preconception pregnancy
Confused and overwhelmed by all the preconception advice? Read on for 5 tips to enhance your fertility
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I recommend 6 months of preconception care, 12 months if you have any existing chronic health conditions, and 3 months at the absolute minimum. This is because it takes 100 days for an ovarian follicle (egg) to develop and undergo ovulation. For sperm the maturation process takes around 74 days, your health in the lead-up to pregnancy therefore impacts the quality of the egg and sperm significantly. A healthy egg and sperm decreases the risk of genetic defects and enhances the likelihood of a healthy baby, it is well established that the health status of mum and dad at conception will determine their child’s susceptibility to many health issues and development in adulthood.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1. Prioritize your health foundations
Your health foundations encompass your sleep routine, your water intake, your dietary choices, your primary relationships & your exercise routine.
You want to aim for 8-9 hours of quality uninterrupted sleep (when possible), 2-3 liters daily of water, adequate protein and omega-3 intake, and an exercise routine that works for you!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2. Take a high-quality prenatal and DHA supplement
Prenatals form an imperative component of preconception care as they provide many vital nutrients such as folate, zinc, choline iron, etc. However, not all prenatals are created equal! I recommend NaturoBest Prenatal which has all the essential nutrients and two separate formulas, one for trimester 1 which contains ginger to assist with any morning sickness that may be experienced. As well as their trimester 2 & 3 formula that contains iron to help ensure adequate iron stores.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Test, test & test!
My bare minimum baseline preconception testing recommendations include the following
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Full Hormonal panel
Full blood count and Iron Studies
Comprehensive thyroid panel
Maternal Infection Screening
And depending upon the individual and their history e.g. history of miscarriage, diagnosed medical conditions, etc I may test the following
MTHFR Gene mutation
Vaginal Microbiome Profile
Dutch Panel
Gut Microbiome Profile
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Enhance your cycle knowledge 
To conceive you need to time intercourse to coincide with your fertile window, this is the time during which conception is possible and it lasts for only 6 days. The fertile window occurs 5 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and 24 hours after. This is your most fertile time because it is when your body releases an egg for fertilization. Sperm can live in the reproductive tract for up to 5 days, therefore they can wait to fertilize the egg. It is also important to highlight that you need to actually be ovulating to conceive, so utilizing basal body tracking and fertility charting methods can help you determine if you are ovulating. To enhance your cycle knowledge you can download my free E-book or purchase my guide to cyclical living which goes further in depth on how to sync your lifestyle with your menstrual cycle.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are toxic products that impact our hormonal health and have been found to exhibit the ability to cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation. The more you are exposed to endocrine disruptors the higher your cumulative toxin load. These toxins can be transferred to your baby as the placenta has an abundance of hormonal receptors and is particularly sensitive to endocrine disruptors.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Products to switch include
Conventional cleaning products
Plastic
Non-stick Pans
Single-use menstrual products
Cling Wrap
Perfume
Antiperspirants
Tap water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          • Preconception care is just as important for men and is not an area that should be overlooked.
If you’re ready to start your preconception journey today book a consultation here.

 

 

 

 

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