Nutritionist Melanie Brown Lockdown: A good time to prepare for IVF?
While we wait for restrictions to lift and IVF units to re-open, let’s talk about some things that are within our control.
We asked Melanie Brown, Nutritional Therapist (MSc Nutritional Medicine) specialising in fertility, pre-conception, IVF and pregnancy nutrition, what nutritional advice she can give and some top tips for getting yourself prepared for IVF.
Melanie Brown, MSc Nutritional Medicine, BSc (Hons) Health Sciences: Nutritional Therapy. Melanie Brown Nutrition.
The Lockdown and all it’s consequences have been dire, but for couples who need to have IVF in order to try and have their much-wanted child, it’s delivered a double whammy; the closure of the IVF clinics, sometimes just before the cycle begins or abandoned half way through stims when you are so almost there, or you’ve just about made it but the embryos have to be frozen. And the fear of the months passing, the sand pushing through that egg timer of age and the dread of trying to keep your partner on board with the endless restrictions- no alcohol, no caffeine, no fun.
Well, all that is pretty rubbish really but now there is light at the end of the tunnel; this month, IVF Clinics in the UK and Ireland are set to apply to re-open as soon as they can. Which may mean that they get cracking on in July or August and even in June. Which gives you the perfect length of time to really get prepared. And actually, lockdown for many of us does at least mean more time. Time to try out new recipes, to get sleep, to do exercise, to just make a plan. So here are my top tips for getting ready for IVF.
Melanie’s Tips
1. Write out your meal plan, then you can make sure you have everything you need.
Then do your shopping list. You are basically following a Mediterranean Diet with a few tweaks for fertility for both of you. This essentially means loads of strongly coloured vegetables and fruit, nuts & seeds, fish, pulses, wholegrains not white, and un-processed foods. A little chicken or turkey, very little red meat and low sugar.
2. If you plan your evening meal first you can then make extra for leftovers for lunch the next day.
3. Allow for some treats. But make them good ones! A meal where you eat exactly what you want, maybe a take-away, some chocolate, or cake, or a burger and chips. But just once a week if you can.
4. If you want a couple of glasses of really good wine, or craft beer then have them, it’s Lockdown and Friday night with glass of chilled rosé, a G&T or a beer can just be a real pleasure. Let’s say four drinks a week and quality over quantity here. But just make sure you both stop completely a week before you begin IVF drugs.
5. One coffee or tea a day is fine. Try to stop caffeine before you begin.
6. Eat three meals a day and try not to snack in between, unless you are trying to maintain weight. Most of us are eating a bit too much! Spiking your blood sugar isn’t good and our precious gut bacteria, who make valuable anti-inflammatory chemicals hate snacking.
7. Eat wholegrains once or twice a day and I recommend oats, a slice of wholemeal bread or brown rice and quinoa. They are believed to improve IVF outcome. For women, add a tablespoon of milled flaxseed too.
8. Women should have full fat dairy products like milk or yoghurt and men should have low fat.
9. Women should eat orange vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, peppers and sweet potato and men tomato products, particularly concentrated like puree. But both of you eat each other’s food too!
10. Men should eat plenty of walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
11. And you both should eat your greens, berries and olive oil.
“...by the time you have done all these things, you will probably feel loads better too, hair, skin and nails, energy, mood and concentration”
12. Eat organic where you can and try to avoid plastic chemical like BPA, parabens in toiletries and chemicals in the home from air fresheners to cleaning products.
13. And move; lockdown is meaning were sitting down more and that’s no good. So, make a plan for exercise, maybe twice a day with a fitness work out in the morning and a yoga in the afternoon. And as much walking outside in the fresh air and sun (when it’s around!) as you can.
14. Finally, good sleep is essential, for mending and repairing all our cells and for managing our hormones, several of which depend on the good running of our 24-hour body clock.
And another thing; by the time you have done all these things, you will probably feel loads better too, hair, skin and nails, energy, mood and concentration and you will be ready for your IVF cycle knowing that you have both done everything you can to help it work, with no regrets.
What amazing advice as always from Melanie. Melanie specialises in male and female fertility, pregnancy, PMS, PCOS and endometriosis and is on a mission to find everything that helps. For more information on nutrition and fertility make sure to follow her here.