Restoring Metabolism Before Pregnancy

I was planning to take a full year (from my daughter’s 2nd birthday) before getting pregnant for the third time but my husband’s cousin has asked if I will act as a gestational surrogate because his fiance cannot get pregnant or have children. We are thrilled to help them in this way, but it does mean I won’t have as much time to prepare as I thought I’d have before my next pregnancy. We don’t know exactly how long the process takes, and, at this point we don’t know for certain that I qualify (though so far as we know, I should), but I want to figure out what my game plan should be to help my metabolism out in case I do go through the process.

One potential pitfall is that I will have to be on birth control for a certain amount of time (two weeks, at least) so they can get my cycle where they want it before attempting to implant the embryos. There will also be a series of injections that I will be expected to do each day for a certain period of time that are supposed to help increase the chances of a successful IVF procedure. I don’t know if this will undo any work I accomplish by then, but I want to give it my best shot either way.

I’ve been supplementing a multivitamin with folate (not folic acid) alongside vitamin D, bison liver, and b vitamins just as a matter of “in case I get pregnant” for several months already. This may be overkill. I really don’t know.

I have added trans-dermal and oral forms of magnesium (which, by the way, has resulted in awesome sleep and some crazy dreams) because some have postulated that magnesium deficiency contributes to morning sickness (the one drawback to this possible surrogacy–I otherwise enjoy pregnancy immensely).

What should I be avoiding in my quest for better metabolism? Caffeine? Alcohol? Do I not need to sweat that type of thing since I don’t do either often in any case? Obviously sleep is important, with the exception of this evening I have actually been doing an excellent job of making it to bed around 9 or 10, but I still wake up at 2 or 4… however, since starting the Magnesium I have been able to go back to sleep with no problem after getting up to pee.

I don’t restrict sugar, salt or starches whatsoever. I am 5’6 and weigh about 180 pounds but most of my fat storage seems to be in my legs. This does, however, put me at the high end of “acceptable BMI” for being a surrogate (just under 30). I hate BMI. I don’t think it means much. People are shocked when I tell them I weigh as much as I do–I really don’t look “overweight.”

I have a high strength fluoride toothpaste that I use sporadically to help with sensitivity, but I worry that the effect on metabolism prevents my body from dealing with the root problem on its own. I’m torn on the issue of fluoride in general. Otherwise I use the HealThy Mouth essential oil blend and I haven’t had any cavities since I started it over a year and a half ago–trust me, this is a feat. Anyway, I am questioning if I should forego this toothpaste altogether to try and help my metabolism and lower the amount of it in my body for the pregnancy in general or if I shouldn’t worry so much.

I do have a tendency to worry about these kinds of details, and maybe they’re not important in the long run. I want to be as prepared as possible though, whether for a surrogacy in the near future or for my own next pregnancy in the more distant future. Any advice would be appreciated. :)

If the prescription for a healthy pregnancy is essentially the same as any other metabolic recovery (sleep, eat the food, only drink as desired and no more, etc.) then I’ll just keep keeping on as best I can.