The web is a super useful tool when going through IVF. Its full of information every woman could possibly think to look for, and quite a bit that never occurs to us. I also stopped by my favorite IVF community board, found HERE, and asked for advice on where I might begin. I was given some great advice on all sorts of ways to help create a healthy environment for my soon-to-be baby, and some I could even start right away! My IVF homies offered up all of the things they tried, explained what worked for them, and even where to get what I needed to get started.
I decided to start with the quick suggestions that were available at my local grocery store or Whole Foods. I grabbed some pure pomegranate juice, some flax seed and fish oil supplements and the most giant pineapples I could find. Apparently, its common knowledge that adding these things to one's diet promotes good conditions and a thick lining in your uterus. Sounds just like what my future baby needs! I added these items to my nightly red raspberry leaf tea regimen and went to town.
Sooooo, yeah. About that. I had the what and the why for sure. But, it would appear that the one thing I forgot to do was check on the when and how. When is the best time for one to consume these items? And how are they best taken? Did I try that first? Noooooooo. Who needs to be told how to take a few supplements and eat some fruit anyway? ME, that's who! I had the pineapple after dinner, downed some pomegranate juice (And let me just say, I now see why we dump a bunch of vodka in there and call it a martini. That stuff is positively wretched on its own!) and settled in to watch a little tv with the hubs. Fast forward half an hour. I was feeling exhausted (Lupron and Delestrogen will do that to ya) and decided to head for bed. As I was getting ready, I realized that I felt a little funny in the tummy, so I thought I'd calm it down a bit with some tea....raspberry leaf tea, that is. I took my evening meds, added in the new supplements and headed for bed with my tea. I'm halfway through my cup and ...."Houston, we have a problem!" The little funny feeling turned into a full on yak session. I thought, "Eh, its just a little nausea. It'll pass. Drink your tea." Honey! The more I drank, the worse it got! Minutes later I was on my knees in the bathroom tossing my cookies while the hubs slept through it all. That man could sleep through armageddon! But of course, he hears me climb back into bed when I'm done. Pffft!
He asks me why I'm groaning and I tell him what happened. "Oh," he says. "Hon, you probably shouldn't drink hot stuff after you've just had something acidic or taken oil supplements. That happened to me a few times, so I avoid it." Really?!?! You don't say! Maybe this might have warranted a mention when you were watching me take this stuff while making the tea??? I was up for another 3 hours feeling all refluxy and nauseous. Talk about a rough night!
The moral of the story? Heat, acid, and oil don't mix well in the tummy. When you're taking suggestions on how to improve your fertility, ask questions before you get started. Hard lesson learned. Now, I'm of to take a nap and steal back those hours of sleep I missed.