Who is doing a special diet for IF?

[msmerymac]

Keto, paleo, low carb? Tell me about it. How long have you been/do you plan to be on it? Is the goal egg quality? Miscarriage prevention? 

New year, new me, I guess - I'm motivated to make dietary changes. I lost like 30 pounds between my first IVF and my second egg retrieval and it made no difference. After my second miscarriage, I really fell off the health wagon. New RE has me on metformin, but I want to explore nutrition, too.

[landmermaid]

I've really been trying to turn it around as well. I try to eat almost entirely organic, and now I'm concentrating on protein and less carbs. For me, my acupuncturist recommended warm foods, room temperature or warmer drinks, bone broth. I'm doing dry January (with one social occasion night off), and I think I'll continue to stay away from alcohol entirely. I am going to wean myself off coffee now, too. In my low AMH research that seems to be something that's been coming up. I'm giving myself a week to do it.

I still don't know if we're going to keep trying after our third loss, but I'm preparing my body and what eggs I have left as best as I possibly can. It's a lot and a lot of pressure.

[minionkevin]

@@@@ ahead/tw

I was on the keto diet for weight loss only when I conceived #3 without treatment. I was also 35ish lb less than when I conceived #1 or #2, after having unexplained IF. My RE never expressed any concerns about my weight before or during treatments, I was only told IVF was an issue with a BMI of 40+. Mine maxed out at just under 38 (just looked it up, had actually never figured it out before), but obviously there was not a lot of room to go up before further treatment was out of the question. Still I am 5+ years older than when I first sought IF treatment (34.5 vs almost 29). That definitely shouldn’t have helped anything.
Also my H upped his red meat intake and heavy lifting workouts the cycle we conceived #1. Not sure if there is anything scientific about the method vs the results, but ::shrug::

[shoeless]

Long ago when I still thought there would be a chance with my eggs I read the book 'It starts with the Egg'. It was a little extreme for my tastes in some areas but I did find a few good nuggets. Another thought is to google PCOS diet I think a lot of people without PCOS diagnosis have found the guidance given for PCOS to be helpful.

[shoeless]

If anyone has anything for miscarriage prevention I'm all ears! Other than the standard alcohol and drugs avoidance and a good prenatal I haven't found much in the way of diet/supplements to prevent miscarriage

[msmerymac]

Jan 10, 2019 9:01:15 GMT -5 landmermaid said:

I've really been trying to turn it around as well. I try to eat almost entirely organic, and now I'm concentrating on protein and less carbs. For me, my acupuncturist recommended warm foods, room temperature or warmer drinks, bone broth. I'm doing dry January (with one social occasion night off), and I think I'll continue to stay away from alcohol entirely. I am going to wean myself off coffee now, too. In my low AMH research that seems to be something that's been coming up. I'm giving myself a week to do it.

I still don't know if we're going to keep trying after our third loss, but I'm preparing my body and what eggs I have left as best as I possibly can. It's a lot and a lot of pressure.

Coffee is definitely my struggle. Even if I make it "healthy" (ice cold brew, which I mix with almond milk and protein powder so it's dairy and sugar free) I still have a suspicion that weaning myself off caffeine entirely should be a goal. But I also get withdrawal headaches.

[knx9211]

Ugh I've been trying to cut down on caffeine in preparation for my FET on Monday. Earlier this week, I started drinking a cup of decaf in the morning just because I like going through the motions. I then wait as long as I can and have one cup of tea. But today is already feeling like a two cup day. I want to take a nap.

[msmerymac]

Jan 10, 2019 9:21:04 GMT -5 shoeless said:

If anyone has anything for miscarriage prevention I'm all ears! Other than the standard alcohol and drugs avoidance and a good prenatal I haven't found much in the way of diet/supplements to prevent miscarriage

I started thinking about it because I saw a reproductive immunologist suggest paleo for recurring miscarriage. NO idea if there's absolutely any evidence for it, though.

[icedcoffee]

I never really did any big diet changes other than 2 things:

--Caffeine, gave it up cold turkey by switching to decaf coffee. It's annoying and I definitely have my moments of exhaustion, but one of the benefits is that I do sleep much better. I think it also helps keep my anxiety at bay.

--Alcohol, the first time I gave it up cold turkey when I started BCP. This time I was a little more lenient and allowed myself a few (too many) drinks on Thanksgiving.

[chocolatepie]

This is really interesting... obviously diet has an impact on our bodies but it all seems so up in the air as to what works and what doesn't.

For me personally, I started losing weight Dec 2017 thinking that might be our IF issue. Plus I was just sick of myself at that size. I was hovering at 250lbs and BMI of over 40. I've been doing straight up calorie counting with MFP and have lost 85 lbs so far. Obviously we found out that the IF had nothing to do with my weight but *I* feel so much healthier. I have another 20lbs or so before I hit my goal. I eat very healthy now but I don't eliminate anything - I eat carbs, sugar, etc but all in moderation/healthy levels.

I was drinking WAY too much coffee (6-7 cups a day) so I went cold turkey on Jan 1 when I started the BCP. I'm drinking 1 decaf each morning with decaf tea and water the rest of the day. I'm trying to wean myself down to mostly water.

I wasn't drinking alcohol much anymore anyways (due to calories) but I had my last on Jan 1 as well.

Carbs are often high in calories so I don't eat a ton already but maybe I should reduce them some more for awhile.

[pooh8402]

My RE put me on one, the goal was to increase egg quality and reduce OHSS symptoms. It was essentially paleo, but I was allowed beans. No sugar, no dairy, limited fruit and only certain vegetables. Protein was huge. I was on it for 2 months, until after transfer. I did not cut down on caffeine (I drank 1-2 cups a day).

I had the best embryo quality ever, in 3 retrieval.

[G22]

I just got put on the keto diet at my appt today. While my glucose numbers were within range, my insulin numbers were higher than they should be. I probably have insulin resistance, so my RE wants me to start the Keto diet to help with that.

As far as I can tell, it's very similar to the diet I was on when I had gestational diabetes during my pregnancy with my son. So I hope it won't be too hard to get back in to, but also that it will make somewhat of a different fertility wise.

[stellelinds25]

My RE hasn't mentioned anything specifically, but for my own peace of mind, I'm trying to get off about 35 lbs...I've mentioned before, but I'm a weight loss surgery patient and I'm up about about 20 lbs from my lowest adult weight about a year ago (I've ALWAYS been heavy...I weigh now what I weighed in 8th grade). The last few months with the holiday's, IVF stress and my dad's passing have had me eating my feelings, so I'm trying to get back to basics with high protein, low carb and more veggies in my diet.

[landmermaid]

Jan 10, 2019 12:33:44 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

My RE put me on one, the goal was to increase egg quality and reduce OHSS symptoms. It was essentially paleo, but I was allowed beans. No sugar, no dairy, limited fruit and only certain vegetables. Protein was huge. I was on it for 2 months, until after transfer. I did not cut down on caffeine (I drank 1-2 cups a day).

I had the best embryo quality ever, in 3 retrieval.

This is very interesting. I'm going to look into Paleo now.

[pinkpeony08]

This is all super interesting. I was no dairy, no gluten, no soy (though I didn’t get so much as tiny traces of soy), low alcohol for 3 months prior to conceiving and until my loss At 13 weeks. My acupuncturist recommended it to decrease inflammation. I was nervous about losing weight as my BMI is in the very bottom of normal and I worry if I lost weight, I wouldn’t ovulate. I lost I think maybe a pound or two, but I was able to maintain my weight and didn’t have a harder time getting pregnant.

Now For the last month after my loss, I’m eating whatever I want and drinking a glass of wine or cocktail most nights. I definitely feel like my body doesn’t feel as good.

I’m debating if I make the diet changes again months before I meet with reproductive immunology given it is possible we will want to try again? I don’t know when my appointment will be yet, but guessing not til June unless we got in on a cancellation. Or do I just wait and see how we feel as we get closer to whenever the appointment is scheduled?? I have even stopped taking a prenatal for the first time in more than 7 years as I just needed a break from all of it.

[seeyalater52]

I’m trying to lose 15 lbs to get me back in a “normal” BMI range, which is ridiculously hard for me at 5’0’’ with my build. Tentatively thinking I should try low carb and cut out dairy? I’m also going to barre 2-3x a week so adding in more protein as well.

I don’t drink coffee/caffeine and cut out alcohol all together when we started TTC 2.5 years ago, although I’ve picked up drinking again since the 2nd miscarriage. I’m off again now that I’m trying to lose weight.

Anyone have places they look for recipe/meal planning inspiration? Specific recipes they recommend?

[pickel]

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting? I know part of a diet recommended in “It Starts With the Egg” was to keep insulin low so I wondered how that played into it. I’ve been doing it just to try to lose weight (but it is ineffective when you pig out once out the fasting window lol).

[minionkevin]

Jan 10, 2019 22:34:15 GMT -5 pickel said:

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting? I know part of a diet recommended in “It Starts With the Egg” was to keep insulin low so I wondered how that played into it. I’ve been doing it just to try to lose weight (but it is ineffective when you pig out once out the fasting window lol).

I did with keto (mentioned above). My eating window was 12 or 1PM to 8 or 9PM. I had a handful of 24h fasts, some inadvertently, in a ~1year period. I don’t think it works as well not utilizing a keto/lchf diet. You can’t really pig out in the types of foods you’re “supposed to” eat, even in an 8h window (or at least I couldn’t and I can eat a lotttt).

[boiler717]

Jan 10, 2019 22:34:15 GMT -5 pickel said:

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting? I know part of a diet recommended in “It Starts With the Egg” was to keep insulin low so I wondered how that played into it. I’ve been doing it just to try to lose weight (but it is ineffective when you pig out once out the fasting window lol).

I have heard negative things about intermittent fasting and PCOS, so I’d be careful there.

[boiler717]

I lost 70 lbs in about 7 months prior to treatment for my first. I did macros, 40% protein, 30% fat, 30% carb. I kept carbs to vegetables and potatoes and cut way back (but didn’t fully eliminate) grains. Kept sugar to under 30 g a day, which also limited fruit significantly. My RE was very big in no caffeine or alcohol in the 3 months prior to treatment for optimal egg quality.

[landmermaid]

One supplement that I don't always see mentioned for egg quality is Myo-inositol. I was ad targeted on Instagram for this preconception powder. I had never heard of it before, but I'm my throw anything at the wall and hope it sticks approach to RPL I bought it. However, when I mentioned it to my RE nurse and acupuncturist, they were both glad I was taking it.

I had barely started it when I went in for my low AMH testing. Can't say if it will make a difference though, but it can't hurt. Just throwing it out there in case others hadn't heard of it either.

[seeyalater52]

Jan 11, 2019 9:43:53 GMT -5 landmermaid said:

One supplement that I don't always see mentioned for egg quality is Myo-inositol. I was ad targeted on Instagram for this preconception powder. I had never heard of it before, but I'm my throw anything at the wall and hope it sticks approach to RPL I bought it. However, when I mentioned it to my RE nurse and acupuncturist, they were both glad I was taking it.

I had barely started it when I went in for my low AMH testing. Can't say if it will make a difference though, but it can't hurt. Just throwing it out there in case others hadn't heard of it either.

Myo-inositol is also correlated with helping to prevent gestational diabetes when taken in first tri! 

[landmermaid]

Jan 11, 2019 16:15:49 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Jan 11, 2019 9:43:53 GMT -5 landmermaid said:

One supplement that I don't always see mentioned for egg quality is Myo-inositol. I was ad targeted on Instagram for this preconception powder. I had never heard of it before, but I'm my throw anything at the wall and hope it sticks approach to RPL I bought it. However, when I mentioned it to my RE nurse and acupuncturist, they were both glad I was taking it.

I had barely started it when I went in for my low AMH testing. Can't say if it will make a difference though, but it can't hurt. Just throwing it out there in case others hadn't heard of it either.

Myo-inositol is also correlated with helping to prevent gestational diabetes when taken in first tri! 

The more you know! Very cool stuff.

[boiler717]

I took myo-inositol but my OB wouldn’t let me continue in pregnancy despite the evidence.
Just don’t buy it at GNC. It’s kept under lock and key. Apparently it’s frequently stolen as it’s common to use to cut cocaine. The guy thought that’s why I was buying it 😬

[pickel]

Jan 11, 2019 2:55:24 GMT -5 minionkevin said:

Jan 10, 2019 22:34:15 GMT -5 pickel said:

Has anyone tried intermittent fasting? I know part of a diet recommended in “It Starts With the Egg” was to keep insulin low so I wondered how that played into it. I’ve been doing it just to try to lose weight (but it is ineffective when you pig out once out the fasting window lol).

I did with keto (mentioned above). My eating window was 12 or 1PM to 8 or 9PM. I had a handful of 24h fasts, some inadvertently, in a ~1year period. I don’t think it works as well not utilizing a keto/lchf diet. You can’t really pig out in the types of foods you’re “supposed to” eat, even in an 8h window (or at least I couldn’t and I can eat a lotttt).

Oh yeah, I’m totally doing it wrong. I’m trying to be better but sometimes carbs make their way in. LOL

[loira]

Jan 10, 2019 9:21:04 GMT -5 shoeless said:

If anyone has anything for miscarriage prevention I'm all ears! Other than the standard alcohol and drugs avoidance and a good prenatal I haven't found much in the way of diet/supplements to prevent miscarriage

Not diet, but I started taking baby aspirin from ovulation onward when I got pregnant with A on the advice of my RPL specialist. However, I'll never know if that's what made her stick, whether it was my acupuncture, or if my other 2 early miscarriages just occurred for the same reason a lot of them do - genetic abnormalities in the embryo that make it not viable.

[seeyalater52]

Jan 13, 2019 12:59:18 GMT -5 loira said:

Jan 10, 2019 9:21:04 GMT -5 shoeless said:

If anyone has anything for miscarriage prevention I'm all ears! Other than the standard alcohol and drugs avoidance and a good prenatal I haven't found much in the way of diet/supplements to prevent miscarriage

Not diet, but I started taking baby aspirin from ovulation onward when I got pregnant with A on the advice of my RPL specialist. However, I'll never know if that's what made her stick, whether it was my acupuncture, or if my other 2 early miscarriages just occurred for the same reason a lot of them do - genetic abnormalities in the embryo that make it not viable.

I’ve always been prescribed baby aspirin for embryo transfers, even before my losses. I’ve definitely heard it can help although it didn’t work for me.

[pooh8402]

Jan 13, 2019 12:59:18 GMT -5 loira said:

Jan 10, 2019 9:21:04 GMT -5 shoeless said:

If anyone has anything for miscarriage prevention I'm all ears! Other than the standard alcohol and drugs avoidance and a good prenatal I haven't found much in the way of diet/supplements to prevent miscarriage

Not diet, but I started taking baby aspirin from ovulation onward when I got pregnant with A on the advice of my RPL specialist. However, I'll never know if that's what made her stick, whether it was my acupuncture, or if my other 2 early miscarriages just occurred for the same reason a lot of them do - genetic abnormalities in the embryo that make it not viable.

Here's my take on baby aspirin. The research is mixed. Anecdotally, I think it helps. My first RE had me on it during my successful IVF cycle (fresh transfer) through my first tri. My second RE did not put me on it during my second IVF cycle, and it was a clusterf*ck of a cycle. No aspirin for FETs either. Nothing stuck. My third RE said I could take it if I wanted, so I did. That one was successful (also a fresh transfer).

So I was on baby aspirin for my 2 successful cycles, and not on it for all my failed ones. *shrug*

[loira]

Jan 13, 2019 13:58:49 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Jan 13, 2019 12:59:18 GMT -5 loira said:

Not diet, but I started taking baby aspirin from ovulation onward when I got pregnant with A on the advice of my RPL specialist. However, I'll never know if that's what made her stick, whether it was my acupuncture, or if my other 2 early miscarriages just occurred for the same reason a lot of them do - genetic abnormalities in the embryo that make it not viable.

Here's my take on baby aspirin. The research is mixed. Anecdotally, I think it helps. My first RE had me on it during my successful IVF cycle (fresh transfer) through my first tri. My second RE did not put me on it during my second IVF cycle, and it was a clusterf*ck of a cycle. No aspirin for FETs either. Nothing stuck. My third RE said I could take it if I wanted, so I did. That one was successful (also a fresh transfer).

So I was on baby aspirin for my 2 successful cycles, and not on it for all my failed ones. *shrug*

True, my RPL specialist said something like "there's research to suggest this MAY be beneficial, but it certainly won't hurt, so you may as well try it".

[megstoo]

I'm late to this post but I'm doing keto. I started the week of Thanksgiving and at today's monitoing appt I'm down 15 lbs.  It's been pretty easy to do but I stopped cold turkey on carbs/juice/fruit etc.  I'm not counting calories with this but I am keeping my carb limit to 20g a day so it's high protein.