The health of your baby starts with you.
30% of young couples today are infertile. Research shows that, in equal parts, this can be to do with mom, dad, or more general issues. While the latter might not be so much in our control, the former can be.
Planning is essential, and if you are thinking of trying for a baby, then there are things you can do now to help things along in the future.
Pre-pregnancy Preparations!
Definite No’s:
Smoking – smoking lowers the rate of birth, and increases preterm labor, increases the likelihood of health issues for your baby, such as childhood asthma, and has been proven to lower your baby’s IQ. This goes for second-hand smoking too!
Alcohol – Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause preterm deliveries and all kinds of congenital disabilities. Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and placenta at an extremely rapid rate, and your baby will be permanently affected.
Recreational & Over-the-counter Drugs – this might be obvious for recreational drugs but often isn’t for over-the-counter medications. Pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs can decrease the production of amniotic fluid and cause the closure of major blood vessels that deliver blood to the baby. This will have detrimental effects on your baby’s development.
It’s All About Balance
A big motivation for my learning and sharing this kind of information with people has been the host of health issues I have faced throughout my life – one of which was infertility.
I had problems with fertility for over ten years until I found the solution; balancing my blood chemistry. Following this, I was able to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and learn that balancing blood chemistry is hugely influential for anyone who has infertility.
Balance in our blood chemistry comes as a result of balance throughout our lives. So, I want to talk about a few areas in which we can create balance and share my tips on how to do so.
Balance Your Hormones
Hormone imbalances are a result of imbalances in our mental state and vise-versa.
During pregnancy, your body will be processing the waste not only of your cells but also the cells of your baby. As a result, the body will be flushing more toxins out of your system, which can cause you to feel pretty awful.
So, watching what you are putting in your mouth, on your skin or in your home is super important. Try to ensure your diet is as clean as possible; organic foods are preferable. Look for low chemical products to use in your home and on your skin! The fewer toxins you are exposed to, the less your body has to flush out.
Balance Your Mental State
Most moms will experience some discomfort throughout the pregnancy, which can be stressful.
Proper hydration, sufficient sleep, and gentle exercise are an excellent remedy for stress. Also, a great support system – why not try a mom’s yoga class?
Balance your Blood Sugar
During pregnancy, we want mom to be maintaining a healthy weight or gaining a healthy amount of weight, and so stable blood sugar is essential.
Make sure you are taking in enough protein and fiber!
Pregnancy is not the time to be working for weight loss, so it’s essential to make sure you are a healthy weight if you are planning on getting pregnant. Moms who are overweight can face many issues with their babies, including an increased need for cesarean.
“Is this good for me?”
If you want to get pregnant, this should be the first question you ask yourself before you put anything into your body. I recommend a good diet for at least six months before conception for both mom and dad.
Bad diets dramatically increase the risk of stillborn, premature, and low weight babies as well as many other problems.
Bad diets also increase the risk of anemia, miscarriage, metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy, and preeclampsia.
These are such severe outcomes for both moms and babies but with such simple solutions.
Dietary Dos:
- Hydration – you should be taking in at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
- Protein – this is what your baby is made of, the palm of your hand (excluding your fingers) is one perfectly sized serving of animal protein and double for vegetable protein!
- Fruits & Vegetables – the more colorful, the better
- Fatty Foods – raw nuts, seeds or seed oils
- Fatty Acids & Fish Oils – fish oils have been proven to be the most effective nutrient when attending to the development of your baby AND a reliable relief for morning sickness!
Dietary Don’ts:
- Processed Foods – stay away from nitrates found in processed meats and sweets
- Avoid Old Food – those bacteria loving leftovers are a ‘no go’ for moms-to-be
- Soda and Carbonated Drinks – carbonated drinks will deplete your mineral stores which are necessary for you and your baby
- Sugar and Flour Snacks – avoid refined starchy foods like chips and anything artificially sweetened, instead try a little raw honey to satiate your sweet tooth!
Now You Know…
- The importance of planning and your health pre-pregnancy
- Ways to help balance your blood chemistry in preparation for a happy and healthy pregnancy
- Some things to reach for
- Some things to rule out
For a more in-depth discussion on how to make sure you and your baby are as healthy as possible, listen to my MP3. I will offer refined advice about diet, supplements, and talk more about how to remedy specific issues relating to you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
What next?
- Book a free, fifteen-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and see how we might be able to help you achieve your health care goals.
- Check out the following Dr Sandy audio downloads:
