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Thinking About Getting Pregnant in the New Year? Why the Next 90 Days Matter

Writer: rachelfergusonc
rachelfergusonc
1 day ago
4 min read

Maybe you've decided 2027 is the year. Maybe you've been trying for a while and it's taking longer than you hoped. Or maybe you're starting IVF soon and want to start preparing.

Wherever you are, here's something I share with almost every fertility client who walks through my door: the egg you ovulate next spring is already developing right now.

That's why the 90 days before conception are such a powerful window, and why right now is a beautiful time to start preparing.


Why 90 Days?

An egg goes through a long journey before it's released at ovulation. The final stage of that development, when the egg is most responsive to its environment, takes roughly three months.

During that time, the egg is influenced by things like:

  • Blood flow to the ovaries

  • Hormonal balance

  • Stress levels

  • Sleep quality

  • Nutrition and inflammation

Sperm has a similar timeline, taking around 70 to 90 days to develop. So this window matters for both partners.


How TCM Understands Fertility

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fertility isn't just about the reproductive organs. It's about the whole body having enough resources, and enough ease, to grow new life.

A few key players:

  • The Kidneys store Jing, or Essence, your deep constitutional reserves. Kidney health is considered the root of reproductive health.

  • Blood nourishes the uterine lining and supports a healthy cycle. Light periods, pale skin or fatigue may point to Blood deficiency.

  • The Liver keeps Qi and Blood moving smoothly. Stress, PMS, breast tenderness and painful periods often make us think Liver Qi stagnation.

  • The Spleen takes food and turns it into Qi and Blood. Bloating, fatigue and a heavy sluggish feeling can point to Spleen Qi deficiency.


Charting Your Menstrual Cycle

In TCM, your menstrual cycle is one of the best windows into your fertility health. I'll ask a lot about it, including things you may never have thought to mention:

  • How long is your cycle? Is it regular?

  • Is your period heavy, light, or clotty?

  • Do you have cramping, PMS or mood swings?

  • Do you notice fertile cervical mucus mid-cycle?

  • Are your hands and feet always cold?

Each of these gives clues about what your body needs. A "normal" cycle to aim for is roughly 26 to 32 days, with a period that's moderate, bright red and relatively pain-free.


How Acupuncture Can Support Fertility

Acupuncture has been used for reproductive health for centuries, and it's now one of the most common complementary therapies people use alongside fertility clinics.

In practice, acupuncture may help:

  • Regulate the menstrual cycle and support ovulation

  • Improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries

  • Calm the nervous system, which matters more than we often realize when trying to conceive

  • Support you through IVF or IUI, including sessions timed around retrieval and transfer

  • Ease the emotional weight of the fertility journey

More and more research is coming out about the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and reproductive health. What many of my clients consistently tell me is that they feel calmer, more in tune with their cycle and more supported.

Acupuncture works alongside your medical care, not instead of it.


What a 90-Day Plan Might Look Like

Every plan is individualized, but a typical preconception journey with me might include:

  1. An in-depth first visit covering your cycle, health history, lifestyle and TCM pattern.

  2. Regular acupuncture for about three months, with timing adjusted to your cycle phases.

  3. Herbal medicine where appropriate and safe (and always paused or adjusted around IVF medications as needed).

  4. Food and lifestyle guidance tailored to your pattern.

  5. Cycle tracking support so you understand what your body is telling you and showing you. Apps are a great tool, but I think we are losing the art of connecting to our bodies.


Five Things You Can Start This Week

  1. Keep your belly and lower back warm. TCM believes the uterus loves warmth. Cozy layers and warm socks will always be my number 1's

  2. Eat warm, cooked, nourishing foods. Soups, stews, eggs, bone broth, dark leafy greens and root veggies build Blood.

  3. Start tracking your cycle. Note period length, flow, mucus and symptoms.

  4. Protect your sleep. Aim to be in bed by 10:00pm. In TCM, the Liver restores Blood during the late-night hours.

  5. Find one daily moment of calm. A walk, a bath, ten minutes of breathing. Stress relief is a big part of your TTC journey.


Don't Forget Your Partner

If you have a male partner, sperm health is half the equation, and it's often overlooked. Acupuncture and lifestyle support can help here too, and the same 90-day window applies.


You Don't Have to Do This Alone

I remember when I started getting my body ready to conceive with my son, and feeling like I was absolutely flooded with information. It felt lonely, clinical and overwhelming. My goal is to make heliNg cove a place where you feel seen, supported and a little more hopeful every time you visit.

If you're planning to try in the new year, or you're already on your fertility journey, now is a wonderful time to start. I see clients in Calgary and Okotoks.


 
 
 

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