How I got pregnant naturally with PCOS

Yeah, you read that correctly. I got pregnant naturally! After being in the fertility world on & off for nearly 6 years, here we are! As a recap, my fertility journey included rounds of Clomid, Femara, 1 failed IUI, 1 egg retrieval, and 3 embryo transfers (2 became healthy boys and 1 ended in miscarriage). After careful thought, I determined a few main factors that helped set me up for success:

1. Toned down the exercise: This wasn't exactly the plan, but with working part-time at a hospital, getting my masters, maintaining a small private practice, and raising 2 boys, my schedule allowed for about 4 days/week of intentional exercise- which was perfectly fine. Previously, I would aim for 5-6 days/week. My intensity didn't change a ton- I was still running, using my exercise bike and doing whatever exercise that I enjoyed. On the days that I wasn't working out, I aimed to stay generally active by taking the stairs when possible, taking walk breaks, and cleaning the house.

2. Enhanced my way of eating: I've never been into dieting or restricting, so that certainly wasn't my game plan this time around. I continued to eat sensibly using the PCOS plate method- which doesn't including counting or measuring. In addition, I noticeably increased my fat intake over time. This included consuming full fat dairy, using more olive oil or butter when sautéing veggies, and upping my salmon and avocado intake. YUM

3. Supplemented appropriately: There is no one-size fits all approach to this. I researched various supplements overtime and stuck with a few that met my needs without side effects. For me, this included a quality prenatal, fish oil, Co-Q10, and inositol supplements.

4. Stopped stressing: This is annoying to read, I know. At the time I became pregnant, fertility just wasn't the most important thing in the world to me. Instead, I was most focused on regulating hormones, getting healthy, feeling good. In my mind, pregnancy would be a HUGE bonus.

5. Acupuncture: I had tried acupuncture in the past, but this time around I adjusted my expectations. I wasn't anticipating instant results. My intent was to normalize my cycles over time, so that I would have the best chance at getting pregnant naturally. At the time I started this round of acupuncture, my cycle hadn't yet returned after my second son who was almost 18 months.

6. Cycle charting: While monotonous at times, I find cycle charting so fascinating. It's like a health report card- as long as you know what to look for and how to interpret it. Obsessing over charting usually isn't beneficial, but getting into a simple routine that includes temping and taking notes of a few symptoms can be very helpful.

Hope you found this helpful or interesting. My husband and I are absolutely overjoyed to be welcoming our GIRL in the Fall and some days I still pinch myself! Please reach out if you are seeking more PCOS guidance by scheduling a free phone call with me here. Looking forward to hearing from you!

~Beth

Beth Benesh is owner of Beth Benesh Nutrition, specializing in nutrition counseling for women with PCOS. She's a mother of two and avid runner who loves movies, mornings, and coffee.