If you’re planning to start a family, it’s important to focus on your pre-pregnancy health and wellness. This includes taking steps to optimize your physical, mental, and emotional health, which can boost your chances of conceiving and also having a healthy pregnancy throughout. Therefore, this article will discuss some pre-pregnancy health and wellness tips to help you conceive.
Schedule a Preconception Checkup
Before trying to conceive, schedule a preconception checkup with your healthcare provider. They can check for any underlying health conditions that may affect your pregnancy, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid disease. They may also recommend prenatal vitamins and give you tips on how to eat healthier, how to exercise safely, and other lifestyle changes that can improve your chances of conceiving.
If you’ve been trying for a while but are having a hard time conceiving, then it’s important to get in touch with your gynaecologist. The top gynaecology services in London offer state-of-the-art 2D and 3D ultrasounds that can help diagnose and treat issues such as fertility, fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and other areas of your sexual health. Getting a full rundown can help you address your health issues, walk away with a better understanding of your health, and improve your chances of conceiving now that you have the necessary information.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight for your body is key for both fertility and a healthy pregnancy, as being either overweight or underweight can directly impact your hormone levels and ovulation. However, the traditional BMI index isn’t an effective way to judge if you’re too far one way or the other. Women carry weight differently than men, and height can play a big role in whether you’re healthy or not.
Quit Smoking and Avoid Alcohol
Smoking and alcohol can negatively impact fertility and harm a developing baby. Therefore, you should quit smoking and avoid alcohol before trying to conceive. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of birth defects, and smoking can cause low birth weight and premature birth.
Manage Stress
Stress can affect fertility and increase the risk of pregnancy complications. That’s why it’s a good idea to wait until you’re in a comfortable environment before trying to conceive. If you’re renovating your new home while also dealing with a lot of stress at work, for example, then your body isn’t in the safe space it needs to be in order to relax and start working on the miracle of life. Manage your stress levels first, and continue with stress-busting hobbies to stay calm and healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is crucial for your everyday health, and can make a massive difference throughout your pregnancy. Getting in shape before you conceive can help lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart, improve circulation, and so much more. When pregnant, try to focus on pregnancy-friendly exercises. These exercises work to help you keep your body strong while also elongating (rather than tightening) your pelvic floor. This encourages it to stretch as necessary during birth.
Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins and Boosting Your Diet
You should start increasing your intake of nutrients such as iron, calcium, and folic acid. Try to do this in two ways: first, by getting them through your diet; and second, with a supplement. Supplements aren’t as effective when it comes to giving your body what it needs, but they can help bridge any gaps.
