The Proceive Blog
Understanding Egg Health: The Questions We Hear Most
Learn how egg health, nutrition and simple lifestyle choices can support fertility and help prepare the body for pregnancy. A positive, balanced approach can make a meaningful difference.
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Trying to Conceive with PCOS? Your Nutrition and Supplement Guide
A clear and supportive guide to understanding PCOS and natural conception, with practical steps you can take right now. From nutrition to supplements and lifestyle tweaks, discover what may help you feel more confident on your TTC journey.
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You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: A Guide to the Fourth Trimester
An honest, supportive reflection by Alexandra Teasdale on the fourth trimester, reminding new mums that healing, rest and self-care matter just as much as caring for your baby.
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Empowering Reproductive Choices
Explore the many paths to fertility, from IVF and egg freezing to natural preparation.Discover how nutrition, lifestyle and support can help you feel informed, confident and in control of your journey.
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Can I Get State-Funded Fertility Treatment in Ireland If I Already Have a Child?
Struggling to conceive a second child? From June 2025, couples in Ireland with one child can access state-funded fertility treatments, including IVF, through the HSE. Learn how to apply, what’s changed, and how nutrition - including targeted supplements like Proceive® - can support your fertility journey.
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6 Self-Care Tips for Breastfeeding Mothers
1. Prioritise Rest and Recovery Breastfeeding is energy-intensive, so rest is essential. Sleep whenever your baby sleeps, and don't hesitate to ask for help with household chores or other children. Even a short nap can help recharge your energy. If your partner is looking after the baby, take the opportunity to rest. 2. Stay Hydrated and Nourished Your body needs extra fluids and nutrients while breastfeeding. Keep a water bottle within arm’s reach during feeds. For quick and easy meals, we recommend dishes that are easy to eat with one hand- like shepherd’s pie. You can make it ahead of time and freeze it, so it's ready when you’re short on time. Plus, it won’t slide off the plate easily, making it a great choice for one-handed eating during feeds. If you’re relying on quick meals and worried about nutrition, Proceive Breastfeeding is specially designed to support you with 24 essential vitamins and minerals, including folic acid(in L-Methyfolate form), Vitamin D3 and Calcium. If you are not getting two portions of oily fish per week, we recommend that you also take Proceive Omega 3. 3. Create a Comfortable Feeding Space Set up a cosy spot for feeds, whether it’s a special chair or a corner of the sofa. Use pillows to support your arms and back, and keep essentials like water, snacks, and a phone or book within reach to make feeding time more comfortable. 4. Make Time for Yourself It’s easy to lose yourself in the demands of motherhood, but taking time for yourself is essential. Whether it's a walk, a hot shower, or a chat with a friend, small moments of self-care help recharge your energy and mood. 5. Listen to Your Body Breastfeeding changes over time, so pay attention to how you feel physically and emotionally. If you notice any pain, discomfort, or feelings of overwhelm, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. There’s no need to go through it alone. 6. Prepare for cracked nipples, Cracked nipples can be a common issue, lanolin-based products can provide relief. We love the MultiMam compresses, they are fantastic for soothing sore nipples, pro-tip pop them in the fridge overnight.
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Prioritising ourselves in a Busy World – Tips for Every Mum
Motherhood is an incredible journey, full of joy, challenges, and moments that can take your breath away (in both good and overwhelming ways). I know firsthand how easy it is to get swept up in the needs of your children, partner, work, and endless to-do lists. It can feel like there’s barely any time left to think about your own well-being, let alone actually tend to it. But, let me tell you, as I’ve learned through trial and error, prioritising my own wellness doesn’t just benefit me—it benefits everyone around me. When I am taking care of myself, I’m a more present, patient, and happy mother, partner, and person. That’s why I want to share what’s worked for me and how I’ve learned to incorporate things like exercise, good nutrition &s upplements, decent sleep practices, breath work and connection with myself, into my life in a way that feels manageable, not overwhelming. Let me start by saying there is no judgment here—believe me, I know how messy and complicated life can be—but I hope I can offer some encouragement, a little inspiration, or some practical tips by what I’m sharing here. Exercise: Finding Movement That Feels Good Let’s start with exercise. Now, I know it can seem like one more chore, but hear me out: I’ve learned that it doesn’t always have to look like an intense gym session to count. In fact, for me, the key was shifting my mindset away from the “all-or-nothing” approach to movement. There were times when I’d think if I couldn’t get in consistent gym days, it wasn’t worth doing. But that just left me feeling discouraged when life inevitably got in the way. What changed my mindset a number of years back was realizing that any movement is better than no movement. On some days, it might be a 10-minute yoga session or a walk around the estate with the kids in tow. Other days, I might get out of the house for a long solo walk or fit in a more intense workout. The point is, I focus on how moving makes me feel rather than aiming for perfection. Movement gives me energy, reduces my stress, and honestly, helps me to keep my cool during those inevitable meltdowns! If you’re struggling to fit exercise into your day, I recommend starting small. Pick something you enjoy—whether it’s an online class, a gentle stretch before bed, or a brisk walk during lunch. Maybe book a class with a friend so you are accountable to one another? It doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. Trust me, even just a little bit of movement can make a world of difference. As I always say, when it comes to movement or evercise you NEVER regret it once it’s done. Good Nutrition: Fueling Our Bodies and Minds We all know that nutrition is key to feeling our best but when life is busy and we’re juggling a million things, it’s easy to reach for convenience over nutrition. What I’ve learned over the years though is that nourishing my body (& the family) with good food doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. You can start with small, sustainable changes like adding more whole foods to meals—fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. I keep snacks on hand that are both convenient and nutritious, like corn cakes, fruit or enery balls so I’m not reaching for processed options when I get hungry. When you stop and take a good look at the ingredients on packaging in the supermarkets it’s pretty crazy what you might find. Even when things are labelled attractively it’s always worth glancing at the ingredients to see what’s listed. Generally it’s a case of less is more! Once youre more aware of this it’s possible to make healthier swaps for the whole family. Lots of families find meal planning really helpful and while I don’t spend a massive amount of time on this I do tend to buy similar meats and vegetables in my shop most weeks and rotate meals that I know the kids, myself and husband find tasty. Having healthy options planned makes it so much easier to make good choices when life gets busy. Supplements: Supporting Wellness From the Inside As Mums, we often put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own but I’ve found certain supplements can play an important role in supporting our wellness especially when life gets busy - which is pretty much all the time! I am a big fan of the Irish supplement brand ‘Proceive’. They were my supplement of choice all through my last pregnancy. I really liked how they tailored the ingredients to suit each trimester and then after my baby was born I transitioned to their Breastfeeding supplement and it feels like a natural progression moving on to their Every Mum supplement. Proceive Every Mum has 23 essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that specifically offers targeted support in three key areas: Energy, Tiredness, and Immunity. It’s worth mentioning that Proceive Every Mum utilizes bioavailable nutrients, ensuring maximum absorption and efficacy, so mums can experience the full benefits of the supplement. I find them really easy to swallow, there’s no after taste and they don’t repeat on me either.When life is super busy and other things start to slip a little, it’s peace of mind knowing that Proceive Every Mum is a reliable constant. Sleep: The Elusive but Essential Need Let’s talk about sleep. As moms, it’s the first thing to go, right? Between nighttime feedings, comforting little ones after bad dreams, or simply staying up late to catch up on Netflix, getting enough rest can feel like an impossible dream. I’ve been there—running on fumes, craving the next coffee, and wondering why I felt so depleted and foggy all the time. What I’ve come to realise though is that sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Our bodies and minds need it to function, to be present, to have patience, and to stay healthy. I’ve made a few small changes and they’ve helped me get more consistent, quality rest. First, I’ve become a bit protective of my bedtime routine. I try to wind down at least 20 minutes before bed, which means putting away the laptop, phone, dimming the lights, and doing something calming like reading or practicing deep breathing (more on that later). If my mind is racing, I’ll jot down a quick to-do list for the next day, so I can mentally put it aside and focus on rest. Another thing that helps me slow down any busy thoughts that arrive at sleep time is I say to myself ‘It’s 10.30pm at night- there’s nothing I can do about this now. I’ll work on it tomorrow’ When my kids were a little younger I tried my best to take some micro-naps. Sometimes the dishwasher or washing machine or toys all over the floor were too much to overlook but I got better at prioritising myself and saw the naps as a chance to recharge my battery so I could be more present when it really mattered. So, if you have little ones and get the chance to rest, even for a short time, don’t feel one bit guilty for taking it. Breath Work: The Power of a Deep Breath Speaking of rest, breath work has been a game-changer for me when it comes to managing stress and staying centered, especially when life feels chaotic. It’s a funny thing to understand - how can something as simple as breathing help me feel better but through my teachings in my yoga classes and my own practice, I was amazed at how much of an impact it had on my mood, energy, and overall sense of calm. Here’s the thing: we often don’t realize how shallow our breathing is, especially when we’re stressed or busy. By taking just a few moments to slow down and breathe deeply, we can reset our nervous system, calm our minds, and release tension from our bodies. It’s a simple tool, but it’s incredibly powerful. One of my favorite techniques is box breathing. It’s easy to remember: breathe in for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again for four. Doing this just a few times can shift my entire state of mind. Whether it’s in the middle of a hectic morning or right before bed, taking time to breathe deeply helps me stay grounded. I encourage you to try it, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t take long, and you can do it anywhere—in the car, while cooking dinner, or even in the shower (one of my favourite places to do it!). Connection to Ourselves and Nature: Recharging Our Souls In the midst of nurturing babies and minding a very young family it can be challenging to reconnect with ourselves. As mums, it’s so easy to lose touch with who we are outside of our roles as caregivers. I’ve found that making time for myself—whether it’s through journaling, doing breath work, or simply spending some time alone in nature—helps me focus within. There’s something about being outside that helps me feel grounded and centered. Whether it’s a walk in the forest or by the sea, sitting in the garden with a cup of tea, or even just taking a few deep breaths outside in the morning, being in nature helps me reset and recharge. It always reminds me to slow down and appreciate the simple things. If you can, try to carve out a little time for yourself each day. Even five or ten minutes of quiet reflection can make a big difference. You deserve to have that time, just for you. Managing Busy Lifestyles: Finding Balance in the Chaos Finally, let’s talk about balance. I know how overwhelming it can be to manage a busy lifestyle, especially as a mum. There are days when it feels like I’m juggling a hundred different things at once, and I’m just trying to keep everything from falling apart. What I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t mean having everything perfectly under control all the time—it means finding ways to manage the chaos in a way that works for you. For me, that means setting boundaries, delegating when I can, and letting go of the idea that I have to do it all. Life is not perfect & we don’t need to to be either. All we need to do is try our best to do things that bring contentment into our lives and support us to be happier and healthier. It not only benefits us now but our future selves will thank us for it too. Words by Kathy Milliken - Bump Baby and Me
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Preparing For Egg Freezing By Ro Huntriss
Egg freezing is the fastest-growing fertility treatment and has emerged as a transformative option for women looking to preserve their fertility. There are many reasons why a woman may pursue egg freezing, from career pursuits and relationship reasons to medical circumstances. Whatever the reason, careful consideration should be taken to understand the process, what it entails, and what preparation can help you to achieve optimal outcomes. This blog will explore the process, as well as how diet, lifestyle, and supplement changes help you navigate and prepare for optimal outcomes. Understanding the process The process of egg freezing can feel daunting or overwhelming at first however understanding what it entails and how to prepare can help you to manage the process and take back some control. My first port of call to understand more about egg freezing was the Human Fertilisation Embryology (HFEA) website. This is also a good place to find a licensed and experienced fertility clinic that offers the service near you. Thankfully, because I worked in the fertility space, I had a good understanding of the general process, and for those that are less familiar, I think it’s worth taking the time to full explore the journey and what it entails to understand whether you feel it’s the right thing for you. Egg collection is the same as the first step of IVF and it involves taking medication to stimulate the ovaries to develop multiple eggs and help them to mature. Once the eggs are mature enough they are then collected during a medical procedure whilst you are under sedation. If you were pursuing IVF, the eggs would then be fertilised with sperm to create an embryo. With egg freezing, any mature eggs that are collected will be frozen using a cryoprotectant and stored for use at a later date. At what age should I do egg-freezing? Egg freezing is an attractive option as it allows a woman's eggs to be frozen when they are younger, preserving their quality. If eggs are frozen below the age of 35, the chances of success using these frozen eggs is higher than the natural conception rate as a woman gets older. The ideal time to freeze eggs is in your 20s, or early 30s when egg quality and ovarian reserve are higher however this doesn't mean it can’t be done at an older age. As much as freezing eggs before the age of 35 may be recommended, sometimes, life doesn’t work out that way and people may need to consider egg freezing a little bit later. I ended up freezing my eggs at the age of 37 due to a change in circumstance, but I was able to optimise my AMH and AFC and ultimately I got results I was happy with. While egg freezing can offer a better chance of a successful pregnancy in the future it is important to note that this is not a guarantee. Preparing for optimal outcomes Being armed with knowledge can be powerful. Knowing what you can do to support your chances of success can have a positive effect on your overall experience of the egg-freezing process as well as the outcome. Our diet, lifestyle, and supplements can influence both the quality of our eggs as well as our ovarian reserve, meaning that optimising these before an egg-freezing cycle could positively impact your outcomes. Diet and supplements Eggs take 3 months to mature so we have a window of opportunity where we can influence their quality. Research shows that following a Mediterranean-style diet can positively influence oocyte (egg) numbers. This style of eating is packed with antioxidant-rich foods that support egg quality such as fruit and vegetables, plant-based protein, healthy fats and whole grains. Taking a good quality prenatal supplement can also be of benefit in the lead-up to egg freezing. Incorporating a daily prenatal supplement into your routine can support markers of ovarian reserve such as anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Having a higher ovarian reserve increases the chance of more eggs being collected. When choosing a prenatal supplement, opt for one that contains multiple key antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium which play a role in supporting egg quality. Proceive Women was one of the supplements I took to prepare me for egg freezing. I chose it because it contains optimal levels of important fertility-supporting nutrients in a highly absorbable form, to complement my dietary intake - I also found it really easy to take in supplement form. Proceive Max Women is also a great option, it contains higher levels of the antioxidants vitamin E and vitamin C that contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress - this is in a powder form. In the lead-up to my egg-freezing cycle, I followed an evidence-based diet, lifestyle and supplement regime. Although ovarian reserve can be influenced by many things, I was lucky to find that my ovarian reserve markers had increased by 40% compared with the test I had done the previous year which goes to show the potential impact of my diet, supplement and lifestyle changes. Lifestyle Our lifestyle can also impact the outcomes of egg freezing. Creating health habits and sticking to them is key, my top tips include: Incorporating daily movement Stopping smoking Limiting or avoiding alcohol intake Reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals Emotional preparation Whatever your reasons for choosing this route, the egg-freezing journey can be an emotional one. There can be an array of emotions such as excitement, worry, and fear all rolled into one. Having a strong support system around you can really help. I was lucky to have support from close friends and a good friend was able to accompany me on my egg retrieval day. Talking to friends and family about what you are going through helps take some of the emotional weight off your shoulders. If you need extra help at any point, don't hesitate to seek out the support of a therapist or counsellor that specialises in fertility. I am also a big believer in the power of mindset, embracing the choice you have made to take control of your body and your future. Conclusion By educating yourself, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, and nurturing your emotional well-being, you can approach the egg-freezing journey with confidence and empowerment. Remember, egg freezing is not just about preserving fertility; it's about taking control of your reproductive future and embracing the possibilities that lie ahead. I was able to have a positive experience and so can you. Ro Huntriss Specialist Fertility Dietician https://dietitianro.co.uk/ @dieticianro
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Proceive Awarded Guaranteed Irish Status
We are delighted to announce that Proceive has been awarded Guaranteed Irish status and joins a legion of wonderful Irish brands. Proceive was launched in Ireland in 2017, with the aim of bringing the most comprehensive fertility supplements to market. We now employ a growing team in Sandyford, Co Dublin, working to develop our business both in Ireland and through export to a growing number of countries around the world. We are extremely proud to be a home-grown Irish business based in Ireland, supporting jobs and the community, as well as contributing to the Irish economy. As one of Ireland’s most enduring and recognisable symbols, Guaranteed Irish actively encourages consumers to support locally based businesses by looking out for brands that carry the Guaranteed Irish licenced mark when shopping. As a direct result of making the choice to shop local, you are supporting local jobs in our communities throughout Ireland, building a sustainable local economy for the future of Ireland. Thank you for your support, The Proceive Team
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5 Ways to Improve Sperm Quality
Sperm production is dependent on good quality nutrients. Nutritionist Gaye Godkin reveals the anti-nutrients men need to avoid when trying to conceive.
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Can being too fit affect fertility?
Can being too fit reduce your chances of conception? Nutritionist Gay Godkin examines the link between exercise intensity and fertility.
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Sleep and Fertility
Sleep plays an important role in emotional wellbeing, hormone production, and reproductive health. Discover how prioritising sleep may support your fertility journey when trying for a baby.
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