"...If a baby is on your horizons, then there are a few key facts you need to know in advance."
Conception – some quick facts to get started
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...hey, I thought this would be the easy part?
Did you know….
Staying on the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) right up until you actually start trying to conceive does not decrease your chances, and may in fact increase them if you have any endometriosis present. It also can allow you to manipulate your cycle to avoid a disastrous honeymoon period.
If you’ve spent the last decades trying NOT to conceive, what do you actually know about how to get pregnant? Is your cycle normal? How long should you try before you become worried? What is normal? What is normal at 30? What is normal at 40?
To avoid days and weeks of unnecessary worry, consider seeing a fertility specialist as part of your pre-wedding schedule. A clear picture of your individual fertility situation can be invaluable.
Some women have significant problems that are likely to make having a baby difficult, and addressing this early on can prevent months or years of frustration and unnecessary delay. If you have a clean bill of fertility health, you are now an upskilled fertility-guru and can get on with having a fun married life whilst maximising your chances of natural conception.
Here are a few tips on fertility you need to know before your big day.
If a baby is on your horizons, then there are a few key facts you need to know in advance
- Folic acid – 0.5mg of folic acid per day 3 months before you conceive decreases the chance of your baby having spina bifida (a deformity of the spine) by about 10%. All women are advised to take this medication. If you have a family member with spina bifida or are taking medication for epilepsy, the dose should be 5mg/day.
- Multivitamins – many women have a daily diet that is low in a number of vitamins and trace elements such as iron, iodine. Taking a pregnancy and breastfeeding multivitamin supplement from 3 months before you conceive will assist your developing baby to grow without depleting all the maternal supplies which can leave new mothers exhausted.
- Prepregnancy screening blood tests - all women considering pregnancy are advised to have screening for diseases such as Rubella. If your immunity is low, prior warning allows you to have a vaccination in the safe period before a baby is on board.
- Weight - who isn’t trying to lose weight before they get married? But did you know that a healthy weight increases your chances of ovulating regularly and increases the chances of the embryo implanting. More celery sticks and RPM classes……..maybe not!
- Advice for the boy – The usual. Drink less, stop smoking marijuana and any gym drugs containing steroids. Also consider taking antioxidant medication (eg menevit or natropath formulation) for a least 3 months before trying to conceive to decrease sperm DNA damage. Oh, and practice makes perfect….!
Good luck!
