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What is Folic acid?

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You have probably heard of folic acid before. Many ladies take folic acid when trying to conceive and during the first trimester of pregnancy. So what is Folic acid and what are the benefits?

Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9 and is very important for the development of a healthy foetus, as it can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida.

It is strongly recommended that ladies should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid for at least a month before they are trying to conceive and for at least the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as during this time the baby’s spine is developing. It is safe to continue taking folic acid supplements after 12 weeks and you will often find folic acid in pregnancy vitamins.

If you didn’t take folic acid supplements before getting pregnant, you should start taking them as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. You can get folic acid tablets from large supermarkets, health food stores, or on prescription from your GP.

Although you can get folic acid from green, leafy vegetables, brown rice, granary bread, and breakfast cereals, it would be almost impossible to get your required daily allowance from food alone and the only way to be sure you are getting the right amount is by taking a supplement.

Are you in the High Risk Category of Neural tube defects?

Some ladies have an increased chance of being affected by a neural tube defect, for these ladies they are often advised to take a higher dose of 5 milligrams (5mg) of folic acid each day until they are 12 weeks pregnant.

You could be classed as high risk if you can relate to any of the following;

  • You have diabetes
  • you or your partner have a neural tube defect
  • you previously had a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect
  • you or your partner have a family history of neural tube defects

Always check with your GP before taking any vitamins as the m be able to prescribe you with one or recommend one to you.

If any of the above applies to you, talk to your GP as they can prescribe a higher dose of folic acid. Your GP could also recommend additional screening tests during pregnancy if they feel it is necessary.

Say Goodbye to Birth Control

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So… you are coming off your birth control? I had been on the contraceptive pill for 12 years and I was worried to find out who I really was. Did the pill make me less of a psychopath or did the pill make me more of a psychopath? I had been on it that long I wasn’t sure how it would go and if my fiancé would still want to marry me once he met the real me.

Luckily when I came off the pill I found that I was a lot more chilled out and although my periods lasted about a week instead of the usual 3 days, I was an all-round happier person … so the wedding still went ahead…. Thank god.

Now I am back on the pill I have my psychopathic tendencies and split personality back…. Oh I missed her.

What to expect when coming off your birth control?

  • Mood swings are a possibility. Many women do complain about moodiness after quitting birth control whereas a lot of women feel a lot less moody when coming off the pill. Either way there is a chance of a change so… warn your partner.
  • You may find your boobs get sore. The reason for this is stopping birth control means that ovulation is beginning to take place again which means that your boobs are ready to begin the process of making milk if need be.
  • Cramps in your left or right side of your tummy half way through your menstrual cycle indicate that you are ovulating. These aren’t usually too painful but enough to notice them.
  • If you had heavy periods before they may come back as heavy as they once were before. The reason for this is because most forms of birth control suppress ovulation therefore when you stop taking birth control, ovulation resumes just as it did before.
  • Your sex drive is through the roof. When you go on to the pill you are physiologically aware that you can have sex anytime you like however birth control leads to a dramatic drop in testosterone which leads to a reduced libido.
  • It could be bad news for ladies that previously suffered with acne, there is a chance you will experience breakouts again as your levels of hormones will change.
  • Expect irregular periods. Some ladies go on to birth control to regulate their periods. When you come off of birth control, you could experience erratic periods, an unpredictable amount of days each cycle lasts, and unexplained spotting between periods.

Remember that as soon as you stop taking birth control you could get pregnant.

Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

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It is important to be as healthy as you can when planning on getting pregnant. Being a healthy weight and healthy in general increases your chances of fertility. Are you a healthy weight? Do you exercise regularly? Do you take the necessary vitamins?

You can make an appointment with your doctor to have a pre-conception check-up. Your doctor may be able to identify some areas that can be improved. Your doctor could advise you to lose a little weight or he or she may give you some ideas to reduce your stress levels, all the information the doctor gives you will be a step towards your pregnancy body. If you have any previous medical conditions that may affect any chances of conceiving your doctor will be able to advise you accordingly.
Say NO to Unhealthy habits
Saying goodbye to bad habits will not only increases your chances of getting pregnant but also helps to ensure that your baby is healthy which means less risk or a premature baby.
Eat a well-balanced diet
Weight plays a huge impact on fertility. Being overweight can cause the body to produce too much estrogen which affects reproductive system, being underweight strongly affects your fertility too and may stop you from ovulating at all. It is important to eat a healthy well balanced diet especially if you are overweight. Being overweight means that you could not only face fertility issues but there is an increased risk of experiencing a miscarriage, having a preterm birth, stillbirth, preeclampsia, and your baby having birth defects.
Take the right supplementsStart taking the correct prenatal vitamins at least 1 months before you start trying to conceive, and continue taking the vitamins throughout your pregnancy. They should contain at least 400 mcg of folic acid to reduce the risks of neural tube defects.

Get Moving
Many people forget that pushing out a baby takes stamina, strength and endurance. Exercising before and during pregnancy can get your body ready for the challenge. Walking, jogging or swimming for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three days a week will help to get your body in check before the big delivery.

Maternity leave
Make sure you are aware of your company’s maternity policy and check you have been there long enough to be entitled to maternity pay but also ensure that you could live off what you will be getting before you commit to having a child, having a child isn’t cheap.

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Healthy Pre-Pregnancy Diet

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Once you decide to get pregnant you need to focus on your health. It is important to make sure your body is ready. Boost your chances of conceiving and eat your way to a healthy pregnancy. Start today…

First things first… no matter how balanced your diet is, it’s still important to take prenatal vitamins to help towards a healthy baby. Many medical experts recommend that women wanting to get pregnant start taking folic acid at least one month before trying.

Eat your fruit and veg

Fruit and veg are great for providing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, and getting enough of certain nutrients is so important when trying to conceive. Vegetables like spinach, lettuce, asparagus, and broccoli are high in the B vitamin folate. (Folic acid is the synthetic form.) and can prevent your baby from many illnesses.

Vitamin C – Helps your body absorb iron more easily. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables containing vitamin C such as citrus fruit, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes. A good way of getting a good mix of fruit and veg is to eat “the colours of a rainbow” in it.

Ditch the Caffeine

There’s some evidence that if you consume large amounts of caffeine it can interfere with fertility. Medical experts do feel that 2 cups of coffee a day shouldn’t affect fertility. Caffeine has been linked to miscarriages so it is vital to cut down where you can. I used to love my coffee but bought decaf coffee to get me through my pregnancy.

Fish at least once a week

Research suggests that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps regulate ovulation, improve egg quality, and even delay aging of the ovaries.

Omega-3s is also important during pregnancy as many experts believe that it helps with a baby’s brain and eye development. It also can lower your risk of preterm birth and reduces your chances of getting preeclampsia.

Fish that contain mercury can be harmful to a baby’s developing brain and nervous system therefore it is important to cut down where possible. Fish that contain mercury are as follows; canned light tuna, salmon, shrimp, cod, tilapia, and catfish.

Pump some Iron

Fill up on iron reserves before you get pregnant. Make sure you get plenty of iron now because once you’re pregnant, it’s difficult for your body to maintain its iron level because your developing baby and placenta use up your iron stores.

Eat whole grains

Eat as many nutrient-rich foods as possible, and whole grains are extremely important. Bran cereal, oatmeal, brown rice, or whole wheat bread are all a great source of whole grains.

Try and switch your white bread, white pasta and white rice to whole grain as it is much better for you.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol

Avoid alcohol where possible. The odd glass of wine or pint of beer should not affect your chances of conceiving but constant heavy nights and regular drinking can increase your chances of having a miscarriage during pregnancy.

Be aware of listeria

Listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate meats, soft cheeses, and unpasteurized dairy products. Eating something with listeria can cause a miscarriage before you are even aware that you are pregnant.

Avoid listeria by using a heat on high risk foods in the microwave and cook until they’re steaming hot. Throw away any food that’s been at room temperature for 2 hours or more.

The foods to avoid arel sushi, raw fish, refrigerated smoked seafood, soft cheese made from unpasteurized milk, any other unpasteurized dairy products, and refrigerated pâté or meat spreads.

So …You Want to Get Pregnant?

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You have decided it’s time to start your family…. HOW EXCITING!!! You’re daydreaming about all the lovely things you will experience with your new bundle of joy… from pushing your pram through the park in summer to cosy nights in at Christmas time. You are very excited and so you should be.
Getting pregnant seems pretty straight forward, you have sex and then get pregnant then have your baby…. right? Unfortunately, it isn’t always as straightforward as that and there are many things to consider when trying for a baby.
First Things First – Stop your birth control
It’s time to come off any birth control. Some women are fertile as soon as they stop taking birth control where as other women take a little longer to return to normal. A good sign that you are ovulating is when your periods return to a normal cycle. You can monitor your periods in your own calendar or there are many apps available to help you. If you do not have a period for 3 months visit your doctor. This does not mean that anything is wrong, it is just important to get checked out and make sure everything is ok.
Timing
If you and your partner have sex a lot that’s great and an excellent start to having a baby, because no sex means no baby, however timing is key when trying for a baby.  How do you know you are doing it on the days that matter? It is extremely important to find out when you are ovulating especially if you want to conceive as quickly as possible. There are a few ways to try and calculate your ovulation dates. You can our ovulation calculator to predict when you are at your most fertile. Another often quicker option that many ladies swear by is the home-ovulation predictor kits.
Get Your Vitamins
Before trying to conceive it is highly recommended to start taking the correct pre-natal vitamins. The vitamins help with boosting your chances of fertility and help towards a healthy baby.
Look After Dad
Do not forget it doesn’t just take one mummy on her own to get pregnant, it takes a daddy too. It is also very important that your partner is being as healthy as possible to ensure his swimmers have the best chance of reaching that egg.
Previous pregnancy’s
If you have had previous pregnancy’s resulting in miscarriages, premature births or any complications, it is worth speaking to your doctor before trying to get pregnant to see if there is anything they could recommend or if there is anything to be aware of.
Do not Panic
It can take a while to get pregnant and just because you have not got pregnant in the first few months does not mean there is something wrong with you. It is important not to worry and to relax. Stress can make it more difficult to conceive so just enjoy trying to make a baby with your partner and the rest will follow..

So What Affects Your Fertility?
Abnormalities of the Uterus
There are many different abnormalities of the uterus including; endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids and scarring of the uterus these can all affect fertility however although your chances could be lower when trying to get pregnant It does not make it impossible and I know a lot of people that have gone on to conceive naturally. It is important to speak to your GP when you decide you want to start trying for a baby so that the can offer you the correct advise.
Smoking
Smoking is not only bad for you but it can affect fertility for men and women. A recent medical study showed that up to 13% of infertility in women is caused by smoking. It also reduces a male’s sperm count.
Weight Issues
Weight plays a huge impact on fertility. Being overweight can cause the body to produce too much estrogen which can affect the reproductive system and being underweight can stop ovulation all together. If you are concerned about your weight visit your doctor and they will advise you of a healthy weight target for you to reach.
Illnesses left untreated
Some illnesses left untreated can affect fertility for example; kidney disease, celiac disease, thyroid disease and sickle cell anaemia in men. If you think that you could have any of the listed illnesses it is important to speak with your GP so the appropriate tests can be carried out.
Age
As you get older your chances of conceiving reduce dramatically. A healthy 30-year-old has around 20 – 25 per cent chance of conceiving each month. Although the number may seem low, over the year it means that there is a 75- 85 per cent chance of getting pregnant.
Irregular Cycles
If your cycles are irregular it is more difficult to pinpoint when ovulation is taking place.

 

Pregnancy after C-section

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Did you experience a c-section with your last child? I don’t know whether it is just me but my doctor did not seem to give me much information on my future pregnancy after the c-section or perhaps he did and I was that overwhelmed with being a new mummy that I didn’t hear him… (that happened a lot) either way we all want to know our options for our growing family so we can plan ahead.

What is the procedure on pregnancy after a c- section? How long should I wait to conceive? Will I have to have a c-section next time? These are common questions that us c-section mummy’s want to know the answers to.

When Can I conceive?

Your body has been through so much during pregnancy and childbirth that the longer you leave it the better. It is generally recommended to wait at least 18 months to conceive after a c-section. This allows your body time to heal, it means there will be less chance of health complications and also allows for better planning for the next baby. Many ladies forget that a c-section is major surgery and can be a very traumatic experience, not only for you but for your body too. During a C-section delivery a lot of blood is lost (more than a vaginal delivery) therefore your iron stores can be very low afterwards, we forget that iron was also shared our baby and the placenta too. You also lose many other nutrients which will need replenishing. Replenishing nutrients isn’t something that happens instantly. Nutrients are replenished over time.

Ladies who get pregnant soon after they have given birth are more likely to suffer complications. It is advisable to wait so that the chances of any problems are low and the scar has time to heal.

Pregnant already? Do not worry 18 months is just a guideline and this allows your body to make a full recovery. You may have decided that your age does not allow you to wait a full 18 months and that is fine. It is likely that you will just be closely monitored by your doctor or midwife.

Vaginal or C-section

Pregnancy after a c-section doesn’t mean that just because you had a C-section previously you necessarily have to have all your future babies via c-section. A lot of ladies who have previously had a c-section have gone on to have a normal vaginal birth. It may mean that you require extra medical attention during pregnancy to ensure that everything is happening exactly how it should but a vaginal birth is a possibility. Unfortunately, some ladies aren’t lucky enough to have a choice and the only way they can deliver is via c-section.

How to Tell if You’re Ovulating?

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So you’ve decided that you want a baby, this is such an exciting time for you and your partner. You will need to make sure you are having plenty of sex when you are ovulating but… how do you know when you are ovulating?

Well there are many ways to tell that you are ovulating some of which are as follows;

  • The ovulation pain. Some ladies experience a sudden constant pain in their lower abdomen. This should not be too painful but more of a mild sensation This is an indication that one of your ovaries have released an egg ready for fertilisation. If the pain you are experiencing a strong pain it should be investigated by your GP right away, especially if you’re trying to conceive.
  • Drop in body temperature. To notice a drop in your body temperature, to check ovulation this way you will need to take your temperature every morning at the same time preferably as soon as you wake up. This is also known as charting. Charting is a key role in understanding your cycle and getting to know what your body. If you haven’t yet began charting your cycle, this information won’t be helpful for this cycle. You will need a basal thermometer. These are specifically designed for measuring slighter than normal fluctuations in temperature. They are accurate to +/-0.05 degrees centigrade, measuring to two decimal places. There are several ‘fertility’ thermometers on the market these days, but you don’t want to get ripped off so as long as it’s a basal thermometer, you’ll be fine. After ovulation, you will notice your temperature normally rises, and stays that way until your next period. If you become pregnant, your temperature stays higher. This is how some women know when to expect their period, noting a drop in temperature around the time their period is due.
  • Cervical Mucus – This is known as the most reliable of ovulation symptoms. Cervical mucus changes when you are at infertile and fertile stages of your cycle After a period, cervical mucus will start off typically dry before becoming sticky, then creamy, then watery, then just as you are at your most fertile it becomes clear, slippery and stretchy (it has been compared to raw egg white before).
  • Online Ovulation Calculator – You can use an online ovulation calculator to predict the days you are most likely to be ovulating by entering
  • Use an Ovulation Prediction Kit. Ovulation prediction kits can be purchased online, from your pharmacy or the larger supermarkets. An ovulation prediction kit works quite like a pregnancy test, however it indicates that you will be ovulating in the next 12-24 hours. Time to go make a baby!
  • Ovulation Microscopes (Saliva Test) Ovulation microscopes can also be purchased online and from pharmacies. They enable you to observe the pattern of a dry saliva sample when you’re fertile.

 

I’m Ovulating

Ok so now you are aware that you are ovulating… now what? Well I can’t put it more bluntly than this.. “Hurry up and go and get frisky” and hopefully it will result in a pregnancy. Once you begin ovulation you only have a short window to conceive so make sure you have a lot of sex.  It is important to keep sex fun and exciting and not to let it get too regimental. You could always treat yourself to some sexy lingerie, I’m pretty sure your man would love that.

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