Holistic Preconception Planning
Did you know that the health of your egg and sperm today depends on what you were doing up to four months ago? It takes approximately 75 days for sperm to form and 120 days for an egg to mature before being available for conception. During this time, they are vulnerable to toxicity and nutrient deficiency which can damage their quality. As soon as you have conceived, the embryonicgrowth rate happens extremely quickly and unless your body is already in a healthy state the vital stages of your little ones development can be compromised.
In the first trimester of pregnancy alone the foetal mass increases over 2.5 million times as cells multiply rapidly and form all bodily organs including the brain. This phenomenal rate of growth has exceptional nutritional requirements. By taking steps during the preconception phase (such as undergoing a preconception health screening, taking folic acid and testing your iron levels) you can increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and avoiding conditions that may develop (such as iron deficiency anaemia and gestational diabetes) and increase your chances of having a safer labour experience.
Humans are not one dimensional beings and therefore the expectation should not be that you only need to prepare one area to conceive a healthy baby. Your health is only one part of the puzzle!
As we know, factors such as stress can have a huge impact on our fertility. Therefore, the best way to lay the foundation for your pregnancy is to take a holistic approach to you and your partner’s wellbeing. This includes preparing your body, mind, soul and family environment prior to conception.
The incredibly exciting truth is: by taking a holistic approach to pregnancy and preparing the whole environment for conception you will already have begun raising truly healthy individuals, whose genetic blueprint was created in an optimally healthy setting.
This is the greatest gift a parent can offer their child!
In addition to preparing a beautiful environment for your baby, there are also subsequent benefits to following a preconception program. Shortly after you begin, your energy levels will increase and you will notice improvements in your hair, skin and weight as the outside of your body reflects what is happening within. You will feel better as you make simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, manage stress, and focus on key areas of your life such as your relationships and improving any preexisting conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis.
Preconception care is the safest and most empowering method of overcoming issues when trying to conceive a baby, and is useful for all of the following:
- Prevention of early miscarriage
- Boosting you and your partners reproductive health (and your sex drive)
- Overcoming some male and female fertility problems
- Treatment of unexplained infertility
- Easing symptoms associated with conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis and absence of ovulation
Preparation for pregnancy (natural or assisted) is equally important for both partners to optimise the health at all stages of pregnancy including successful conception, a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth, and the postnatal health of mother, father and baby.
