Fertility And Pregnancy

Your health just prior to conception and during pregnancy is essential to the health of your baby.

Preparing for pregnancy

If you’re planning to get pregnant, consider the following:

• Quit smoking – smoking increases your risk of miscarriage and having a lower birth weight baby
• Decrease alcohol consumption – and avoid alcohol altogether when you do fall pregnant as it can increase the risk of miscarriage
• Achieve or maintain a healthy weight – being overweight during pregnancy can increase the risk of pregnancy complications, so if you’re overweight, try to reduce your weight before falling pregnant
• Eat a healthy diet – your nutritional status at conception can have a significant effect on the health of your baby, so ensure that you are eating a healthy diet including plenty of lean protein foods, wholegrains, low fat dairy products, fruit, vegetables and healthy oils prior to falling pregnant
• Undertake regular physical activity – undertake at least half an hour of physical activity most days
• Measure and document your periods – as this will help identify problems with ovulation
• Check your nutritional status – it can be a good idea to check your nutritional status using a blood test which can be organised by your doctor prior to falling pregnant
• Have an antenatal screen – ask your doctor for a screen to check for medical conditions such as hepatitis or HIV, and to check that all your immunisations are up to date prior to falling pregnant.

Problems conceiving
It is estimated that one in six Australian couples will struggle with their fertility.

• Difficulty getting pregnant may be caused by:
• Medical conditions such as endometriosis or Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Poor sperm quality which may be caused by genetic conditions, sexually transmitted diseases or recreational drugs
• Hormonal disturbances which can affect ovulation, and/or
• Lifestyle factors such as having too much body fat or not meeting your nutrition requirements.

If you are healthy and have been having unprotected sexual intercourse for at least 12 months (or 6 months if you are over the age of 35) and still haven’t conceived, it is a good idea to make an appointment to see your local doctor to discuss treatments.

Disclaimer
The content displayed on this webpage is intended for informational purposes and is a guide only. It does not replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Information contained on this webpage must be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this webpage.

Sources

http://www.cityfertility.com.au/information/understanding-infertility/trouble-falling-pregnant/

http://www.cityfertility.com.au/information/pregnancy-planning/preconception-care/

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