In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a fertility procedure that allows women who cannot get pregnant to conceive a child. With IVF, a specialized physician manually meets an egg and a sperm. If the conception is successful, the embryo will be implanted in the uterus. It is essential that you watch your diet and choose healthy foods if you are planning on undergoing an IVF procedure, because if it is successful, you will be nourishing a growing baby.
Spinach
Folic acid is one of the most important nutrients to consume while going through the IVF procedure, as well as once you become pregnant. Spinach is a sound source of folic acid, which will ensure healthy implantation as well as help prevent certain birth defects, Liza Charlesworth reports in her book, "The Couple's Guide to In Vitro Fertilization: Everything You Need to Know to Maximize Your Chances of Success." Folic acid also contributes to the early development of an embryo. Eat a spinach salad or add spinach to pasta sauce. Other leafy greens, as well as orange juice, are additional sources of folic acid.
Lean Beef, Chicken and Fish
A diet high in fat and sugar may prevent successful conception as well as implantation. Steven R. Bayer and Michael M. Alper note in their book, "The Boston IVF Handbook: A Practical Guide for Practitioners Who Care for Infertile Couples," that a diet based on greasy, fatty and sugary foods may cause fertility problems and prevent successful IVF. Many meats, such as ground beef, are high in saturated fat and choosing leaner options will improve your health and keep your fat intake low. Choose lean ground beef or steak, white meat chicken or turkey, and fish because they do not contain as much fat and are a healthy part of a preconception diet.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Your body relies on several different nutrients in order to accept the implantation of an embryo, as well as sustain a pregnancy. Many of these nutrients can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Bayer and Alper recommend including many varieties of fruits and vegetables in your IVF diet because it will ensure that your body has plenty of the vitamins and minerals it needs to support an embryo and grow a healthy baby. Add colorful choices, such as apples, pears, berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, bell peppers and oranges, to your daily diet to increase your intake of the nutrients you and your embryo will need in the coming months.
References
- The American Pregnancy Association: In Vitro Fertilization: IVF
- "The Couple's Guide to In Vitro Fertilization: Everything You Need to Know to Maximize Your Chances of Success"; Liza Charlesworth; 2004
- "The Boston IVF Handbook: A Practical Guide for Practitioners Who Care for Infertile Couples"; Steven R. Bayer and Michael M. Alper; 2007
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