vitamins/herb for pregnancy

Question
I am trying to conceive. Could you kindly suggest some important vitamins/herbs that I should take? Thank you very much.


Answer
Hello,



I just have a few questions: Is this your first attempt at trying to conceive? Or do you have a history of infertility?

There are a few things you can do that are general for each circumstance.



1) It is never too early to start taking a prenatal vitamin.  Find a good whole food vitamin like New Chapter's Perfect Prenatal.  I'd start by taking just a half a pill 2xday.  



2)Start eating healthy, nourishing foods.  Increase foods such as yellow mung beans, lentils, beets, and even lean red meat (Bison is best). These foods increase blood supply and are very nourishing. Also add leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, mustard greens (all cooked). these foods are high in folic acid and B vitamins which are great during conception time and early pregnancy and help prevent birth defects.  



4) Avoid processed foods that contain hydrogenated oils or partially-hydrogenated oils.  Avoid Soy products, white flour, white sugar, coffee, and sodas.  Also, if you know you have a food sensativity to things like dairy products, corn or gluten, now would be the time to stop, because continuing to eat these foods while pregnant may pass the allergen on to your baby or lead to complication in breastfeeding.



5)Add herbal teas that contain Rosemary, Raspberry leaf, dandelion root, and Red Clover flower.  Raspberry leaf is a great uterine tonic that is safe and beneficial to take all the way through your healthy pregnancy.  Dandelion root works on the liver, moving the Qi energy and helping to avoid miscarriages.  Red Clover Flower is a very powerful fertility herb that nourishes the Yin (mother) energy. And Rosemary works by helping the body get rid of any negative emotion surrounding pregnancy and strengthens the immune system.



6) And of course, now is the time to quite smoking, drinking and check with your doctor about removing any prescription drugs including antibiotics from your regime.



I wrote a brochure called "Oh Baby! Herbs for Pregnancy" on my website.  You can download it here  http://www.phxherbs4kids.com/home-remedies.html

Good luck with your journey and let me know if you have any other questions.

Peace and Blessings,

Dr. Candice