Here are some useful resources to assist your goal of conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy

Pregnant Women Walk Omega-3 / Mercury Tightrope

Eating more fish during pregnancy can improve brain function of children, according to a new study. Women who ate more than two servings of fatty fish per week had children who, at age three, performed better on cognitive and motorskills tests. However, women who had higher mercury levels in pregnancy, had children with lower test scores.

The problem is that women who had high mercury levels also consumed more fish. This conundrum is what prevents many women from getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet while pregnant. In fact, the US FDA recommends pregnant women not eat any shark, king mackerel, tilefish, or swordfish because of increased levels of mercury in these fish. It may be more feasible that women take a pure fish oil supplement in pregnancy rather than eat potentially contaminated fish.

Reference:
Oken E, Radesky JS, Wright RO, et al. Maternal fish intake during pregnancy, blood mercury levels, and child cognition at age 3 years in a US co-hort. Am J Epidemiol 2008 Mar 28 [Epub ahead of print]]

Low Folate May Decrease Male Fertility

An increased risk of birth defects, including spinal cord abnormalities and cleft palate, is a well-known consequence of reduced folate intake in women. However, results of a recent study point toward a protective effect of folate on sperm health as well. The study analyzed nutrient intake and sperm health in 89 healthy men. Those with the highest folate intake had the lowest incidence of chromosomally-abnormal sperm - up to 30 percent less than the low folate group¬. This is the first study to find a relationship between folate intake and male reproductive health. Other nutrients, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc had no effect on chromosome defects.

Reference:
Young SS, Eskenazi B, Marchetti FM, et al. The association of folate, zinc and antioxidant intake with sperm aneuploidy in healthy non-smoking men. Human Reproduction 2008; p 1-9.

The Influence of the Moon on Female Fertility

Did you know that a woman has two (2) fertile times within any given month?

Yes - this is true and has been proven time and time again. The influence of the moon phase can trigger "spontaneous" ovulation in a female, especially if intercourse takes place at the right time - even if "normal" ovulation (that is ovulation 14 days before the expected next menstruation) is not "scheduled" when the moon phase is right. Every woman has her own moon phase, depending on her date and place of birth. Intuitively, women have always understood that the moon, their menstrual cycles and fertility are intimately connected.

The trick is to coordinate the women's physical ovulation time with her "Moon Trigger Phase", thus virtually doubling her chance of conceiving.

To get a full understanding, please read "Moon's Trigger Effect helps you Get Pregnant" by Nadia MacLeod - Natural Fertility Counsellor and author of several publications (external link - opens in a new browser).

Pregnancy and Preconception Care Booklet

Pregnancy and Preconception Care Booklet (Metagenics - PDF file)

This is an easily explained guide to Pregnancy and Preconception Care. Enjoy

Your Guide to Pregnancy

Your Guide to Pregnancy Booklet (Metagenics - PDF file)

Another well explained guide -useful for once you are pregnant.

Stress and Fertility

"Calm Within" - CD

The Calm Within CD is composed by a Clinical Psychologist to promote good physical and emotional health using a specially developed therapeutic sound technique.

A combination of therapeutic script and soothing sounds induce a state of deep relaxation, effectively relieving tension and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. Using exactly the same techniques employed in therapy, the listener is taken through a series of progressive relaxation steps, leading to a state of deep relaxation. Thereafter guided imagery is used to further enhance and expand therapeutic benefits.

The CD is approximately one hour in length and is created to help provide all the benefits of an hour of relaxation therapy with a trained counsellor. Regular use is extremely beneficial to promote and support both physical and emotional health and can also help to provide a safe, natural way to lessen the burden.

Regular sessions using this therapeutic CD will teach you how to access a calm and peaceful place inside yourself - a skill that you can use at any time to calm and relax yourself, relieving day to day worries and hassles that may be playing on your mind.

Use the Calm Within CD to: