I think using these supplements finally tipped the scale in my favor when fertility was a hurdle. Here is what I consider using BEFORE CONCEIVING to help with hormonal balance and egg health:
1. Magnesium – All my pregnancy books talk about the importance of magnesium and how hard it is to get. I found EASE Magnesium spray an effective way to obtain it. Its purpose is to help cells do their jobs. I love this, and I prioritize having sufficient magnesium.
2. Maca – I honestly don’t know too much about this supplement, but it was recommended in a lot of the resources I reviewed, so I took it, and I assume it helped.
3. Cod Liver Oil – I forgot why this is important specifically, but I need a lot of healthy fats and some of the best fats come from liver. I don’t recommend the source that I used in one pregnancy (Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil due to likely rancidity). I’ve heard good things about this one. If I don’t do Cod Liver Oil, I try to take some form of DHA. I currently use Nordic Naturals.
4. Prenatal vitamin – Almost any should do if it excludes maltodextrin and artificial sweeteners. I’ve used Rainbow Light.
5. Probiotics – I think this helps digestion and gives my body good bacteria to help keep my future baby and me healthy. I’ve used Hyperbiotics Pro-Moms, Hyperbiotics Pro-15, and Bio-Kult. Right now, I like the probiotic from Trader Joe’s.
6. Vitex – I did not use this, but I have since learned about it, and it may be beneficial.
These are supplements I take DURING PREGNANCY. Some above are harmful to take while pregnant.
1. Prenatal vitamin. I like Rainbow Light and Garden of Life.
2. DHA—I watch the Vitamin A levels and sources in these, because too much preformed vitamin A hurts a developing baby. (Vitamin A from food sources [e.g. beta-carotene] isn’t harmful at levels above 10.000 IU from what I read, but preformed versions [e.g. retinol] can be harmful above 10,000 IU a day). Otherwise, DHA during pregnancy seems to be a pretty standard recommendation. Right now I use this Nordic Naturals 690 mg dose.
3. Probiotic
4. Occasional spirulina—the Utah healthline advises against taking this, given the lack of regulation and potential for contaminated sourcing. So I just take it occasionally if I was low on greens in my diet that day.
5. Magnesium
6. Dates--this is not a supplement, but I make a point to consume them in my third trimesters of pregnancy for the scientifically proven effect they have on preparing my body for labor.