Maybe Baby? Finding the Right Nutrition for Your Pregnancy

Newspapers have been writing a lot about fertility and the fact that more and more women are making a choice to start a family in their 30’s or 40’s. Girls these days are highly likely to have a high flying career and be considering town trips, shoe shopping and sports autos, and a lot less about Mothercare, changing nappies, and pushing carts.

The average age for giving birth in the UK is going up about two months every year. The average age in 2007 was 29.3 years compared with 28.6 years in 2001. Statistics show that the average lady under thirty will get pregnant within the first 6 months and those in their early thirty’s may take up to and longer than nine months. From 35 onwards it might take one year.

Some girls are spending plenty of cash attempting to increase their possibilities of conceiving naturally, but this may be a needless cost. Lord Robert Winston, pioneer of IVF treatment, told the Daily Mail that ladies who freeze their eggs to obstruct parenthood are being given false hopes by fertility clinics. He is going on to say that this does not in any way guarantee that a women will become pregnant or go on to have a healthy baby.

So without ditching the thrilling lifestyle what can you do to help turbo-charge your wellbeing for that ‘maybe baby’ stage? Being healthy is far easier than you might think. Here are a few tips

For her :

Iron

Most ladies recognize iron as an important mineral for good health. Despite this knowledge, iron deficiency is regarded the most common nutritive deficiency and the most influenced group are ladies of child-bearing age. Studies have shown that even delicate deficiencies of iron are linked to reduced fertility. It appears that a deficiency of iron may perform a part in ovulatory dysfunction. Take daily Iron supplements ( look for non-constipating form )

Essential trans acids

The force on girls to remain slim has lead to many women adopting very low fat diets. Unfortunately, this pattern of eating is related to a decline in fertility. The necessary trans-acids ( found in nuts, seeds and oily fish ) have many functions throughout the body, including balancing the hormones concerned in fertility. Try Omega 3-6-9 capsules with a mix of prime quality fish, flax and borage oil.

Multivitamin and mineral formula

A multivitamin and mineral formula has for some time been regarded as a measure for general wellness and as health insurance. Studies now suggest that a multivitamin formula could also be of use for maintaining fertility in women. Studies in the latter 90s proved that ladies who constantly took a multivitamin formula, were less sure to be infertile due to ovulatory failure than people who didn’t. Similarly, the more frequent and regular the supplements were taken, the better the results .

Try Solgar’s Female Multivitamin & Mineral complicated

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 ( sometimes called the sunshine vitamin ) could augment the fertility of girls afflicted with ovulation Problems. One in 5 women suffer with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ( PCOS ) and can have a lesser chance of conception at a later age. Researchers at Yale school college of medication ( 2008 ) concluded ladies with ovulation problems or PCOS were much more sure to be low in vitamin D.

Try 1000iu D3 supplement

For him :

Your better half should be thinking along the same lines as you when it comes to living healthily. Sperm count and motility plays a particularly significant part in the act of making an attempt to become pregnant. Why do all of the hard work when your other half plays an equal part in the middle of conception? current figures ( from Norwich Union Healthcare in 2005 ) show that 2.5 million men suffer from sterility in the UK. Male infertility may account for as much as a 3rd of Problems with conception so it is important that your man takes similar steps to you to keep himself and his sperm in tip top health.

Zinc

Zinc is clearly one of the most vital nutrients needed for fertility, particularly for men. Studies show that a low zinc intake corresponds with a low sperm count and poor sperm motility.

Vitamin C

As an antioxidant, vitamin C is essential for good health. For men, this nutrient plays a particular role in augmenting fertility. Research has shown that vitamin C may help to reduce the clumping together of sperm and thus reinforces sperm motility. Additionally, vitamin C usually reinforces sperm quality and protects the DNA contained within it from damage.

Visit www.solgar.co.uk for more information on vitamin & mineral supplements

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The first step in conception is getting the right Prenatal Support. Go along to the Solgar site and find all the data you need. Keith Woolley is a Research Director for Natural Food Stores in the UK

Important Prenatal Vitamins to Take: Folic Acid, Iron and Vitamin A

One of the most important events in a woman’s life is getting pregnant. When a woman gets pregnant, the feeling of thrill and excitement is there. Hence, pregnancy is something to look forward to. But in spite of these feelings, there are still many questions that bother pregnant women like, “Is taking medicine dangerous for pregnant women?” “Does it have any side effects?” “Is it always recommended to take prenatal vitamins?”

For many experts, women who are found to have been taking prenatal vitamins are discovered to be healthier and it also proved to have the same effect on their child while still in the mother’s womb. If you are thinking that eating the right kinds of food is already enough, you’d better think twice.

Taking prenatal vitamins does not replace the nutrients but they instead supplement the nutrients present in the body. Fertility experts advised that women should not only eat the right kinds of foods but also to take prenatal vitamins.

One very important prenatal vitamin necessary for pregnant women to take is folic acid. Folic acid, which is part of the vitamin B family is critical for a strong pregnancy and healthy fetal development. This vitamin is not only intended for pregnant women who are less healthy during pregnancy but it also holds true even for healthy pregnant women. Folic acid is known to reduce the risk of birth defects like spina bifida, neural tube defects and other birth defects like congenital heart conditions. Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect. These congenital abnormalities can be a major problem for the family and is also a threat to a child’s life. Women therefore,should take an abundant quantity of folic acid not only when one becomes pregnant, but also during the time when you are already preparing yourself for pregnancy. To note, some doctors advise pregnant women to take 200 micrograms (mcg)of folic acid or also known as folate everyday.

Two separate studies in 1991 and 1996 found out that folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects, urinary tract and cardiovascular defects. Deficiency folic acid will lead to low birth weight and increased incidence of neural tube defects.

Iron, which is a main component of hemoglobin carries oxygen which helps in the transportation from the pregnant woman down to her child. It enhances the child’s growth and also helps the mother maintain a healthy body during childbirth.

The third recommended prenatal vitamin is Vitamin A. Again, Vitamin A is important for healthy embryonic development, cellular and tissue growth. It also helps in the development of other parts in the body such as our eyes, hearts, skin and our mucous membranes. More importantly, Vitamin A helps us fight infections and repair damaged tissues. It also helps with lactation to replace that lost in breastfeeding.

Thus, intake of prenatal vitamins is truly essential for women not only during pregnancy but onwards. And what’s best about it is knowing that you have also imparted a healthy life to your child.

Natasha Marryat runs the Why Can’t I Get Pregnant blog where she blogs about pregnancy issues. Hop over to her blog to learn more about trying to get pregnant.