Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Question: My husband and I are thinking about trying to have a baby. Is there anything you would recommend we do to prepare for pregnancy?
Answer: Get your body as healthy as possible. The healthier you are, the more likely you are to achieve and maintain a pregnancy.
Basic recommendations for good health are in order for you:
- Eat well. Prepare every cell of your body to support a new life. Eat protein at breakfast and every other meal. Eat in a pure, simple way; meat or protein and lots of vegetables and fruits. Many choose organic and I think it's worth the investment.
- A multi-vitamin with at least 800 mg of folic acid is needed, along with a minimum of 2000 mg of omega-3 oils (DHA/EPA blend) Flax oil is another good option. I used to recommend getting our nutrients from food however even eating a good "clean" diet doesn't provide the nutrients we need to be healthy, therefore we must supplement.
- Take steps now to reduce stress in your life. Stress produces a cascade of chemicals in your body that fan the fire of inflammation and are also "endocrine disruptors." These chemical play a role infertility, so investigate yoga, tai chi, qi gong or meditation.
- Get your body moving in preparation for conception. Exercise enhances lymphatic flow and circulation and is a wonderful stress reducer also. Exercise also aids in getting sugar metabolism under control, which is another factor in infertility.
Your baby deserves a healthy place to grow. Preparing your body by eating well, adding supplements, exercising and reducing stress is a great place to start.
Dr. Cheryl Shea, DC, of is the owner of Complete Wellness Center, in Kirkwood, a holistic clinic for all ages. The practice offers chiropractic, nutritional evaluations, and acupuncture. For questions, contact her at info@wgwellness.com
Comments
tsquare (anonymous) says...
Get a lot of sleep... now.
After the baby... you won't.
Also... enjoy those lazy weekend mornings when you don't HAVE TO get out of bed
After the baby... you won't.
March 9, 2010 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palin4prez (anonymous) says...
Definately find a local La Leche chapter. They are a breastfeeding support group. Breastfeeding is best for you and baby. It will get you back to your original weight MUCH faster, reduce your chances of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, and there are far too many benefits for baby to mention here on this page (cancer being one of them for baby) - but a huge long term benefit is breastfed babies show a higher IQ and simply put you will bond with your baby so easily. The natural hormone that releases when you feed relaxes you. Please look into - it will save you a TON of money if anything and no bottles to prepare, just you! They are so helpful and they are free. They also have books you can borrow when you are a member, which is very reasonable, I think around $40 a year. They can be a little tree-hugging liberal, but take what you like, and leave the rest behind. You are there for information for you and your baby. Lactation consultants can be a little negative at times, these are very experienced Moms - you will be in very good hands.
March 9, 2010 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SteveJones (anonymous) says...
I learned from Tai Chi Master Bruce Frantzis that the Taoists in Ancient China put a lot of thought and planning into nurturing pregnancies. This came from the fact they consistently found many different demons, traumas and conditions individuals had to resolve in life which appeared to have no cause came from Pre Birth Trauma.
Western Science is beginning to demonstrate how crucial proper nutrition and health of the mother is for ensuring that babies develop properly (especially without defects) as this open minded article puts forward. However, I still feel we are somewhat behind on the psychological aspects (but fortunately this article boldly hints at how important stress reduction during pregnancy can be for an infants well being).
The classic Taoist Approach once a women was found to be pregnant was to let her live with a few other female caretakers in a moderately isolated rural area so that no negative outside influences could reach her and in turn her unborn child. While this approach is no longer practical in our modern world, there are still many things which can be done to lower the burden on both the mother from carrying the pregnancy, and to maintain a healthy internal environment for the child to be raised in-and given my previous statements I believe to be crucially important.
There was an article written recently by a Taoist Master on the whole subject. I'd like to share it with all of you-especially since the author already seems to have an inkling to how beneficial Tai Chi can be for pregnancies!
http://www.taichimaster.com/dragon-tiger-qigong/can-pregnant-women-practice-dragon-tiger-qigong/
Let me know what you think!
March 22, 2010 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )