Optional: Preconception Health and Further Resources
Please Note: We will be discussing hormonal health in greater detail in Week 7. For appropriate information on optimising your hormonal health, I recommend working closely with both your primary healthcare provider (western medical model) and a naturopath, chinese medicine doctor or herbalist who specialises in womens health.
PREPARE AT LEAST THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE
The process of folliculogenesis (the growth of follicles inside the ovaries), is a lengthy process. It takes around a year for follicles to grow from a primary follicle right through to a mature follicle – with the majority of this growth occurring during the last three months prior to ovulation.
The process of spermatogenesis (the growth of sperm within the testes) also takes around three months to complete.
Because of this, it is recommended that couples who are trying to conceive begin taking a prenatal and implementing healthy diet and lifestyle changes at least three months prior to trying to conceive. This applies to the male partner just as much as it does to the woman.
It is recommended to work closely with your primary health care provider and a Naturopath/Herbalist/Chinese Medicine Doctor to obtain advice and high-quality prenatal supplements to ensure you are starting the conception process with good nutrient stores. This is especially important if you have recently discontinued hormonal contraceptives, which have been shown to interfere with micronutrient absorption in the body.
THE BASICS OF PRECONCEPTION HEALTHCARE
This course is not intended to provide any medical advice. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider extensively before trying to conceive.
You may wish to discuss the below information with your healthcare provider:
- Your (and your partner’s) age and how many children you would like to have (an interval of 2 – 5 years between pregnancies is optimal for maternal and foetal health).
- Any preexisting medical conditions that may impact conception, pregnancy and birth. These can include diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, obesity, depression, eating disorders, and asthma. It’s important to find out how you can best manage these conditions while pregnant.
- Any medications you are currently taking (including over-the-counter drugs, herbals, supplements and prescription drugs). Some drugs can cause serious harm to a growing foetus and should be discontinued well in advance of conceiving. Your healthcare provider will be able to provide further advice. Some drugs such as NSAIDs can disrupt the process of ovulation and delay conception.
- Genetic screening. Some couples have strong reasons to seek out genetic screening prior to trying to conceive.
- Sexually transmissable infections screening.
- Cervical screening.
- Infectious diseases screening.
You may wish to discuss lifestyle health factors such as:
- A healthy diet
- Supplementation. It’s recommended to purchase a high-quality prenatal supplement to take for at least three months prior to conceiving. Try to select a supplement containing folate (as opposed to folic acid). Supplements sourced from reputable naturopaths/ herbalists / traditional chinese medicine doctors are likely to be of a higher quality than that available at your local pharmacy.
- Dietary restrictions. Most providers will recommend to avoid Vitamin A/retinol and mercury-containing fish and reduce caffeine due to risks to the foetus.
- Weight and exercise: Providers will advise whether you need to make any changes to your existing exercise regime to optimise your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.
- Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Your provider will likely counsel you to avoid and/or limit these substances when trying to conceive and while pregnant.
- Domestic violence and mental health. Providers are likely to counsel you to ensure that you are in a safe relationship that will not harm your chances of conception and pregnancy. They may also recommend management approaches for any mental health issues.
- Environmental exposures: Your provider may check whether you or your partner are exposed to heavy metals, pesticides and endocrine disruptors due to your occupation.
Preparation for conception should also include your male partner. Ideally, both of you will implement healthy changes for a minimum of three months prior to conception. Keep in mind that this is the minimum recommended amount of time to prepare for pregnancy – the more time you both spend optimising your health, the better.
For further detailed information about all of the above, please visit your healthcare provider before trying to conceive to ensure that you are receiving accurate and safe information.
FURTHER RESOURCES
For further information on optimal prenatal and pregnancy health and nutrition, I recommend the following books:
If you are hoping to become pregnant and wanting to learn more about natural physiological birth, postpartum and breastfeeding, you may enjoy the following websites, podcasts, books and social media accounts. Please keep in mind that these accounts are not affiliated with Fertility Charting nor do they necessarily share the same values. Fertility Charting may not necessarily agree with, and is not responsible for, any of the content that you will find on these accounts:
Podcasts:
- Australian Birth Stories
- Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
- The Birth Hour
- The Pregnancy Podcast
- Indie Birth
- Circle of Birth
- Rockstar Birth Radio
- Doing It At Home
Websites:
- Evidence Based Birth
- Spinning Babies
- Homebirth Australia
- Birthing Wisdom
- Midwife Thinking
- Gentle Birth
- Hypno Babies
- Hypnobirthing Australia
- The Bradley Method
Books:
- Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
- Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
- The Doula’s Guide to Empowering Your Birth
- How to Heal a Bad Birth
- Natural Health After Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness
- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
- The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions and Restoring Your Vitality
- Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth: The New Mom’s Guide to Navigating the Fourth Trimester
Instagram Accounts: (try searching for midwives and doulas near you to find more)
- @ebbirth
- @blissful.herbs
- @karlismith.doula
- @the_kerrie_adams
- @meaghan_amor_doula_
- @michellepalasia
- @birthwithoutfear
- @empoweredbirthproject
- @slowpostpartum
- @postpartumstress
- @birthbecomesher
- @birthofamama
- @thebirthhour
- @badassmotherbirther
- @the_angela_gallo
- @indiebirth
- @maternalinstinctsbyamberley
Documentaries:
- The Business of Being Born
- The Milky Way
- The Face of Birth
- Birth Story (Ina May Gaskin)
- Birth Time (coming soon)
- 662 (coming soon)
Breastfeeding Resources
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