How can we create a nurturing environment in our wombs for a healthy fetus to take hold and thrive to full-term?  How do we encourage the natural cycle of fertilization and growth without fertility drugs?

Women who delay having children till their 30′s may find it difficult to get pregnant.  Failure to conceive within a year, women turn to fertility specialists who offer a menu of  medical interventions that are financial, physically and emotionally costly.  Failure to conceive, even after months or years of trying, does not automatically mean complete infertility.

The long-term consequences of repeated fertility drug and IVF intervention has not been studied.   Chinese Medicine views the use of  drugs as having a depleting effect on both the  Liver and Kidney Qi which are related to the conception, growth and development of the fetus.

In order to conceive a healthy child, a woman’s hormones need to be balanced.  Even slight imbalances in the endocrine system, can alter the way the body produces hormones. Medical tests may not detect  slight  hormonal abnormalities making it difficult to conceive until corrected.

Your menstrual cycle is vitally important to establishing where imblances are so they can be corrected.  The menstrual cycle should typically be 28 days, last 3-5 days or up to 7 days on some women.  Menstrual blood is usually light red at the beginning of a cycle, deep red in the middle and pinkish towards the end.  A normal blood flow does not contain clots.

Years of poor diet and stress depletes the reproductive systems of both men and women. The health of our children depends on what we eat, both before they are conceived and in the first 9 month of their life. 

Making healthy lifestyle changes and eating properly needs to start BEFORE conception.  

If you’re eating foods rich in Vitamin A, C , K & F (Essential Fatty Acids) and rich in minerals: calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium then you’re golden.  Changes in Western diet and methods of food production have impacted the quality of  the food we eat.  It’s probably safe to assume that you’re not getting the adequate amount of these nutrients – hence the need for additional supplementation.

Here are some suggestions toward conceiving and growing a healthy fetus.

Clear up allergies which are linked to a range of conditions including asthma, eczema, hayfever, mirgraine, epilepsy, hyperactivity, violence and depression.  Food allergies are the result of nutritional imbalance, and in particular zinc deficiency.

Manganese Deficiency can lead to birth abnormalities so make sure your eating Manganese laden foods such as nuts, green leafy vegetables, peas, beets, egg yolks and wholegrains. 

Zinc is the most important supplement to take in preparation for pregnancy to avoid genetic abnormalities and low birth rates or even still birth.  Good dietary sources for zinc are: meat, fish, and shellfish, particularly oyster, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and other nuts, wheat and oat germ, sprouted seeds, ginger, fruit, leafy vegatables and watercress.  Zinc absorption is helped by vitamin B6 and by eating oranges as the citric acid increases absorption.  Too much iron and copper depletes zinc. 

Folic Acid deficiency has been linked to defects such as spina bifida, where the spinal chord is not properly developed.  Mothers who supplement folic acid and vitamin B12 before conception and during the first 3 months of pregnancy have a lower incidence of neural tube deftects.  Good Folic Acid food sources include: green leafy vegetables, brewer’s yeast, wholegrains, wheatgerm, milk, salmon, root vegetables and nuts.

Eliminate negative incluences on prenatal health that include, stress, smoking and intake of alcohol, drugs and toxic chemicals, metals and minerals including lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum and copper.

As a Five Element Acupuncturist, I have worked with women on helping them to correct imbalances in their menstural cycle that have resulted in healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. 

Check out my website at www.acusharon.com and don’t hesitate to call with questions.