Guest blog by Dr. Eva Littman, Founder and Practice Director of Red Rock Fertility Center.
We want all of our soon-to-be moms to be as prepared as possible for the journey of bringing a little miracle into this world. After all, the state of the mother’s health influences the baby’s health so it’s best to start out on the right foot.
In addition (of course!) to the wonderful Circle+Bloom programs, here are seven tips towards a healthy lifestyle as you prepare to get pregnant.
1. Take Your Vitamins
Start with ensuring your body is well nourished and strong. It’s never too late to start taking multivitamins, or even prenatal vitamins, that can boost the nutrients in your body. Folic acid is particularly important because it aids in the prevention of birth defects and anemia. Generally, you should be taking between 400 and 800 micrograms of folic acid on a daily basis when preparing to get pregnant (babycenter.com).
2. Nutritious Diet
While vitamins are a great supplement, relying on them to do all the work is not ideal. A balanced diet of grains, fruits and vegetables does wonders for your body’s health. People trying to conceive should stay away from fad diets that limit food groups or specific types of nutrients. If your body is nutrient deficient it is less likely to be accept a pregnancy that will require even more nutrients. One’s levels of calcium, iron, vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin A contribute to fertility in both men and women.
3. Drink Lots of Water – And Mix It Up
Swap out fizzy drinks and caffeine for cool water to keep your fluids up and stay hydrated. To keep things from getting boring, try adding your choice of lemons, cucumber or berries to your water. Not only will the taste offer a change of pace, there are also added vitamins and minerals in whichever fruit or veggie you choose to add!
4. Stress Management
Stress may affect fertility in a variety of ways thus it becomes essential to manage it to ensure your body and mind are ready for pregnancy.
Try to identify the main stressors in your life. For example, is it finances, job workload, relationships or even unsuccessful pregnancy attempts? While it is normal to worry about these things, try to instead focus your energy on things you can control and are doing well. Feel confident in the fact you are doing what can and that everything else will work itself out. The less stress you harbor, the better your chances of conceiving.
5. Create an Unwind Soundtrack
A new study from University Hospital in Cleveland has found a great stress-reducer is listening to music. Music therapy can help your immune system and even has the potential to affect hormone production. Create or find a soundtrack that works for you, put on your headphones and let your stresses melt away!
6. Get Enough Sleep
According to the National Sleep Foundation it is recommended that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Not getting enough rest on a consistent basis can cause moodiness, feelings of exhaustion and sadness and will also leave your body feeling run-down. A good night’s rest is a key ingredient to going about your day as the happiest version of you and another way to prepare your body for pregnancy.
7. Understanding the Ovulation Process
As you prepare for pregnancy it is important to understand when you have the best chance to conceive. A variety of factors can influence the ovulation process so it is important to pay close attention to your cycle and take note of any patterns or irregularities. Keeping track of your menstrual cycle will provide you with a strong indication of when your eggs will be released thus the best times to try. While every woman differs in the length of her cycle, ovulation will generally occur 12 to 16 days before the start of one’s next period.
Dr. Eva Littman is a trusted, knowledgeable, and honored fertility doctor based in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the Founder and Practice Director of Red Rock Fertility Center, she has successfully guided the center to produce exceptionally high first cycle pregnancy success rates and specializes in challenging cases where the patient has less than a five percent chance of pregnancy.
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