The Best Advice on Getting Pregnant
The best advice on getting pregnant you can give a couple is regarding preconceptual care: the pre-pregnancy preparations that will give a baby the best possible start in life.
A baby’s first twelve weeks of life in the uterus, or womb, are crucial as all her essential organs are formed and begin to work during this first trimester.
Obviously, if it is an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy, mum is unlikely to have made any pre pregnancy lifestyle changes and will not do so until she has some signs that she is expecting.
Thankfully, despite often going unnoticed for several weeks, the vast majority of babies do develop and manage to grow safely.
But couples who are planning a pregnancy and take advice on getting pregnant will learn there are many easy pre-pregnancy steps they can take which will reduce any risks to a baby and these should be started three to six months before conceiving.
EAT HEALTHILY
Losing weight suddenly, or yo-yo dieting, can not only starve the body of certain nutrients but can trigger stress mechanisms in the body and temporarily shut down fertility so it is best to not go on any kind of slimming diet in the three months before conceiving unless your GP recommends it.
Being overweight can cause infertility and pregnancy complications through diabetes or high blood pressure. So see your doctor about weight problems before you begin to think about having children.
EXERCISE
Regular exercise, such as brisk walking or swimming, carried out for 20 minutes three times a week, will get you fitter for conception and help your body cope better with the demands of pregnancy and labour.
STOP SMOKING
Smoking can stop babies growing properly in the uterus so that they are likely to be smaller and more vulnerable when they are born.
It does this by reducing the amount of oxygen that is being supplied to the baby though the placenta. Smokers are also 50% more likely to have a miscarriage.
Couples asking advice on getting pregnant are also told the man may be reducing his fertility by smoking as it affects the numbers and mobility of their sperm.
CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL
The amount of alcohol you drink can reduce your fertility and ability to conceive and can lead to a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy.
The safest approach is not to drink at all, or at least significantly reduce your alcohol consumption. If you’re trying to become pregnant, drink no more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week and avoid getting drunk.
* A unit is half a pint of ordinary strength beer. A small glass (125ml) of ordinary strength wine is one-and-a-half units.
Author Bio: Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor and leading writer for the Emma’s Diary website, one of the UKs foremost pregnancy and baby websites. She writes on pre pregnancy advice, signs of pregnancy, raspberry leaf tea and etc. If you are searching for free baby stuff, please visit us at Emmasdiary.co.uk. For men, drinking alcohol can affect the production of healthy sperm leading to a lower sperm count. Ideally, a man should stop drinking on a regular basis for at least three months before conception to allow healthy sperm to develop.
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