my story...

[lovemynugget]

Hi Dr H

First and foremost, thank you for your willingness to share your expertise with us and your kindness in doing so. This whole TTC thing can be such a roller coaster in itself, and if you throw any kind of swaying in there, it can be a bit overwhelming. Thank you again for your help. I really am so very grateful.

I have a WONDERFUL 18 month old daughter...and I sadly miscarried right before I had her and then again this past June. It took me about a year to conceive the first time...so it clearly isn't as easy for me as some others...but that's okay! I'm hopeful...and I'm persistent. Although I would be THRILLED with any gender, in my heart I am hoping for a boy since I only have sisters and we all have girls. I'd love to know what it is like to raise a son...so I will give swaying my best shot and be happy knowing that I at least tried.

Since my miscarriage, I have been going to acupuncture once a week (it helped me get pregnant with my daughter) and I am taking a prenatal, CoQ10, bee pollen and royal jelly, and extra folic acid/B12/B6. I ovulate like clockwork on cd14 every month...and my luteal phase is 14-15 days in length. I also have a tipped uterus.

As for my diet, I CLEARLY ate a girls diet when I had my daughter (a lot of dairy, artificial sweeteners, etc, low salt, a lot of low fat carbs, etc)...so I am trying to eat more meat (ugh), bananas, higher fat stuff like cheese, a bit more salt, potatoes, juice, lemon water, etc. I am not sure if timing is important in swaying, but if I get a positive OPK in the afternoon, we generally BD the following morning so that we can try to get the sperm as close to the egg as possible. What is your take on this?

I had my day 3 levels tested and they are as follows:

LH - 4.4 miu/ml
FSH - 7.6 miu/ml
Estradiol - 40.9 pg/ml

I also had my DHEA levels tested and they are 2.680 ml (normal range of 1.330-7.780). So it looks like my levels are on the low end. My acupuncturist and I talked about supplementing next cycle if I didn't get pregnant this cycle. I'm on 12dpo with a BFN so I am assuming I am out for this cycle.

I have had some issues with mid-cycle and pre-period spotting, but my acupuncturist has really helped me with that. My lining is plenty thick enough...and I have taken clomid twice. I only made one big follicle both times I took it, but I got pregnant one of the times (mc at 6 weeks).

Anyway, in TCM, they often tell me that I am 'stagnant' or 'stuck' and I have poor circulation (cold hands, feet). I know in TCM, they don't like you to swim during your period...but because of my spotting and being prone to MC, my OB suggested that I bypass any high impact exercise (I used to run all the time) and do something low impact like swimming for exercise.

All this said, I have two questions:
1) what would you suggest i do to sway for a boy?
2) would you suggest supplementing with DHEA given my results?
3) is it okay to swim during my period? is it okay to swim during my luteal phase?

Thank you SO much in advance for your help...and I look forward to hearing from you. You are GOLD and I really appreciate your insight and guidance. And so happy you are feeling better too! xo

[Babydoctor]

Hi Lovemynugget

I am sorry for all your miscarriages, it is very frustrating and I say this on both a professional and personal level as I have had my fair share of miscarriages including losing twin girls.

In relation, to you day 3 tests all looks good there

I would definitely try DHEA as you are on the lower end and keep on Royal Jelly it appears to produce more boys! Nettle Tea one cup a day is great for fertility. Also add Alpha Lipoic Acid this is excellent for fertility!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, use Pre-seed it is excellent for conceiving, get your partner to ejaculate daily for at least a week before.

Could I suggest walking gently for 30 minutes a day it is great for you,swimming is okay but walking is better.

Is your partner on any supplements? It is VERY important from both a fertility perspective and to try to sway the odds of gender to get your partner to take Panax Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, Testofen (Fenugreek), CQ10, Lycopene and Zinc.

Hopefully that is a start, ask me anything you want I am here to help as much as I can.

Bug Hugs

Dr H xx

[lovemynugget]

Thank you SO much Dr H! I really appreciate your help. And I am sad to hear of your losses friend.

I am going to buy all the supplements you suggested for my husband...but might you kindly let me know what they do and how much of each of them he should take?

Looking forward to hearing from you. So grateful! xo

[Babydoctor]

Hi lovemynugget

Will help you all the way

Once you have all the supps let me know and I will work out something that works for both of you.

Big hugs

Dr H xx

[lovemynugget]

Thank you SO much Dr H!

We have all of our supplements in hand and we are ready to go! We would love some help with our boy sway. Any and all guidance is so very welcomed and appreciated.

You're the BEST!

[lovemynugget]

Oh...and is it too late for my husband to start taking these supplements? I will be ovulating in about a week.

[Babydoctor]

I am so sorry that I have not been online to answer you

Oh did you try, if not or you do get a BFP, I will work with you the dosages.

Biggest Hugs

Dr H x

[lovemynugget]

Hi Dr H No need to apologize...you have been so helpful already! And you need to take care of YOU first and foremost. We did try...I'm currently at 8dpo. I had my husband take the supplements you suggested...even if only for 5 or 6 days. It is better than nothing though, right? I'll keep you updated. Thank you for always being so nice. xoxox

[Babydoctor]

Oh, my fingers and toes are crossed for you.

Please update me

Biggest Hugs
Dr H X

[lovemynugget]

Hi Dr H. As previously mentioned in my initial post, I have battled mid-cycle spotting ever since I started TTC my daughter two and a half years ago. I thought my acupuncturist was helping, but it has returned this cycle with a vengeance. It starts anywhere from a few days before my period to up to a week before. It is usually brown and not a whole lot, but enough that I have to wear a liner. I have a very regular cycle...usually ovulate on day 14 or 15 and have a 14-15 day luteal phase. I've been to an RE, OB, and three different acupuncturists...I've had my progesterone tested TWICE (both times it came back normal if not high) and a hystogram done to check for polyps...also normal. I've taken herbs and tonics...done cleanses and everything...yet every month it still returns. It's VERY frustrating to not know what is going on, and I can't help but think it is making it difficult to conceive. I've asked my OB and my GP if they think it may be caused by endometriosis (they tell me not to worry), but I don't have painful periods and when I had my c-section with my daughter, my OB said everything looked okay in there. I would love to get a laparoscopy to rule it out, but I am not sure it is necessary. I've also started to notice now that I spot for a day or two at ovulation too (which is new). Ugh. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.