The Infertility Diet: Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage

"After 3 failed IVFs, countless other procedures (including surgery), a miscarriage, and seeing 4 infertility OBGYNs, all of whom were considered among the top in their field, (and over $35K spent), we were told that the only way we were having a baby was with a donated egg. My husband bought this book, said it was our last hurrah, and followed the basic principles, which he distilled into a group of foods to avoid and foods to eat every day. We followed the diet for five months (it's easier to stick to if you know it's not forever) and I got pregnant in the sixth month. Our son is now 14 months old. My OBGYN calls him the miracle baby. We ate a lot of yams, true, but they were not the wild type, just the regular Safeway ones, and my husband fried them in oil and garlic. I think the best thing about this book is that the author is so positive and upbeat and makes you believe that you can conceive against overwhelming odds, which is the opposite of what all the specialists had been telling us for years."
~ Written on 2007-01-19

"I did not follow the diet strictly, but I simplified the diet by buying Amy's brown rice and tofu bowls which had most of the ingredients she recommended. I ate one of these every day for lunch. I also ate yams, yams and more yams. I got them from the local International grocery in St. Louis. I would think it would be hard to implement this diet if you are not in an urban area. I had been trying to get pregnant for a year before I tried this, and when I tried the diet, I got pregnant within a month. I agree that the diet is confusing, and it was impossible for me to follow strictly. But I did do the best I could and it seemed to work. "
~ Written on 2006-05-03

"The previous reviewer's comments seem very harsh, and I can only guess she was hoping for a quick fix to her own infertility. How can one blame infertility on a good diet? I think the author makes a very solid connection between diet and infertility and her recommendations are good, but of course, one needs to be ready to implement change. If you are not ready to give up meat, of course you may be put off by her advice as the previous reviewer was. Animal proteins (meat) are not the only, and definitely not the best, source for iron, zinc and calcium. Any quick search on the internet will provide you with a list of alternative sources for these minerals...plus most women who are trying to get pregnant should be taking a prenatal vitamin, which will supplemant their mineral needs. But one should always look to food sources first for their vitamins and minerals as they are most easily absorbed by the body. I for one agree that food has a connection to infertility, plus who wouldn't want to "detox" their bodies to ensure they have a health environment for a growing baby."
~ Written on 2006-01-19

"I bought this book and went on the diet during my second IVF cycle--after 3 years of trying. I got pregnant for the first time in my life...Unfortunately, I miscarried at 11 weeks, but this was due to Down's Syndrome & my doctors have told me it was not related to my infertility problems (endometriosis) at all.

What I most took to heart was the author's qualification that though the diet has not been proven by traditional scientific trials, the worst that will happen is that you will eat nutritiously while you're on it. I don't know if this diet got me pregnant or if it would have happened anyway, but now that I'm embarking on another IVF, I feel strongly enough about the diet that I am going on it again, just in case it was what made things work for me last time. (BTW, I did not follow the diet strictly after becoming pregnant). I also just ate the yams I found in the supermarket.

Maybe it's one of those mind over matter things. It is an effort, but I just feel like it's worth a try. Who knows?

Best of luck to all out there TTC."
~ Written on 2005-05-13

"Hi - I am interested in purchasing this book, so I have been reading all the comments. I just wanted to let everyone know that yams ARE sweet potatoes. The difference is that "yams" are sweet potatoes that are grown in south Louisiana. Hope this helps out some of you.

"
~ Written on 2005-01-21