Pregnancy Preparation FAQs
I get so many questions from women who are planning a pregnancy about fertility, preconception health and nutrition, preventing miscarriage, and how to prepare their bodies for a healthy and thriving pregnancy. Today I’m sharing my top 5 most frequently asked questions about pregnancy preparation… and my answers!
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Pregnancy Preparation FAQ #1: Is it safe to drink coffee while trying to conceive?
This is a common question that I hear in my practice. I’m going to start by saying that what is “safe” is really up to you to decide. Here is some information to help you make an informed decision. If you’re trying to conceive, studies have shown that an intake of 300mg of caffeine per day increases your chances of miscarriage by up to 7 times. And even just 1 cup of coffee a day can decrease your chances of conceiving by half. And this is not only about you and your caffeine intake, but also about your partner’s caffeine intake as well.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that we’re not just talking about coffee here, but also about soda, tea, energy drinks, anything that contains caffeine. And it’s also important to remember that the amount of caffeine in a “coffee” varies: e.g. a small drip coffee at Tim Horton’s has around 140mg of caffeine. A Starbucks grande can have up to 360mg of caffeine.
Pregnancy Preparation FAQ #2: Which supplements should I be taking?
This is another super common question that I hear. With all the overwhelming and conflicting information out there, along with all the so-called “experts” touting the latest must-have supplements, it can be very confusing and frustrating. This is exactly why I’ve included an entire module on supplements in my Pregnancy Preparation Program!
Now I can’t comment on which specific supplements are right for you specifically without knowing your full history. But I can offer some general advice, which is: supplement wisely. What this means is, first, figuring out if supplements are the best choice for you. And I will say this loud and clear: you do not have to take supplements. Supplements are a choice, not a requirement. And it is up to you to decide if taking them is the best decision for you and your future baby. Now if you do decide to supplement, make sure you are choosing good quality products because the sad fact is that all supplements are not created equally, and that products differ significantly in terms of quality.
Pregnancy Preparation FAQ #3: How far in advance should I start preparing my body for pregnancy?
I often get asked what the best timeframe is to start preparing for pregnancy. This is a bit specific to the individual, but in general, it is a good idea to start preparing your body for pregnancy at least 3 months before you plan to start trying to get pregnant. This is because, first, your eggs start to mature 3 months before they are released by your ovaries, so to get the best egg quality possible, it’s important to nourish those eggs right from the start. And second, it can often take some time to build up nutrient stores in the body and to clean out any toxins or other harmful substances from your body, which are both important to have in place before you actually get pregnant.
Now, this is not a hard and fast number. At least 3 months is my recommendation, but if you have more time, that’s great. If you have less time, that’s totally ok too, you can still use the time you have to take steps towards optimizing your fertility and preparing your body for a healthy and thriving pregnancy.
Pregnancy Preparation FAQ #4: What are some concrete things that I can start
doing right now to optimize my fertility and prepare my body for pregnancy?
Honestly, I really don’t like to offer women a list of specific tips and hacks to try when I get asked this question. This is because you likely already have a long list of pregnancy prep tips and hacks, the last thing you need is to add to that list!
But if you’re feeling enthusiastic and want to add a few easy and practical things to your life that can help to optimize fertility and prepare your body for pregnancy, I’m happy to share them with you. I’ve put together a free guide, called 3 Steps to Confidently Prepare Your Body for a Healthy and Thriving Pregnancy. Maybe you’ve already received your copy, but if you haven’t and would like to, you can download it here.
Pregnancy Preparation FAQ #5: I’m feeling so nervous about having another miscarriage,
so worried about being able to get pregnant, so uncertain that I’m doing the
right things to prepare my body for pregnancy. Can you help?
I love getting asked questions like these because the answer is so simple: absolutely! As a Holistic Nutrition Practitioner and pregnancy nutrition specialist, this is exactly what I do: I help women optimize their fertility and confidently prepare their bodies for a healthy and thriving pregnancy. Through my Pregnancy Preparation Program, I take women by the hand and guide them through exactly what they need to do to optimize their fertility and prepare for pregnancy. So there is no second guessing, there is no more researching, there is no more wondering if what you’re doing is actually doing anything. Instead, my clients feel confident that they are doing the best that they can to prepare their bodies to make and grow their future baby.
If this resonates with you, if this sounds like exactly what you need right now, find out more about working with me inside the Pregnancy Preparation Program here.