Diets can be so hard to follow and understanding them all as they relate to fertility can be exhausting! I am so confused now because my naturopathic fertility doctor told me to eat a Paleo diet while I was trying to conceive (TTC). After conducting research for this blog, I recently learned that the high meat content associated with a Paleo diet, shows that Paleo is bad while TTC.
After further research, I came across information that showed the Mediterranean and Dutch diet vs. the Paleo diet proved to be beneficial while TTC. Without getting into the specifics of which diet is good and why, I thought I would save my readers time by just posting what the top five things to eat while in the two week wait (TWW) are. I know there are more than five good things to eat while TTC or in the TWW, but these are my favorite and easy to prepare!
When you’re actively TTC the “two-week wait” is the two weeks after trying to conceive and before you expect your next period to start. This period of time is about ten days to two weeks long. If you’re going through IVF, the two-week wait is from the day of your embryo transfer to the day you would expect your next period. Anyone who is trying or struggling to conceive will tell you that it feels like the longest two weeks of your life!
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Chicken – chicken has vitamin B12 and choline, when paired with folate are important nutrients in the first weeks of a pregnancy. Chicken also has an amino acid called arginine, which is another nutrient that may potentially support uterine blood flow.
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Oats – oats are easy to find and prepare. Wholegrains have been known to increase endometrial thickness which can help with implantation.
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Salmon – salmon is rich in omega 3 fats. Omega 3 from fatty fish has anti-inflammatory benefits. Higher intakes of fish vs meat may reduce inflammation and may improve rates of implantation.
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Strawberries – strawberries are great being high in both vitamin C and folate. Strawberries are a good source of antioxidants that can also help to lower inflammation and promote conception and a healthy pregnancy.
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Spinach – spinach is a good source of folate, which is key for reducing your risk of neural tube defects. Higher folate intake has also been known to help with increased fertilization rates.
Don’t feel bad if you want to treat yourself a little during the two week wait. If you are like me, I like to eat ice cream when I have a small win or a hard day. I call it “eating my feelings” you may call it something else. Also, don’t forget to take your daily prenatal vitamin during the TWW. Ideally you want to take a folic acid or a prenatal vitamin for three months prior to conceiving to prevent fetal anomalies. It’s never too late to start if you haven’t already!