Advice on changes you should make to you lifestyle when you are planning for pregnancy, with information on the influence of your diet, weight, and exercise regieme on your overall health and fertility.
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About half of pregnancies are planned. If you are thinking about having a baby then this is a really good time to think about your own heath, and that of your partner. Making some changes to your life style for a period of time could improve your health, increase your fertility and reduce the risks of miscarriage and fetal abnormality.
Things to consider
Diet - Try to eat fresh, whole foods when possible and avoid highly processed foods. If your diet is well balanced you should not need dietary supplements.
Weight - Being underweight can cause infertility and reduced birth weight or abnormalities in the baby. Being overweight can increase your risk of pregnancy complications. It is best to opt for a sensible eating plan and wait until your weight is within normal limits before trying to conceive. Crash dieting should be avoided as you will not be getting all the nutrients you need.
Exercise - Some regular exercise is a really good idea. If you do not usually exercise then swimming, yoga or simply walking a little more would help improve your fitness.
Smoking - Please try to give up! The less you smoke the better. You are much more likely to be able to become pregnant and have a healthy baby if you and your partner don?t smoke.
Alcohol - We know that alcohol can have damaging effects on the unborn child, but it is unclear just how much is safe. The best plan in order to be sure that your baby is safe is to stop drinking alcohol before pregnancy.
Drugs - Try to take only essential medication and check if it is safe to use in pregnancy. If you are on any regular prescription drugs let your GP know that you are planning for a baby incase the prescription needs to be changed.
Environmental hazards - Try to minimise your exposure to traffic fumes, chemicals and pollutants. This is important for perspective fathers as well. Pollutants have been linked with lots of problems including miscarriage and congenital abnormalities.
Infections - It is wise to have your immunity to rubella checked before becoming pregnant and be vaccinated again if your immunity is low. If you are concerned that you may have an infection, especially if you think you could have a sexually transmitted infection please seek treatment right away.
Contraception - If you have been using hormonal methods of contraception most sources advise that you switch to natural family planning for three months before trying to conceive.
Your Comments
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Hi, myself and my partner are hoping to start a family. I am finishing off my packet of contrceptive pill - can we start trying straight away? How long can it take?
added by clairecooke1 [Mon 6th Apr 2009 @ 09:20:29]
Please could someone advise what I need to do to "switch to natural family planning for three months before trying to conceive". Do I stop taking the pill once my pill packet is finished?
added by charlie30 [Mon 17th Nov 2008 @ 08:51:31]
hi, just wondering as iv'e just had my coil took out on the 3rd of this month and im really eager to fall pregnant but the coil I had took out had some sort of hormone on it. Will this make it take longer for me to conceive?
added by melrod [Mon 14th Jul 2008 @ 08:49:00]
Hi, Happy new year to you all. What to know when a person ovulate and how many times in a month does one ovulate
added by targ [Fri 4th Jan 2008 @ 08:57:55]
Hi,
I have a concern as i have been trying to get pregnant this year with an early miscarriage back in march, since then people have advised that i should be careful driving over speed brakers, and avoid flying and excessive travel..is this true?
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Happy new year to you all. What to know when a person ovulate and how many times in a month does one ovulate
I have a concern as i have been trying to get pregnant this year with an early miscarriage back in march, since then people have advised that i should be careful driving over speed brakers, and avoid flying and excessive travel..is this true?