Preparing for pregnancy
If you're thinking about having a baby, there are certain things you can do to best prepare your body for a growing child.
Nutrition, exercise and making sure that you lead a healthy life will all play a part in giving your child the best start in life.
It is recommended that we take Folic Acid at least 3 months prior to trying to conceive.
Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange
juice, and enriched grains. Repeated studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to
conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth
defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.
Please see your doctor or pharmasist for more information.
Developing a nutritional plan according to your diagnosis to improve your fertility odds takes a little time, however this is one
of the more important changes you can make
As food and air are the primary means of sustaining life other than God itself, it is essential that in wanting to create new life
that a specific and appropriate nutritional plan be created that include the many essential ingredients that help lay the
foundation for optimum maternal and embryonic health.
Having a balanced exercise program assures that your body is functioning at top capacity .
It is very important that a correct and balanced personal exercise regime be practiced, in most cases this means a
consistent light to moderate routine, but in others it may actually mean less exercise.
Ensuring you and your partner are healthy will increase your chances of falling pregnant. If both of you have a balanced diet,
do not smoke and exercise regularly your fertility should improve.
What kind of diet should I have when I begin preparing for pregnancy?
The best diet is always a well balanced diet, which consists of the five food groups. The five food groups include:
• breads, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles;
• vegetables and legumes;
• fruit;
• milk, yoghurt, cheese, and
• meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes.
What should I drink when I am preparing for pregnancy?
To maintain a good diet it is important to drink two litres of healthy fluids per day. Healthy fluids include water, milk and fruit
juice. You can enjoy soft drink, tea and coffee in moderation.
Are there any dietary requirements specific for pregnancy?
During pregnancy ensure your diet is:
• rich in calcium, folate, iron, niacin, thiamine, vitamin C and zinc, and
• high in fibre and protein.
When should I begin modifying my diet?
At least one month before pregnancy begin taking a folate supplement and continue taking it during the first three months of
pregnancy. Folate may help prevent the risk of babies developing neural tube defects.
If you plan to conceive and you or your partner smoke, you should consider quitting, as it can affect your fertility rate and the
health of your baby. It only takes approximately four days for your body to be free of nicotine.
Caffeine intake may also reduce your fertility. If you are trying to conceive it is recommended that you reduce your caffeine
intake to 200mg per day. This is approximately equal to two cups of coffee, four cups of tea, four cups of hot chocolate or four
375ml cans of cola.
During pregnancy it is recommended not to drink alcohol, to help prevent the risk of miscarriage.
Once you are pregnant you should not have excessive amounts of vitamin A.
Is there anything I should avoid in my diet when I am preparing for pregnancy?
Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and food that may carry listeriosis.
Do women who have diabetes need a specific diet when they are preparing for pregnancy?
Women who have diabetes should ensure they are following the diet recommended by their health care practitioner and have
good diabetic control. Once a woman with diabetes is pregnant it is important that she has a diet consistent for a normal
healthy pregnancy.
Are there other women who may need special dietary advice when they are preparing for pregnancy?
If you have a vegetarian or vegan diet you will need to ensure that you have an adequate intake of protein. People on vegan
diets need to ensure they have enough vitamin B12 to prevent neurological risks to their baby. Please speak with your health
care practitioner about your dietary needs.
Women who have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia are at high risk of nutritional deficiencies that may put the
health of their baby at risk. Please speak with your health care practitioner about the best solution for you.
Should I take a multivitamin supplement when I am preparing for pregnancy?
It may be a good idea to take a multivitamin suitable for pregnant women when you are preparing for pregnancy. Taking a
folate supplement is certainly recommended. Please speak to your health care practitioner about what supplements you
should take.
How can my partner and I improve our fertility?
Ensuring you and your partner are healthy will increase your chances of falling pregnant. If both of you have a balanced diet,
do not smoke and exercise regularly your fertility should improve.
What can decrease our fertility?
A woman’s age is one of the most significant factors relating to decreasing fertility. Please read maternal age for more
information.
Smoking can reduce your fertility. Research has shown that if you or your partner smoke you are three times more likely to
take more than a year to conceive. If your partner smokes, he may have a lowered sperm count and the sperm may be less
healthy, which may cause infertility. You should consider quitting smoking to improve your fertility and the health of your baby.
Please read preparing for pregnancy - smoking for more information.
Excessive alcohol consumption may also reduce fertility. If you drink during the time that you are preparing for pregnancy
ensure that it is in moderation.
If a woman has an excessive increase or decrease in her weight, it may affect her ovulation cycle and reduce the chance of
becoming pregnant. Speak to your general practitioner about achieving a healthy body weight and increasing your chance of
conception.
One common misconception is that polycystic ovaries or polycystic ovary syndrome can cause infertility, this is not the case.
When is the best time to try and conceive?
The best time to fall pregnant is approximately 12 or 14 days before you menstruate, also known as your period. For more
information about when you are most fertile please read preparing for pregnancy - ovulation cycles.
All the best and God Bless you and may His perfect will be done in your life.
If you're thinking about having a baby, there are certain things you can do to best prepare your body for a growing child.
Nutrition, exercise and making sure that you lead a healthy life will all play a part in giving your child the best start in life.
It is recommended that we take Folic Acid at least 3 months prior to trying to conceive.
Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange
juice, and enriched grains. Repeated studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to
conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth
defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.
Please see your doctor or pharmasist for more information.
Developing a nutritional plan according to your diagnosis to improve your fertility odds takes a little time, however this is one
of the more important changes you can make
As food and air are the primary means of sustaining life other than God itself, it is essential that in wanting to create new life
that a specific and appropriate nutritional plan be created that include the many essential ingredients that help lay the
foundation for optimum maternal and embryonic health.
Having a balanced exercise program assures that your body is functioning at top capacity .
It is very important that a correct and balanced personal exercise regime be practiced, in most cases this means a
consistent light to moderate routine, but in others it may actually mean less exercise.
Ensuring you and your partner are healthy will increase your chances of falling pregnant. If both of you have a balanced diet,
do not smoke and exercise regularly your fertility should improve.
What kind of diet should I have when I begin preparing for pregnancy?
The best diet is always a well balanced diet, which consists of the five food groups. The five food groups include:
• breads, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles;
• vegetables and legumes;
• fruit;
• milk, yoghurt, cheese, and
• meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes.
What should I drink when I am preparing for pregnancy?
To maintain a good diet it is important to drink two litres of healthy fluids per day. Healthy fluids include water, milk and fruit
juice. You can enjoy soft drink, tea and coffee in moderation.
Are there any dietary requirements specific for pregnancy?
During pregnancy ensure your diet is:
• rich in calcium, folate, iron, niacin, thiamine, vitamin C and zinc, and
• high in fibre and protein.
When should I begin modifying my diet?
At least one month before pregnancy begin taking a folate supplement and continue taking it during the first three months of
pregnancy. Folate may help prevent the risk of babies developing neural tube defects.
If you plan to conceive and you or your partner smoke, you should consider quitting, as it can affect your fertility rate and the
health of your baby. It only takes approximately four days for your body to be free of nicotine.
Caffeine intake may also reduce your fertility. If you are trying to conceive it is recommended that you reduce your caffeine
intake to 200mg per day. This is approximately equal to two cups of coffee, four cups of tea, four cups of hot chocolate or four
375ml cans of cola.
During pregnancy it is recommended not to drink alcohol, to help prevent the risk of miscarriage.
Once you are pregnant you should not have excessive amounts of vitamin A.
Is there anything I should avoid in my diet when I am preparing for pregnancy?
Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and food that may carry listeriosis.
Do women who have diabetes need a specific diet when they are preparing for pregnancy?
Women who have diabetes should ensure they are following the diet recommended by their health care practitioner and have
good diabetic control. Once a woman with diabetes is pregnant it is important that she has a diet consistent for a normal
healthy pregnancy.
Are there other women who may need special dietary advice when they are preparing for pregnancy?
If you have a vegetarian or vegan diet you will need to ensure that you have an adequate intake of protein. People on vegan
diets need to ensure they have enough vitamin B12 to prevent neurological risks to their baby. Please speak with your health
care practitioner about your dietary needs.
Women who have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia are at high risk of nutritional deficiencies that may put the
health of their baby at risk. Please speak with your health care practitioner about the best solution for you.
Should I take a multivitamin supplement when I am preparing for pregnancy?
It may be a good idea to take a multivitamin suitable for pregnant women when you are preparing for pregnancy. Taking a
folate supplement is certainly recommended. Please speak to your health care practitioner about what supplements you
should take.
How can my partner and I improve our fertility?
Ensuring you and your partner are healthy will increase your chances of falling pregnant. If both of you have a balanced diet,
do not smoke and exercise regularly your fertility should improve.
What can decrease our fertility?
A woman’s age is one of the most significant factors relating to decreasing fertility. Please read maternal age for more
information.
Smoking can reduce your fertility. Research has shown that if you or your partner smoke you are three times more likely to
take more than a year to conceive. If your partner smokes, he may have a lowered sperm count and the sperm may be less
healthy, which may cause infertility. You should consider quitting smoking to improve your fertility and the health of your baby.
Please read preparing for pregnancy - smoking for more information.
Excessive alcohol consumption may also reduce fertility. If you drink during the time that you are preparing for pregnancy
ensure that it is in moderation.
If a woman has an excessive increase or decrease in her weight, it may affect her ovulation cycle and reduce the chance of
becoming pregnant. Speak to your general practitioner about achieving a healthy body weight and increasing your chance of
conception.
One common misconception is that polycystic ovaries or polycystic ovary syndrome can cause infertility, this is not the case.
When is the best time to try and conceive?
The best time to fall pregnant is approximately 12 or 14 days before you menstruate, also known as your period. For more
information about when you are most fertile please read preparing for pregnancy - ovulation cycles.
All the best and God Bless you and may His perfect will be done in your life.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| You do your best & Let God do the rest. |