What to keep in mind when planning to conceive in the next 6-12 months?

“Women often start taking care of their body after they conceive. But this is not the correct approach. The right time to start taking care of your body is at least six months to two years before you actually conceive. This is called the pre-conception period. This is a crucial phase for a woman’s health and at this stage there are several important aspects that need to be considered. This includes improving bone and muscle health, blood metrics, stamina, endurance, nutritional intake, energy levels, and boost hormone health,” said Kapoor.

Dr Sushruta Mokadam, consultant obstetrician at Motherhood Hospital, Kharadi, Pune called for a “basic body health checkup with blood tests of important nutrients like thyroid, vitamin D3 , vitamin B12 and blood sugar”.

Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director and IVF expert from Mother’s Lap IVF Centre New Delhi and Vrindavan listed a few pointers

Stop consuming contraceptive pills

Stop taking it and seek your gynaecologist’s opinion.

Diet plays an important role

Take ample amounts of nutrients in your diet. Fertility is a whole-body event and not just something that happens in the fallopian tubes. You need balanced blood sugar, nutrients for the cell membranes and protection from free radicals. “Include green leafy veggies, citrus fruits, nuts; milk in your diet, and stay hydrated. It’s not just about getting pregnant but also about the health of the eggs and sperm, and you can build up the health of the eggs and sperm through diet,” said Dr Gupta.

Here’s what to understand about your diet (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

“Include probiotic-rich foods like curd, dosa, fermented salads, sourdough etc to improve digestive health,” said Kapoor.

Give up unhealthy lifestyle choices

Alcohol and tobacco consumption must be given up by both prospective parents. “These can have a severe effect on the baby’s health. In addition to this, give up on fried foods as well and shed maximum body fat,” said Dr Gupta.

Don’t stress much

Stress suppresses ovulation in women, reduces sperm count in men and lowers libido in both. So, give your body a physical and mental rest. Listen to some soothing sounds like sea movements, waterfalls, and rain forest noises which can also eliminate stress, Dr Gupta mentioned.

Do include folic acid and iron supplements recommended by your doctor

Be physically active at least for an hour in a day. Start by walking and do pelvic floor exercises. “Do yoga daily especially hip opening asanas like malasana, butterfly pose,” said Kapoor.

Additionally, Kapoor mentioned that women should prioritise sleep and aim for 8-10 hours daily for good repair and maintenance.

She also insisted on breathwork and pranayama like bhramari and nadi shodhan. Kapoor also mentioned that it is essential to catch 20 minutes of sunlight to boost vitamin D levels.

Once pregnant, taking antenatal or prenatal classes helps women prepare for childbirth and teaches them how to look after and feed the baby. Hence, the woman will be prepared well for pregnancy, mentioned Dr Mokadam.

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