12<\/p>\n Liberty Mills got pregnant at the age of 44, having been told she’d have ‘less than a 1% chance’ of conceivingCredit: Supplied 12<\/p>\n She was able to get pregnant naturally within four months after making some changes to her lifestyleCredit: Supplied 12<\/p>\n The now 50-year-old, pictured with her daughter Lina, now five, guides other couples who have difficulties with fertilityCredit: Supplied<\/p>\n \u201cI will never forget her asking, \u2018You DO know how old you are, don\u2019t you?\u2019,\u201d says Liberty.<\/p>\n But she wasn\u2019t going to let it blight her hopes.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore exploring other fertility <\/a>avenues or adoption<\/a>, we decided to try a different approach, integrating different practices into our lives,\u201d Liberty says.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFour months later, I fell pregnant<\/a> naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n It was two weeks before her 45th birthday that Liberty would give birth to her healthy baby girl, Lani.<\/p>\n Some 3.5 million people in the UK go through some kind of fertility challenge<\/a>, according to the Fertility Network, with 10 million couples encountering problems having a baby.<\/p>\n Liberty, who lives in Yorkshire, already had a daughter with a previous partner, but was keen to have another when she met her new partner.<\/p>\n She writes: \u201cI met Benjamin when I was 41 and we decided we wanted a child together.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we consulted our local GP for fertility tests, she cast doubt upon our chances, immediately questioning my age and almost laughed us out of her office.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The couple undertook a series of tests at an IVF<\/a> clinic which revealed catastrophic news.<\/p>\n What is IVF, how does it work and can the treatment be done on the NHS?<\/p>\n Liberty explained: \u201cMy right ovary had stopped functioning and was \u2018barren\u2019 – their words, not mine.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other had a few viable follicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe magic number was not so magic at all – I was given a 0.7 per cent chance of conceiving with my own eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n So Liberty knuckled down on her lifestyle to boost her fertility<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was a stressed-out self-employed single mum,\u201d she admits.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is so much pressure and negativity around fertility over 35.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when we got a positive pregnancy test, we didn\u2019t celebrate, as society echoes that you are more likely to have a miscarriage<\/a> at a certain age.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I carried on with all I had learnt in my studies as an integrative nutrition coach and finally at the 20 week scan, it was only then the relief came and we cried and hugged holding our scan picture.\u201d<\/p>\n Liberty\u2019s daughter is now five years old.<\/p>\n You would not enter a marathon without tweaking a few lifestyle factors… and pregnancy is the biggest natural endurance known to humanity.<\/p>\n Liberty MillsAuthor, 360 Fertility <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Her experience led her to help other struggling couples – around one in seven will have difficulty conceiving, according to the NHS.<\/p>\n She works as a certified integrative health coach specialising in fertility, particularly unexplained infertility and male factor infertility.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOver the past five years I have coached couples and individuals on their fertility journeys, achieving a success rate of over 90 per cent,\u201d Liberty claims.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a cookie-cutter approach to fertility and especially IVF, and it’s not that simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf it were, the IVF results of a live birth would be fewer rounds and more babies.<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Liberty was told her right ovary had stopped functioning and was \u2018barren\u2019 when she had tests at a fertility clinicCredit: Supplied 12<\/p>\n The mother, who had a child before Lina, made changes to what she described as a stressful, single-mum lifeCredit: Supplied<\/p>\n \u201cOur reproductive system does not function in isolation – a healthy lifestyle <\/a>dictates how certain hormones are expressed and how nutrients are absorbed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou would not enter a marathon without tweaking a few lifestyle factors and investing in nutrition, and pregnancy is the biggest natural endurance known to humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n In her book, 360 Fertility: A twelve-week plan for optimising your chance of conception, out May 22, Liberty reveals the things that worked for her.<\/p>\n Cut alcohol<\/strong><\/p>\n DRINKING alcohol can affect fertility<\/a>, the NHS says, including affecting sperm quality.<\/p>\n “I encourage my clients to remove all alcohol,\u201d says Liberty.<\/p>\n \u201cNot simply due to the fact that alcohol has zero nutritional value, but also that it affects sleep quality<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Trying for a baby? It’s best to ditch the alcoholCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Liberty gave up alcohol to help her fertility and now, still only has one or two drinks a year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hard to show people I would still be fun and I would still want to go out.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easier now for some people with alcohol-free beer and even alcohol free parties at clubs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBut you don\u2019t need to stay in and be a hermit – simply make different choices about how you meet with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Top foods<\/strong><\/p>\n LIBERTY already had a relatively healthy diet but she cut the unnecessary ultra-processed foods<\/a> from her diet – for example. the biscuits, cheeky slice of cake or muesli for breakfast.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFertility foods<\/a> to rotate include avocado, bone broth, dark berries, dark leafy greens, eggs, gluten-free oats, lentils, oily fish, pomegranate, radish and sweet potato,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cEnjoy meals such as eggs and spinach for breakfast, a warm homemade chicken wrap for lunch and casserole for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Go for fertility supporting foods, like dark leafy green vegetablesCredit: Getty – Contributor<\/p>\n She also recommends adding turmeric to the diet, as it can help lower inflammation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cInflammation in the body contributes to failure of implantation. You can add turmeric to spice cookies, porridge, smoothie and curries – or take a supplement.\u201d<\/p>\n Movement<\/strong><\/p>\n BEING a healthy weight can help with fertility, the NHS says.<\/p>\n Liberty says: \u201cResearch suggests that moderate exercise<\/a>, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, can improve fertility in both men and women by boosting overall health and increasing the quality of sperm and eggs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe fitter you are now, especially if you are a woman, the more likely it is that you will have an easier pregnancy and a smoother delivery.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you find movement overwhelming, don\u2019t rush to join the gym or force yourself to do an hour a day.\u00a0<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Could you get more exercise by cycling to work, taking the stairs over the elevator or going for a lunchtime walk?Credit: Getty<\/p>\n Your chances of getting pregnant by age<\/p>\n Many factors can affect a couple’s chances of conceiving, such as your age, health, reproductive health and how often you have sex.<\/p>\n Some people get pregnant quickly, but for others it can take longer. It’s a good idea to see a GP if you have not conceived after a year of trying.<\/p>\n Women aged 36 and over, and anyone who’s already aware they may have fertility problems, should see their GP sooner.<\/p>\n Fertility decreases with age for women and birthing people, particularly after the age of 35, because the number and quality of eggs gets lower.<\/p>\n The following shows how many women and birthing people will get pregnant within one year of having regular, unprotected sex:<\/p>\n Sources: NHS<\/a> and Tommy’s<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLittle and often helps; incorporate movement into your everyday life<\/a> by going for a walk after dinner<\/a>, taking the stairs rather than an escalator and doing some squats while waiting for the kettle to boil. \u201c<\/p>\n Liberty recommends women try exercising in line with their menstrual cycle, as energy levels fluctuate from week to week.<\/p>\n Opt for gentle, low-impact exercise, like walking, yoga or swimming, in the week before your period.<\/p>\n Just before, and during your period, stick to exercises like stretching and Pilates.<\/p>\n Build up to high-intensity workouts like strength training and circuits, in the middle of your cycle.\u00a0<\/p>\n Drink enough water<\/strong><\/p>\n LIBERTY tells her clients to drink at least two litres of water per day because \u201chydration is key to female and male fertility\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cKeeping hydrated is important for nourishing the fluid around your Fallopian tubes and the fluid levels in the endometrium as it prepares to look after your foetus,\u201d she says, adding that she chose to have only filtered water.<\/p>\n \u201cTo support optimal sperm health, it\u2019s crucial for men to stay properly hydrated.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDehydration can hinder the body\u2019s natural detoxification processes, which are essential for reducing the toxic burden and ultimately boosting sperm count and sperm quality.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are exercising, you should be drinking more to replace the moisture you have lost<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Keep hydrated – Liberty claims water is “important for nourishing the fluid around your fallopian tubes”Credit: GettyDe-stress<\/strong><\/p>\n THE NHS reports that stress can, in severe cases, affect ovulation and sperm production.\u00a0<\/p>\n It can also impact your relationship with your partner, which makes you less interested in sex.<\/p>\n Liberty says she journalled every morning as a de-stressing technique<\/a>.<\/p>\n But she also believes in breathwork.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe key lies in the balance between our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we breathe incorrectly, our sympathetic nervous system<\/a>, also known as our \u2018fight or flight\u2019 response, is triggered.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe sympathetic nervous system is responsible for a lot of chaos in our bodies, and can lead to stress, anxiety and hormonal imbalances.\u00a0<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Stress can impact your chances of getting pregnant. Find what works for you, whether it be breathwork or journalingCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cThis can negatively impact fertility, making it more challenging to conceive.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we breathe correctly, more nasally and into the belly first rather than shallow chest breathing, our parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and calmness, is activated, promoting a more fertile environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMake a conscious effort to breathe correctly first thing in the morning (in and out through your nose, allowing your chest and abdomen to naturally rise and fall), check in a few more times during the day, and then again before sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Sleep\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n BEFORE changing her lifestyle, Liberty says: \u201cIn the week I was asleep by 9-10pm, but on the weekend, I would be up till 1-2am.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI started sleeping<\/a> the same time every night and getting up the same time every morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting enough sleep won\u2019t just help with fertility, but your drive to actually have sex<\/a>.<\/p>\n Liberty says: \u201cWhen we are deprived of adequate sleep, both in quantity and quality, the body produces more stress hormones.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t just harmful to overall health; it can disrupt oestrogen, testosterone and other reproductive hormone levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cClinical research suggests that the body\u2019s internal clock, the circadian rhythm, is linked to reproductive hormones that stimulate ovulation in women and influence sperm maturation in men.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a regular sleep pattern, you are directly interfering with this delicate and precise process.\u00a0<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n Couples need enough sleep for health – and to feel interested in having sexCredit: Getty<\/p>\n \u201cThis can contribute to menstrual irregularities in women, making it challenging to predict ovulation, which is a crucial part of planning conception.<\/p>\n![\"Pregnant](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/fe4ca74d-8220-4bc6-9687-d9632eb3afc8.jpg\")
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