Nutrition and Lifestyle
Nutrition is known to play a role in improving fertility, reducing miscarriage risk, and supporting optimal foetal development. Viveka's nutrition team has a world-wide reputation for supporting women prior to conception, supporting male fertility, and improving maternal health during pregnancy. Nutritional therapy is a vital part of integrated fertility care at Viveka, together with lifestyle advice tailored to you.
Nutrition
Our team of nutritionists is led by Dr Marilyn Glenville, who plays a central role in most couples' fertility support. Dr Glenville has written several best-selling books, including Getting Pregnant Faster, and she has worked alongside Dr Shawaf and Dr Gordon, our fertility doctors, for many years.
The combination of nutritional support and medical monitoring works well, with many women becoming pregnant naturally after following advice on lifestyle and nutrition, and taking supplements.
We use nutrition to help regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain hormone balance, to boost ovulation and to improve sperm count and function; and it is useful to reduce symptoms of conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis. A basis of good nutrition also helps men and women to enjoy greater vitality and wellbeing, and can relieve anxiety and lift your spirits. Statistics show conclusively that the greatest benefits with regard to pregnancy and foetal health come through attending to nutrition before conception.
During IVF, good nutrition may significantly improve results. It also helps to reduce the risk of miscarriage and helps a baby to develop and thrive during pregnancy.
Your nutritionist may suggest tests including a hair or blood or stool analysis. The results can provide information about your levels of minerals, vitamins and omega essential fatty acids, and assess any allergy, intolerance or food absorption issues that may affect your energy and wellbeing and/or have an impact on your fertility. Tests will be recommended based on your medical history and your symptoms.
Nutritional advice includes an eating plan that fits your daily pattern of activity and lifestyle. If you are receiving medical care (including IVF), it will reflect this. Our emphasis is on keeping food fun, nutritious and family-friendly. Your plan will also help you to detox. Before conception and during fertility treatment, an important element is to support ovarian health and enhance the function of other hormone producing glands. You will be given practical advice about how, what and when you eat and about caffeine, recreational drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
We may recommend vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and essential fatty acid supplements for you. Supplements are often necessary because even the best diet in the world may not contain all the nutrients needed to give you the best chance of conceiving.
Lifestyle
Nutrition is a core aspect of lifestyle, and many couples also ask for support in other areas. Small steps that often have far reaching effects include exercise, the introduction of good quality rest, meditation, and learning 'coping' skills for challenging times.
For personalised guidance you may consult another member of our team. For instance, Natalie Dee, our life coach, may help you refine your personal goals and achieve them; Suzanne Bernie may help you look and feel great, with a significant boost to your self-esteem and perhaps your libido too; you may want targeted fitness coaching; or personal tips on visualisation and relaxation techniques from a hypnotherapist or a member of the Jeyarani team who frequently work with couples prior to conception, as well as through pregnancy.
Find out more on Dr Marilyn Glenville's literary success and nutrition as part of fertility care at Viveka in our May '09 newsletter.
