It pays to prepare your body for pregnancy because you can never be too sure about when you’ll conceive. Statistics bear it out: More than half of all pregnancies in the United States are unexpected!
Good health before conception is a gift that keeps on giving. Your overall health prior to pregnancy may influence your baby’s well-being at birth, and for years to come.
Here’s what to keep in mind as you prepare for pregnancy:
- Excess body fat interferes with a woman’s fertility, even when attempting to conceive with assistance, such as IVF. Make an effort to achieve and maintain a healthy weight before trying for a baby.
- A healthy weight at conception reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida, in a child, whether or not mom consumes the recommended amount of folic acid (400 micrograms a day) during the first month of pregnancy. (Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps to reduce the risk of NTDs.)
- Choline, abundant in eggs, pork, salmon, and beef, is an essential nutrient that, like folic acid, helps reduce the risk of NTDs. Most American women don’t get enough choline.
- Trans fat, found in processed foods, such as French fries, pastry, and fast food, is linked to a greater risk of female infertility.
- You may reduce the risk of miscarriage, which can occur very early in pregnancy, by limiting your caffeine intake to 200 milligrams a day, or less.
- Your male partner has plenty to do with conceiving a healthy child. See For Dads-to-Be for more information.
Learn more about how to prime your body for the healthiest pregnancy possible in chapters 2, 3 and 4 of Expect The Best, Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy.