While some miscarriages are caused because of risky behavior, that includes habits like alcohol drinking, smoking, drug abuse and even caffeine.

A sign of miscarriage is usually vaginal bleeding, which may be confused with some of the pregnancy signs (especially  implantation bleeding or spotting, which is usually the first indication of pregnancy).

Additionally, there are specific actions a woman must take in order to minimize a chance of miscarriage, and they include the following.

Consuming enough zinc rich foods or zinc supplements. If you are often cold or if you often have infections, if you are often feeling exhausted or having poor appetite, poor sense of taste and smell, or if your skin and hair is dry and you have white spots on your fingernail, you very probably suffer from zinc deficiency. And since zinc is one of the most important minerals for your reproductive system for both men and women, make sure to consume zinc either in food or in form of supplements.

Woman cannot maintain pregnancy without proper progesterone levels which are also known as pregnancy hormones. If woman experiences low progesterone level, she might also suffer from PMS and luteal phase defect. In order to balance progesterone level, woman should increase magnesium and vitamin B6 intake. Both are found in seeds, nuts, egg yolk, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes.

Vitamin C supports the strength of your uterus, so make sure to consume proper amounts of vitamin C. If your uterus isn’t strong enough and if your connective tissue is weak, it is very possible a miscarriage will happen. Make sure to increase the level of vitamin C. Either take prenatal supplements or eat vitamin C rich food, such as citrus foods. Also make sure to eat enough bioflavonoids because they help the body to absorb more vitamin C and also contribute to the strength of the connective tissue. Bioflavonoids are found in all berries.

And once again: avoid bad habits such as smoking or inhaling secondary smoke, avoid alcohol and also skip caffeine for some time.

Food cravings as a sign of premenstrual syndrome

If you want to overcome food cravings that are associated with PMS and most of all prevent overeating, you must make sure to keep you sugar levels in blood stable. This means you should stay away from sugary bombs such as chocolate and salty and fatty snacks such as chips. You will be able to control these cravings if you keep your sugar levels in blood under control. I know this might sound as a cliché, but this sugar control can be done by eating healthy which means eating carbs that are processed for a longer period of time and are full of fibers. For example, this includes whole grains, nuts, fruits and veggies and lean proteins such as skinless chicken and fish. Also, make sure to eat small meals, which is also one of the ways to avoid overeating.

Evening primrose oil to cope with breast tenderness

Some people swear by herbal remedy, called evening primrose oil: they say it immediately relieves PMS, including breast tenderness. However, there is not enough scientific data that could support these claims. However, if you use herbal remedies make sure you buy them from a reliable source, and most of all do not mix them with other prescription medications without the knowledge of your doctor.

“I am moody” … PMS?

Moodiness is a very common PMS syndrome and most women deal with it. If you want to overcome moodiness, try following herbal remedy:  5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). 5-HTP is a natural mood enhancer – an extracts of the plan improves sleep, increases serotonin levels also known as happiness hormone and reduces anxiety.

Calcium is another supplement that could help you improve your mood. You will find it in yogurt or certain fruits, such as oranges.

It is essential to eat foods rich in zinc, and every approximately every meal should contain at least 10% of recommended daily allowance (11 mg for adult males and 8 mg for females ; 11 mg during pregnancy and 12 during lactation). Bellow you will find a list of foods rich in zinc.

Oysters

Also called aphrodisiac are the most potent source of this ‘pregnancy mineral’. 100 grams of oysters contain more 25 milligrams of zinc, which is twice as much you need per day. Oysters, especially non-cultivated, are besides zinc, a great source of selenium, and both zinc and selenium are often low in the modern nutrition. Oysters are also a rich source of protein, carbohydrates and lipids, and are one of the top choices in low-cholesterol diets. As little as four medium size oysters supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus. Oysters also tend to be excellent real food sources of Vitamin D. They are considered the healthiest when eaten raw on the half shell, but since raw foods oysters may carry bacteria, persons with chronic liver disease, impaired immune systems or cancer should avoid eating raw oysters.

Shellfish

Shellfish is right behind oysters – 100 grams of shellfish contains as much as 20 milligrams of zinc which is still more than recommended daily allowance. Most shellfish is naturally low in total and saturated fat, and only moderate in cholesterol content, which means that most shellfish can still fit into a heart healthy diet. Generally shellfish is a great source of omega 3 acids, minerals and proteins.

Brewer’s yeast

If you are vegan, or if you simply aren’t a fan of oysters and shellfish, then your choice for zinc rich food should be brewer’s yeast or/and wheat germ. They both contain 17 milligrams of zinc per 100 grams.

When Brewer’s yeast is used as a dietary supplement, it can provide the body with a number of essential vitamins and minerals including zinc and vitamin B. However, if you plan to include brewer’s yeast into your diet, start small, because it may cause gases or at least problems with digestion. Also avoid this supplement if you have candidiasis, gout, or high blood levels of uric acid. Brewer’s yeast might help you if you have diabetes, hypoglycemia, high cholesterol, eczema, nervousness, fatigue, and constipation, but you should definitely consult with your health provider and not experiment on your own.

Wheat bran, all bran cereal and some other enriched cereals are a great source of mineral zinc. Pine nuts, pecan nuts and cashew nuts contain more than 6 milligrams of zinc per 100 grams. Among cheeses, parmesan cheese is the zinc king, containing as much as 5 milligrams of zinc in 100 grams of parmesan.

Zinc rich foods include beef, lamb, pork, crabmeat, turkey, chicken, lobster, clams and salmon, but if you are a vegetarian you should pay special attention to consuming enough dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Brown rice should also be your choice, and don’t forget about whole wheat bread, wholegrain cereals, beans and potato. One of the top vegan zinc foods are also pumpkin seeds, since they offer one of the most concentrated non-meat food sources of zinc.

Do a favor to yourself, your partner and your baby: I am not talking just about the lungs or the money you spent on cigarettes or the fact there you can’t hide the cigarette smell from your hair and skin. Cigarettes lower your possibility of getting pregnant by increasing the mucus around your cervix, and this is the main reason for decreased fertility.

Weight and trying to conceive

Yes, this is true: if you are super (model) skinny or if you are even slightly overweight (not to mention obese) your chances of healthy conception dramatically decrease. In fact, several studies suggest that there is a connection between being overweight/underweight and fertility and this connection is expressed in U curve: if your body mass index is normal (18-24), you shouldn’t have any problems with fertility (looking from the perspective of weight), while if your BMI is under 18 or above 25, your chances of healthy conception decrease dramatically.

Alcohol and babies don’t mix

First of all, if you regularly drink alcohol, your body’s ability to absorb mineral zinc is lowered. Zinc is the ‘fertility’ mineral, didn’t you know? Yep, zinc increases sperm count and helps the body use estrogen and progesterone more efficiently.

Besides, many studies have proved that alcohol has a negative effect on both female and male fertility. In women, alcohol disrupts menstrual cycles and may even cause miscarriage, and in men alcohol influences sperm count, mobility and sperm quality.

Cut coffee and caffeine products

As little as one cup of coffee decreases your chances of healthy conception for as much as half. All products that contain caffeine have the same effect on woman’s body. Therefore you must pay special attention to foods that contain hidden caffeine.

Having Sex on “Ovulation Days” Only

I am very sure you’ve heard that women ovulate on day 14 of their cycle, but hey this is not true. Every woman is unique and day 14 is the most fertile day for women who have 28 day menstrual cycle. Does your menstrual cycle have 28 days? Most women do not have perfect menstrual cycle and even those who do, do not ovulate at exactly the same time each month.

My point is, have sex more often, enjoy it, have fun and don’t think about trying to conceive. Don’t think at all: just make love.

Acupuncture is actually a safe practice during pregnancy as well as in preconception period. Traditionally in pregnancy, acupuncture is used to relieve nausea, mood swings, bladder discomfort, etc. In preconception time acupuncture can address problems that affect fertility such as under-functioning (hypothyroidism) or over-functioning (hyperthyroidism).  In the first trimester, acupuncture can also relieve fatigue, migraines and bleeding.

As it helps maintain balance during the second trimester, acupuncture can alleviate heartburn, hemorrhoids and stress. In some cases acupuncture can also be used to treat edema, elevated blood pressure or excessive weight gain.
In third trimester acupuncture can help relief back pain, sciatica pubic and joint pain and even carpal tunnel syndrome. Acupuncture can even help with a proper positioning of the baby.

It is essential for woman to receive regular preventive care during postpartum. Postpartum is actually one of the most critical times for a woman to see an acupuncturist. This way theoretically serious postpartum depression can be prevented.

Acupuncture is a safe practice, as long as the practitioner has gone through a three- or four-year training program and as long as the practitioner is a licensed acupuncturist.

There are minimal risks when using acupuncture for fertility treatment. A risk of miscarriage may develop if wrong acupuncture points are used when a woman is pregnant. Therefore it is essential that you are treated by an acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. Acupuncture is not contraindicated for anyone regardless of their pathology or what medications they are taking.

It’s still not entirely clear how the technique works, but there is some evidence that it increases the production of endorphins, or brain chemicals that make you feel good and help reduce stress. It may also improve blood supply to the ovaries, which improves their function, and the uterus, which can make it easier to nourish a fetus and reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat infertility, often in combination with herbs.

Research suggests that acupuncture may be helpful to couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). German researchers discovered that acupuncture significantly increases the odds of pregnancy among a group of 160 women who were undergoing IVF treatment. 42% of women who received acupuncture got pregnant, compared to 26 percent of those who didn’t receive the treatment. Scientists believe that acupuncture helped increase blood flow to the uterus and relax the muscle tissue, giving the embryos a better chance of implanting.

The verdict is still out on whether it can improve fertility in general. Studies show promising results, but more research is needed before we can say for sure.  Some studies indicate that acupuncture can help to improve an egg quality in woman, that it can help if a woman has problems with blocked Fallopian tubes or whether she has trouble ovulating. Since acupuncture increases blood flow to the endometrium, it helps to facilitate a thick, rich lining.

Some studies also suggest that acupuncture can also help men if trying to conceive: this Chinese technique partly increases number of healthy swimmers, as well as improve their quality.

Some studies claim that acupuncture cannot increase a man’s sperm count over the threshold needed for conception, but others suggest that acupuncture can significantly improve the quality and health of sperm and that  sperm  is associated with fewer structural defects and an increase in the number of healthy swimmers.

Acupuncture has been often applied both among men and women when dealing with stress, and since stress has proved to interfere with trying to conceive, it makes a perfect sense that reducing tension with the help of acupuncture could increase your chances of conceiving a baby.