Prepare your body Although there seem to be a lot of women who get pregnant at the drop of a hat, often unexpectedly, if starting a family is something you are planning it's really important to prepare your body.
Arrange a check up Even if you have a regular cycle and seem to be healthy it can't hurt to get a once over to be sure everything is as it should be.
Have a pap smear and a blood test to see if you're immune to rubella.
Medication Assessment Most of us take various over-the-counter supplements these days to make up for what we can't get in our diet.
Some of these may be harmful in the recommended quantities, so check to be sure.
A good naturopath, preferably with a fertility specialty, is preferable.
If you have a doctor who isn't OK with working alongside a natural therapist in this day and age then perhaps find another one who is more educated about the benefits of a holistic approach to health.
If you're on any medication, discuss this with your GP - you may need to go off it or try a new treatment before conceiving, as some types of medication can be detrimental to your unborn baby.
A huge number of people use anti-depressants - whether this is a good or bad thing it's important to seriously weigh up the pros and cons for you personally as to whether you are able to stop taking them.
Even though there is no evidence to categorically say that they do not cause any harm to your unborn baby, longitudinal studies have not been done yet and often neurological effects are very hard to ascertain anyway.
Take folic acid Taking folic acid supplements and making sure that your diet contains foods rich in folate can help prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, developing in your unborn baby.
Women are advised to take a good quality folic acid supplement, for at least a month before conceiving and also throughout the pregnancy.
Stop Smoking & Drinking There's plenty of evidence that smoking decreases the chance of conceiving plus harms your unborn child - causing low body weight and possible brain impairment just for starters.
Avoiding places where there is passive smoke as well..
With the odds of getting pregnant being tough as it is, alcohol reduces our chances even further, so if you are serious about conceiving and giving your new baby the best chance at life, then take this warning seriously.
Know your Cycle Being aware of when you ovulate increases your chance of conceiving exponentially, so read up on ways to do this.
Noticing changes in your mucus is one of the best ways to know when you're most fertile; it's clearer, thinner and more slippery.
Although most women ovulate mid-cycle (that is approximately 14 days into your cycle) many women don't ovulate then so it really helps to pay a little extra attention so you increase your chances of success.
Ideal Body Weight If you are planning to fall pregnant, it's important to maintain a healthy weight range, based on what is best for you considering your height.
With the obesity at epidemic proportions in the western world, close attention should be paid to how much pre-packed/fast food you are consuming as it is full of calories and low on nutrition.
Miscarriage rates are much higher for women who are overweight, not something you would wish on anyone, so do what you can to lower the chances of this happening.
Watch what you Eat If you're looking for miracle foods then the best you can do is eat a balanced healthy range of foods including fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats, in preparation for pregnancy.
Make sure your diet includes foods that are a good source of folate, such as green leafy vegetables.
It's also a good idea to cut back on coffee; studies have shown that a high caffeine intake can stop a fertilised egg from implanting.
Watch out for Toxins Most of us are oblivious to the amount of carcinogens we expose ourselves to every day which can include our cleaning products and even our tooth paste, shampoo and cosmetics.
More and more people are becoming intolerant / allergic to the growing number of chemicals we come into contact with, which, although on their own may not necessarily be 'harmful', added up over time (often decades) can and do have an effect.
There are a growing number of toxic free products and preservative free foods available in mainstream supermarkets which is all the more reason to switch now - good for you, your unborn baby and the environment.
Going off the Pill Although many people will tell you that it's fine to wait only a month after going off the pill to try to conceive, it may be advisable to give yourself a few extra months to let your body get back to it's natural mineral levels which can be affected such as magnesium, which can increase the chance of a miscarriage.
Some other forms of contraception, such as the injection stay in your system longer - so check with your doctor if this relates to you.
Arrange a check up Even if you have a regular cycle and seem to be healthy it can't hurt to get a once over to be sure everything is as it should be.
Have a pap smear and a blood test to see if you're immune to rubella.
Medication Assessment Most of us take various over-the-counter supplements these days to make up for what we can't get in our diet.
Some of these may be harmful in the recommended quantities, so check to be sure.
A good naturopath, preferably with a fertility specialty, is preferable.
If you have a doctor who isn't OK with working alongside a natural therapist in this day and age then perhaps find another one who is more educated about the benefits of a holistic approach to health.
If you're on any medication, discuss this with your GP - you may need to go off it or try a new treatment before conceiving, as some types of medication can be detrimental to your unborn baby.
A huge number of people use anti-depressants - whether this is a good or bad thing it's important to seriously weigh up the pros and cons for you personally as to whether you are able to stop taking them.
Even though there is no evidence to categorically say that they do not cause any harm to your unborn baby, longitudinal studies have not been done yet and often neurological effects are very hard to ascertain anyway.
Take folic acid Taking folic acid supplements and making sure that your diet contains foods rich in folate can help prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, developing in your unborn baby.
Women are advised to take a good quality folic acid supplement, for at least a month before conceiving and also throughout the pregnancy.
Stop Smoking & Drinking There's plenty of evidence that smoking decreases the chance of conceiving plus harms your unborn child - causing low body weight and possible brain impairment just for starters.
Avoiding places where there is passive smoke as well..
With the odds of getting pregnant being tough as it is, alcohol reduces our chances even further, so if you are serious about conceiving and giving your new baby the best chance at life, then take this warning seriously.
Know your Cycle Being aware of when you ovulate increases your chance of conceiving exponentially, so read up on ways to do this.
Noticing changes in your mucus is one of the best ways to know when you're most fertile; it's clearer, thinner and more slippery.
Although most women ovulate mid-cycle (that is approximately 14 days into your cycle) many women don't ovulate then so it really helps to pay a little extra attention so you increase your chances of success.
Ideal Body Weight If you are planning to fall pregnant, it's important to maintain a healthy weight range, based on what is best for you considering your height.
With the obesity at epidemic proportions in the western world, close attention should be paid to how much pre-packed/fast food you are consuming as it is full of calories and low on nutrition.
Miscarriage rates are much higher for women who are overweight, not something you would wish on anyone, so do what you can to lower the chances of this happening.
Watch what you Eat If you're looking for miracle foods then the best you can do is eat a balanced healthy range of foods including fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats, in preparation for pregnancy.
Make sure your diet includes foods that are a good source of folate, such as green leafy vegetables.
It's also a good idea to cut back on coffee; studies have shown that a high caffeine intake can stop a fertilised egg from implanting.
Watch out for Toxins Most of us are oblivious to the amount of carcinogens we expose ourselves to every day which can include our cleaning products and even our tooth paste, shampoo and cosmetics.
More and more people are becoming intolerant / allergic to the growing number of chemicals we come into contact with, which, although on their own may not necessarily be 'harmful', added up over time (often decades) can and do have an effect.
There are a growing number of toxic free products and preservative free foods available in mainstream supermarkets which is all the more reason to switch now - good for you, your unborn baby and the environment.
Going off the Pill Although many people will tell you that it's fine to wait only a month after going off the pill to try to conceive, it may be advisable to give yourself a few extra months to let your body get back to it's natural mineral levels which can be affected such as magnesium, which can increase the chance of a miscarriage.
Some other forms of contraception, such as the injection stay in your system longer - so check with your doctor if this relates to you.
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