Trying to conceive but forgetting about vitamin D? Great. My kids at the Christmas Market in Berlin. Yes, THAT one. I hate winter in Berlin and don't see any reason why not to hate winter in Berlin. I could count over a dozen reasons for it and the first one is the fact that winter in Berlin lasts for about six months each year. And as much as I try to at least [...]
Fish or supplements? How to get enough omega-3 when TTC When it comes to getting pregnant, there is no magic food that will help turn a bad egg into a good embryo. However, there are types of nutrition that are beneficial and scientifically proven to increase pregnancy chances, such as the Mediterranean diet and the Fertility diet (as published by Harvard researchers in 2008). I've dedicated an entire chapter in my book to these two [...]
Alcohol and making babies - too many false alarms? How much wine is safe when trying to conceive? Alcohol exposure in pregnancy carries risks, sure. It has been known for decades that alcohol use while trying to conceive and later in pregnancy can lead to a variety of effects on physical, mental and behavioral development of babies. However, how much alcohol at what time of pregnancy causes which defects in babies is currently [...]
Should women take antidepressants while trying to conceive? Image courtesy: jomphong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net When women hear that I am a cell biologist and have worked in the field of psychiatry for several years, this sort of question often comes up: Are antidepressants safe for women who are trying to conceive? Should I take SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) while I'm trying to get pregnant? Which antidepressants are safe and which should better be avoided? [...]
