The new year always presents a time for reflection, planning and resolutions. Whether you’re continuing your fertility journey into the new year or you’re just thinking about starting a family, there’s a lot to take on and you’re going to need the right mental attitude and physicality to support you.
Our e-magazine acts as a helpful guide to support anyone who is currently on, or about to embark on their fertility journey. From the more fertility treatment focussed information such as choosing the right fertility provider and the 5 steps to take leading up to fertility treatment, to simple lifestyle questions such as should you exercise to get pregnant and what foods should you eat to get pregnant - you’ll learn everything there is to know about pregnancy and your fertility.
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To get your year off to the right start, take a look at some of our helpful hints and tips on how to deal with stress and managing a healthier lifestyle...
Balance your BMI
Your weight can have an impact on your ability to conceive, so in the new year, it makes sense to get it under control. Especially after the festive period, most people tend to notice their clothes feeling a little tighter… Excess body fat can disrupt your ovulation cycle and make it less regular, or if you have too little body fat you may not produce enough hormones to ovulate each month. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy by the NHS. But whatever you do, don’t crash diet – read more about a healthy, balanced diet.
Make sleep a priority
Deep sleep helps replenish the body and preserve energy levels, which you need to boost your overall wellbeing and give yourself the best chance at conceiving. From 10pm until 2am is when our bodies repair themselves, whilst The Sleep Foundation recommends between seven and nine hours for the average adult. Figure out a routine that works best for you and try to stick to it, even on weekends. Sleep is one of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle, so don’t treat it as just what you do once you’ve finished everything else.
Accept your feelings, good and bad
For many, the fertility journey can be long, tough and testing. Particularly when undergoing fertility treatment, stress and disappointment can make you feel sad, angry and guilty, to name just a few. Accept that these feelings are completely normal and, most importantly, don’t beat yourself up about how you feel. Try to remember that you’re not alone, which leads onto the next point…
Talk about it, if you want
Again, there’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to how you choose to deal with your fertility journey. You may have a close support network with your friends and family, or some find that it’s too difficult to talk about with people you know. In which case, there are other ways to get the support you need. Consider joining a fertility support group either in person or on an online forum, or find a fertility-specialist therapist. Sharing your struggles will help you to understand and deal with them.
Find different distractions to help you relax
Whether it’s through regular yoga or meditation sessions, or simply turning off your phone for a designated period of time, try to turn down all of the background noise/chatter as much as possible so that you can focus on your wellness needs.
Drink water!
Simple lifestyle changes can have a big impact on your chances of conception. Drink at least eight cups of water a day (about 2 litres), which will help the kidneys to flush out waste products from the body more effectively and boost the fertile quality of cervical fluid.
Focus on fertility rather than infertility
If things aren’t going well, it can be difficult to stay positive. But it’s vital that you view each day as a new opportunity to focus on aspects of your fertility journey that are going well – whether that’s attending a yoga class or meeting with a facility to discuss your situation, having a positive mindset will help you to see options as opposed to roadblocks.
Know your own body
Take the time to think about how your body works and what’s normal for you. A menstrual calendar is a great way to get to grips with your period, keeping a note of when it starts and how many days it usually lasts for. No one knows your own body better than you, so if you think something’s not quite right, go and see your GP for advice. If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year without success and are under 35, or you’ve been trying for six months and are over 35, get in touch with a fertility specialist.
For loads more information about your fertility journey, download our free e-magazine, The Fertility Way.
