I get how heartbreaking it can be to face difficulties in conceiving a child. It feels like your dreams and hopes have come crashing down, and dealing with all those emotions can be overwhelming. It’s not just about accepting that your body isn’t doing what you expected, but also about managing the intense emotional rollercoaster during this tough time.

It’s important to remember that the mind and body are deeply interconnected, especially when it comes to grief. Recognising this connection is vital because emotional pain can manifest physically and affect your overall well-being.

So, in this blog post, we’ll dive into how gentle self-care practices and targeted nutrients can help support your nervous system as you grieve and continue trying to conceive.

 

The Nervous System’s Role in Grief and Trauma

Let’s face it … stress is pretty much inevitable when you’re trying to conceive. It’s important to acknowledge these feelings. In times of grief and fertility struggles, the nervous system plays a crucial role in managing stress and emotional pain.

Our complex nervous system regulates our body’s response to stressors, influencing everything from hormones to neurotransmitter activity. Prolonged stress can trigger a cascade of physiological reactions that impact fertility and overall well-being. Recognising this connection allows us to understand the significance of addressing the nervous system as a key part of self-care.

By nurturing our nervous system, we can ease the physical and emotional toll of grief and trauma, creating a more supportive environment for both mind and body throughout the challenging path of conception. 

 

Gentle and Compassionate Self-Care Practices

When life gets overwhelming, the idea of self-care can feel like just another task on an already long to-do list. We often associate self-love and self-care with practices like meditation, humming, walking barefoot, and even ice baths. While these activities can have their benefits, there are more practical techniques that are often overlooked: 

Approach Fertility Communities Online with Care
If you’re facing fertility challenges, joining an online fertility community can be a great resource. It provides a space to share experiences, seek advice, and find a sense of community. However, it’s important to be mindful of how you use these platforms. Spending too much time scrolling through fertility forums, especially during vulnerable moments, can lead to heightened anxiety. Exposure to a variety of stories, outcomes, and opinions can make the emotional burden of fertility struggles even more overwhelming.

You can still reap the benefits of online participation without becoming overwhelmed. Consider setting boundaries for yourself when it comes to these forums and online searches. Allocate specific time slots, like 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, to engage with online communities and gather information. This way, you can maintain a healthy balance.

Clear Your Mind With Decluttering
Tired of feeling overwhelmed and mentally cluttered? Taking some time to declutter your physical space will provide you with a breath of fresh air for your mind as well. But this isn’t just about tidying up – it’s a powerful way to enhance mental clarity and boost your emotional well-being. Imagine creating a harmonious environment where your thoughts can flow freely, away from the chaos of a cluttered space. It’s amazing how much this simple act can impact your mental state. You’ll feel more focused, less stressed, and emotionally centered.

Create a Tech-Free Haven
Have you ever considered how much technology affects your mental well-being? By implementing a few simple practices, you can create a tech-free sanctuary and regain control over your peace of mind. Try putting your phone on “do not disturb” and setting limits on social media apps after a certain time in the evening until the next morning. Trust me, it’s a game changer. Who needs a flood of emails and messages in the morning or evening anyway? I personally set my phone on silent from 6 in the evening until 9 the next morning. Even small adjustments can make a world of difference. 

 

Targeted Nutrients for Nervous System Support

People often underestimate the role nutrition plays in the grieving process, but it’s actually quite significant. The nutrients found in certain foods play a crucial role in regulating our nervous system, especially during the challenging times of grief and while navigating the journey of trying to conceive. From the calming effects of magnesium to the natural inflammation regulators found in omegas. The following powerhouses are just some of the nutrients that help us manage stress, enhance mood, and ultimately boost emotional resilience: 

Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports our adrenal glands in times of stress. It’s the unsung hero that ensures our adrenals remain steady, essential for orchestrating a reliable stress defense. Beyond this immediate role, Vitamin C plays an unexpected backstage function, contributing to the production of Norepinephrine—the “get up and do” molecule—in the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS). In times of stress, our bodies burn through more Vitamin C, potentially leading to depletion. To counteract this, it’s crucial to up our Vitamin C intake during prolonged periods of stress.
Food sources: Acerola, broccoli, baobab powder, bell peppers, kiwis

Omega Fatty Acids
Omegas play a pivotal role in balancing moods and hormones, providing wonderful support to our nervous system. During periods of grief and stress, the body’s inflammatory response can become heightened, impacting both physical and emotional well-being. Omega-3 fatty acids step in as natural inflammation regulators, helping to create a balanced environment within the body. By influencing neurotransmitter activity and promoting the production of anti-inflammatory compounds, omega-3s contribute to a more resilient nervous system.
Food sources: Fish including mackerel, salmon, herring, cod liver oil

Magnesium
Magnesium is our calming companion, offering relaxation to the nervous system. Both mental and physical stress can accelerate the elimination of magnesium from the body, potentially impacting the efficiency of the stress response system. Magnesium serves not only as a stress-relief aid but also as a calming agent, contributing to a harmonious mood balance.
Food sources: Raw cacao, eggs, pumpkin seeds, spinach, quinoa, dark chocolate

B Vitamins
B vitamins are known as the energy supporters. They’re crucial for maintaining energy levels and the production of stress hormones. Vitamins B1, B6, and B12 help in the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. Incorporating B vitamin-rich foods into our diet ensures our nervous system has the resources to handle stress and keep our energy up.
Food Sources: meat, organ meats, clams, oysters, sardines, leafy greens.

Creating a Supportive Path Forward

While we can’t always control life’s stressors, we can take charge of how we nourish our bodies. It is vital to provide yourself with tender care during your fertility journey and the grief that may follow. The combination of self-care practices, targeted nutrients, and understanding the impact of stress on our bodies are essential elements for navigating challenging times.

Remember self care isn’t just about grand gestures; it’s often small, daily habits that make the biggest difference, it could be something as simple as spending 10 minutes doing some deep breathing or writing down thoughts and feelings in a journal. Give yourself kindness and compassion, trust your body’s ability to heal, and do what you can to support a calmer nervous system.

If you’re looking for guidance on discovering the power of self-care  while trying to conceive, feel free to reach out. Remember, taking care of yourself is key, and I’m here to help! 😊