Low levels of progesterone may lead to miscarriage

Progesterone, a steroid hormone, is an important female hormone says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Progesterone is made by the ovary during ovulation. It is also produced by the adrenal glands in small amounts. It is manufactured in the body with the help of the steroid hormone pregnenolone and it in turn helps in the production of most of the other steroid hormones like cortisol, oestrogen and testosterone. In the female body, the most important role of the progesterone hormone is to counter the effects of oestrogen and help provide an environment for a successful pregnancy and a healthy pregnancy.

Progesterone and Fertility
Progesterone helps in reproduction by stimulating changes in the uterus and also supports pregnancy by increasing blood vessel and tissue development in the layer where the embryo attaches itself. The egg attaches itself to the uterus after been released from the ovary. On conception, the egg along with the sperm forms the embryo. Progesterone is the hormone that delays the shedding of the endometrium layer where the embryo implantation occurs.

If there is a significant drop in the progesterone levels during the first few weeks of pregnancy, then it may lead to a miscarriage.

Causes of Low Progesterone
There can be many factors that could cause the progesterone levels to fall, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Some prominent factors are:
- Dominance of oestrogen. This condition could occur if the individual is exposed to any environmental hormone that behaves like oestrogen or in cases of liver dysfunction.
- Resistance to insulin present in the body
- Chronic stress
- Diet that is rich in sugar or does not contain sufficient nutrients
- Insufficient exercise
- Certain medications

Consequently, dietary and lifestyle changes can help to address the issue of low progesterone and to help increase it to levels that support a pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Sperm Abnormalities Due to Low Folate Intake

A study published in the Journal Human Reproduction has reported that a diet low in folate leads to a higher risk of sperm abnormalities that may cause birth defects like Down's Syndrome or miscarriage.

Numerous studies have advocated women of child bearing age, who are pregnant or thinking about having a baby should supplement 400mcg of folic acid, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. However, researchers are now stressing the importance of folate in men’s diet as low folate levels can be the cause of abnormal sperm.

The researchers found that several micronutrients were associated with a lower frequency of different abnormalities. High folic acid intake was associated with 19% fewer abnormalities (all types) than moderate intake and 20% fewer than men with a low micronutrient intake. There were also reductions in specific types of abnormality. For example, there were 26% fewer sperm with no sex chromosome in the high-intake group compared with the low-intake group. There were also 30% fewer sperm with two X chromosomes (associated with triple X syndrome) and abnormalities on chromosome 21 (associated with Down’s syndrome) in the high-intake group compared with the moderate-intake group.

High total zinc intake reduced the frequency of two X chromosomes by about 50% compared with the moderate-intake group and 39% compared with the low-intake group. Zinc was not associated with lowering the risk of other abnormalities. Vitamin C and vitamin E had no association with sperm abnormalities, but high beta-carotene intake reduced YY abnormalities.

The message is clear, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, a man’s diet is just an important as that of his partner when planning to have a baby.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your fertility and diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Chlamydia Common in Pregnant Women

Almost 1 in 10 pregnant women (9.4%) studied by Australian investigators had Chlamydia, according to a report in the March issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This increased to nearly 1 in 7 (13.5%) among women under 20.

Chlamydia, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, can lead to complication during pregnancy, leading to risk of premature labour, for example. If undiagnosed, it can put the newborn at risk for conjunctivitis and pneumonia. It is also thought that it can lead to miscarriage.

Testing is simple and can be treated by one course of antibiotics, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. However, antibiotics also destroy good as well as bad bacteria. As it is extremely important to maintain a healthy digestive system throughout pregnancy and to support the immune system, I would advise a course of probiotics if antibiotics are taken during your pregnancy. Furthermore, research has shown that prebiotics taken during pregnancy can lower the risk of babies developing allergies, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Smoking - reduce the risk to your baby by quitting within the first 5 months of your pregnancy

Recent research suggests that if mothers to be quit smoking within the first five months of their pregnancy then the damage done to their babies may not be as severe compared to the negative health affects among babies whose mothers have smoked throughout their pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

The study does not suggest for one minute that smoking is safe, but that most damage is done to babies in the last 4 months where growth of the baby (and brain development) is most evident.

If you smoke throughout your pregnancy says, UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown:

¨ There is a higher risk of miscarriage, complications during pregnancy and complications during labour in women, and
¨ A baby is on average 4lb lighter. As low-weight babies have a higher risk of death (such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS) and disease in childhood, this is extremely serious.

There are many ways nutritional therapy can help support you while giving up smoking, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. As smoking can upset your blood sugar balance, one of the first things I look at, are ways to regulate your blood sugar. Many foods can also upset your blood sugar levels, as well as other stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate. There are also a number of supplements that may help reduce your craving for nicotine.

To find out more, please contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT). Melody offers pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.