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I’m usually not the type to willy nilly go out and buy random products…but something about infertility makes you desperate enough to be willing to buy anything. But what are the best products you actually need when TTC?
I’ve bought heating pads (when I was on a traditional Chinese medicine kick), thermometers (my basal body temperature charting kick), and soothing meditations (my “maybe it really is a mindset thing” kick). That being said, those things are not on this top 4 list. (Not saying you won’t love them, but just not for me!)
Here are the things I have actually found to be worth it + helpful:
1. Taking Charge of your Fertility book
This book is hands-down my favorite purchase when TTC. I learned a ton and still reference it all the time whenever I have a question. I know other bloggers swear by other books like It Starts with the Egg (admittedly I haven’t read it), but this one was so great that I didn’t feel the need to read anything else! Even if you’ve just started TTC, this is a great book for you to learn about fertility and pregnancy in general.
You may also like: The best books to help you cope with infertility
2. Ovulation predictor kit
Admittedly I have mixed feelings about OPKs. Initially I felt like peeing on a stick to find out when I was ovulating seemed a bit desperate (those were the days)…but ultimately, it takes the guesswork out of when you ovulate. (I know, there are other ways to figure it out, and the book above does not agree with me. It argues that basal body temperature charting is the ultimate method to determining when you ovulate.) Buying these strips is the easiest way for me (and they’re cheap!).
You may also like: LH surge for fertility: When exactly do I ovulate?
3. Quality prenatal vitamins
Initially my OB gave me a very basic prenatal. Since then, my functional doctor has urged me to take a different one that has many more vitamins, as well as folate (instead of folic acid). (Read why that is better here — look under #3.) Although she prescribed me with a specific one, she said that a great OTC one that she would recommend is Smarty Pants. I feel better knowing that I am getting probably an overabundance of the vitamins I need.
4. Collagen peptides
I love these collagen peptides as a protein powder for my smoothies. Actually, I make sure I have a scoop of them every morning — if not in a smoothie, mixed in with tea or even on top of cereal or oatmeal. These collagen peptides include L-Arginine, which is good for circulation/implantation. I also love that collagen peptides are just good for your health in general, and not just for fertility. *Subscribe below for my favorite fertility smoothie recipe with collagen peptides!
Note: These collagen peptides say they can be mixed in water, but really they do not dissolve unless the water is hot. I’m still a big fan of them though!
You may also like: L-Arginine and infertility
While there are a lot of other products I know bloggers swear by (Pre-Seed, for instance — read more on that here), these are really the only 4 things I’ve bought that I really recommend when TTC.
