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Fertility, healthy pregnancy

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April 29, 2024 0Likes
Fertility, healthy pregnancy

You can increase your chances of conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy by following the guidance below:

MAKE A LIST OF GOALS

  • Plan at least three months ahead.
  • Make a list of your priorities before you want to start a family, such as education, career, and finances.

USE CONTRACEPTION

  • Use contraception (birth control) consistently and correctly until ready to get pregnant.
  • Make sure to access the right type of contraception that works.
  • Make an appointment for preconception care.
  • Come off any contraception only when ready.

EAT HEALTHY

  • Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time.
  • See a dietitian if needed.
  • Avoid unhealthy options such as confectionery, high-fat, high-salt diets.
  • Make a list before grocery shopping.
  • Include plenty of vegetables and fruits. (Eat colors!)
  • Shop where healthy fresh food is sold, such as farm food stores.
  • Avoid caffeine-containing foods (includes coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and diet cola).

TAKE FOLIC ACID

  • Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is important to have enough, at least 1 month before starting pregnancy.
  • This is proven to help avoid major birth defects in the developing baby’s brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida).
  • Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. This will need to be continued in pregnancy for about 12 weeks.
  • Eat fortified foods or supplements, or a combination of the two.
  • Add a varied diet rich in folate.
  • See our leaflet on Food in pregnancy.
  • Sometimes you may need a higher dose. This can be discussed at the preconception clinic.

BE ACTIVE

  • Exercise is easier with a friend.
  • Fit in several 10-minute activity sessions in the day.
  • Try to get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly.
  • Find ways to be active at home and at work.

PROTECT FROM SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STI)

  • If you choose to have sex, try to agree to have sex with only one person who has agreed to have sex with only you.
  • Get a supply of condoms and use them correctly every time.
  • Get checked if exposed to STIs.
  • If needed, take all the STI medicines for the full time as directed by a professional.

PROTECT FROM ANY OTHER INFECTIONS

  • Be careful with cat litter.
  • Wash hands before handling food with soap and water.
  • Stay away from sick people.
  • Do not share food, drinks, eating utensils, especially with children.

AVOID HARMFUL CHEMICALS TOXINS AT HOME AND OUTSIDE HOME

  • Please see our leaflet on this.

MAKE SURE ALL VACCINES ARE UP TO DATE

  • Check if you had the MMR vaccine.
  • If not, please get a shot.
  • Do not fall pregnant within a month of the MMR shot.

REDUCE STRESS AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH

  • Be aware of things that cause stress and keep a diary.
  • Make a plan to reduce stress with yoga, music, meditation, family groups.
  • Get enough rest.
  • Exercise to lift mood.
  • Limit alcohol and avoid cigarettes and other drugs.
  • Find a support person or group if needed.

STOP PARTNER VIOLENCE

  • Talk to a professional.
  • Find a safe place.
  • Talk to a counselor.
  • Have a support group: Women’s Aid, National domestic violence hotline.
  • Have a plan.
  • A supportive relationship has the best outcome for the baby.

STOP SMOKING 😤

  • Smoking may cause harm to the unborn child. It may cause birth defects around the lips and mouth of the baby, such as “cleft lip or palate.”
  • Smoking harms adult health, leading to cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
  • It is never too late to quit – both for you and your partner.
  • Avoid areas where you are at risk of passive smoking.
  • Please take a stop smoking 🚬 leaflet.

STOP ALCOHOL

  • No amount of alcohol is safe in pregnancy.
  • Stop any beer, wine, alcopops, spirits, etc., to optimize your chances of getting pregnant. Stop binge drinking.
  • Request your partner to do the same.

BE EXTRA CAREFUL WITH OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES. CHECK PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES STOP RECREATIONAL DRUGS.

  • If you have pre-existing mental health concerns, consider a referral to the Perinatal Mental Health team.
  • Stop cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, or any other recreational drugs. Please make an appointment to see us if you are on these and find it hard to stop.
  • Bring all your pre-existing medications to the preconception appointment to discuss the best dose and alternatives.
  • Do not take over-the-counter medicines without checking with a professional.

GET TO KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

  • Find out about any diseases or health conditions in your immediate and wider family members.
  • Make an appointment with our pre-pregnancy genetic counseling team if you are worried.

MANAGE ANY PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, ASTHMA, BEING OVERWEIGHT.

  • Make an early appointment with the preconception clinic in case of preexisting health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and so on.

BE UP TO DATE WITH SMEARS

  • You should have smears every three years.
  • Check you have not missed any appointments.
  • If these are/were abnormal, please try to get treated and wait until the results are normal before you are pregnant.

USE THE TOMMYS PLANNING FOR PREGNANCY TOOL

Tommy’s, with other national agencies, has launched a free digital tool to help. This can be accessed at:

References:

Categories: Newly, Pregnancy Health