HOW TO PREPARE FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY
It all begins with an idea.
Soooo… you and your partner (or just yourself) have decided to start planning for a baby. Congratulations! You have already embarked on your prenatal journey! I want to share a few quick holistic tips and tricks to help prepare you not only for a healthy conception but pregnancy as a whole. It is never too early to start preparing for this major life event! Remember to always consult your Doctor before taking any outside advice.
Start a prenatal vitamin - Your body is soon to take on an amazing but huge responsibility of creating life. Let’s make sure your body has all the proper nutrients! I highly recommend RITUAL essential prenatal vitamin. Ritual uses a no-nausea design capsule that includes 12 essential vitamins to help prepare you for a healthy pregnancy. They are also non GMO, vegan anddd they smell like lemons…yummm. Whether you use Ritual or another brand, make sure to find a brand that uses clean ingredients and includes key vitamins such as DHA, Folic acid and Iron.
Maca Root - Maca is a superfood adaptogenic that comes from the Andes mountain range in central Peru. For centuries, Maca root has been eaten by indigenous South American people for many health benefits including increasing fertility. It has since gained a ton of popularity all around the world for its magical properties. Many consider Maca to be a ‘miracle food’ especially for women! It contains a vast amount of minerals and nutrients that help with hormonal balance (which includes increasing libido *wink wink*). Maca root is not recommended while pregnant. Read more on Maca root and fertility HERE.
Exercise - Pregnancy, labor, delivery and recovery are some of the most challenging events a woman’s body will ever endure. Training your body for these events, however, puts you at an advantage to make your pregnancy healthier and EASIER. Exercise is proven to minimize back aches, risk of gestational diabetes, morning sickness, access weight gain and lowers risk of medical interventions during delivery. It is also an amazing way to boost your energy and mood - not to mention help with a quicker recovery. So why before pregnancy? When you become pregnant, you can continue your same workout routines prior to pregnancy, as long as they are safe and follow the ACOG guidelines. If you were not active however, you’ll have to start slow into a routine and you may not have the energy or motivation to workout. Exercise is also linked to increasing fertility in women and men.
Nutrition - It is vital to have a well balanced diet full of organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains and good fats. A diet rich in iron, folate and vitamins A,B,C & D are all linked to increased fertility. Click here for a quick list of my go-to foods that are great for fertility. I also highly recommend reading Awakening Fertility and Real Food for Pregnancy. Now is the time to decrease and/or eliminate processed and junk food from your diet. I am not a registered dietician so always consult your Dr before starting any diet plans.
Raspberry Leaf Tea - Raspberry leaf is traditionally used as a reproductive tonic. It contains vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, niacin, selenium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E. When made into a tea or infusion, these nutrients are made easily available to our bodies. Raspberry leaf balances hormones and helps to prepare the body for ovulation when taken during the follicular phase. For best results, should drink 2 to 3 cups daily starting on day 1 of your cycle, and stop during ovulation. If pregnant, wait to drink raspberry leaf tea until after the 2nd trimester.
Spark Joy - Clean out the clutter! Envision your life and home with your sweet baby and create your perfect space. While you don’t have the hormones or back aches, use this time to tackle any big organization or decluttering projects. Decluttering and maintaining a clean and organized home has amazing mood boosting effects that reduce stress and anxiety. Less stress = higher chances of conception. Surround your self with people, things and experiences that spark joy and make you feel like your best self. There is no room for toxicity when preparing and bringing new life into this world! This is your opportunity to create the positive space you desire.
All in all, sometimes pregnancy can happen at the most unexpected moment and that’s ok! It is the most natural part of life to create, birth and nurture. Don’t over think it :). If you are planning or thinking of growing your family however, hopefully this mini guide was helpful in your preparation needs. Would love to hear your thoughts or questions!
Happy planning :)
Dani