Embracing a healthy lifestyle is one of the fundamental ways to truly take charge of your pre-pregnancy planning process.
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Reduce Stress
Stress can cause irregular ovulation and can disrupt your menstrual cycle — affecting your overall fertility. If you take just a few deliberate measures, it will go far in helping to reduce daily stress. For example, spend time with friends, listen to music, meditate, or start a calming hobby such as knitting, scrapbooking or reading.
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Get Plenty of Sleep
It's good for your mind, body and soul. Besides, once your baby is here it will be hard to come by, so take advantage now!
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Nutritional Needs
What you eat — and decide not to eat — at this time is perhaps the single greatest advantage you can give yourself in preparing to get pregnant. Now is the time to follow through on a commitment to eating better. Many key vitamins and minerals are required in greater amounts to meet your increased nutritional needs and those of your growing baby.
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DO
Follow a well-balanced diet containing food from all of the major food groups.
DO
Begin taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin containing folic acid and iron and continue throughout your entire pregnancy to ensure that you get the added nutrition necessary for mother and baby. This will help reduce your risk of nutrient deficiency.
DON’T
Diet, either to gain or lose weight, because this may affect your reproductive cycle.
Key Nutrients During Pregnancy
Begin taking these nutrients now before you conceive:
Folic AcidFolic Acid is an essential B vitamin that is especially important for women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant or are pregnant. It is advised that women talk to their physician about the recommended amount of folic acid they should be taking.
DHA (found in Omega-3)Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are necessary for human health, but the body can't make them, so you have to get them through food or supplementation.
IronIron is essential for making red blood cells and preventing anemia and fatigue. Make sure to choose a tolerable form of iron to reduce the possibility of constipation, bloating, and nausea.
Exercise
Pregnancy is a marathon. Adopting a regular exercise routine now will help you develop the strength and endurance needed down the road. You'll thank yourself later. Regular exercise will help you:
- Carry the extra weight easier during pregnancy
- Feel less tired and fatigued
- Sleep well
- Reduce muscle and joint pain
- Improve your mental well-being
- Improve posture
- Prevent unnecessary weight gain
- Ease the physical stress of delivery
- Get back in shape faster after the baby is born
Cut It Out
Use this time as motivation to eliminate unhealthy habits from your lifestyle such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and any illegal drugs. Also, if necessary, why not begin weaning yourself from caffeine because once you become pregnant, your doctor may ask you to eliminate it altogether.