Heal & rebuild questions

funny bunny

Hi ladies, 

I have some questions about preparing myself for when we are ready to TTC again.

Firstly, I have low iron. My Dr. wants me to up my red meat consumption to get that number up (I have spinach, beans, lentils and walnuts all the time - but not enough evidently).

They want me to wait 3 cycles mainly to have the time to re-build my uterine lining.

I would like to try to get into the next pregnancy as healthy as I can. Here is what I read around the internet about natural aids:

- Pom can help in rebuilding my uterine lining

- Pineapple contains bromelain. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks up proteins that inhibit embryo implantation

- Caffeine can cause miscarriages (I drink A LOT of coffee when we do not TTC)

- Being overweight can cause trouble in pregnancy

 

My current plan:

1. I am working on bringing my exercise back up from the Hiatus I was forced into during the last pregnancy

2. I've been adding POM to my Green Monster breakfast

3. I will have pineapple core when we are back to TTC

4. When we are back to TTC, I will most likely be using Progesterone Suppositories this time around (pending my OBGYN consultation)

 

Can you ladies shed some light here for me.

Are these legitimate natural ways to make me heal better?

Are there other things I could be doing before TTC?

I know Dr. Google is not a reliable Dr. but I would like to try some less 'medical' methods to help myself out, and I am pretty sure it'll help me  to know I am doing 'Something'. 

killian09

If you are looking for other ways to help up your dietary iron intake (besides red meat) I may be able to help.  (I can't tell if you are asking about that or not, so I apologize if this is not what you are looking for.)

 -Get vitamin C every day.  It helps your body with iron absorption.  A glass of OJ is an easy way.

- Buy a cast iron skillet. They are not only cheap and wonderful to cook on (when well-seasoned they are the best nonstick surface I've ever used for frying), they will increase your dietary iron intake.  It is especially true if you cook acidic things (e.g. tomatoes) in the skillet.

-Reducing your coffee consumption may also help, since coffee/tea can inhibit iron absorption.

 Here are sources for some more facts:

https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/does-cooking-cast-iron-pots-and-pans-add-iron-our-food 

https://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html

Note that certain beans have just as much iron per serving as red meat, so if you pick wisely, you can do well without consuming more meat. 

...hope that helps!  

mom22labs

All four of the things you mentioned are exactly what I am doing right now.  I just bought some POM and pineapple yesterday as it was CD2 for me.  I am still drinking caffeine (I love coffee) but I am trying to wean myself right now.  And when O comes I will quite cold turkey.  I will not drink any caffeine this time between O and in the 2WW.

This may seem extreme to others but I feel it is the right thing for me to do.  It will give me better peace of mind.

Oh I should add that I am plus size, I have been trying to eat less and exercise more.

ct103

Your plan looks pretty good! I drink Pom from CD1-O, then cut up a pineapple and eat it in the first week of the 2WW. These are healthy things anyway, so I figure, why not? Exercise is always a good idea. Don't overdo it of course, but light/moderate exercise is great. You're inspiring me to do the same...

 Once again I'm so sorry for your loss.

funny bunny

Thank you ladies.

Any tips or tricks help at this point. I just want not to have so much doubt in what I am doing, and to know that I am doing everything I possibly can to help.  

DaisyZH

This is very inspiring I haven't actually thought to try many of these things, but I definately will now!  The only other thing I could think of was to drink lots of water - I'm not even sure why but I feel like I've read to drink a lot of water when you're TTC.