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We believe healthy people make healthy babies. Preconception planning helps you to identify the health concerns and other issues that prevent you from being the best you can be. The healthier you are, the healthier all your cells are – right down to the eggs and sperm that will form the building blocks of your baby’s very structure.
Growing evidence over the past five years indicates that maternal and paternal health at conception and maternal health during pregnancy is a strong determinant of the health status of the adults (who were formed from that conception), especially in relation to their susceptibility to obesity, adult-onset diabetes, cardiovascular disease, risk of cancer and mental health. Evidence shows that the health of both parents before and during pregnancy is strongly associated with healthy development and general health in adulthood.
It is not just women’s health that matters. Ample recent research indicates that sperm health is just as important. For example, it is known that male smokers not only have lower sperm counts and more sperm abnormalities affecting their fertility, but their partners are also more likely to experience difficulty getting pregnant and suffer increased rates of miscarriage. Also, the sperm of obese men is associated with higher rates of chromosomal abnormalities which also increases the risk of miscarriage.
We know environmental and lifestyle factors can have an effect on your health, your fertility, your pregnancy and the health of your unborn child. Everyone wants to give their children the best possible start in life. We consider preconception care to be the ultimate health insurance – taking action now that enables you to maximise both your own and your child’s future health and well-being.
Preconception care also involves learning about a healthy lifestyle in a way that is practical and easy to apply – great preparation for becoming a parent and helping you to raise the healthiest child you can!
What does it involve? Getting healthy & getting pregnant!
While you learn to recognise clear signs of fertility, our Practitioners can help you and your partner to plan for a vital pregnancy and a healthy baby, overcome fertility problems and prevent miscarriage.
Preconception care for both parents can ensure healthy sperm and eggs, and a nurturing environment to enable the best possible outcome for conception and pregnancy. Both female and male fertility problems can also be treated with natural medicine approaches and specific nutritional supplementation.
Approximately 100 days (around 3 months) is the ideal timeframe for preconception care. This is because sperm and eggs take around this long to develop or mature. It means that while they are developing/maturing they get the benefit of all the changes you are making to improve your overall health. If you are already doing IVF, it may not feel like there is time to take a break, or you may feel like some time off is just what you need. Our practitioners are able to work with you to tailor a plan that will work for you no matter where you are in your fertility journey. It is possible to continue trying to conceive or doing ART/ IVF while incorporating preconception principals as you go.
Preconception care is individually tailored to meet each couple’s/individual’s needs and may involve:
Preconception care is appropriate for prospective parents of all ages, stages of life, states of health and no matter where you are up to on your fertility journey.
