Pregnancy
Prepare for pregnancy
An important step in getting pregnant is making sure you are healthy, which you can do by making some simple lifestyle changes.
If you are healthy, the chance of complications during pregnancy is lower, and your baby is more likely to be healthy which is possible through simple lifestyle changes:
Diet - Make sure you eat a nutritious, balanced diet containing plenty of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread and pasta, and lean meat, fish and pulses for protein. Green, leafy vegetables are high in folic acid, which can help to prevent birth defects.
Weight - Egg production in women is affected if you’re over or under weight, making it harder to get pregnant. Weight problems can also make complications in pregnancy more likely. However, it is not a good idea to diet during pregnancy. Eat according to your appetite and keep an eye on your weight gain.
Smoking - Its very important to quit smoking if you’re planning on getting pregnant. Smoking can cause infertility and early menopause in women, and sperm problems in men. Its also linked to premature birth and low birth-weight babies.
Alcohol - Alcohol affects fertility. If you do not drink sensibly, it can take up to twice as long to conceive. Drinking too much also increases the risk of miscarriage and affects the quality of the mans sperm.
Drugs - Illegal drugs such as marijuana or cocaine may affect fertility, so do not use them. You should also avoid some prescription drugs if you are trying to get pregnant. Ask your GP for advice
Checks and tests - Make sure you are up-to-date with your cervical smear tests. You need to have one every three to five years depending on your age. You should also ask your GP for a blood test for anaemia, and visit your local sexual health (GUM) clinic to make sure you do not have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Infections such asClamydia may not have any symptoms, but can cause infertility if left untreated.
NHS Choices has a detailed Pregnancy Planner that offers a range of information and advice in a week-by-week guide
For further advice and information relating to pregnancy, please contact your GP, practice nurse, midwife, health visitor who will be able to assist you with any queries.
- GP
GP stands for General Practitioner. GPs are family doctors.