If you have decided to wait to start your family or are wanting to conceive another child and are in your 40’s, I want you to know that it is possible. It is common for women to wait and start families later than the ‘recommended age of under 35’ or to have a child and then struggle to conceive another with it taking years pushing you into your 40’s. If this is you, don’t give up hope. It is possible to have a healthy baby if you are in your 40’s. Be mindful of labelling yourself as having Infertility as this may affect your self image and emotions like guilt, self blame and shame may further affect your chances of conceiving. Try and focus on positive thoughts like “I am a sensual, sexual, fertile being with a great deal of love and nurturing to give to others—and to receive for myself.” Christiane Northrup

In this article I will show you what you can do to enhance your fertility so you have the best possible chance of conceiving.

Firstly you need to see your body like a garden. You need to prepare it in the same way as you would before planting in your garden. You need to nourish the internal environment making sure that you have all the nutrients necessary to grow a healthy follicle and egg and maintain a healthy uterine lining as well as having healthy hormones needed to support a pregnancy. As it takes 3 months or 90 days for changes to affect your follicles and eggs and sperm for men, give yourself that time to nourish your garden.

Start by doing an ephistogram, which is like a genealogy tree but adding in physical symptoms, illnesses, emotional patterns and reproductive difficulties experienced by your family members. Ask yourself what message each member gave you about conceiving children, pregnancy, labour, birth and menopause. Were they positive or negative and did you take them on board? Also consider whether there is anything you are afraid of in terms of conceiving, pregnancy, labour, birth and menopause. Hidden fears and beliefs can hinder fertility. Acknowledging them and having awareness around them will help to release them.

Here are some things you can focus on to enhance your Fertility:

• Eat well – eating a well balanced diet will ensure you have all the nutrients you need to support your fertility and a pregnancy. Eat the rainbow, which will ensure you have plenty of antioxidants, which prevent cellular damage and will help egg quality. Protein and essential fats are important, so make sure you are eating things like nuts and seeds and good quality protein and using olive oil and coconut oil in cooking. Eat Organic wherever possible to avoid hormone and pesticides in food.

• Exercise – moving your body in a way that feels good will help increase oxygen by getting your heart rate up, which will have a beneficial effect on your cells. Exercise releases endorphins and neurotransmitters like Serotonin and Dopamine, which make you feel good. Listen to your body and do what you enjoy.

• Maintain a healthy weight as a high BMI can affect fertility.

• Nutrients that are important for fertility include: Vitamin D or the sunshine vitamin. Here in the UK we don’t get enough high strength sunshine so this is something you may need to supplement. A deficiency in Vitamin D has been found to affect fertility and has been found to possibly be a factor in repeated miscarriages. It also helps to make the uterus more receptive so make sure you have adequate Vitamin D levels. Omega 3/fish oil/EPO helps to regulate hormones, increase cervical mucous, promote ovulation, increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, reduce inflammation and normalise a women’s cycle. Zinc helps to regulate hormone levels and supports egg production and maturation. Probiotics are necessary for a healthy gut microbiome and therefore immune system. A healthy microbiome will ensure better absorption of vitamins and minerals. DHEA helps the body produce hormones, improves egg quality and is beneficial if you are over 37 in enhancing fertility. CoQ10 can help reverse the effects of ageing in a women’s eggs and thus help improve egg quality. Discontinue use once you confirm pregnancy. Agnus Castus helps to reduce prolactin levels which can affect the luteal phase resulting in a shorter luteal phase. It also helps to balance other hormones like estrogen and progesterone. L-Arginine is useful if you are vegetarian or vegan and don’t have a lot of protein.

• Limit stress levels and anxiety, which release cortisol and adrenaline into your body and inhibit fertility. Find healthy ways of managing stress.

• Mindset is really important. Watch your beliefs and dialogue with yourself around your fertility. Focus on having a positive mindset and using positive affirmations. Create a daily practice that supports a positive mindset possibly journaling, meditating, visualising, affirmations or whatever feels right for you.

• Believe that it is possible and don’t listen to society’s beliefs that if you’re over 37, you will have difficulty conceiving or having a healthy pregnancy and baby. You are unique so focus on you and doing all you can to create a healthy body and mind.

• Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep and doing things that bring you joy. Making time for yourself will help you to feel nurtured and relaxed, exactly what is needed to conceive.

• Hang around like minded people who will support you on your journey.

• Acupuncture can help regulate fertility hormones, increase oxygen to the reproductive organs and help balance the body’s energy system via the meridians (energy pathways). It also helps to reduce stress levels.

• Reflexology may also help improve fertility by reducing stress, helping you to relax and regulating the menstrual cycle and hormones, in a similar way to acupuncture but using acupressure and focusing on the feet.

• Live your life. Don’t let this take over your life. Remember to have balance and do things that bring you joy. When we are balanced, our bodies work optimally and anything is possible.

What do you need help with on your Fertility journey?

If there is anything I can do to help you on your journey, please do get in touch.

With love,