Pregnancy at More4kids » Conception

What to Eat When Trying to Conceive

More4kids Inc. — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:15:04 +0000

Sometimes getting pregnant does not happen as quickly as we would like, or it is not as easy as we hoped for. Speaking from experience, nothing is more disappointing and frustrating then trying to get pregnant. For our most recent baby, it took us over a year and one miscarriage, and just when we were about to give up hope we found out that we were pregnant. I believe that it was the food choices I made those last couple of months that helped increase our chances at conception.

Believe it or not there are certain foods that increase your chances of getting pregnant. So if you are doing all of the other recommended things like positioning and timing, why not alter your diet a little.

A healthy diet is just as important, if not more important, while you are trying to get pregnant as it is once you find out that you are pregnant. The foods you chose to consume directly impact your fertility, this goes for potential mom and potential dad. So as a couple you need to make a conscious effort to watch what you are eating.

Several servings of fruits and veggies a day is important. You should also make sure that you are getting whole grains and calcium rich foods each and every day. Don’t think that if you miss today you can make up for it tomorrow. Vitamins like E, C, Folic Acid and Zinc are key nutrients for healthy sperm. For women, you need to be getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. Folic acid helps support proper neural tube growth and it also decreases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, cancer and diabetes.

Your diet should also be rich in leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits. Don’t worry about getting to much because folic acid is water soluble and the water will flush out any excess. Being water soluble also means that a lot of it can be lost when it is cooked. So try to eat fresh or frozen dark leafy greens and if you are cooking them steam them or cook them in a little bit of water.

If you are worried that you are not taking enough of these in through your food you may want to consider a nutritional supplement, at least while you are trying to conceive. When I say a supplement, I don’t mean a multivitamin. Doctors have been recommending that women who are trying to conceive start prenatal vitamins before they are pregnant. Fortunately you don’t need a prescription for them; there are a number of good over the counter vitamins. I chose to use and all natural prenatal vitamins. You can also get individual supplements such as folic acid over the counter. I want to stress though that supplements cannot replace a healthy diet. It is always better to get your nutrients from whole raw foods then pills in a jar.

Foods to avoid or severely limit include caffeine, try to keep to three cups of or less so that it doesn’t affect your fertility. And while fish is overall considered healthy, while you are trying to conceive eliminate fish that is high in mercury such as shark, swordfish, mackerel and tilefish. Processed meats, such as packaged meats should be consumed in very small amounts and raw and smoked meats should be avoided completely.

Just a quick reminder of the above recommendations:

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
Eat complex carbohydrates – whole grains like brown rice, oats, whole meal bread
Buy organic foods where possible
Eat phytoestrogens, including beans such as lentils, chickpeas and Soya products
Eat oily foods, including fish, nuts, seeds and oils
Reduce your intake of saturated fat from dairy products, etc.
Drink enough fluids
Increase your intake of fiber
Avoid additives, preservatives and chemicals such as artificial sweeteners
Reduce your intake of caffeine
Reduce alcohol
Avoid sugar on its own and hidden in foods

Following the above dietary recommendations will not cure infertility, but if you are able to conceive it will help increase the likelihood of your conceiving.

Biography
Jennifer Shakeel is a writer and former nurse with over 12 years medical experience. As a mother of two incredible children with one on the way, I am here to share with you what I have learned about parenting and the joys and changes that take place during pregnancy. Together we can laugh and cry and rejoice in the fact that we are moms!

So You Want A Baby?

More4kids Inc. — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:28:01 +0000

Pregnancy and What Affects Fertility

As many couples know, becoming pregnant is not always a simple matter. Fewer than two-thirds of couples trying to conceive succeed within six months. Fortunately, 90% of women trying to get pregnant do so within 18 months.

There are dozens of factors that affect the odds of conception, some more important than others.

Caffeine intake does affect fertility for both men and women. Brewed coffee has between 100-300 mg of caffeine, while cappucino has between 300-400 mg and decaf (not surprisingly) has only 1-8 mg. Those concerned that caffeine might be an issue should limit themselves to no more than two cups per day.

Conditions in both men and women are about equally likely to be the reason pregnancy doesn't occur.

A small percentage of men have low sperm motility, a condition in which sperm cells don't actively move enough to make the trip up to the egg. Caffeine or excessive alcohol consumption can have some small effect on this, but in general the condition is either genetic or a temporary condition due to disease.

Or, a man may have a low sperm count, though again this is true of fewer than 10%. Heavy alcohol use can be a factor, but here again it's generally the result of inheritance or recent illness. In some cases this is due, for example, to high fever.

That's the true part of the statement that heat causes low sperm counts. This is temporary, though. The mythical part of the 'heat produces low sperm count' is the belief that hot tubs or underwear affects sperm count. The myth grew out of common laboratory observations that high temperature reduces sperm count in tests. But the temperature required is much higher than the shift produced by wearing jockey shorts or other lifestyle choices.

Fertility odds can be affected by issues women may experience, as well. Infertility is often a matter of degrees. Very few women are completely infertile. For some women, the uterine environment causes implantation to be less likely. Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, is responsible for about 15% of low female fertility. Irregular ovulation is a problem for others. In about 20% of low fertility cases, some issue with the fallopian tubes is responsible.

For some, it's simply a matter of keeping better track of the menstrual cycle. Maintaining an accurate chart of basal body temperature and monthly events can help. They should be recorded at least once daily, preferably twice – once in the morning, once in the evening.

Being considerably overweight reduces a woman's chances of pregnancy, since it affects ovulation and overall hormonal factors. Body fat levels 10-15% over the normal range produces excess estrogen, which affects fertility. Hormonal imbalances in general, producing an irregular cycle or very heavy periods, can shift the odds. Anti-depressant and other medications can affect female fertility, as does heavy tobacco or alcohol consumption.

For those cases where the condition is not temporary, fertility treatments are an option. Most physicians won't intervene, however, unless the couple has been trying natural methods for at least 18 months. Fertility treatments themselves are not foolproof, nor are they entirely without risk.

If you've been trying to become pregnant for over a year without success, your first best course of action is to consult a physician.

Planning For Conception

More4kids Inc. — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:50:35 +0000

by Patricia Hughes

If you are planning to have a baby in the next year or so, it’s time to start planning now. This is the time to take stock of your lifestyle and health. Start now to make healthy changes in your life. Planning ahead helps increase the odds of having a healthy baby.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make now to have a healthy baby in the future. If you smoke cigarettes, now is the time to quit. Smoking is very dangerous for you’re your health and your baby’s. During pregnancy, you are at increased risk of miscarriage, preterm labor and low birth weight.

Smoking continues to pose dangers after the baby is born. For this reason, it’s better to have your husband or partner quit with you. Babies born to mothers who smoke have an increased risk of Sudden Infants Death Syndrome and asthma. Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Your doctor can help with ways to make quitting easier.

Avoid drinking alcohol if you plan to become pregnant in the near future. Drinking alcohol affects your baby. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the result of drinking during pregnancy. This can cause birth defects and learning disabilities in the baby later. Street drugs have similar negative effects on the baby’s health. Quit any drug use prior to becoming pregnant.

The Preconception Visit

Make an appointment with your doctor for a pre-conception visit. Your doctor will assess your general health and perform an exam. If you are due for a pap smear, the doctor will do this now. He may take cultures to test for certain sexually transmitted diseases. Left untreated, these can negatively affect the pregnancy and your baby. A pelvic exam will also be performed.

You will have blood drawn prior to conception. The doctor will test for a variety of things. One is for your blood type. This is to test for the presence of Rh factor. If you have a negative blood type and your husband is positive, this can cause problems later. When the baby’s Rh is different from moms, her body can attack the baby. This is most common in second pregnancies. You will be treated for this to avoid problems with future births.

Your blood will also be tested for immunity to certain diseases, such as rubella and chicken pox. Even if you were vaccinated as a child, you will be tested. Vaccines can wear off, leaving you unprotected. If you are found to not have the immunity, the doctor may want you to get vaccinated before becoming pregnant. These vaccines are not considered safe during pregnancy. If you don’t get vaccinated before becoming pregnant, they will vaccinate you in the hospital after the baby is born.

The doctor will discuss any prescription medications you are taking. Some prescriptions are not considered safe and you will need to stop taking them. These include many acne medications. Other medications may need to be switched to a safer alternative, such as certain antidepressants. Your doctor will give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins. These contain folic acid, which has been shown to help prevent neural tube defects in the baby. Taking them before you get pregnant is important to reap the benefits of this protection.

Your doctor will ask about your health history. Mention any chronic conditions that may affect your pregnancy, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The doctor will discuss your family health history and that of your husband. If there are any concerns about genetic disorders, you may be sent for genetic counseling prior to conception. Taking all the necessary steps to plan for pregnancy will result in a better chance of having a healthy baby.

We Just Found This Product To Help With Stretch Marks:

Biography
Patricia Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four. Patricia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has written extensively on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding. In addition, she has written about home décor and travel.