If you and your partner have made the big decision to try for a baby, you will be looking forward to exciting times. Bringing a new little person into the world is one helluva responsibility and one which should be taken on with seriousness. Plans, provisions, hopes and dreams will all be lining up in your mind and you will no doubt be keen to start preparing for the future with a baby. For keeping tabs on your progress find out the nearest clinic where you can get early pregnancy scans. Sometimes, waiting for NHS ultrasound screening appointments can seem like an eternity – if you are the impatient type who wants to discover quickly if the eagle has landed (so to speak), early pregnancy scans are the answer. For a reasonable fee, a quick, professional and thorough ultrasound scan can be carried out without effecting your eligibility for subsequent NHS scans.
The fun starts here
Once you’ve made the decision, chances are you’ll want to get on with the business in hand and start trying for baby success straight away. One of the best bits about starting a family is the pre-production process which involves elevated levels of activity between the sheets. Make sure you make the most of it, because after baby arrives, opportunities for such hedonistic abandon will be far less common.
All doctors agree that if you are trying to get pregnant, the closer in time to ovulation that you have intercourse, the higher your chances of conceiving. So, invest in a diary or phone app to help you track your menstrual cycle so you can identify the optimum times for fab fertility.
Weight matters
To maximise your chances of pregnancy it is important to be a healthy weight. Those with an above or below average BMI (Body Mass Index) may find it takes longer to strike it lucky. If in any doubt, check with your health practitioner to ascertain if your weight is healthy for planning to conceive. In general, being underweight as opposed to overweight has a more negative influence on successful conception outcomes.
Ditch unhealthy habits
If you or your partner smoke, it’s time to give up for good. Smoking is proven to inhibit fertility in both men and women, so do yourself a favour and stop. In women, smoking can make the uterus less receptive to eggs, and in men it can negatively effect sperm production and cause DNA damage. It is highly recommended that quitting smoking should occur prior to pregnancy as the habit is known to heighten chances of miscarriage.
Look at diet
Keep your body in tip top condition by getting enough of three powerful baby making nutrients in your diet. Calcium, manganese and zinc are three minerals you should ensure feature high on your project-pregnancy menu. Find calcium in dairy products, tofu and soy, fortified juices, leafy green veg and tinned salmon. Manganese can be sourced from nuts, spinach, carrots, whole-grains, raisins and bananas. Finally, get a hit of zinc from turkey, lamb, pork, beef, almonds, wheat-germ, yoghurt, eggs and shellfish.
When you are pregnant it’s a good idea to take a folic acid supplement to help with the development of the foetus. Ask your doctor to advise on the correct diet tailored to your particular health needs in terms of conception and pregnancy.
Limit caffeine intake to three cups of tea or coffee per day to maximise fertility. Remember that caffeine is also found in sugary fizzy drinks, so leave these in the fridge and instead sip on water. This dietary advice applies to both men and women. Equally, avoid drinking alcohol when trying to get pregnant as this has been shown to impair fertility. Once pregnant, women should definitely avoid alcohol as it is known to adversely effect the growing baby.
Avoid external toxins
To heighten chances of conception, stay away from external influences that may negatively effect fertility. Avoid exposure to agricultural pesticides as these are thought to damage fertility. Steer clear also of toxins and solvents often used in the dry cleaning and printing industries and thought to adversely impact on women’s fertility.
If you are planning on getting in the family way, put some thought into preparing your body so that it is the best possible vessel for carrying a baby. With a well nourished body at a healthy weight, your fertility levels will be increased – thus heightening your chances of pregnancy success.
So, what are you waiting for?
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