Get Pregnancy Ready! 7 Steps to Optimise Your Health to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy
The best time to improve your pregnancy health and that of your future baby, is not when you are already pregnant. Do it beforehand. This little guide shows you 7 key areas to focus on before you get pregnant. Get Pregnancy Ready Better for You Better for Baby
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Pregnancy Ready!
Nutrition Nutrition plays a vital role as diet can HELP CORRECT HORMONAL IMBALANCES that may be affecting your ability to conceive, or making it take longer to get pregnant. Both the woman and the man of the couple need to consume a NUTRIENTRICH, WHOLE-FOODS DIET to support hormonal health and optimise egg and sperm quality.
Include
Food that's in its natural state as much as possible including: Fresh vegetables and fruits (organic if possible) Good quality protein from a varied range of sources. Complex Carbohydrates for slow-release energy Healthy Fats Filtered Water
DITCH Processed Foods Caffeine Refined Sugar Refined Carbohydrates
STRESS
Unfortunately, nowadays, chronic stress is a fact of everyday life. Stress hormones flood the body and jeopardise the functioning of other important hormones. Stress affects the entire body and too much can reduce your fertility and play havoc with your hormonal health, not to mention your desire for sex! Sources of Stress
Long working hours Financial Pressure Looking after other children Strained family relations Ill health Pollution Deadlines Electro Magnetic Fields Daily radiation like wifi, mobile phones, lap tops, tablets. Processed food Pesticides
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AAGGGHH!
mptoms of Stress
Poor digestion Muscle tension Lowered immunity Anxiety Headaches Disrupted menstrual cycle Painful periods Mood swings Low libido Emotional outbursts
SIMPLE WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS Yoga, Meditation, Exercise, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Massage, Mindfulness, Aromatherapy, Proper Diet, Less Screen Time, Ask for Help
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Toxic load is the amount of chemicals or toxins that our body is exposed to on a regular basis that can adversly affect our health.
affects body systems, disrupts hormones, can be carcinogenic. can affect fertility, can affect baby’s development in the womb. Processed Foods, Sugar laden foods, Artificial hormones from animal products, Chemical preservatives, Diet Colours, Water source
Food, Clothing, Feminine Hygiene Products,, Personal Care Products Environment Pesticides
Toxins Personal Care Ingredients
Adrenaline & cortisol overload the body & affect other hormones' Stress functions
Medication
Phthalates - Plasticisers in our products Synthetic colours and fragrances (perfumes) hormone disrupters Mineral oil Synthetic preservatives Formaldeyhde, toluene in Nail Polishes
hormones
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Hormones are very powerful chemical messengers in our body that control the proper functioning of many bodily functions. They are very susceptible to outside influence and their levels are easily knocked out of whack creating imbalance that results in body systems not functioning properly. Needless to say, we have very important reproductive hormones which determine conception, the success of our pregnancy, and our birthing experience, and it's absolutely necessary to keep these balanced
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MENSTRU
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CYCLE It's really important to know your menstrual cycle. Not only is it a good indicator of overall health, it is the only way to properly plan a pregnancy.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
If you can, track your cycle for about 3 months before getting pregnant - it'll make it easier to conceive, and you will be absolutely sure of your dates. This can have a huge impact on your due date when you are pregnant, and can help you to avoid unnecessary intervention, or induction
Period Fertile Ovulation
Regulate
Stop taking the Pill 3-6 months before planning to conceive
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Be mindful of who and what we surround ourselves with so as to maintain our immune system and positive mental health
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Mindfulness
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Time for Me
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Reduce Exposure to: Screen Time WiFi Electro-Magnetic Fields Toxins in Food, Clothing, Personal Care, Synthetically Fragranced Candles and Air Fresheners (in your car too!), and laundry products, Negative, limiting people
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Pre-conception lifestyle can contribute greatly to a child's future health, and is the responsability of BOTH partners, not just the woman Improve your exercise level (fun things like dance are good!) Reconsider your vices like smoking, drugs (recreational & OTC) and alchohol. Eat a cleaner diet - Replace processed and sugary foods with whole foods, organic where possible Get a handle on your stress
Get Pregnancy Ready Better for You Better for Baby
We really hope this guide has piqued an interest in you regarding pre-pregnancy health. Keep in touch for more updates and information via www.LoveYourPregnancy.com
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