41 and TTC

DarkestAngel71

any advice on what i should do at 41 to prepare to have a baby? any special diet or exercise things i should be doing prior to conceiving?

chicagobride_07

Have you had an OB/GYN do Day 3 bloodwork (FSH, etc.) and an AMH on you?  My first step would be to do that; that will give you a preliminary idea of ovarian reserve, and let you know if you should be seeing an RE sooner rather than later. 

I did try to lose some weight (which became impossible to maintain once I started on fertility meds) and started a pre-natal vitamin as well.

GL!

PPL2011

I would ask my OB/GYN to do Day 3 of your cycle blood work to check your FSH, etc. The AMH you can check at any point in your cycle. These are all good indicators of your reserve.

Here are the things that have always been suggested to me...these are just my suggestions... 

I would start to use an Ovulation Predictor Test (Kit). I like the "Clearblue Digital". You can buy it at CVS, Rite Aid, etc. You start to use it around day 10 of your cycle. It's super easy and when you get a "smiley face" it means it has detected your LH surge. I usually have sex the next morning, and the subsequent 2 mornings after that. Make sure your husband has not abstained for more than 5 days and give him 24 hours between tries. This allows you to time sex for your most fertile time.

Keep your weight within normal BMI

Do yoga as often as you like, walk 40 minutes/day

Drink 1 1/2 liters of water a day

Eat as organic as possible (dairy, meats, poultry, veggies, fruits)

Start a pre-natal vitamin (800 mcg folic acid at least) with DHA (prescription like Citra Natal w/DHA)

Stop caffeine and alcohol

Don't eat fish like Tuna, King Mackeral, Swordfish, Tile Fish. The mercury levels in these fish are too high.

Your husband (I'm assuming) should also be taking a multi-vitamin that has folic acid (at least 400mcg). He should exercise but not vigorously. He should not use hot tubs, saunas etc. (anything that can keep "his boys" too warm/hot). He should limit alcohol and caffeine.

After 3 or 4 months of trying, I would see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. 

 

 

 

 

 

gscoville

PPL2011:

I would ask my OB/GYN to do Day 3 of your cycle blood work to check your FSH, etc. The AMH you can check at any point in your cycle. These are all good indicators of your reserve.

Here are the things that have always been suggested to me...these are just my suggestions... 

I would start to use an Ovulation Predictor Test (Kit). I like the "Clearblue Digital". You can buy it at CVS, Rite Aid, etc. You start to use it around day 10 of your cycle. It's super easy and when you get a "smiley face" it means it has detected your LH surge. I usually have sex the next morning, and the subsequent 2 mornings after that. Make sure your husband has not abstained for more than 5 days and give him 24 hours between tries. This allows you to time sex for your most fertile time.

Keep your weight within normal BMI

Do yoga as often as you like, walk 40 minutes/day

Drink 1 1/2 liters of water a day

Eat as organic as possible (dairy, meats, poultry, veggies, fruits)

Start a pre-natal vitamin (800 mcg folic acid at least) with DHA (prescription like Citra Natal w/DHA)

Stop caffeine and alcohol

Don't eat fish like Tuna, King Mackeral, Swordfish, Tile Fish. The mercury levels in these fish are too high.

Your husband (I'm assuming) should also be taking a multi-vitamin that has folic acid (at least 400mcg). He should exercise but not vigorously. He should not use hot tubs, saunas etc. (anything that can keep "his boys" too warm/hot). He should limit alcohol and caffeine.

After 3 or 4 months of trying, I would see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. 

 

Wow, what a fantastic and thorough list! I've been doing lots of this but hadn't even thought about DH's vitamin intake, or the tuna thing either. Thank you!