Preparing for parenthood is an exciting journey. It starts long before conception happens. Taking proactive steps to improve your preconception health can boost fertility. Along with having a healthy pregnancy. This also lays the base for the well-being of both you and your partner. As well as for your future children. Whether you're planning to start a family in the future or just thinking about the possibility, focusing on your health is key. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some tips. These tips are for couples who may want to take the path to parenthood. They are prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Understanding Preconception Health
Preconception health is the health of a couple before they have a baby. It includes many factors that can influence fertility. This type of health impacts pregnancy outcomes. It also has the power to impact your baby. By taking care of your health you can address any risk factors. You’ll also be able to better your physical and emotional health. All of this adds to your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits
- Balanced Diet: Eat a nutritious diet. Make sure the diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This gives you the nutrients you need for reproductive and overall health. Check with your doctor or health educator to make a nutrition plan.
- Regular Exercise: Take part in regular exercise. Doing this not only helps your physical health but also helps manage stress, and weight, and improve fertility. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
- Keep a Healthy Weight: Keeping a healthy weight is important for fertility and pregnancy. If you are either underweight or overweight you may have issues with conception. Check with your healthcare provider to see what size is healthy for you.
- Avoiding Harmful Substances: Limit or avoid alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs. These things can negatively impact your fertility.
Preconception Screening and Counseling
- Review Medical History: Talk about any existing medical conditions, medications, or concerns that may affect fertility or pregnancy with your provider.
- Screen for Diseases: Screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other diseases. Doing this can help identify any infections. Once identified you can get a treatment plan going.
- Vaccination Status: Make sure that both you and your partner are up-to-date on vaccinations. These shots include those for rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza. They help protect against infectious diseases.
Reproductive Health
- Menstrual Cycle: If you are a woman you should track your cycles. This is so you can pinpoint your most fertile days. Ovulation happens around the midpoint of your cycle. This is usually 14 days before the start of your next period.
- Intercourse: You and your partner should aim to have unprotected intercourse during the woman's fertile window. This adds to your chances of conception. This includes the days leading up to ovulation and the days of ovulation.
- Male Reproductive Health: If you are a man you should also take care of your reproductive health. You can do this by keeping a healthy lifestyle. Try to avoid a lot of heat exposure to your genitals. Heat exposure can come from hot tubs or saunas. Don’t forget to talk about any concerns related to sperm quality or quantity with your doctor.
- Prenatal Vitamins: If you are a woman you should start taking daily prenatal vitamins. Check to make sure it has folic acid. You should start taking them one month before conception. This is because folic acid lowers the risk of neural tube defects. It also supports healthy fetal development.
Visit Clinicas
Taking care of your health can boost your chances of having a baby. Starting a family is unique for everyone. That is why you should take the time you need to be ready. Be sure to support each other as a couple. Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. is here to help. Women should make an OB/GYN appointment. Men should visit their primary doctor. As a couple, meet with our Health Education team. Our team can teach you about learning family planning and prenatal care. Clinicas is here to support you. We want to give you the tools you need to start on the path to parenthood.