As promised in the
last post - here are 10 tips to prepare for the preconception journey
ahead to enable you to be in the best possible health, this is a plan
for both natural, IVF and donor eggs:
1. Look into your diet
Start by doing a food diary, its amazing what we
all unconsciously put in our mouths when watching Television. This puts a
magnifying glass on our long term bad eating habits such as skipping breakfast
or lunch as we are too busy and then grabbing a chocolate bar on the way out of
the door. Also how many veggies are you having a day and are you having enough
protein? If you are a vegetarian are you careful about what you eat and mindful
of your nutrient intake? If you eat meat, do you rely on processed bacon and
sausages to keep your protein levels up? I mentioned in previous posts a surrey
university study where changing diet and lifestyle had an 80% impact on
conception rates. This it where it all starts. Food diaries are
always a fascinating read for me and the beginning of a ‘Eureka’ moment for
many couples.
2. Start
Taking a Prenatal
There is a wealth of information about taking
folate in pregnancy. Folate is an important supplement to prevent neural
tube defects, such as spina bifida. The dose you need depends upon your family
history, If there is no family history of neural tube defects, a decent
prenatal supplement should be sufficient. However, if you have been trying
for a while taking folate or folic acid can counterbalance your other B
vitamins so make sure you are taking a good prenatal. Not all prenatal
supplements are created equally. Be sure not to go to your nearest chemist and
pick up the most popular brand and ‘self prescribe’ as these can sometimes
contain nasty fillers and binders in them and the dose is so low
it is almost not worth it ( don’t get me started on RDA!). Consult a
nutritionist to help you choose the best one! Using a prenatal with the active
form of Folate is a better option ( methylfolate) than one with
folic acid in it also, as this is assimilated better in your body.
3. Make an appointment so see your Doctor
about preconception
A really important 1st step to get your journey off
to a flying start is to get a pregnancy MOT before you start trying. Schedule a
visit to your Dr especially if you have a family history of pregnancy
complications or genetic diseases. It is also a good time to speak to a Dr if
you have been trying to conceive for more than 6 months, especially if you are
over 35. The surgery can arrange some hormonal checks for you to make sure all
is well.
4. Stop Smoking, Drinking Alcohol and drinking
caffeine
The risks of drinking while pregnant are
well-documented with foetal alcohol syndrome. Smoking in early pregnancy raises
the chance also of having an early miscarriage. More recent studies of caffeine
intake in pregnancy have also suggested that this will have a harmful effect on
the baby and it can restrict growth if you are having any more than 200mg of
caffeine a day
5. Drug
awareness
The use of drugs in pregnancy are incredibly
harmful to your growing baby. However beyond that, if you're on medication for
a chronic condition it's important to check with your Dr before becoming
pregnant to make sure that the drugs you are taking prior to trying are safe
for the baby.
6. Exercise
Exercise is recommended during pregnancy to help
stimulate blood flow and prepare yourself for the 9 months ahead. Regular,
non-strenuous exercise during and after pregnancy is recommended. However
it isn't recommended to start a regime that you haven’t done before
as this will be taxing on you and the baby.
7. Immunisations
Pregnancy is not a time to go through a raft of
immunisations and ‘flu’ jabs. Despite Doctors insisting they are safe during
pregnancy. Doctors advise against even taking paracetamol during
pregnancy, so to advise on giving you a dose of attenuated virus during
pregnancy to stimulate your immune system is a little strange! The newer
versions of vaccines have not been around long enough to see long term results.
Any substance that enters the bloodstream of the mother will go directly into
the placenta. In particular literature from all of
the Flu vaccine manufacturer’s I have read note that safety and
effectiveness have not been established in pregnant women or nursing mothers. If
you do go for a few shots leave enough time before having the shots and trying
for a baby such as 1 month for any effects to die down. Make a choice about
what to have before pregnancy and do your research on the figures and facts on
the disease versus the immunisations. I to 2 months. I would also get the advice of an
open minded Doctor on this subject and one that has done lots of research on
this subject and don’t be bullied into this or make a decision based on
threats. Information is power!
8. Start
to Chart Your Cycles
Charting your cycle is a really good way for you to
get to know your body and when you ovulate.Using a thermometer that records a daily figure and taking this before your feet touch the floor in the morning is the best way. Many online websites will help you to chart your cycle using the basal body temperature method. This will show when you ovulate. Many women don’t follow the
traditional 14 day ovulation rule and by using this method you will also really
help your doctor to assess when you got pregnant. By charting your cycles this
will also help your other practitioners such as naturopaths, nutritionists or
herbalists to see if there are any fertility issues.
9. Watch
Your Weight
Women in the obese category when looking at BMI are
more likely to have problems such as gestational diabetes. In addition, if the
mother is overweight before pregnancy this will also increase issues
potentially giving the mum varicose veins, fluid retention and swelling and
circulation issues. The baby is more likely to have a higher birth
weight and be a heavy baby and child also. Being underweight will also have an
impact as this can have issues with conception and maintaining pregnancy
10. Involve your partner!
This isn't just about you as the primary
carrier of the child. It takes at least 70 days for sperm to be mature and
ready, so make sure your partner is also doing a lot of these steps with you,
particularly looking at weight management, diet, alcohol, smoking and caffeine
as well as immunisations and taking a supplement.
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