Trouble Conceiving?

Posted By admin on April 18, 2010

Vitamins and Minerals Help to Get Pregnant!

If you are seeking help to get pregnant you may be feeling a little overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information available on which vitamins and minerals to take. That they are vital in achieving our goal of a heathy baby however, there is no doubt. In many of the books giving advice on how to get pregnant a high quality “preconception care” product is recommended that contains higher than normal dosages of “certain minerals”. But which product should be chosen?

Zinc deficiency is cited as being strongly linked to infertility and so checking you have the right levels of zinc is also recommended by many pregnancy experts to help to get pregnant. Pyrroloquinoline quinone or (PPQ), a recently discovered vitamin, has been linked to having a role in fertility. The research however was carried out on PPQ-deprived mice and, since humans and mice have vastly different pregnancy mechanisms,it is thought now that there is no definitive evidence that PPQ can help to get pregnant.

It is my opinion however that the vitmains and minerals needed not only to help to get pregnant but to have a healthy pregnancy are mainly found in adequate supply in a balanced diet.

Eating a balanced diet before pregnancy means that your body has all the stores of vitamins and minerals it needs to help to get pregnant, carry a baby to full term and produce a beautiful baby. A nutritious, well-balanced diet that will help to get pregnant includes:

-plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions per day), which provide vitamins and fibre.

-starchy foods such as potatoes and whole grain cereals, bread and pasta-protein such as lean meat, fish and pulses

-dairy foods such as milk and yoghurt, which supply calcium.

It is best to limit your intake of sugary, salty and fatty foods.

There are certain foods that you should not eat pre-pregnancy because they may make you ill or harm the baby if you were to fall pregnant. This includes unpasteurised dairy products, liver and large quantites of vitamin A such as fish liver oils, unpasteurised dairy products, raw or soft cooked eggs, pates, soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, blue cheeses such as stilton or roquefort, swordfish, marlin or shark, any more than two tuna steaks (170g raw) or four tins of tuna (140g drained) per week.

Folic acid, although it will not directly help to get pregnant, is the ONLY pre-pregnancy vitamin I would recommend for women who are eating a balanced diet. You need adeaquate amounts of folic acid to reduce the risk of your baby being born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. It is important that you start to take folic as soon as you start trying for a baby. The recommended dose is 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) daily in addition to the recommended intake of 200 micrograms (0.2mg) in your diet. Good sources of folic acid include dark green, fresh vegetables such as broccoli, peas, brussels sprouts and chick peas. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and it is also found in wholemeal bread.

The aim of this article has ben to show that the vitamins and minerals that help to get pregnant and make for a healthy pregnancy are found in a balanced diet. This has hopefully taken away the confusion surrounding which vitamins and minerals to take. The only pre-pregnancy supplement needed is folic acid, not so much for it’s help to get pregnant but for the reduction in neural tube deficiencies it affords to the babies of those who take it.

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Tags: having trouble getting pregnant, how to get pregnant, increase chances of getting pregnant, pregnancy miracle, tips on getting pregnant, trouble conceiving

Posted By admin on April 16, 2010

Can Pregnant Men Workout?

Now we all know that there is no such thing as a pregnant man… unless you are a seahorse, but the question of whether pregnant people, namely women, can work out is one that needs to be answered.

There are some people out there that say pregnant women should not exercise. This is the farthest thing from the truth. In fact it is important for pregnant women to exercise. Not only does it keep the mother in shape and healthier, but it can actually help during the birth as well as speed up the recovery time after. Women should exercise while they are pregnant, but just like all other activities change when a woman is pregnant so does the exercises that are safest and best to do.

Exercising before you have your baby will speed up the recovery process after you have your baby. If you keep your muscles strong and in shape then they will help your body recover quicker after birth. Also if you have stronger muscles while you are going through labor your body will be stronger and have more energy, and the more energy the better when going through labor.

Here are some great exercises that are safe and can be done while pregnant.

1. Walking – Walking is actually one of the best overall exercises, even if you are not pregnant. Walking is extremely good for you and is a great low key workout. Do not just walk like you are walking out to your car. Put a little hop in your step and walk for the purpose of exercise. If you have a dog it is a great way to get two things done at once. Exercise and walk the dog.

2. Jogging – Jogging is very effective and safe for the baby inside you. Jogging can tend to get more difficult as the pregnancy progress due to the weight you may be carrying, but it is generally safe the whole way through.

3. Swimming – Swimming is an excellent exercise that can take all the weight off your joints. Sometimes carrying the extra weight can bring pain and stress to the knees and ankles. Swimming is an amazing way to continue to exercise but reduce that pain.

4. Abdominal Exercises – Abdominal Exercises are excellent strengthening for labor and recovery. The only caution with abdominal exercises is lying on your back. This can reduce blood pressure and blood flow to the baby. It is suggested to do abdominal exercises that do not require you do lie on your back. This means sit ups and crunches are not a good idea. There are still tons of great abdominal workouts you can do on your feet or on all fours.

There are a few activities that you should avoid if you are pregnant. Namely try to avoid any activities that may cause you to stumble or fall. Cycling, skiing, snowboarding, sports which include contact or a lot of movement like tennis, volleyball, soccer and more can pose a danger of falling, jarring or injuring you or the baby inside. As your pregnancy progresses the activities you can participate in will decrease.

This article was meant to let you know exercise is generally okay when pregnant, and give you ideas of exercises you can do. This is not meant to be advice or counsel in any way. Always consult your doctor or midwife before exercising to verify the exercises you want to do are okay for your specific situation.

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Tags: having trouble getting pregnant, how to get pregnant, increase chances of getting pregnant, pregnancy miracle, tips on getting pregnant, trouble conceiving