Preconception Care


Photo by LHG Creative Photography. Courtesy of Flickr.com

Preconception care is the start of a cruise. Just like when you get ready for a long distance travel, you need to be mindful, to get in physical shape, to have ample resources for your body, mind and spirit, when you get ready for pregnancy, you are really embarking on your life journey. So here are just a few tips to get you started. Take whatever feels right and leave the rest.

Preconception care is vital as it will not only increase your chances of getting pregnant, but also prevent miscarriages, low birth weight, a plethora of prenatal complecations, even birth defects or premature birth.

Why you need preconception care?

Preconception care will:

  • make your body fit for the forthcoming pregnancy;
  • make it possible to have a healthy easy pregnancy and birth;
  • help you conceive a healthy baby.

What is preconception care all about?

Preconeption care is a system you develop to be in optimal health and sustain a lifestyle that will be most conducive to getting pregnant and have easy pregnancy and healthy baby. Preconception care starts several months before trying to conceive. The reason to start early is that naturally the egg and the male sperm need more than a couple of months to get mature.

If you are already trying to conceive that is fine to start with preconception care.

Preconception care includes getting rid of bat habits, taking wise decisions about your own health and your family environment, creating a routine of exercises and a balanced lifestyle, shifting to natural products and avoiding medications.

What can you do right now?

First, break any harmful habits. It sometimes takes time,but it is really important to stop any habits that are seriously deteriorating your body fitness and are harmful for you and your baby in the long run, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs or any medications, consuming too much sugar or refined products.

Read about smoking and fertility and alcohol and fertility and make the necessary decisions, get support and act towards getting rid of these habits.

Next, your body weight can have an impact on getting pregnant, your pregnancy, your birth and your ability to cope with a new baby. Make a decision right now to be at your ideal weight. read about weight and fertility and consider taking the necessary actions to arrive at your idea body weight. If you are overweight, losing even 5 % or 10% of body fat can make it possible to get pregnant faster. Body weight influences ovulation, the periods frequency and regularity, hormone balance and overall body fitness.

Nutrition is hands in hands with body weight. If you shift to a healthy nutrition and add folic acid supplement, folate, and follow a preconception fertility diet you will be able to prevent birth defects such as neural tube defects and spina befida just by taking 400 mcg folic acid per day before and during pregnancy.

Regular exercises will make it possible to be more energized during your pregnancy and avoid back pain and other discomforts which come with the advancement of pregnancy. Making exercises which keep you fit, provide more oxygen to your cells and let you feel happier can also contribute to having an easy and natural birth.

Cleansing is a one of the best preconception care measures which can eliminate any chemicals and toxins from the body. This is like making you body ready for a new life by cleaning it from any unnecessary clutter.

Of course, if you want to get pregnant you are about to stop birth control. Keep in mind thought that it takes time for your body to readjust and get back to its normal cycle an functioning after the pill.

Avoid chemicals which can be endocrine disrupters and estrogenic chemicals. Such chemicals can cause hormone imbalances and fertility problems. Here is a list of some of the substances to avoid:

gasoline, herbicides, pesticides, poly carbonate plastic bottles, dry cleaning, cleaning products, chemical air refresheners, fabric softeners, paint, glue. Also avoid foods with chemical preservatives, such as canned foods, prepackaged food, fast food.

Check for disorders such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure, std, immunizations, tetanus shots, Hepatitis A and B, vitamin deficiency, hypertension, blood diseases, eating disorders

Stop medications. Check any medications for side effects. It is advisable not to take any medications during your pregnancies.

Get ready for minimizing the effect of stretch marks by doing something about them before they appear.

Breastfeeding. Think about and learn how to breast feed before the time comes, this will reduce the stress and any uninformed decisions which will not be good for your health and your baby. Breastfeeding is very important for your baby as it provides the best ever food produces exactly for your baby at any given moment according to the needs of its body. Breastfeeding also provides emotional support and contributes to increased IQ. And even more, prolonged breastfeeding is the best prevention against breast cancer.

If you want to have a boy or a girl, you can educate yourself about gender selection. It cannot be 100% accurate, but sometimes it does help.

Find a reliable midwife or doctor now. It is never to early to look for a partner in your pregnancy and birth whom you can trust and can help you have the best experience of this amazing period in your life.

If you are trying to conceive, you can increase your chances by using natural fertility herbs and supplements. Explore some fertility blends and teas here.

Here are three things for you to remember

1. You cannot fix it all at once. Start today by deciding to go green and avoid any harmful habits.

2. Create a real plan of action and write it down in your calendar. Any change takes time and energy so you can alot that time and energy to your goal.

3. Visualize yourself as perfectly fit, full of energy and ready to conceive.

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