MedClick

We all pay a price for living a life of stress, but when we want to get pregnant it is important that we reduce our stress levels. This will aid our body make the most of its natural fertility and prepare it for this new and exciting experience.

It is important that you are as fit and healthy as possible before you get pregnant. Ideally start to prepare your body three months before you plan to conceive. If your pregnancy is unplanned then take special care of yourself as soon as you suspect that you may be pregnant.

A few practical recommendations in order to help improve your fertility and to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy:

• Reduce Stress - we live in a very demanding world. It has been recognised that high levels of stress can influence your chances of conceiving successfully, so try to reduce the stress in your life. If it is important for you to continue working, you will need to change your mindset and develop a more positive and relaxed approach.
• Medication - if you are taking any medication remember that any chemicals in your body may disrupt the fertilisation process and the early development of the foetus. Avoid taking any medication if possible. If you are on long term treatment, do discuss your treatment with your GP or gynaecologist before you get pregnant. Never just stop your medication without seeking professional advice first.
• Over the Counter Medication - avoid taking any over the counter tablets or natural formulations.
• Oral Contraceptive Pill - if you are taking the oral contraceptive pill you may wish to wait around 3 months after stopping before conceiving in order to allow time for the synthetic chemicals to leave the body, and for your usual cycle to return.
• Rubella - check your rubella status. Rubella (German measles) is usually a mild illness. However, it can cause serious damage to the unborn child of a pregnant woman. Rubella immunisation is routinely given to children (as part of the MMR vaccine). Woman should have a blood test to check if they are immune to rubella before their first pregnancy. Don't assume that you are immune even if you had German measles as a child or were immunised as a teenager. If you are not immune then ask your GP to immunise you - you need to wait three months after immunisation before getting pregnant.
• Immunisations For Travel - if you have had any immunisations for travel - wait three months before getting pregnant. Some vaccinations are safe to have after the first trimester and some are not, if your travel is vital. You must ask the advice of your family doctor urgently if you have to travel when you are pregnant.
• Balanced Diet - make sure that you are eating a healthy and well balanced diet. It is even more important than ever as whatever you eat is what will nourish your unborn child.
• Folic Acid - take folic acid supplements to help prevent neural tube defects and spina-bifida. (UK recommended dose is 400 micrograms daily for at least a month prior to conception and then through out the pregnancy) This dose may be increased if you already have, or have had, a baby with spina bifida, are diabetic, have celiac disease or take medication for epilepsy. You should be guided by your doctor. Most health care providers can recommend a good vitamin and mineral supplement to optimise your health in preparation for pregnancy. There are multi vitamins on the market containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals including Iron and Folic Acid, developed especially for pregnancy. These should not be taken in place of a healthy diet. Some doctors believe that other than folic acid, if you have a healthy diet, there is no need for you to take additional supplements.
• Exercise - it is important to take exercise regularly as this helps your body cope better with the demands of pregnancy.
• Weight - this is an important consideration when planning to conceive. If you are under weight the demands of the growing foetus could pose a problem for your health. Aim to reach your minimum ideal weight range before trying to conceive. Overweight people tend to have problems with the regularity of ovulation which may make it difficult to get pregnant. Dieting is difficult during pregnancy and needs to be closely monitored so try to lose excess weight prior to getting pregnant. Overweight mums also have a tendency to added complications in pregnancy such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, which could pose a problem for mother and baby, and can lead to serious complications at delivery.
• Fluids - drink lots of water daily to maintain healthy hydration and promote good kidney function. Drinking milk and fruit juices is an easy way of increasing your vitamin and mineral intake.
• Talk to other women whom you know are trying to conceive or who have recently conceived successfully.
• Empower yourself - learn all about conception and pregnancy. What are the early signs of conception? How will your body change during pregnancy? If you want to know something or if you are worried about family conditions or genetic illnesses, log in to the Internet and carry out some research. Remember however, if in doubt or if you are concerned about anything, consult a professional.