Women tend to focus on what they should do when the pregnancy has already begun. But there are some things that you can and should do before you even started trying to get pregnant. This is extremely important for you and for the future child. Moreover, the preparatory stage should not only affect you, but also your partner. This article identifies 10 things that need to be done before pregnancy.
1. Eliminate bad habits.
If for you a cup of coffee or alcoholic beverages in small quantities are considered the norm - forget about it. It will be difficult, but it is necessary. And do not think that in small doses you do not damage your health. It's a delusion! If you are trying to conceive a child, then the best advice for you is to drop your bad habits immediately!
Although a couple of units of alcohol occasionally, probably will not hurt you, but only until pregnancy has come! Be careful.
Alcohol - is not only a "store" of unnecessary calories and, subsequently, excess weight. Its use leads to the fact that the level of sugar in the blood jumps up and down, which is very harmful for a woman. Having a stable level of blood sugar is very important, because it provides a hormonal balance.
It is also recommended to exclude strong coffee if you want to conceive a healthy baby. Or conceive it altogether. It was proved that caffeine increases the time required for conception and even leads to miscarriage or premature birth!
Stop smoking is much more difficult. But it is necessary not less. Smoking increases fertility in men and women. Smoking women are twice as often as barren than non-smokers. Also, according to research, smoking can affect the operation of the fallopian tubes.
2. Adjust your weight back to normal.
Excess weight will make the conception of a child more difficult for you. You will not believe, but in case of excess weight, even weight loss by 10% will help. Why is this a problem? According to experts, overweight affects the production of hormones, which are crucial for a woman's ability to ovulate and become pregnant. Fat cells continuously secrete the hormone estrogen, and the more estrogen in her body, the less likely to become pregnant. This will reduce the production of FSH, a hormone that is crucial for the conception of a child.
If you are overweight, you will have different problems. You are unlikely to regularly ovulate, and not enough hormone will be produced, so that the pregnancy continues after the moment of fertilization. The first thing you need to do before pregnancy is to determine for yourself a diet that will help you to lose (or gain) weight to the norm.
3. Stop taking hormone pills.
It can take quite a few months for your body to regain strength after taking hormone pills. Studies show that theoretically you are capable of conceiving after a couple of months after the "exit" of the tablets. But, for example, for women over 30, this can be much more difficult. And complexity is aggravated with age.
What do hormonal drugs do? They destroy your menstrual cycle, so it may well take you several months to get used to the new cycle. You will need to learn how long your cycle lasts and when you are most capable of conceiving. In fact, if you have already turned 30, delays in this period are very common.
4. Consult a physician.
If you or your partner are taking any medication, then it is worth discussing with your doctor before you try to conceive a child. There are quite a few drugs that can influence the production of sperm from your partner, while generic medications such as antidepressants, antibiotics and steroids can affect fertility.
5. Start to have sex deliberately.
This sounds silly, but you need to ensure that you have regular sex before attempting to become pregnant. Many couples found that having sex only at a certain time of the month, you can "get" yourself problems in the relationship. Experts say: "The only thing that will most likely improve your chances of conception is a lot of sex. And, at any time, and not only on certain days of supposed ovulation. " Make sure you enjoy sex, and not just think about how to get pregnant sooner.
6. Encourage your partner to check.
Many couples who have problems with conception consider a woman as the culprit of this. However, the man is responsible for the ability to become pregnant no less. Therefore, it is very important that your partner is in a "working" state so that his reproductive function is not violated.
Make sure that he does not use caffeine and alcohol, does not suffer from being overweight, because these factors are very important for sperm quality.
Try to make sure that it eats properly. You can also invite him to start taking vitamins, which can improve the energy level and make him more capable of reproduction.
7. Eat healthy food.
Your diet can have a big impact on your ability to conceive. You should not only reduce the use of foods containing preservatives and biological supplements, but also reduce the consumption of sugar. Proper nutrition can raise the level of certain minerals and vitamins in your body, giving you the best chance of conceiving.
Try to eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can in one day. Fruits and vegetables can not be too much. You should also try to eat more fish such as mackerel and sardines, as well as increase the volume of whole grain products: brown rice and bread from unsalted flour.
And make sure that your man adheres to a similar diet. The production and quality of sperm is also associated with proper nutrition.
8. Get used to your cycle.
Each woman has different menstrual cycles and it is important that you know how long it lasts for you. And what happens at different times during this cycle. Most women do not have a 28-day cycle, but this is the average duration. The cycle can be both short-term - 25 days, and long-term - 35 days.
Many women have certain symptoms during ovulation at the stage of their monthly cycle. This sensitivity of the chest, abdominal pain and increased libido - all this can tell you when ovulation has come.
9. Visit the dentist.
Women with periodontal diseases (with a bad condition of the teeth) are 7 times more likely to give birth prematurely or give birth to a small child. Make sure your mouth is in good shape. This means that you will avoid X-rays and treatments during pregnancy, which can be harmful to your child. And also avoid what is called "stopping pregnancy" or gingivitis. With this disease, the gums swell, bleed and are very sore. This can be a serious problem for a pregnant woman.
10. Start taking folic acid.
Start with supplements that contain 400 micrograms. folic acid and take them daily. Women who do not get enough folic acid can increase the likelihood of miscarriage, and the likelihood that their child will have birth defects. You can also change your diet to include foods that have a high level of folic acid: leafy green vegetables, brussels sprouts, bran, cereal, dark beans, papaya and broccoli.