Pre-conception

Good prenatal health isn’t just important during pregnancy. Your baby’s future depends on your health, nutrition and general wellbeing in the lead up to and during your pregnancy.

The building blocks for your child’s anatomy, vision, metabolism and cognition are formed in the womb and lay the foundation for their health for the rest of their life.

Investing in your health well before you start trying to fall pregnant will give you the best chance of a healthy conception. Doctors and nutritionists recommend taking a prenatal multivitamin, such as Ovitae, daily for at least one month before you start trying to conceive, to ensure your body offers the optimal nutritional state needed to support a healthy pregnancy.

The period prior to conception and the first eight weeks of pregnancy – before you may even realise you’re expecting – are critical for your baby’s healthy development. Your baby’s brain and nervous system are developing rapidly during these early weeks – taking a scientifically-based prenatal supplement lays a strong foundation to support healthy growth and function in utero and beyond.

Ovitae provides a scientifically-based blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support mother and baby at this critical time. It provides your unborn baby with an optimal environment to develop and grow, and gives them the best start in life.

 

Purchase Online

CONCEPTION AND YOUR BODY

Have a thorough check-up with your GP

Visit your doctor for a pre-conception health check, which includes:

  • Measuring your height, weight and blood pressure
  • Checking your breasts
  • Ensuring your pap smear is up to date
  • Screening for common genetic abnormalities
  • Blood and urine analysis
  • Reviewing lifestyle factors such as alcohol, smoking and drug use
  • Discussing management of any pre-existing medical conditions including diabetes, epilepsy and thyroid disease
  • Checking your vaccinations are up to date

A pre-conception health check will help to assess your overall health and can uncover risk factors that could affect your pregnancy and your baby.

Understand your fertility cycle

If you want to fall pregnant, knowing when you’re at your most fertile will help you to increase your chances of conceiving.

Conception is possible during the ‘fertile window’ – the five days leading up to ovulation and the day of ovulation. You’re most likely to become pregnant if you have sex during the two days leading up to or on the day of ovulation.

Ovulation happens about 14 days before your period starts. To calculate your menstrual cycle, count from the first day of your period to the day before your next period – then subtract 14 from this number to calculate your approximate ovulation day. For example, if your menstrual cycle is 28 days long, you’ll ovulate around day 14 and be most fertile on days 12, 13 and 14. This is the best time for you to have sex to increase your chances of conceiving.

Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for both women and men who are trying to conceive. Carrying excess weight can affect fertility and may increase the risk of your child having weight and health problems in the future. Being underweight is also a risk – it can lead to an abnormal menstrual cycle and reduced fertility.

A simple way to determine if your weight is likely to be a barrier to conception is to calculate your BMI (body mass index). A BMI of 25 or above is associated with greater difficulty conceiving; greater than 30 is associated with increased medical risk to both you and your baby, including low blood pressure during pregnancy, gestational diabetes and a higher risk of miscarriage.

BMI Classification
Less than 18.5 Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 Healthy weight range
25.0 – 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and over Obese

Reducing your body weight by as little as 5-10% can improve your chances of conception.

Purchase Online

CONCEPTION AND YOUR nutrition

Eat a balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet will help you to maintain a healthy BMI and can improve your fertility. A healthy diet will also mean that your nutritional stores are at optimum levels when you do fall pregnant, so your baby will get all the nutrients they need from you.

Aim for a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, protein, grains, dairy and water. If your diet is an area of concern, it’s something you can discuss with your GP at your pre-conception health check.

Take a prenatal multivitamin

Your recommended dietary nutrient intake will increase dramatically once you’re pregnant – and it can be challenging to meet these expanded nutritional needs with diet alone.

A pregnancy supplement such as Ovitae will provide you and your unborn baby with the essential vitamins and minerals required to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Cut down on caffeine

A moderate caffeine intake won’t affect fertility, but too much caffeine during pregnancy may increase your chances of having a miscarriage, premature birth or a low birthweight baby. For this reason, it’s a good idea to start cutting down when you begin trying to conceive if you’re a big caffeine drinker.

Reduce your alcohol intake

Too much alcohol can affect the fertility of both women and men. If you drink alcohol while pregnant, you could harm your unborn baby and are at greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Since you won’t know you’re pregnant immediately, it’s a good idea to avoid alcohol when you’re trying to conceive.

Purchase Online

Conception and your LIFESTYLE

Get regular exercise

Exercising regularly before you conceive has been shown to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Being fit will also help your body cope with the extra demands of pregnancy.

If you need support with making regular exercise a part of your lifestyle, speak to your GP about ways to incorporate more exercise into your day at your pre-conception health check.

Quit smoking

Smoking adversely impacts both female and male fertility. Smokers generally take longer to conceive naturally; smoking can also reduce the success of fertility treatments.

Pregnant women who smoke have a higher risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and stillbirth. Babies born to smoking mothers also have a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

If you’re a smoker and need support with quitting, your GP can help.

Purchase Online

Verified Customer Reviews