenty of healthy omega 3 fats and keep omega 6 fats to a minimum.
• Supplements – Consider augmenting your diet with an antioxidant-based prenatal vitamin that offers not only the key vitamins and minerals you and your baby need but also myo-inositol and d-chiro inositol to help manage blood sugar and insulin. Aimed at preventing oxidative stress, FH PRO for Women from Fairhaven Health, is recommended by the American Pregnancy Association because it includes an array of antioxidant nutrients, including CoQ10, Vitamin E, methylfolate, and alpha lipoic acid, to protect egg cells along with myo-inositol and d-chiro inositol to promote insulin sensitivity and hormone balance. There is a companion product for men, FH PRO for Men, that was recently shown in a clinical study to improve sperm count, motility, and morphology, and to decrease DNA fragmentation in sperm.2

Stage 3: Boost Your Liver to Gently Detox Your Body

Your liver does an amazing amount of work each day:
• Filters nearly 100 gallons of blood that pass through it every day.
• Produces a full quart of bile daily to break down fat and help with food digestion.
• Converts glucose into energy your body can use.
• Detoxifies waste products and pollutants, so your body can get rid of them.
However, once the liver and intestines become overwhelmed, toxins are allowed to build-up and become stored in our tissues where they can cause cellular damage, which can result in a variety of health conditions including reduced fertility and birth defects. Milk thistle (Silybum marinanum) is commonly used to boost the liver’s detox abilities. One of the most well-studied of all medicinal herbs, milk thistle has been scientifically proven to protect and regenerate liver cells, and is commonly used in Europe in the treatment of various liver conditions. As part of a detoxification program, milk thistle can aid the liver in clearing toxins and boost the antioxidant activity of liver cells.

It is very important that you have plenty of antioxidants on board when using a liver detox supplement. Releasing the toxins can make you feel flu-like and the antioxidants in your system will help neutralize the free radicals so they flush from the body. FertileDetox is designed to improve fertility and promote the health of a baby by helping with efficient elimination of environmental toxins from the body. The formula includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and special ingredients that support the body’s own detoxification and cleansing systems.
You have the power to impact not only your health but your baby’s health for the rest of his or her life. Support your body, your immune system and your inflammatory response with these lifestyle strategies.

Check out other articles for improving your fertility: 

• Infertility 101: What Your Need to Know First
• How to Get and Keep a Healthy Sperm Count

1 https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns

2 Arafa M, Agarawal A, Majzoub A, Khalafalla K, Alsaid S, Elbardisi H. Efficacy of Antioxidant Supplementation on Conventional and Advanced Sperm Function Tests in Patients With Idiopathic Male infertility. Fertility and Sterility 2019, Volume 112, Issue 3, page e109.

The post 3 Stages of Pre-Pregnancy Detox for Couples appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy; however, one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a missed period. Understanding the signs of pregnancy is important because each symptom may have causes other than pregnancy. You may experience pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception. Some women report that they did not experience any symptoms for a few weeks. If you need free testing, you can search below or order affordable early detection pregnancy tests online from our corporate sponsor Fairhaven Health.

If you would like to speak to someone about your pregnancy symptoms or the possibility of being pregnant, call us toll-free helpline at 1-800-672-2296.

What are the Most Common First Signs of Pregnancy?

In a poll on pregnancy symptoms conducted by the American Pregnancy Association:

• 29% of women surveyed reported a missed period as their first pregnancy symptom
• 25% indicated that nausea was the first sign of pregnancy
• 17% reported that a change in their breasts was the initial symptom of pregnancy
• While implantation bleeding is often considered the first pregnancy symptom, our survey reveals that only 3% of women identify implantation bleeding as their first sign of pregnancy

Symptoms of Pregnancy Explained

• Spotting or light bleeding: If pregnant, this symptom is usually associated with implantation bleeding and is considered one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. The embryo usually implants to the uterine between 6 to 12 days after conception. Some women will experience spotting as well as cramping. Other women don’t even notice implantation bleeding or cramping, so don’t worry if you are trying to get pregnant and don’t experience these symptoms; you could still be pregnant. When this implantation occurs, light bleeding or spotting is perfectly normal. This symptom is sometimes accompanied by light cramping.
• Missed period: A delayed or missed period is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed. Is it possible to be pregnant and still have a period? Some women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically this bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period.
• Nausea or morning sickness: Nausea or morning sickness is the second most commonly reported first sign of pregnancy. Most expecting women experience nausea which typically shows up 2 to 8 weeks after conception. Nausea can be experienced with or without vomiting. Morning sickness can be experienced at any time of the day. It usually occurs during the first trimester and subsides after that for most women, but some will experience nausea throughout their pregnancy.
• Swollen or tender breasts: The third most frequently cited pregnancy symptom is breast swelling or tenderness. Changes to the breasts can start as early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception.
• Fatigue or Tiredness: As early as the first week after conception many women cite feeling tired as a sign of pregnancy.

Frequent Pregnancy Symptoms Also Include:

• Backaches: Lower backaches are common. It can occur with the onset of pregnancy, but it’s usually experienced later as the pregnancy progresses, around pregnancy week 27 to week 34.
• Headaches:  Experts believe the sudden rise of hormones and/or blood flow in your body leads can cause headaches. There is an approximate 50% increase in the volume of blood flowing during your pregnancy.
• Frequent urination:  Don’t be surprised if between 6 to 8 weeks you feel like you have to pee more often. You’ll feel the need throughout your pregnancy as the growing baby and expanding uterus place more and more pressure on your bladder.
• Food cravings or food aversions:  The food expecting women crave or seek to avoid varies and is quite sporadic. It is alright to allow yourself the freedom to pursue those cravings and avoid the things you don’t want as long as you are getting the nutrition you need for a healthy pregnancy. These cravings or aversions can occur early in pregnancy or anytime throughout your pregnancy.
• Darkening of the Areolas: It’s normal if the areolas, area around your nipples will darken.
• Mood Swings: Expecting mothers frequently experience mood swings. This is primarily caused by the hormonal changes that affect the neurotransmitters of the brain. Some may experience elevated highs and lows, and others alternate between states of happiness and depression or anxiety. Mood swings are normal; but, if you’re struggling with depression or extended periods of sadness, please contact your healthcare provider. Some women prefer to go directly to a counselor or mental health professional.

What else could it be?

A missed or delayed period, the most commonly reported first sign of pregnancy, could be caused by:

• Pending menstruation
• Excessive weight gain or loss
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• New workout regimen
• Hormonal imbalance
• Tension or stress
• Change in birth control usage
• Various illnesses
• Breastfeeding

Nausea or morning sickness, the second most frequently cited symptom of pregnancy, might be explained by:

• Food poisoning
• Tension or stress
• Anxiety
• Change in hormonal birth control
• Other stomach ailments

Tender or changing breasts, the third most noted pregnancy symptom, might be triggered by:

• Hormonal imbalance
• Change in hormonal birth control
• Impending menstruation

Fatigue or tiredness can be brought on by:

• Tension or stress
• Exhaustion from working too hard
• Depression or other mental health struggles
• Common cold or flu
• New workout regimen
• Allergies or other ailments
• Lack of sleep
• Improper nutrition
• Pending menstruation

If you’ve been sexually active and trying to determine if you are pregnant, contact our pregnancy helpline 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST at 1-800-672-2296. You can use your zip code below to find a free pregnancy testing center. 

What Do I Do Next?

If you are trying to get pregnant and looking for resources to support your efforts, we invite you to check out the fertility product and resource guide provided by our corporate sponsor. Review resource guides here.

• Having symptoms? Call our toll-free helpline at 1-800-672-2296.
• Questions about paternity? Call for free paternity info at 1-800-798-0580.
• Think you might be pregnant? Take a Pregnancy Test
• Trying to conceive? Order Fertility Products

The post Pregnancy Symptoms – Early Signs of Pregnancy appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages five and seven.

Now What?

Ok! Reality has sunk in and your wrapping your head around the fact that you are growing a human. There are so many people feeding you information about what is healthy for you. 

Let’s be real, what works for some may not work for others.  Why? Because all of our bodies are different. We all are lacking in different nutrients. We all have a genetic makeup completely different than anyone. We all process foods differently as well. 

As a child, I have always been thin. Go ahead roll your eyes but stay with me. By the time I got to college, my freshman 20-lbs hit me like a ton of bricks. I was eating fast food 2-3 times a day, not getting enough sleep and drinking energy drinks to get me through the day. I cringe even thinking about how poorly I was treating my body. 

When we learned that we were having our first baby, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I had to make a change. It was no longer about me. The fear of bringing an unhealthy baby into the world hung over me like a dark cloud. 

Mr. Right, being the funny guy that he is, brought me home a book one day. As I took the book out of the bag and read the title “Skinny Bitch” I laughed so hard. I had gotten so much grief for so long about my ability to stay thin and this was hilarious. What I didn’t realize was how much this book was going to change my life and I am excited to share tips to make more mommas have healthier pregnancies and lives. 

This is not an opportune time to indulge and eat whatever you want, every choice will have consequences – good or bad.

Here are some changes that will improve your health dramatically:

• Take a reliable prenatal vitamin. The American Pregnancy Association recommends Fairhaven Health and Nordic Naturals.
• Exercise regularly (walking, yoga or anything your body is used too)
• Drink large amounts of water daily
• No alcohol, drugs or tobacco 
• Limit caffeine intake (tea, coffee, etc)
• No more sugary sweetened beverages (sodas, sweet tea, energy drinks) This is crucial…check out my blog post to see why sugar is the devil and your so much better off when you avoid it .
• Limit processed food dramatically (anything that comes in a box or is super convenient to make or eat is your enemy). Research links a high- processed food diet to many health issues including: obesity, diabetes, asthma, and so many others. I will cover this in depth in another post – stay tuned! 
• Get plenty of rest and soak up some sunshine for some high-quality and extremely beneficial Vitamin D (in moderation of course)! So lay out by the pool, rock your two piece and chug some aqua! 

That’s easy, right? HAHAH. No, it is not easy at all. It’s totally natural to will feel like your world is turned upside down, because well, it has been turned upside down. The good news is – You’ve GOT THIS! I mean it! Believe it! 

Welcome to this new chapter in your life, embrace the journey and don’t sell yourself short! You are growing a human! That makes you AMAZING and you deserve the best! 

With love,

~KB~

The post Pregnant…Here’s The Bumpy Truth appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Welcome to Our Blog about Pregnancy, Nutrition and Life

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages 5 & 7.

For many families the inability to conceive is a heartbreaking reality. Mr. Wonderful and I spent many months thinking this was our reality. I spent most of my young adult years with amenorrhea (lack of periods), so attempting to use an ovulation calendar or the fertility apps seemed useless. I tried it all. Read books, logged symptoms, cried, prayed. You name it, I tried it!

Fortunately, I was able to discuss our fears of not getting pregnant with my obstetrician. She prescribed Provera to jump start my cycle and, voila I was pregnant a month later. Imagine my shock. We had spent so many months trying to do it on our own with no luck and just like that, our lives were about to change forever. I was terrified, excited…so many emotions.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plan is!

My story is not always how it works out for other families. I have many friends that have struggled and continue to struggle with growing their families. It breaks my heart. As women, we often put the blame on ourselves….

• What is wrong with my body?
• What am I doing wrong?
• What testing do I need to do or medicines do I need to take?

The list could go on…but I am hear to tell you that it is not always the woman with the inability to conceive. You heard that right …SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS. Maybe it is not you ladies, just maybe it is your man! Male infertility accounts for 30% of all infertility cases. Check out this article about male infertility. You can easily check his sperm count with a SpermCheck Fertility at-Home Test.

The silver lining here is that there are simple ways to find out if your male partner has underlying issues before you put your body through the ringer!

I learned a lot about my body and the role nutrition plays in balancing hormones and increasing fertility success. Diet is important, regardless of gender. What you eat is imperative to how your body functions. Supplements are helpful too and we recommend Fairhaven Health’s for fertility and prenatal wellness.

Check out this article from Harvard on the benefits of consuming a nutrient dense diet and fertility.

There is so much fake news about food these days that it can be very confusing. Let’s keep it simple:

• Eat healthy fats : Healthy Fats are not the enemy!!
  • Dark Chocolate : You read that right. I am not talking about the bag of M&M’s calling your name or that Snickers bar that is filled with a bunch of junk. Find organic dark chocolate and develop a taste for it. If you can develop a taste for alcohol, you can do this too!
  • Avocados: I cannot stress enough the benefits of avocados. High in fiber and more potassium than bananas! Super beneficial to cardiovascular health. JUST EAT THEM!
  • Whole EGGS : Organic & pasture raised only.
  • Fatty Wild Caught Fish: salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines and herring are great sources with very little to no mercury; If you do not eat fish, try a Cod Fish Oil supplement. It’s imperative to brain development. The American Pregnancy Association recommends Safe Catch Tuna.
  • Chia Seeds: Plant power food! Add a tablespoon or two to smoothies, soups, spaghetti etc. They have virtually no flavor but super high in fat and fiber!
• Limit Processed Foods & Fast Foods – Read our blog You are What You Eat
• Ditch sugar-sweetened beverages
  • Sodas
  • Energy Drinks
  • Gatorade/Powerade
  • Lattes, Frappes
  • Sweet Tea (I am from the South, I get it but you gotta let it go)
  • Alcohol
• Drink WATER

In a nutshell, infertility in males and females is common. Diet plays a key role in your fertility so be smart about what you put into your body and how you are treating yourself. You deserve the best, so give yourself the best.

~KB~

The post The Bumpy Truth About Infertility appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages 5 & 7.

It’s a cliche, But it’s so Right!

The hard truth of that phrase is often too much to comprehend. Ignorance is bliss, for a while anyway. Now that you are eating for two, it is imperative to learn more about how foods affect you and your unborn child.

Allow me to be transparent. Those who have known me since childhood will call me out immediately about my weakness for pizza rolls. After school they were my go to snack. Not just a few of them, I typically maxed out at 20-25 pizza rolls. Every day. With RANCH! Holy COW y’all! And that’s after my lunch of cheese fries or even better, gravy fries and a fountain drink. Only the Lord remembers what I had for breakfast, but I can tell you it was NOT a green smoothie or avocado toast.

You can imagine my excitement when I found organic pizza rolls for my girls. JACKPOT! These are not healthy by any means, but I am all about balance and at least they are a healthier version of my favorite childhood snack.

Mr. Wonderful is quick to remind me about the spoonfuls of cookie dough I wolfed down when we first met. Seriously, who doesn’t love cookie dough?

Then there’s my love affair with the National Drink of Texas – Dr Pepper! My mother would pop one into the freezer to make it a slushy! Oh, heavens! DELISH! But OMG the excessive sugar!

My point:

I was a fast-food-eating, sugar-addicted, soda-drinking lady, doing the best I knew based on the knowledge I had. It was the norm and I fell right in line.

The thought of changing your diet now can be overwhelming and with all the other emotions you are feeling it can be exhausting.

My tip: Small changes with big impacts. Start by drop kicking sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages. This most likely will not be easy.

Have you ever thought about why cokes are so good? So addicting? Check out this short video:

I want to highlight the valid reasons for drop kicking soda, ESPECIALLY while you are pregnant:

• High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
  • High-fructose corn syrup can easily lead to excessive fat gain. This is because of its high fructose content, which is metabolized differently than other carbs.
  • The fructose in HFCS is not to be confused with the fructose in fruit which, in moderation, is healthy.
  • Excessive amounts of HFCS can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is a problem because HFCS is used in so many things. Think sauces (ketchup, mustard, dressings etc), drinks, and other processed foods. It is cheaper for companies to use HFCS than real sugar and we are consuming it in every meal of every day. TOXIC OVERLOAD. Our liver’s purpose is to detoxify the body and it cannot complete its task if it is not healthy.
  • HFCS is directly linked to hyperactivity in children. I mean, this is not rocket science. Over consumption of sugar makes everyone a little jittery. HFCS is a child’s nightmare if he is suffering from ADD or ADHD.

Did you know?…

Research suggests that sugar is more addictive than cocaine and it’s intentionally in everything we consume. https://positivemed.com/2014/10/07/two-words-sugar-addict/

Do not let the marketing teams fool you. They actually have taste tests to see how much sugar is needed to hook you and cause you to want more of their product. More product sales = more money for them and poorer health for you and your baby.

My challenge to you is to kick the sugary-sweetened beverages to the curb for good. If not for your health, than at least for your sweet baby. It will help you feel better while you’re pregnant and help increase your odds of not having a baby addicted to sugar upon birth!

Small steps lead to big changes. When you know better, you do better!

~KB~

Here are more links if you want more information regarding this growing epidemic:

• https://www.adhdawareness.com/child-nutrition.html#.XS5UBC2ZM1I
• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/food-toxics-adhd_b_1994600
• Fructose interacts with oral contraceptives and elevates insulin levels in women on “the pill.” https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/modern-foods/the-double-danger-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup/

This list could go on forever. Sugar is the devil and fake sugar is even worse. So don’t turn to the “sugar-free or diet drinks because they are more harmful than the original stuff and you deserve better.

The post You are What You Eat…The Bumpy Truth About Nutrition appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages five and seven.

“Morning?” Yea… NO!

So you realize you are actually pregnant. Reality starts to set in and your body begins to let you know, Hey, this is real with the most pleasant of all things, nausea. This is not your typical sickness either. No sugar coating things here ladies, it is awful! Stay with me though.

I was nauseous for an entire week before I realized I was in fact pregnant. It got progressively worse for several weeks. I wish I could tell you, “Ohhh, it is not that bad.” But I intend to be real with you. It’s hard. And maybe you are one of the lucky ones that does not experience a single moment of morning sickness. Bless you!

I, however, was not so lucky.

What is morning sickness?

The actual definition: nausea in pregnancy, typically occurring in the first few months. Despite its name, the nausea can affect pregnant women at any time of day.

Research strongly shows that morning sickness is “a mechanism for protecting mother and embryo.”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10858967

Let’s get down to it…

I would wake up in the morning, roll out of bed and try to pull myself together. Pure hot mess. On my way to work (teach 66 kids) I would usually have a sack handy and it was full by the time I got to my school.

On top of that…I had to set a trash can outside my classroom door and would have to take moments in the hallway while the children were hard at work.

One of my most memorable moments happened after we had been tailgating all weekend at a college football game. We packed up the R.V. Sunday morning, got on the road only to have to pull over for me to lose my breakfast. I barely made it outside the R.V. and I remember wanting to scream at the top of my lungs to all the onlookers:

I’M PREGNANT PEOPLE!!

I was mortified. Mr. Right knew my embarrassment was exponential and laughed all the way home. Joke was on him, I slept the entire way home.

Alongside the excessive morning sickness came the extreme fatigue. After teaching all day, I would come home and go straight to bed. 5:00 in the afternoon, sound asleep.

This is not an exaggeration. Mr. Right would wake me up to eat dinner, leave crackers beside my bed and let me sleep until morning.

My point….THIS IS REAL BUT YOU WILL SURVIVE.

I thought I was going to die too! How could I do this every day? But I survived and so will you.

Will it be hard? Yes. Can you do it? Again, YES!

One day, toward the second trimester, your energy will come back and the nausea will subside. You will start to feel that ‘pregnancy glow” everyone talks about and be able to function.

Dad’s, this is an opportunity for you to have your A game. Be sympathetic. Be patient, Be supportive. It is the first of many changes that you will see in your significant other but it will all be worth it in the end.

If you are one of the many lucky ladies that deal with morning sickness, here are a few tips to help alleviate some of the symptoms according to Sally Fallon Morell, President The Weston A. Price Foundation. You can visit www.westonaprice.org to learn more.

• FATIGUE: Don’t fight it, get plenty of rest
• MORNING SICKNESS:
  • Avoid low blood sugar, get three good meals per day
  • Raw whole milk sipped throughout the day, very helpful
  • Ginger, acupuncture, vitamin B6
  • Plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration

Morning (all day) sickness is rough. Allow yourself some grace and know that this too will pass!

With love,

KB

The post The Bumpy Truth & Morning Sickness Survival appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages five and seven.

Odds are pretty high that your significant other has just informed you that she is in fact pregnant.

MIND. BLOWN.

Good, bad or indifferent, this is life changing news.

Rest easy knowing that whether a pregnancy is planned or unplanned we are never fully prepared for this chapter. And that is okay!

This is a journey that will change you in a way that those around you may or may not understand. You may not even understand. And that is okay too.

So, I know you have questions, anxieties, fears and even possibly nostalgia.

Good news is you’re here, educating yourself and preparing yourself for the new life you helped create. She/he will be a part of you for life and you are on the right path.

At the risk of sounding super basic, the best thing to do now is be the best support system she has to help power her through the process of growing a human. Y’all’s human!

TIPS:

• She will need plenty of water and healthy food options.
• Getting sunshine (Vitamin D) is crucial.
• Stay active with her: going on walks, yoga, barre etc.
• Attend the doctor appointments as frequently as possible! There is nothing like hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time and every other chance you get. It will melt your heart and if you allow it to happen, it will ease your soul and your fears.
• If she is extremely nauseous in the mornings, ensure she has crackers beside her bed each night. They also make organic pregnancy pops to alleviate some of the nausea. These pops contain ginger, which is the ingredient that is known to help lessen the symptoms. Surprise her with some to show your support!

Kudos, Gentlemen! If you made it this far in the post, then pat yourself on the back! You are going to rock this new gig as a dad! You are invested and that is half the battle. Now, just show up and enjoy the journey!

Parenthood can be a scary thing. If you and your significant other have any questions on what options are available to you. Please follow this link for more information.

Blessings,

KB

The post To All the Expecting Fathers: This Bumpy Truth is for YOU! appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The Bumpy Truth blog is written by Kristina B., a fitness instructor with a desire to help others live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Her love for wine and chocolate as well as organic foods helps her understand that knowledge is power and moderation is key. She wants to empower others to be their best selves. KB is a wife to hubby, Mr. Right and a mom of two girls, ages five and seven.

For many families the inability to conceive is a heartbreaking reality. Mr. Right and I spent many months thinking this was our reality. I spent most of my young adult years with amenorrhea (lack of periods), so attempting to use an ovulation calendar or the fertility apps seemed daunting. I tried it all. Read books, logged symptoms, cried, prayed, you name it, I tried it!

Fortunately, I was able to discuss our fears of not getting pregnant with my OB. She was able to prescribe Provera to jump start my cycle and voila I was pregnant a month later. Imagine my shock. We had spent so many months trying to do it on our own with no luck and just like that, our lives were about to change forever. Honestly, I thought it would take months and we would be right on ‘schedule’. I was terrified, excited…so many emotions.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plan is!

My story is not always how it works out for other families. I have many friends that have struggled and continue to struggle with growing their families. It breaks my heart. As women, we often put the blame on ourselves….

• What is wrong with my body?
• What am I doing wrong?
• What testing do I need to do or medicines do I need to take?

The list could go on…but I am hear to tell you that it is not always the woman with the inability to conceive. You heard that right …

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS. Maybe it is not you ladies, just maybe it is your man! Male infertility accounts for 30% of all infertility cases. Check out this article for more info, including home sperm test and supplements https://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/male-infertility/

And the silver lining here is that there are simple ways to find out if your male partner has underlying issues before you put your body through the ringer!

I learned a lot about my body and the role nutrition plays into balancing hormones and increasing fertility success. Diet is important, regardless of gender. What you eat is imperative to how your body functions.

Check out this article from Harvard on the benefits of consuming a nutrient dense diet and fertility. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fertility-and-diet-is-there-a-connection-2018053113949

There is so much nonsense about food these days that it can become very confusing so let’s keep it simple.

• Eat healthy fats : Healthy Fats are not the enemy!!
  • Dark Chocolate : You read that right. I am not talking about the bag of M&M’s calling your name or that Snickers bar that is filled with a bunch of junk. Find organic dark chocolate and develop a taste for it. If you can develop a taste for alcohol, you can do this too!
  • Avocados: I cannot stress enough the benefits of avocados. High in fiber and more potassium than bananas! Super beneficial to cardiovascular health. JUST EAT THEM!
  • Whole EGGS : Organic & pasture raised only.
  • Fatty Wild Caught Fish: salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines and herring are great sources with very little to no mercury; If you do not eat fish, try a Cod Fish Oil supplement. It’s imperative to brain development.
  • Chia Seeds: Plant power food! Add a tablespoon or two to smoothies, soups, spaghetti etc. They have virtually no flavor but super high in fat and fiber!
• Limit Processed Foods/Fast Foods
• Ditch sugar sweetened beverages
  • Sodas
  • Energy drinks
  • Gatorade/Powerade
  • Lattes, Frapps

• Sweet Tea (I am from the South, I get it but you gotta let it go)
• Alcohol
• Drink WATER

In a nutshell, infertility in males and females is common. Diet plays a key role in your fertility so be smart about what you put into your body and how you are treating yourself. You deserve the best, so give yourself the best.

~KB~

The post The Bumpy Truth About Infertility & Nutrition appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Bacterial Vaginosis or BV is the most common genital tract disorder in reproductive aged women. It is characterized by a shift from a healthy vaginal microbiome – one dominated by acid-producing bacteria (the healthy bacteria, such as lactobacillus) – to a vagina dominated by unhealthy bacteria. The most prominent and often the most disconcerting symptom of BV is a strong fishy vaginal odor, but some women with BV also see increased amounts of discharge that is gray in color.

Bacterial Vaginosis can be a vicious circle of triggers, which means that breaking the BV cycle of bacterial imbalance can be very difficult.  Women with BV have reduced levels of amylase in the vagina, an enzyme that breaks up big carbohydrates into smaller carbohydrates called glycogen that healthy bacteria eat. Without this preferred food source, the friendly lactobacillus bacteria can’t grow and thrive. Women with BV also have reduced levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that can fight off invading bacteria. In healthy vaginas, vaginal mucosal cells normally make AMPs.

Can Sperm and Eggs Survive BV?

Bacterial Vaginosis is three times more common in infertile women than fertile women. BV, and other infections in general, can decrease fertility in a number of ways:

• increasing inflammation and immune system activity, making a toxic environment for reproduction.
• causing damage to sperm and vaginal cells.
• interfering with the production of healthy cervical mucus during ovulation.
• blocking the Fallopian Tubes through scar tissue damage from infections, so that sperm and egg can’t meet.

Can BV Affect My Pregnancy?

Bacterial Vaginosis is associated with a two-fold increase in risk of preclinical pregnancy loss, sometimes called a chemical pregnancy, following IVF. For women with BV present during pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of miscarriages, preterm birth, and low birth weight complications for the newborn, as well as postpartum infections.

Can My Vaginal Microbiome Affect My Baby?

Research has shown that a baby born vaginally will have a microbiome that closely resembles the mother’s microbiome. Fetal microbial influence can start as early as in the womb through microbes shared from the placenta, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord blood. Breastfeeding after birth can also pass the mother’s microbiome to the baby but the largest transfer of microbes occurs during the baby’s trip down the vaginal canal. Your child’s best possible lifelong health and immune system are impacted by the microbiome in your vagina during birth so it’s wise to keep the vaginal ecosystem in a healthy state during pregnancy.

How Does BV Develop?

For about 90% of women who are diagnosed, Bacterial Vaginosis develops after a persistent loss of lactic acid producing bacteria in the vagina. Lactic acid producing bacteria help a healthy vagina maintain an acidic vaginal pH. This pH of around 4.5 keeps the bacteria that cause BV at bay. The acidic pH also supports normal exfoliation, or shedding, of vaginal mucosal cells, which in turn releases glycogen for the good bacteria to eat.

If you are able to restore the conditions in the vaginal ecosystem that allow the healthy bacteria to thrive, it is possible to stop the vicious cycle of BV. However, if the bad bacteria populations continue to grow, there won’t be enough glycogen for the healthy lactobacillus bacteria to eat. The BV bacteria will then make a biofilm at an elevated pH that coats and protects these bad bacteria, making it difficult for the lactobacillus to return to healthy levels.

Treatments – What to Do and Not Do

Antibiotics such as metronidazole, clindamycin, and tinidazole are often prescribed and will destroy some of the bacteria that cause symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. But, it is well-known that antibiotics kill off the good bacteria along with the infection-causing bacteria, which has potentially dire long-term impact on vaginal health. In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, Martin Blaser of New York University’s Langone Medical Center maintains that antibiotics’ impact on friendly bacteria is permanent.¹ Blaser argues that the consequences of this are so serious that antibiotic prescriptions should not be given to pregnant women and young children.

Since vaginal health correlates to the presence of good bacteria, antibiotics must be used only when absolutely necessary. Killing off the good bacteria along with the bad can lead to vaginal imbalance and recurring instances of BV. Studies have shown that more than 50 percent of women treated for BV will experience a recurrence within 12 months.² BV is most typically recurrent following a course of antibiotics.

Given that there are no easy answers when it comes to treating BV, the best course of action may very well be to help our vagina heal itself by putting the good bacteria back in charge. Options to try instead of antibiotics may include  a vaginal probiotic with healthy doses of micronutrients that are required for a healthy vaginal ecosystem (such as iron, zinc and manganese). Also, consider using  a vaginal gel such as IsoFresh which contains lactic acid to help make the vaginal pH more acidic. In clinical study, IsoFresh was shown to reduce vaginal pH after just one use. If you and your doctor feel a course of antibiotics is necessary, make sure to change your routine to include things such as using probiotics and pH balancing gels to ensure your relief from BV is more than temporary.

How Can I Prevent BV?

Healthy bacteria are the best defense against bacterial vaginosis, so anything you do to encourage the growth of lactobacillus bacteria will be a positive step forward in your fight against BV. First and foremost, don’t douche. Douching washes out all the good bacteria with the bad, and many douches contain harsh chemicals. When you are looking for vaginal health products to eliminate odor, maintain pH or lubricate for intimacy, choose products without glycerin (glycerol), coating oils, or parabens. It is also important to select products that are isotonic with vaginal cells, meaning that the salt/ion concentration of the product is the same as your vaginal tissues. Many lubricants and freshening gels have salt (ion) concentrations that are 4 times higher than vaginal fluids. High salt levels will pull water from cells and have been found to permanently damage vaginal mucosal cells and lactobacillus. Never use household oils such as coconut oil in your vagina. Coconut oil can contain toxic peroxides and inflammatory chemicals due to exposure to light and storage at room temperature, and can coat the vagina thereby interfering with vaginal self-cleaning.

A few additional comments about pH: remember that a healthy vaginal pH is acidic, with a pH level of 4.5. When choosing products for odor control or lubrication, be sure to select products that have a pH of no lower than 4 and no higher than about 5.5. The one exception is when you are trying to get pregnant, it is best to use a pH 7 lubricant during your fertile window to avoid harming sperm.

How Does BV Impact My Overall Vaginal Health?

Bacterial Vaginosis:

• can cause scarring of the Fallopian tubes and associated fertilization failure.
• keeps the vagina’s immune system into a persistent, raised state of response.
• causes chronic inflammation. Women with BV have an increase in vaginal chemicals associated with inflammation, called interleukins.
• compromises the white blood cells that fight infection, making women with BV more prone to other vaginal infections. Studies show BV is associated with increased rates of human papillomavirus and HIV infection.

Good Vaginal Health is Good for Fertility Too

Bacterial Vaginosis is no fun to deal with, and is especially impactful not only when you are trying to conceive, as it can harm sperm and eggs, but also during pregnancy. Like with most health conditions, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By choosing vaginal care products that support the growth of healthy bacteria (or at a minimum don’t harm healthy bacteria), you can keep your vaginal ecosystem in the proper balance, and key BV at bay.

For your vaginal health, The American Pregnancy Association recommends My IsoLove products from Fairhaven Health.

More Helpful Articles:

• Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy
• Yeast Infections During Pregnancy
• IsoLove

Sources

¹Blaser MJ. Stop the killing of beneficial bacteria. Nature 476, 393–394 (25 August 2011). doi:10.1038/476393a
²Bradshaw CS, et al. (2006). “High recurrence rates of bacterial vaginosis over the course of 12 months after oral metronidazole therapy and factors associated with recurrence” J Infect Dis. 2006 Jun 1;193(11):1478-86.

³Nasioudis et al. Bacterial Vaginosis: A critical analysis of current knowledge. BJOG 2017;124:61-69

The post Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Fertility appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Are you and your partner struggling to get pregnant? Although it may be immediately assumed that the woman is infertile, the problem could instead be due to the man in the relationship. In fact, according to the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, up to 40-50% of infertility in couples is linked to the male. The great news is, male infertility is treatable and you live in the 21^st century, so there are many resources to help zero in on what the issues might be and then determine solutions for resolving those issues. One of the most common problems contributing to male infertility is low sperm count. Here’s a quick overview of sperm count along with some tips for getting and keeping healthy levels to optimize conception.

Sperm Count by the Numbers

Low: Anything less than 20 million per milliliter (a condition called oligospermia) is low

Normal: A normal sperm count for a healthy male is 15–200 million per milliliter of semen

High: Above average or high sperm count is over 200 million per milliliter of semen

Why Sperm Count Matters and how it’s Determined

Although it’s true it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg, that sperm has to swim through a literal obstacle course in order to reach its target. The majority of sperm aren’t strong or mobile enough to succeed, so the more you have, the better the chances of successful conception.

Sperm count is determined through a semen analysis, which can be performed at a fertility clinic or urologist’s office. If you prefer, you also have a more private option with a convenient and accurate at-home test for sperm count.

Shop SpermCheck® Fertility At-Home Test for Sperm Count

Possible Physical and Medical Causes of Low Sperm Count 

If you find your sperm count is lower than the normal threshold for fertile men, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor or fertility specialist as soon as possible. A medical professional can determine whether or not there are physical or medical factors contributing to the problem such as genetic disorders, diabetes, past cancer treatments, sexually-transmitted diseases, etc., and recommend appropriate treatment.

Tips: How to Get and Keep a Healthy Sperm Count by Living a Healthier Lifestyle

If physical and medical issues are ruled out, ask your doctor about changes you can make to your lifestyle that can have a measurable impact on sperm count. Here are some of the best tips recommended by healthcare pros.

Eat well: According to recent studies, diets high in saturated fats and sugar negatively impact fertility. So put down the burgers and fries and get back to basics: lean meats, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and fruits. Fertility-friendly foods like nuts, leafy greens, avocado, garlic, and olive oil are ideal additions to a baby-making diet.

Lose weight: This goes hand in hand with eating well. Too much body fat can disrupt the function of reproductive hormones. Getting rid of and keeping off excess pounds can go a long way toward boosting sperm count.

Ditch those vices: Any use of alcohol, tobacco products, and illicit drugs (both by the man or woman) may reduce the likelihood of her getting pregnant. Smoking in particular has been linked to low sperm count.

Watch out for toxins: Certain pesticides, industrial metals, and even household cleaners have been linked to lower sperm count and decreased quality in sperm. If you can’t avoid exposure altogether, use a face mask and ventilate the environment well to minimize risk.

Chill out: Did you know men are more fertile in cold weather than in hot? There’s a reason for that! Overheating the scrotum negatively affects sperm production, so keep that area as cool as possible. Avoid the use of sauna and hot tubs. Wear boxers instead of briefs. Get up and move during the day if you have a desk job that requires a lot of sitting. In other words, stay mindful and do whatever you can to chill. 

How Often Should You do a Sperm Check?

Testing sperm count is not a one-and-done deal. Because sperm count can vary from month to month due to lifestyle choices, stress levels, and even the weather, it’s important to test at regular intervals when you’re trying to conceive: Urologists recommend every 2 to 3 months. You can check if your sperm count meets the threshold for fertility quickly, easily, and privately at home with SpermCheck Fertility. This FDA-cleared kit is available online or at your local retailer and is a product of DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. SpermCheck is simple—like a home pregnancy test— and results are ready in minutes. Keep in mind that other fertility factors like sperm mobility and morphology are also important and should be checked by a healthcare professional.

You Really Can Improve Sperm Count

Having lower-than-normal sperm count doesn’t mean you won’t be able to help your partner conceive, but the odds are much better if your sperm count in the normal to high range. Fortunately, there are many active steps you can take to make more plentiful, stronger swimmers as you travel your journey to parenthood.More informative articles:

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know First
• Fertility Friendly Lubricants
• Ovulation: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Chertoff, Jane. “What Is a Normal Sperm Count? .” Healthline, 29 Aug. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/normal-sperm-count#lifestyle-changes.

Grunebaum, Amos. “How to Increase Sperm Count and Improve His Fertility.” BabyMed.com, 27 Sept. 2019, www.babymed.com/tips-improving-sperm-count.

“Infertility.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 July 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/symptoms-causes/syc-20354317.

Jarrow, Jonathan, et al. “The Evaluation of the Azoospermic Male.” The Evaluation of the Azoospermic Male – American Urological Association, 2011, www.auanet.org/guidelines/azoospermic-male-best-practice-statement.

“Male Infertility.” Cleveland Clinic, 2019, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17201-male-infertility.

Panth, Neelima, et al. “The Influence of Diet on Fertility and the Implications for Public Health Nutrition in the United States.” Frontiers in Public Health, Frontiers Media S.A., 31 July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6079277/.

The post How to Get and Keep a Healthy Sperm Count appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Many vitamins play key roles in fertility, pregnancy and the health of the baby. One in particular, Vitamin B9 (referred to as folic acid or folate), has been well-studied for its ability to help prevent neural tube defects, which is why all women of childbearing age are encouraged to ensure that they consume a sufficient amount of Vitamin B9 whether they are TTC or not.  Genetics can determine how well your body can metabolize Vitamin B9.

It is estimated that between 25 and 60 percent of the population have a variation in one of their MTHFR genes that negatively impacts their ability to convert folic acid (the synthetic version of B9), and even some of the folate that naturally occurs in foods, into the active form of folate.  If you are trying to get pregnant, consider getting your genes tested to determine if you have the MTHFR genetic variation.

MTHFR Converts Synthetic to Bioactive Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 is found as either the synthetic form (folic acid) that appears in many vitamin supplements and fortified foods or the naturally occurring form found in foods (folate). Both the synthetic and most of the food-derived folate we consume must be converted via a natural enzyme pathway in our body to the final bioactive form called L-methylfolate (also known as 5-MTHF). Once MTHF is created, this active form of B9 can enter cells and cross over the blood brain barrier to help nourish our tissues and brains. Successful conversion from folic acid or folate to MTHF is dependent upon a converting enzyme known as MTHFR.

Unfortunately, gene variations to this enzyme are quite common, impacting between 25 to 60 percent of the population. When this converting enzyme does not function optimally due to a genetic mutation, the conversion of folic acid and folate to the active form of vitamin B9 is inhibited. Inadequate levels of Vitamin B9 can lead to increased risk not only for the neural tube birth defect described above, but also for miscarriage and infertility.

MTHFR is the Cause of Elevated Homocysteine Levels Tied to Frequent Miscarriages

Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid produced when proteins are broken down in the body. It is not harmful at low levels, but when present in high concentrations it can lead to a condition called hypercoagulability, in which your blood tends to clot more easily than it should.  Women with elevated homocysteine levels are believed to be at higher risk for miscarriage, preeclampsia and even preterm labor – most likely due to the increased clotting caused by the elevated homocysteine levels.

Why do homocysteine levels become elevated? Methylfolate, the active form of folic acid, plays a role in converting homocysteine into methionine (a harmless amino acid), so if methylfolate is lacking due to the MTHFR mutation and subsequent inability to convert folic acid to methylfolate, homocysteine can build up to dangerous levels.

Researchers have discovered an association between high homocysteine levels and recurrent miscarriage, which suggests that the MTHFR genetic variation may play a role in pregnancy loss.

The Link Between MTHFR and PCOS

The most common specific condition that causes infertility in women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).  Women with PCOS are prone to hormonal and metabolic imbalances, including blood sugar dysregulation, also known as insulin resistance. These metabolic issues can cause chronic anovulation (when ovaries do not release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle), oligomenorrhea (irregular periods), hyperandrogenism (too much testosterone) and insulin-resistance. Given this wide range of fertility-related symptoms, it is not surprising that PCOS is a leading cause of infertility.

Many studies are being done to understand the underlying causes of PCOS. A 2014 study found a connection between PCOS and MTHFR gene mutations, with the researchers concluding that a specific MTHFR mutation increases susceptibility to PCOS. The common thread between MTHFR and PCOS once again has to do with homocysteine levels. In general, the most common cause of elevated homocysteine levels (hyperhomocysteinemia) is reduced activity of MTHFR, which results in reduced production of methylfolate. Women with PCOS typically test positive for higher homocysteine levels than other healthier women. Many more studies are currently underway to determine the exact relationship between MTHFR and PCOS.

Methylfolate is Key to Conception, Pregnancy and a Healthy Baby

If you are trying to conceive or if you are already pregnant, don’t underestimate the importance of folate for your fertility and pregnancy wellness. Some dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, and some fermented foods such as kefir and miso, actually provide natural methylfolate, the active form of folate that does not require the converting enzyme to be utilized by your cells. And, consider getting your genes tested. Knowledge will give you the power to make informed choices about your unique nutritional needs, including whether or not you should choose prenatal and fertility supplements that contain the active, methylfolate form of folic acid.

By Dr. Chris D. Meletis

More informative articles:

• Infertiity 101: What You Need to Know First
• Male Infertility
• Female Infertility
• Infertility Medications

References

• Effects of myo-inositol, gymnemic acid, and L-methylfolate in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017 Dec 21:1-7.
• Maternal folate, alcohol and energy metabolism-related gene polymorphisms and the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2012 Oct;3(5):327-32.
• Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism with polycystic ovary syndrome risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis update. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014 Jan;172:56-61.
• MTHFR C6777T polymorphism is associated with hyperlipidemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2012 Jan-Apr; 591):52-56.
• Association of the maternal MTHFR C677T polymorphism with susceptibility to neural tube defects in offsprings: evidence from 25 case-control studies. PLoS One 2012:7(10):e41689.

The post Folate vs Folic Acid – Facts About Vitamin B appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

For couples who are trying to get pregnant, oxidative stress might not be something that’s on the top of their minds. Yet, oxidative stress caused by damaging free radicals may be one of the most important reasons why you’re not pregnant. The good news? Two premium supplements known as FH PRO for Women and FH PRO for Men give your body the antioxidants it needs to protect the sperm and eggs from free radical damage that could lead to infertility.

Free Radicals are Your Worst Enemy

The ingredients in FH PRO for Women seek out and neutralize excess free radicals. Why is this important? Because in women, too many free radicals can damage eggs. Women only have a certain number of eggs to begin with. So, keeping more of them healthy and undamaged increases the chance of pregnancy. In addition, blame free radical damage for irregular cycles and reduced ovulation.

In men, free radical damage is the sperm’s worst enemy. The cell membranes of sperm contain high amounts of fat that are vulnerable to free radical attack. It can cause sperm counts to drop. And it weakens the sperm’s ability to swim to the egg. Sperm also has to be the right shape to do its egg-fertilizing job. Too many free radicals can change sperm’s shape. What’s more, sperm contain chromosomes. These chromosomes must merge with an egg’s chromosomes for a healthy new life to form. Free radicals can damage the DNA in these chromosomes. This can spell trouble for your unborn child’s health. Damaged DNA in chromosomes can lead to impaired brain development and IQ, among other serious problems.

Antioxidants as Natural Fertility Boosters

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, stopping them from doing any harm. FH PRO for Women and Men are loaded with antioxidants carefully chosen for their scientifically proven ability to support fertility. Both formulas contain Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 boosts the quality of women’s eggs.¹ It’s linked to a higher fertilization rate and increased ovulation.¹ In men, when CoQ10 was taken together with all the other ingredients in FH PRO for Men, there was a 33% rise in sperm count.²

In addition to CoQ10, FH PRO for Men boasts an array of antioxidants. Vitamin E, N-acetyl L-cysteine, vitamin C, lycopene, zinc, grape seed extract, and selenium are some of the free radical fighters in the formula. The combination of ingredients in FH PRO for Men increased the sperm’s ability to swim toward the egg by 122%.² And CoQ10 and the other ingredients protected the DNA in the sperm chromosomes, lowering DNA damage.² FH PRO for Men is also packed with amino acids men need to make more healthy sperm. For example, L-carnitine increases sperm production and number, as well as sperm’s ability to swim toward the egg.^3,4

Read more about the FH PRO for Men clinical studies.

Addressing Female Fertility On Three Fronts

This premium-grade fertility supplement tackles the three biggest problems you’ll face in trying to get pregnant: ) Poor egg quality 2) Irregular periods and ovulation and 3) Imbalanced insulin.

Poor Egg Quality

FH PRO for Women helps improve the total number of eggs that are considered normal. It does this in part by nourishing a woman’s body with myo-inositol, folate, and melatonin.

Melatonin in and of itself is a powerful antioxidant. Levels drop with age.⁵ And if you’re exposing yourself to lights from cell phones, computers, iPads, and Kindles before bedtime, your levels might also drop to an unhealthy level. Since melatonin is produced in the dark, sleeping in a bedroom with exposure to outdoor or indoor lights can cause your body to hit the brakes on melatonin production. This spells trouble for fertility. With the amount of light pollution women experience every night and trying to get pregnant at an older age, it’s not surprising that melatonin supplementation may improve egg maturation during IVF treatments.⁵

Other fertility vitamins in the formula neutralize free radicals before the eggs are stored in the ovarian reserve. These include N-acetyl L-cysteine, grape seed extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium. N-acetyl L-cysteine can also support healthy ovulation and pregnancy rates.⁶

Irregular Cycles and Ovulation

Knowing when you ovulate increases your chances of becoming pregnant. But predicting when you ovulate can be next to impossible if you have irregular periods. That’s why FH PRO for Women includes nourishing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that reduce issues known to contribute to irregular cycles and ovulation. Studies have shown that CoQ10, N-acetyl L-cysteine, and myo-inositol support more regular ovulation.^6-8 Vitamins C and E are also linked to a shorter time to pregnancy.⁹ Vitamin E was especially important in boosting fertility in women 35 years or older.⁹

Balancing Insulin Boosts Fertility

A good fertility supplement must also support healthy insulin. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar. Imbalanced insulin levels create problems that can lead to infertility. For example, excess insulin causes a rise in testosterone in women. This can put the brakes on ovulation. That’s why FH PRO for Women contains D-chiro-inositol, a nutrient that supports healthy insulin secretion.¹⁰ D-chiro-inositol also leads to optimal levels of luteinizing hormone and LH/follicle stimulating hormone, which are important for conceiving a baby.¹⁰ Like D-chiro-inositol, myo-inositol is included in FH PRO for Women because it supports healthy insulin.⁸ It also stimulates ovulation.⁸

Natural Fertility Supplements Increase Your Pregnancy Chances

FH PRO for Men and Women help remove the most common fertility roadblocks. The ingredients are clinically proven to improve sperm health, enhance ovarian health and egg quality, make your cycles and ovulation more regular, and balance your insulin levels. The formulas are doctor developed. And FH PRO for Women is approved for use by reproductive endocrinologists during IVF and IUI.

You can purchase FH PRO for Women and FH PRO for Men from our corporate sponsor, Fairhaven Health.

References:

1. Xu Y, Nisenblat V, Lu C, et al. Pretreatment withcoenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Mar 27;16(1):29.
2. Arafa M, Majzoub A, Agarwal A, et al. Is there a role for oral antioxidants in the treatment of infertile men with high sperm DNA fragmentation? Presented at the Foundation of Reproductive Medicine annual conference, New York, November 2018.
3. Moradi M, Moradi A, Alemi M, et al. Safety and efficacy of clomiphene citrate andL-carnitine in idiopathic male infertility: a comparative study. Urol J. 2010 Summer;7(3):188-93.
4. Vitali G, Parente R, Melotti C. Carnitinesupplementation in human idiopathic asthenospermia: clinical results. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1995;21(4):157-9.
5. Kim MK, Park EA, Kim HJ, et al. Does supplementation of in-vitro culture medium withmelatonin improve IVF outcome in PCOS? Reprod Biomed Online. 2013 Jan;26(1):22-9.
6. Salehpour S, Sene AA, Saharkhiz N, et al. N-Acetylcysteineas an adjuvant to clomiphene citrate for successful induction of ovulation in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2012 Sep;38(9):1182-6.
7. El Refaeey A, Selem A, Badawy A. Combinedcoenzyme Q10 and clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction in clomiphene-citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod Biomed Online. 2014 Jul;29(1):119-24.
8. Emekçi Özay Ö, Özay AC, Çağlıyan E, et al. Myo-inositol administration positively effects ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, controlled, randomized trial. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017 Jul;33(7):524-8.
9. Ruder EH, Hartman TJ, Reindollar RH, Goldman MB. Female dietary antioxidant intake and time to pregnancy among couples treated for unexplained infertility. Fertil Steril. 2014 Mar;101(3):759-66.
10. Genazzani AD, Santagni S, Rattighieri E, et al. Modulatory role ofD-chiro-inositol (DCI) on LH and insulin secretion in obese PCOS patients. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2014 Jun;30(6):438-43.

Read more:

• Fertility Awareness: Natural Family Planning (NFP)
• Types of Prenatal Vitamins

The post FH PRO for Women and Men: Antioxidant Supplements for Fertility and Prenatal Wellness appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Our modern world abounds with pregnancy-harming substances known as free radicals and other toxins. Our stress-filled lifestyle doesn’t help matters any. Even your age might be working against you when it comes to free radical damage. Let’s take a look at how a few lifestyle changes and a quality fertility supplement can help safeguard you from these modern-day threats, boost your fertility and increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

Every day, your body comes into contact with fertility-harming substances called reactive oxygen species—ROS for short. ROS are also called free radicals. It’s normal for your body to make some free radicals. And in some cases free radicals are important for normal physiological processes. For example, free radicals are needed during ovulation.¹  But, excess free radicals lead to a condition called oxidative stress, which negatively impacts both female and male fertility. Enter the role of antioxidant supplements to help combat this oxidative stress and increase fertility.

Factors Contributing to Oxidative Stress

Here are just some of the things that can cause your free radical levels to skyrocket:^2-4

• Toxins such as bisphenol-A (BPA), parabens, phthalates, herbicides and pesticides
• Aging
• Psychological stress
• Obesity
• Poor nutrition
• Not enough exercise
• Drinking excess caffeine
• Increased temperature in a man’s scrotum
• Imbalanced insulin levels due to sugar intake, diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Using a cell phone or other technology or placing it near reproductive organs

When you come in contact with any one or all of these modern-day exposures listed above, it increases your risk of infertility.

Oxidative stress is to blame for many fertility problems as well as factors that lead to miscarriage. Recurrent pregnancy loss, spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and fetal death are all linked to oxidative stress.⁵ Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a condition where the fetus is smaller than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy, is also linked to too many ROS.⁵ Oxidative stress can play a role in embryonic resorption, where the fetus is reabsorbed back into the body, leading to miscarriage.⁵

Antioxidants and Increased Fertility

Antioxidants help cancel out the effects of too many free radicals. By doing this, they can improve egg quality and make your cycles more regular. There are a lot of different antioxidants including well-known ones like vitamins C and E. Many botanical antioxidants also exist. Researchers have performed antioxidant studies and found antioxidants can improve fertility for both men and women by fighting free radicals.

When choosing natural antioxidant remedies for fertility, it’s best to look for a supplement that has well-researched ingredients. Ideally, to cover all the bases, you should try to boost both male and female fertility with specially formulated supplements. It’s also essential to choose antioxidant supplements that have been studied not to interfere with drugs used to stimulate and regulate hormones. Fairhaven Health’s FH PRO for Women and FH PRO for Men are recommended by fertility specialists and fit these qualifications.

Antioxidant Prenatal Supplements for Female Fertility

Many fertility doctors recommend that their patients take an antioxidant-rich prenatal supplement. By the time a woman is in her mid- to late thirties, she’ll have more abnormal eggs in her reserve than normal eggs. So, it’s critical that that women take steps to protect egg quality. By blocking free radicals before they reach the eggs in a woman’s ovarian reserve, antioxidants can protect the quality of eggs. For example, melatonin supplementation can improve egg maturation during IVF treatments.⁶  Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is another antioxidant powerhouse that can increase egg quality. In a human trial, supplementation with CoQ10 led to higher fertilization rate and more high-quality embryos.⁷ CoQ10 also has increased the number of ovarian follicles and improved ovulation.⁸

Raising levels of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals through a good prenatal vitamin helps resolve issues that may play a role in irregular cycles and unpredictable ovulation. For example, myo-inositol increases the rate of ovulation.⁹ N-acetyl cysteine increases ovulation and pregnancy rates.¹⁰ D-chiro-inositol is another fertility friendly nutrient, as it supports healthy insulin secretion, especially in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.¹¹ When insulin levels are excessively high, it can cause problems that interfere with pregnancy. Studies also have shown D-chiro-inositol can support pregnancy-promoting levels of luteinizing hormone and LH/follicle stimulating hormone.¹¹

It’s also important your prenatal antioxidant includes the active form of folate. That’s because many potential mothers have a mutation that causes poor absorption of folic acid.¹² That means your unborn baby won’t get enough folate, a nutrient necessary to prevent birth defects.¹² This mutation can lead to a reduced rate of live births after IVF.¹²

Male Fertility Antioxidant Supplements

For men hoping to increase fertility, the goal is to make sure sperm are healthy. Antioxidant supplements can help. Researchers studied 101 infertile men who had abnormal semen.¹³ The men used an antioxidant supplement from Fairhaven Health called FH PRO. It contains L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), vitamin E, lycopene, N-acetyl L-cysteine, vitamins A, D3, C, and K, B-complex vitamins, iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, grape seed extract, benfotiamine, and L-arginine. After three months of taking FH PRO three times every day, the men experienced a 33% increase in sperm count.

Sperm motility—their ability to move and swim toward the female egg—increased by 122%. The sperm also had a healthier shape (known as morphology) after the men supplemented with the antioxidant formula. When sperm are attacked by free radicals, their DNA breaks apart. The antioxidant fertility supplement caused the DNA fragmentation rate to take a 20% nosedive.

Learn more about the FH PRO for Men sperm analysis studies.

Other Ways To Reduce Free Radical Damage While You’re Trying To Get Pregnant

In addition to taking antioxidant supplements, you can take these steps to help to stop free radical damage from interfering with fertility:

• Move your wifi router at least 10 feet away from your desk (farther if possible) and at least 30 feet away from your bed.
• Use organic, paraben-free and phthalate-free shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and other personal care products.
• Control your stress. Take walks in nature, meditate, do yoga, and spend time relaxing every day.
• Get plenty of sleep in a dark room. Aim for eight hours per night.

By Chris D. Meletis, ND

Visitors also found these articles very informative:

• Infertility 101: What You Need to Know
• Male Fertility Testing After Vasectomy
• In Vitro Maturation: IVM

References:

1. Shkolnik K, Tadmor A, Ben-Dor S, et al. Reactive oxygen species are indispensable in ovulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jan 25;108(4):1462-7.
2. Machtinger R, Combelles CM, Missmer SA, et al. Bisphenol-A and human oocyte maturation in vitro. Hum Reprod. 2013;28(10):2735-45.
3. Ilacqua A, Izzo G, Emerenziani GP, et al. Lifestyle and fertility: the influence of stress and quality of life on male fertility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16(1):115.
4. Nassan FL, Chavarro JE, Tanrikut C. Diet and men’s fertility: does diet affect sperm quality? Fertil Steril. 2018;110(4):570-7.
5. Gupta S, Agarwal A, Banerjee J, Alvarez JG. The role of oxidative stress in spontaneous abortion and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2007 May;62(5):335-47; quiz 353-4.
6. Kim MK, Park EA, Kim HJ, et al. Does supplementation of in-vitro culture medium withmelatonin improve IVF outcome in PCOS? Reprod Biomed Online. 2013 Jan;26(1):22-9.
7. Xu Y, Nisenblat V, Lu C, et al. Pretreatment withcoenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Mar 27;16(1):29.
8. El Refaeey A, Selem A, Badawy A. Combinedcoenzyme Q10 and clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction in clomiphene-citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod Biomed Online. 2014 Jul;29(1):119-24.
9. Emekçi Özay Ö, Özay AC, Çağlıyan E, et al. Myo-inositol administration positively effects ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, controlled, randomized trial. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017 Jul;33(7):524-8.
10. Salehpour S, Sene AA, Saharkhiz N, et al. N-Acetylcysteineas an adjuvant to clomiphene citrate for successful induction of ovulation in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2012 Sep;38(9):1182-6.
11. Genazzani AD, Santagni S, Rattighieri E, et al. Modulatory role ofD-chiro-inositol (DCI) on LH and insulin secretion in obese PCOS patients. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2014 Jun;30(6):438-43.
12. Haggarty P, McCallum H, McBain H, et al. Effect of B vitamins and genetics on success of in-vitro fertilisation: prospective cohort study. 2006 May 6;367(9521):1513-9.
13. Arafa M, Majzoub A, Agarwal A, et al. Is there a role for oral antioxidants in the treatment of infertile men with high sperm DNA fragmentation? Presented at the Foundation of Reproductive Medicine annual conference, New York, November 2018.

The post Boost Your Fertility with Antioxidant Supplements appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Having a family history doesn’t mean your child will need cord blood; it just means there may be an increased chance they could.  If you don’t have a family history of these diseases or conditions, you may want to consider donating cord blood to someone who does. You can learn more about donating with Cord for Life.

Instead of discarding your newborn’s cord blood, consider donating to the nationwide public inventory.  Donating cord blood is free, without risk, and simple.  Unless prevented by an infection or some other disqualifying reason, donating cord blood should be the normal course for families who are choosing not to privately store their baby’s cord blood.

Why Donate Cord Blood?

Cord blood is the residual blood found in the umbilical cord after the baby has been delivered.  It contains stem cells that fueled the development of your child while in the womb.

After your child is born, these same stem cells have properties that can be used by others in the treatment of various conditions or diseases.  Stem cells from cord blood have been treating and saving lives for over 30 years now.

By donating your child’s stem cells to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be The Match® Registry, they will be available for someone in need of a stem cell transplant. If you don’t plan to privately store your child’s cord blood, then donating it may help save a life.

It is safe, free, easy and the choice is yours.  Donate and save lives or discard it as medical waste.  Complete this form to learn more or get started with donating your cord blood.

Are you a Minority?

Like bone marrow transplants, stem cell transplants require a genetic match.  This means that stem cells are more likely to match someone with a similar ethnic background who is in need.

The Be The Match Registry is working to build a nationwide public inventory of cord blood units that matches the demographics of the United States to give everyone an opportunity to find a match.  Their success depends on donors with different ethnic backgrounds.

This means that if you are pregnant and a minority, choosing to donate is extremely important.  It’s also important to spread the word to other minority friends you know who are also expecting.

Minority populations should not lose out, but the only way for that to happen is for people like you to choose to donate their baby’s cord blood.  It’s free, simple and risk-free.

Disqualifications for Donating Cord Blood

There are situations or conditions that prevent an individual from donating blood and the same is true for cord blood donations.  Here is a quick look at the most common circumstances that disqualify someone from making a cord blood donation:

• Under 18 Year of Age
• Pregnancy with twins or multiples
• Insulin Dependence
• Autoimmune disease/disorder in the immediate family
• Cancer in the immediate family
• Platelet – blood cell diseases
• HIV, Hepatitis A, B, or C
• Syphilis or gonorrhea if experienced in the last 12 months
• West Nile if experienced while pregnant
• IV drug use
• Transfer of money or drugs for sex in the past 12 months
• Having sex with a man who has had sex with a man in the past 12 months
• Piercing or tattoos with shared or non-sterile materials
• Travel to a malaria-risk area (one year for visiting, three years for residents)*

*Commonly visited areas with a malaria risk: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

What about drug use?

Drug use, in general, does NOT disqualify a cord blood donation apart from the conditions noted above.

What about STDs?

Apart from HIV and Hep C, most STD conditions do not cancel the opportunity to make a cord blood donation.  The only exception is for currently active infections.

Are there other conditions?

Yes, there are other conditions that will disqualify a donation; however, they are rare and even less likely than what is listed above.

Diseases and Conditions Treated by Cord Blood

The good news is the diseases and conditions listed below are rare.  The better news is that there is treatment through stem cells from cord blood to help with these situations.

Cancers:

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Burkitt’s Lymphoma, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Chromic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Neuroblastoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Blood Disorders:

E-β+ Thalassemia, E-βo Thalassemia, HbSC Disease, Sickle βo Thalassemia, Sickle-Cell Anemia (Hemoglobin SS), α-Thalassemia Major (Hydrops Fetalis), β-Thalassemia Intermedia, β-Thalassemia Major (Cooley’s Anemia)

Metabolic Disorders:

Adrenoleukodystrophy Gaucher’s Disease (Infantile), Alpha Mannosidosis, Gunther Disease, Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome, Hunter Syndrome, Hurler Syndrome, Hurler-Scheie Syndrome, Krabbe Disease (Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy), Lesch-Nyhan Disease, Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome, Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, Mucolipidosis Type II, III, Niemann Pick Syndrome, Type A and B, Sandhoff Syndrome, Sanfilippo Syndrome, Tay-Sachs Disease

Immunodeficiencies:

Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency, Ataxia Telangiectasia, Chronic Granulomatous Disease, DiGeorge Syndrome, IKK Gamma Deficiency, Immune Dysregulation Polyendocrineopathy, Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency, Myelokathexis X-linked Immunodeficiency, Omenn’s Syndrome, Reticular Dysplasia, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, Thymic Dysplasia, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia, X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disease, X-Linked Mucolipidosis, Type II

Bone Marrow Failure Diseases:

Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia, Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia, Congenital Sideroblastic Anemia, Cyclic Neutropenia, Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, Dyskeratosis Congenita, Evan’s Syndrome, Fanconi Anemia, Glanzmann’s Disease, Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Kostmann’s Syndrome, Red Cell Aplasia, Severe Aplastic Anemia, Shwachman Syndrome, Thrombocytopenia with absent radius (TAR Syndrome Autoimmune Neutropenia – Severe)

Sources:

Be the Match, https://bethematch.org/

Via Cord, https://www.cordforlife.com

Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood, https://parentsguidecordblood.org/en

The post Donating Cord Blood appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

Safe haven laws, also known as “Baby Moses laws“:

1. Protect unwanted babies from potential harm and safety hazards
2. Provide parents an alternative to child abandonment charges

Conditions for Relinquishing a Baby

Most states limit the age of who may be placed in a designated ‘safe haven’ to infants 72 hours old or younger, while other states may accept infants up to 1 month of age.

States determine who may leave unwanted babies in a designated location, the obvious being the mother of the child (and sometimes fathers depending on the state laws). Some states allow someone other than a parent to relinquish a child, and a few of those states require that he or she have legal custody of the child to do so. A handful of states do not specify the relationship of the person to the infant.

Designated Safe Haven Locations

The idea of a safe haven location is somewhere where the baby will receive immediate care including health care clinics, police stations, fire stations, emergency medical technicians (EMT), churches, and other “safe” places a state deems acceptable. To qualify as a safe haven, most states emphasis that parents must relinquish unwanted infants to a place where the infant can receive immediate care. Leaving a baby when no one is around does not qualify.

Depending on the state, safe haven providers must take the infant into custody, provide any necessary medical care, and do the following:

• Inform the parent that by surrendering the child she is releasing the child for adoption
• Inform the parent that reasonable efforts will be made to locate the non-relinquishing parent (and ask the parent to release the name of the other parent)
• Encourage the parent to provide relevant family or medical information
• Transfer the child to a hospital (if safe haven is not a hospital)
• Have the child examined by a physician (if safe haven is a hospital)
• Notify a child-placing agency

States typically give immunity to safe haven providers for anything that might happen to the infant while in their care, unless there is gross negligence.

What Happens When You Relinquish an Unwanted Baby

Relinquishing an unwanted baby to the care of a safe haven provider relieves you of any criminal liability, but also relieves you of your parental rights to the child. In some states, you may be required to provide your name and family history (although some states will guarantee this information remains confidential.) Note that you will forfeit your right to anonymity and criminal liability if you have abused or otherwise neglected the child in any way.

You also have the right to be informed by safe haven staff that by surrendering the child, you are releasing the child for adoption and that you have the right to petition the court in your state (within a set time period, like 28 days) to regain custody. The court will then determine custody based on the child’s best interest. (A parent who surrenders a child and does not file a custody action is presumed to have knowingly released his or her parental rights.)

Reasons to Choose Adoption:

• You’re not ready to be a mom
• You can’t count on support from the baby’s father
• Cannot afford another child
• Rape or incest
• Prior involvement with Child Protective Services or use of drugs

In today’s modern adoption, you can decide what happens in every step of the process, including your baby’s parents and region of the country where they grow up.  Adoption means you can choose the future you want for your baby. Plus, you may also get financial help with medical bills and living expenses. Isn’t it worth checking out your adoption options?

Sources: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2017) Infant safe haven laws. Washington D.C. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau. FindLaw web site.

The post Safe Haven Laws Provide Alternatives to Abandoning a Baby appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.