8 Steps To A Healthy Pregnancy
So you want to get pregnant? Everyone wants to have a healthy pregnancy, here are our 8 steps to a healthy pregnancy, just some of the things that you can do to help meet this end.
1 – Get the right tests done
Pathology tests will give you insight into your overall health, hormones and fertility status. Getting an complete overview of various nutritional markers, allows you to rectify any insufficiencies, and address and potential health concerns that need attention. Ideally done 6 months to 1 year prior as some things take longer than others to address.
2 – Get Onto The Right Form Of Folate For YOU
Most pregnant women know that taking a prenatal vitamin is absolutely essential, but for mums with MTHFR, who process folate differently, it’s important to take a prenatal vitamin that uses the right form of folate for their their body. Learn what the differences are between folic acid, folinic acid and activated folate.
The MTHFR gene is responsible for helping your body convert folate into a more readily absorbable form, according to the NSW Health Centre for Genetics Education approximately 50% of white Caucasian and Asian populations will have a copy of the C677T. If you or your partner have the MTHFR gene, then it could be affecting your fertility. MTHFR has been linked with elevated homocysteine, miscarriage, spina bifida, birth defects and increased risk of preeclampsia.
3 – Stress Management
Stress and fertility just don’t get along. We all have stress in our fast paced high tech environment; but it’s how we deal with it that matters. Our response to stress can be physical or emotional. Now is the time to clear the clutter, work on the emotional baggage and use mindfulness techniques to keep you calm, grounded and of course manage your stress levels. Get ready and practice before bubs comes along.
4 – Weight Management
Now is the time to reboot your metabolism and get your weight in check. Numerous studies show that obesity can seriously impact your fertility and chances of conceiving a baby. Not only are obese individuals more likely to experience infertility, they are less likely to benefit from fertility treatments such as IVF. Obesity is also associated with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is also a common cause of infertility.
5 – Detox your environment
Skincare, hair care and household products are full of hidden reproductive toxins and hormone disrupting chemicals. What ever you directly apply to your skin, hair, teeth is absorbed and has an effect on your hormones and fertility. Avoid any products that contain toxic chemicals such as SLS, phthalates, parabens and petrochemicals . Fertility disruptors are abundant in our modern environment leading to metabolic toxicity, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and immune issues.
6 – Fertility Boosting Foods
What you eat, becomes you….and the building blocks for your baby. We really cannot stress just how important diet is to your reproductive health. A healthy and nourished body is a fertile body. Don’t worry if you need help with this – everyone does 🙂 with some guidance, support, tips and techniques you can get good at this.
7 – Timing
Make sure that you know exactly when it is the perfect time to make a baby. Do you know how to recognise your fertile time? What are the signs to look for? – ovulation signs, how to chart your temperature, recognize your fertile cervical mucus. This can make your fertility journey much more empowering whilst learning how to reconnect with your body.
8 – Alcohol
We all know that alcohol and fertility don’t go hand in hand. But did you know that it takes around 120 days for egg and sperm to mature and be released. During that time everything you and your partner consume (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs) and environmental toxin exposure will influence the quality of the eggs and sperm!
References
MTHFR, Elevated Homocysteine and Miscarriage