As a woman, taking care of yourself is important all the time, but especially when you are ready to get pregnant. Before you get busy with babymaking and plunge into parenthood, prepare your body to be as healthy as possible for you and your future child by following our insightful tips that help your body be set up for success for this exciting time in your life.
The Basics
One of the first steps to take before trying to become pregnant is to stop any birth control regimens you may be on. Then, take care of yourself in the following ways.
Eat Well
Follow a healthy diet and give your body sufficient nutrition, including fruits, vegetables, and grains. It is also best to limit your caffeine intake as too much is thought to interfere with fertility. Ideally, your maximum daily consumption would be about 200 mg, equivalent to 12 oz. of coffee. Similarly, heavy alcohol consumption can interfere with your ovulation and menstruation, so it is best to go ahead and start cutting back as soon as you decide you want to become pregnant.
Manage Stress
It is no surprise that your body responds negatively to prolonged stress, leading to increased cortisol levels. These higher levels can make it difficult to conceive because being under pressure and your body feeling those effects can delay or hinder your ovulation. Stress can also cause your uterus to contract more frequently, making it more difficult for any fertilized egg to implant properly.
An effective way to appropriately combat and manage stress is to get plenty of rest, particularly if you chart your basal body temperature to determine the best times to conceive. Try to adhere to a sleep schedule and routine.
The Supplements
In addition to the above steps you can take to help your body get ready for pregnancy, using effective supplements creates a hospitable environment for sperm and the resulting fertilized ovum and a healthy environment for the developing baby later on.
Prenatal Vitamins
Ensuring your body has the necessary nutrients to support a future pregnancy is essential. Folic acid, a type of B vitamin that aids the body in producing healthy cells, is one of these nutrients. Folic acid also helps prevent brain and spine neural tube defects such as spina bifida. However, it is challenging to get the amount your body needs from diet alone, and your body does not store it, making a daily vitamin your best bet to ensure you get the recommended 400-800 micrograms a day.
Probiotics
You can help your body provide a hospitable environment for sperm by taking probiotics when trying to become pregnant. Without them, a buildup of bad bacteria can accumulate in the vagina and attack sperm, causing agglutination, or clumping, that stops the sperm from fertilizing the egg. An effective probiotic helps restore your body’s good bacteria and bring your gut microbiomes back into balance.
Progesterone
Progesterone helps ready the uterus to support a healthy pregnancy. It thickens the endometrium lining and makes it more receptive to the fertilized egg implanting there. One way to achieve balance is by using efficacious progesterone cream to prevent the estrogen dominance that results from progesterone deficiency.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
The compound commonly referred to as Coq10 can improve fertility. It is especially beneficial for women over 40 as it increases egg quality and thickens the uterine lining, counteracting aging’s negative effects on a women’s reproductive abilities. Men wanting to impregnate their partner should also consider taking a potent Coq10 supplement, as it has been shown to improve sperm quantity and motility.