Having healthy diet habits is the most important step. Both of you should strive to make sure that your gametes, i.e., eggs and sperms, are in the best health. Firstly, we recommend that you look into your diet and ensure it is well balanced. Ensure you’re getting all nutrients to maintain a healthy blood level and body weight.While preparing for IVF, your diet should include:
Water : essential but usually forgotten. You should drink at least 2l of mineral or filtered water a day.
Protein : Research has shown that increasing protein intake to 60g/day improves results during IVF treatment. Milk and milk product, egg , fish , chicken , legume and pulses are the good source of protein.
Antioxidants : blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, and strawberries are great sources of antioxidants and help to reduce damage to our cells. You should consume at least five units of these fruits throughout the day.
Leafy green veggies : dark, leafy green veggies such as spinach or kale provide essential prenatal nutrients like iron, calcium, and folate. Broccoli is one of the best options to add to your diet.
Whole grains : oats, lentils, quinoa, and chickpeas.
Healthy fats : salmon and other fatty fish, nuts, free-range eggs, seeds, and lentils. Live and organic yogurt is another great choice.
Limit the sugar : it is important to avoid extra amount of table sugar and artificial sugar.
Limit the caffeine : if you like to drink coffee daily, you should monitor and limit your caffeine intake to one cup a day. Don’t forget caffeine is also found in all brown and dark chocolate, black tea, and soft drinks. Also, try to stay clear of decaffeinated coffee or tea as they contain several chemicals used during the decaffeination process.
No Alcohol : even if used in moderation, alcohol lengthens the whole conceiving process, so it should be avoided.
No Nicotine : Nicotine is a damaging chemical, which effects the growth of the Embryo. You should avoid even passive smoking once embryo is implanted.
Supplements
To ensure that you’re getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients, you can consider taking supplements after a thorough discussion with your doctor:
essential but usually forgotten. You should drink at least 2l of mineral or filtered water a day.
Folic Acid 400mcg daily. This vitamin is important for the neural tube development of the baby. It is involved in the formation of DNA. It helps reduce homocysteine, a chemical that is linked to miscarriages.
Methylfolate 2mg once a day is the active form of Folic acid. 30-65% of the populations have a genetic variation that reduces the absorption of folic acid.
Vitamin C 1000mg daily promotes progesterone (a hormone linked to pregnancy) and improves sperm strength and quality. Vitamin C is also known for its beneficial antioxidant properties.
Vitamin D 1000 IU daily is important for producing and increasing the quality of sexual hormones.
Melatonin 3mg once a day to improve the quality of sleep.
Omega 3 DHA daily – improves blood level and flow, regulates sexual hormones and boosts your baby’s brain.
CoEnzyme Q 10 200mg three times daily is a powerful antioxidant.
Zinc citrate 30mg daily – improves sperm quality and strength. Zinc deficiency has been linked to several cases of miscarriages.
Selenium 100-150 mcg daily – improves sperm mobility. Selenium deficiency can also cause miscarriages.
Probiotics daily – increases chances of IVF success from implantation to live birth.