On Mother’s Day, we often think about all the care, effort and love we’ve received from our Mum’s during our lives. But what about before we came into being? There is a huge amount of planning and consideration that goes into the time prior to conception. And rightly so – it is a crucial stage in the quest to create a healthy, happy baby. Indeed, something to be thankful for.
By Anthia Koullouros, Naturopath
Preconception care is a combined effort by both parents to ensure the health of their new baby. It encourages the general health of both parents, that of the female and male reproductive organs, the health of the sperm and ova, easy conception, healthy pregnancy, foetal development, healthy birthing, bonding and breast feeding and the ultimate health of the baby.
Since sperm and eggs are also cells of the body, they receive the same nutrients and toxins as any other cell. It takes 3 months for an egg and a sperm to mature; with this in mind, any changes to diet and environment must be at least this length – ideally 6 months or longer for these changes to have a positive effect.
Processed foods, nutritional deficiencies, cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, environmental pollution, lack of exercise, stress, oral contraceptives, genito-urinary & other infections, allergies, child bearing at an older age and stress are all factors that may be harmful to sperm, ova, health of the male and female reproductive organs, general health of both parents, and in turn the health of the baby.
A relevant recent example is this article detailing the link between home pesticides and childhood cancers – a sobering correlation.
Preconception considerations: (implement at least 3 months prior to conception – 6 months to 1 year is most ideal)
1. Overcome emotional barriers to conception e.g. fear of birthing, financial or career changes.
2. Review current supplements, over the counter and prescription medication with your practitioner.
3. Address any infections e.g. sinus or genito-urinary as these are difficult to address in pregnancy & many medications may be contraindicated.
4. Address reproductive disorders that may contribute to infertility.
5. Come off the oral contraceptive pill and detox in order to stimulate your own natural hormonal cycles.
6. Fertility awareness. Get to know your menstrual cycle and reproductive health in order to create a healthy menstrual rhythm and easy conception.
7. See your GP to have a blood test. For females, check general biochemistry haematology, glucose, autoimmune disease, genetic predispositions, liver function, rubella, STD (sexually transmitted disease), rubella, toxoplasma, beta-haemolytic strep status and nutrients (including Vitamin D, Iron, Folate, B12 and Zinc). For males, check the same except rubella as well as a Semen analysis test.
8. See your health practitioner to have a salivary hormone analysis test to measure adrenal and reproductive hormones. Difference between saliva and serum for hormones https://www.healthscopepathology.com.au/index.php/functional-pathology/tests/saliva-vs-serum/
9. Dental check up to address any underlying issues or removal of amalgams.
10. Pap smear, for obvious reasons!
11. See your practitioner to have a hair mineral analysis test to assess heavy metal toxins and mineral status.
12. Come off and detox: caffeine, sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, recreational drugs additives, chemicals in your environment and exogenous hormones (oestrogen mimicking substances as found in plastics, food and environment). Support this process with the use of herbal medicines as prescribed by your herbalist or Naturopath.
13. Come off processed foods, eat whole fresh foods and hydrate well. Consider the source and processing. Choose organic whole foods to eliminate as many chemicals as possible. Eat both animal and plant material to complete the nutritional picture – we are omnivores.
14. Create a healthy, daily rhythm: wake with the sun, wind down with the sun and sleep by 10pm in order to establish healthy circadian rhythms for hormonal health, healing and stress management.
15. Move your body to increase fitness, oxygenation, detoxification and circulation.
16. Gain an Education on what we are designed to eat for healthy conception and pregnancy. My favorite authors in this field are: Chris Kresser, Sally Fallon’s The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child and Katie Singer’s Garden of Fertility
Whether you’re hoping to create new life or simply enhance your own, eating like you’re already pregnant (or trying to conceive, for males) is a wonderful gateway to exuberant health for yourself and your future kids!
By Anthia Koullouros
www.ovvioorganics.com.au
See Anthia Koullouros speak LIVE at Rescu. Me! The Ultimate Life Makeover Event
