Research shows that everything you and your partner do in the three or four months before trying to conceive can be as important as the sex itself. What you eat, drink, breathe, do as a job, how stressed you are – everything matters not just to your fertility but also to the future health of your baby to be.

The egg and sperm released at conception are the products of your diet and lifestyle and researchers now believe that everything you and your partner eat and drink prior to conception is just as significant to the health of your future baby as what you eat during pregnancy. If you are undernourished there is even the possibility that your baby could well become ‘programmed’ at conception to have a higher risk of future health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

 

In a nutshell, taking care of yourself before you get pregnant is not only important for your fertility – it’s absolutely crucial for the future health of your baby to be. That’s why I always recommend a three month period of pre-conception care.  

 

Most preconception care is common sense advice and straightforward DIY diet and lifestyle measures to get you and your partner into a healthy state as possible before you try for a baby. Remember, this isn’t just about boosting your fertility but about boosting your health so that not only your chances of conceiving are improved but your chances of having a healthy baby improve. There’s more advice and information about boosting your fertility in my latest book, Getting Pregnant Faster but here are my preconception basics.

 

Diet – Try to eat fresh, whole foods when possible and avoid highly processed foods and caffeine which is known to inhibit fertility. Right now is a good time to practice proper nutrition. It is a good idea to have your partner on a proper nutritious diet for at least three months before conceiving as well, as a fresh batch of his sperm is produced every three months.

 

Supplements: Start taking vitamins and minerals designed for fertility (See Fertility Plus for Women and Fertility Plus for Men on the Resources Page).  Folic acid is very important to start taking three months before pregnancy occurs. This helps to prevent problems like spina bifida in your baby.  Other nutrients like zinc are crucial for fertility both for you and your partner so by taking a good fertility multi you are aiming to give yourselves ‘a bit of everything’. 

 

Weight – Being underweight can cause infertility and reduced birth weight or abnormalities in the baby. Being overweight can increase your risk of pregnancy complications and makes it harder to get pregnant in the first place. 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 as it can help balance your hormones, boost your immunity and your fertility. If you do not usually exercise then swimming, yoga or simply walking a little more would help improve your fitness.

 

Smoking – If you haven’t already, both of you should quit now as smoking can not only inhibit fertility it can result in foetal abnormalities and premature births.

 

Alcohol – We know that alcohol can have damaging effects on unborn children, 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 any alcohol before and during your pregnancy. Alcohol can also sperm count, motility and the number of abnormal sperm so it is important for your partner to stop too. 

 

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 in case 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 – If you are getting an unusual vaginal discharge then it is important to get this checked out before you try to conceive as some infections can cause a miscarriage.

 

Contraception – If you have been using the Pill, I would suggest you have a break for three months before you are starting to conceive because the Pill will deplete you of certain nutrients such as folic acid and zinc.  So it is a good idea to take a good multivitamin and mineral designed for fertility and also switch to natural family planning or condoms for three months before trying to conceive.

According to the latest research stressed mothers to be are at almost double the risk of stillbirth.

A study from the University of Denmark of almost 20,000 women has revealed that those who are stressed, anxious or lacking self-esteem in the last three months of their pregnancy are more likely to suffer still birth. Animal studies show that the increased risk may be due to raised levels of stress hormones cutting the blood supply to the placenta – and the oxygen supply to the foetus. This research adds to the growing body of research on the effects of stress on pregnancy. Other studies show that stress trebles the risk of miscarriage in the first few weeks of pregnancy and that children from stressed pregnancies are more likely to be hyperactive and have emotional problems as well as suffering from stress themselves.

Women who drink unfiltered tap water during pregnancy may unwittingly be doubling their risk of serious heart or brain effects in their unborn child.

Studies carried out in Taiwan on 400,000 babies found a definite link between chemicals formed in chlorination and the occurrence of certain abnormalities, such as a hole in the heart and cleft lip. And the odds of brain defects were almost doubled, the Journal Environmental Health reported. It isn’t just tap water but water from showers, swimming pools and even a steaming kettle that may contain problem chemicals called THMs or trihalmomethanes. Experts believe the problem chemicals may harm the unborn baby or damage a baby’s eggs.