What Not To Eat When Trying To Get Pregnant

Tips For Nourishing Your Growing Baby

Congratulations on your pregnancy! With all of the excitement comes a lot of questions, a common one being: What do I eat?

It is important to follow a healthy diet at any time in your life, but its especially necessary during pregnancy. A balanced diet will help your baby to grow, develop and maintain a healthy weight.

Read on for our tips on how to shift your diet to accommodate and nurture your new family member.

Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol

Coffee and alcohol are a common part of life in New Zealand making changes to your intake might feel difficult.

Despite this, avoiding alcohol and limiting caffeine is important as these drinks have been shown to decrease fertility in both sexes in some studies. Lots of people wait until their fertility treatment begins before cutting back, but it is beneficial to start well in advance .

Common sources of caffeine are coffee, tea, green tea, cola, kombucha and energy drinks.

Cocoa-containing food and drinks also contain caffeine but only a small amount.

One cup of regular coffee or tea per day is unlikely to have a negative effect on your fertility, but choose decaffeinated/caffeine-free varieties for the rest of your drinks over the day. Limit alcohol as much as possible for both men and women, and women should stop alcohol completely at embryo transfer.

Water and reduced-fat milk are the healthiest drinks.

Soft Drinks And Sodas

Drinking one or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks, energy drinks or sodas daily has been shown to lead to lower fertility for men and women And significantly! These drinks have been linked to a 20% reduction in the average monthly chances of conception for both sexes .

These sugary drinks can cause increased insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and weight gain all of which are linked to PCOS, a leading cause of infertility .

So basically, minimal coffee, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Water it is!

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Tips For A Successful Fertility Diet

Choose whole foods over processed options. To witness the power of whole foods in action, look to our sisters in the Mediterranean. Their diet, which is rich in whole grains and vegetables with less processed meat, may protect against ovulatory dysfunction. A Spanish study of more than 2,000 women showed that only 17 percent of women who follow a strict Mediterranean diet had fertility issues, compared with 26 percent of women who ate fattier meats and more processed foods.

Take your vitamins. Take a daily multivitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid and 40 to 80 milligrams of iron. Women in the Harvard study who took daily multivitamins containing 400 micrograms of folic acid were 40 percent less likely to experience ovulatory infertility over the eight years than women who didn’t.

Mix up your plate. Regardless of how virtuous your fertility diet plan seems, too much of anything is never good for the body. “Even if you’re eating homegrown tomatoes every day of your life, you might be getting too much of something in your soil,” Krieger says. Now’s the time to kick food jagslooking at you, mac ‘n’ cheese addictsand round out your fertility diet with a variety of foods from different parts of the country, even the world. “The more variety you have, the more likely you’re able to complete the nutrient gaps you may be lacking,” Krieger says

Is It Safe To Drink Alcohol And Caffeinated Beverages While Pregnant

In addition to having questions about what not to eat when pregnant, you may be wondering whether you should say no to that glass of wine or cup of coffee.

Drinking alcohol while pregnant is best avoided entirely. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, and excessive alcohol consumption can even lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. Your safest bet is to turn down that glass of wine once you know youâre pregnant.

If you indulged in the occasional beer or wine before knowing you were pregnant, itâs unlikely any serious harm will come to you or your baby. The important thing is to not consume any alcohol for the rest of your pregnancy, because experts believe that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. If you are worried about the effects of any drinks you had before your pregnancy was confirmed, talk to your healthcare provider.

When it comes to drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages, most experts agree that sticking to less than 200 milligrams per day is safe. Thatâs one 12-ounce cup of coffee a day. To give you a rough guide as to what a 200-milligram portion of caffeine looks like in other beverages, it could be 4 cups of brewed black tea, 6 cups of brewed green tea, or 4 cups of cola.

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Top 10 Healthy Foods To Boost Your Fertility

Some women have a harder time getting pregnant than others. If you have been trying to conceive for long without much success, then you may want to consider consuming some of the foods given below. These foods have the potential to correct/manage hormonal imbalances in the body and provide essential nutrients that could help boost fertility.

Here are some of the top fertility-boosting foods that you can eat while trying to get pregnant:

Ovulation Discharge And Cervical Mucus

According to ACOG, another way to detect impending ovulation is to monitor your vaginal secretions or cervical mucus by checking regularly for mucus at the opening of the vagina. In general, your vagina produces the least amount of secretions immediately following the conclusion of your menstrual cycle. The amount and consistency of vaginal secretions follow this pattern for most women:

Soon after your menstrual cycle, you might notice a sticky or “tacky” vaginal secretion. Immediately prior to ovulation, most women usually detect increased vaginal secretions that are wet and slippery . Generally, your body produces the greatest amount of this type of vaginal discharge is on the day of ovulation. Immediately following the day of ovulation, your vaginal discharge gradually becomes thicker in consistency, and less is secreted.

Be mindful of the following factors that could affect the amount and consistency of your vaginal secretions:

• Vaginal infection or sexually transmitted disease
• Sexual excitement
• Use of lubricants during intercourse

According to Planned Parenthood, the following factors might also influence your vaginal secretions:

• Douching
• Surgery performed on the cervix

American Baby

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Don’t Skimp On Your Sleep If You’re Trying To Get Pregnant

While it’s often said that you’re eating for two when you’re pregnant, if you’re trying to conceive, you need to think like you’re sleeping for two, says psychologist Dr. Melissa Burkley. “A study on sleep issues found that women who suffer from insomnia are four times more likely to struggle with fertility compared to their well-rested sisters,” she penned in an article in Psychology Today. “That’s a whopping 400 increase!”

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, too, as getting sufficient rest is vital for every step of the reproductive process. Poor sleep causes menstrual irregularities and lower levels of the hormone FSH, both of which can decrease your odds of getting pregnant. It also can lead to pregnancy issues like longer labor, preterm delivery, increased chances of C-section delivery, and increased risk of miscarriage. So don’t skimp on your shuteye!

Finally, if you work the night shift, see if you can switch to the day shift if you’re trying to get pregnant. Night shift workers are especially vulnerable to losing sleep.

You’re On Birth Control

Birth controlwhether it’s the pill, patch, ring, implant, IUD, or the shot greatly decreases your chances of conception. These methods work in various ways for example, IUDs block sperm from reaching the egg, while hormonal contraception prevent the recruitment of a mature egg, explains Dr. Brauer. Even if you’re committed to taking your birth control, you still have to use it correctly and consistently.

Also, if you rely on contraceptive pills, take note: Some pill packs contain four to seven days of sugar pills without any hormones. In rare ocassions, this may be long enough to allow for recruitment of a mature egg. “This is often referred to as ‘escape ovulation’ and is one reason for oral hormonal contraception failure,” says Dr. Brauer. Missing doses of hormonal contraception could also increase the chances of accidental pregnancy.

How hard is it to get pregnant on birth control? If you’re on birth control and following all instructions, then your chances of getting pregnant are generally less than 1 percent. The effectiveness decreases with “typical use” .

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Don’t Wait To Have Sex After Stopping Birth Control

“There’s a myth that after you stop using hormonal birth control, it takes a long time to get fertility back,” Dr. Jensen explains. “Most women will have regular periods and the ability to be pregnant within three months of stopping use.”

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Your Conception Diet Whats On Or Off The Menu

Foods to avoid when trying for a baby are the same as those you should avoid or limit when you’re pregnant. So finding alternatives now will stand you in good stead.

Trying for a baby can be stressful. But eating a well-balanced diet can help you achieve a positive outcome.

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The main difference between a conception and pregnancy diet is that your partners nutritional intake counts at this stage too. So, you might both want to make adjustments to your eating habits.

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Top 15 Tips For What To Eat To Help You Get Pregnant

1. Go Decaf

Okay so this one might be hard for some of you to swallow, but research suggests that caffeine may interfere with the natural contractions that help carry a womens egg to her womb. It also appears that drinking two or more caffeinated drinks may increase the risk of miscarriage. If youre a heavy caffeine consumer, you might as well start to wean yourself off now by choosing half-caf or decaf more often.

2. Be the DD

Again, more bad news for us ladies that want babies. One study found that women who consumed more than 2 drinks a day reduced their chances of conception by 18%. Ugh, apparently youre going to be ordering virgin mimosas for more than those precious 9 months.

3. Love the Lycopene

Lycopene is a specific antioxidant that early research suggests may help male sperm motility issues! Haas and Shaw recommend loading up on tomatoes like in this Veggie Shakshuka, but you can also grab some guava, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

4. Up that Vitamin D

Research suggests that those with sufficient vitamin D levels had higher rates of pregnancy compared with those whose levels were lagging . In addition to fortified dairy and alternatives, Haas and Shaw recommend trying UV-exposed mushrooms. Try subbing your meat for mushrooms in these vegan sloppy joes!

5. Antioxidants to the Rescue

6. Fill Up on Full Fat Dairy

7. Fermented Foods FTW

8. Go Slow

9. Pulse Power

10. Pass the Choline

11. Fork over the Folate

12. Pass the Myo-Inositol

13. Up the Omega 3

Foods That Might Contain Listeria

Some foods carry the listeria bacteria, which can cause listeriosis. This has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, so you’re advised to avoid the following foods:

• Soft, ripened cheeses like brie, camembert and some goats cheese
• Blue veined cheeses like Danish Blue and Stilton
• All unpasteurised dairy products
• All types of pâté, including vegetable

Pregnant women are approximately 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis.

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How Nutrition Impacts Preconception

Adopting a healthy diet is essential prior to conceiving, says Brian Levine, M.D., the practice director at CCRM Fertility Clinic in New York City. Innumerable studies have demonstrated that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, low in sugar, high in antioxidants and lacking in preservatives are directly correlated with better overall general health, but also specifically markedly improve female and male fertility, he says. Whats more, diets laden in saturated fats and sugars are linked to higher rates of infertility.

Nutrients play a role in fertility because they may impact ovulation, an essential reproductive function, balance hormones necessary for conception and affect everything from the quality of an embryo to implantation success rates in in-vitro fertilization.

And during pregnancy, a fetus becomes parasitic, says Dr. Levine, taking nutrients from the expectant person. If you start pregnancy with an inadequate diet, lacking in the essential nutrients your body and your fetus need, you may set yourself up for deficiencies.

The best way to protect the unborn fetus is to eat and supplement mindfully, says Dr. Levine, adding that lifestyle changes like omitting alcohol, ceasing smoking, including ample exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also critical throughout pregnancy.

Keep Your Calcium Intake Up

Dairy products are our main source of calcium and a good source of protein too. Reduced-fat dairy products are usually higher in calcium and protein than standard products, and lower in saturated fat. Check the sugar content for yoghurts and aim for unsweetened varieties where possible. If you prefer flavoured yoghurt, choose one with less than 8-9g sugar/100g of yoghurt .

Reduced fat cow’s milk dairy products are excellent from a nutritional perspective. If you are lactose intolerant or avoiding cows milk for any reason, the best substitute is fortified soy milk. Rice, oat, almond and coconut milks contain minimal protein and calcium make sure to choose calcium-fortified products if you use plant-based milk. Most lactose intolerant people will be able to eat regular yoghurt and cheese without issue as these products are much lower in lactose.

Cheese is high in saturated fat, and doesnt contain as much calcium or protein as milk and yoghurt. Keep serving sizes small and avoid double or triple-cream varieties.

Non-dairy sources of calcium include broccoli, leafy green vegetables, almonds, chia and sesame seeds, dried fruit, beans and lentils, and tinned fish with bones.

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Make Sure His Bad Habits Are Under Control

“A lot of men continue to smoke cigarettes or marijuana, and that can seriously affect motility of sperm,” Dr. Ryley notes. This means he should stop smoking as well as drinking in excess. It may also be time for him to hit the gym. Says Dr. Ryley: “The more overweight a man is, the lower testosterone and sperm function.” Obesity can also do a number on sperm production and ejaculatory function.

What Should I Eat If Im Trying To Get Pregnant

Eating a variety of good foods is super important for a healthy pregnancy and baby. The nutrients you put into your body directly affect your babys birth weight and health even after theyre born.

Many people find they need to change their diet so they can have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Changing the way you eat can be hard it may be easier to start by adding more healthy foods before you take away the unhealthy foods.

Here are some tips for a balanced pre-pregnancy diet:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

Its almost impossible to follow a perfect diet, and its okay to indulge every once in a while. But try to eat as healthy as you can before and during your pregnancy. And dont forget about variety eating many different kinds of healthy foods helps you have a balanced diet and keeps you from getting bored with your meals.

Once youre pregnant, youll need to eat about 100 300 more calories per day pregnancy is hard work!

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What You Can Eat

• all hard pasteurised cheeses such as cheddar, Stilton and parmesan
• soft pasteurised cheeses such as cottage cheese, mozzarella, feta, cream cheese, paneer, ricotta, halloumi, goats’ cheese without a white coating on the outside and processed cheese spreads
• thoroughly cooked soft unpasteurised cheeses, until steaming hot
• thoroughly cooked soft cheeses with a white coating on the outside, until steaming hot
• thoroughly cooked soft blue cheeses, until steaming hot
• pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and ice cream

Six Healthy Breakfast Recipes To Try

DW Fitness

They concluded that for the highest chance of getting pregnant, both men and women should eat a diet rich in fish, poultry, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Doing so, they say, boosts womens fertility and improves the quality of mens semen.

The results, however, can be broken down more specifically between men and women.

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Foods To Eat When Trying To Get Pregnant

If you are planning to get pregnant, make some changes to your diet and lifestyle in the months before you conceive.

Choose foods from the 5 main food groups every day. These main food groups are fruit and vegetables, grains, dairy and protein.

Eating a wide variety of nourishing foods provides the energy and nutrients you will need every day to stay healthy.

How To Improve The Odds Of Conception After Having Sex

The optimal postcoital routine is another aspect of baby-making sex that’s up for debate. Most experts question the advice that you should lie still on your back for 30 minutes after having sex, yet others swear by it.

Our view: If you’ve got time to lounge, why not enjoy the afterglow? Propping yourself up on a pillow or putting your legs up the wall, however, have not been shown to make a difference. “Once the ejaculate gets inside you, the sperm is already in the cervical mucus, which works to hold sperm there for fertilization,” Dr. Schiffman says.

There is one other thing factor that can influence your chances of conception: lubricant. Regular lube has been shown to negatively affect sperm survival. Look for versions that marketed as “fertility-friendly” or “sperm-friendly,”and make sure they don’t contain spermicide which, um, obviously won’t help!

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