Maximise your health & wellbeing when trying for a baby
Midwife and fertility expert Zita West discusses the ‘2-week wait’
No-one likes to wait, especially when it’s for such a life-changing answer. Fertility expert, Zita West, says, “the 2-week wait, the time between ovulation and the time to test, is a time of great uncertainty for many women while they are waiting to test.”
As a midwife, Zita is often asked about what lifestyle changes need to be made at this stage. There are so many questions a woman may ask herself – what should I be eating? How much caffeine am I allowed? Should I say no to a glass of wine? How much exercise should I be doing?
Staying healthy and relaxed during this period is key. Pinktimeline.com is a new resource for those trying for a baby and provides details on what is happening to a woman’s body during this time along with Zita’s tips for staying healthy and relaxed.
The website even has a forum where you can connect with others who are also waiting to test and a bespoke fundraising section that allows couples to raise funds for the costs associated with trying for a baby.
In the following video, midwife and fertility expert Zita West answers some of these common questions and gives advice on areas such as diet, exercise, stress relief and positivity, suggesting small lifestyle changes that can lead to a healthier you and a healthier pregnancy. For more information visit www.pinktimeline.com
Healthy Eating
The best advice for healthy eating before conception is to keep your diet varied. Eating plenty of fruit and veg while also remembering to add protein to your diet with either pulses and beans, meat or fish, (oily fish is great and is full of Omega 3 fatty acids which are good for our hearts. mackerel, sardines and salmon for example.) Pasta, potatoes and rice are a good way of adding some energy giving starch. Wholemeal bread or wholemeal pasta or brown rice are the best options. Try to avoid foods with a high fat or sugar content.
Snacking: If you find yourself hungry in-between meals try eating fresh fruits or raisins, the best idea is to prepare foods in advance. wash your fruit or veg well, chop into little pieces and store in tupper ware containers for snacking on later. Try having cereals handy, they are full of vitamins and minerals and folic acid. Serve with some chopped fruit or dried fruit and lashings of milk. Make a pack of healthy wholemeal cheese salad sandwiches to eat later. Always remember to drink plenty of water. Try to cut down on your coffee intake and caffeine in general, try decaffeinate drinks or give herbal tea a chance, YOU MIGHT JUST BE SURPRISED. It is also advisable to steer away from alcohol, or at least cut down as much as possible. Now is a good time to start giving up any smoking habits as this can have detrimental effects on your baby's health. Foods to avoid during pregnancy are: Liver, unpasteurized products such as some soft cheeses, Paté, Raw or partially cooked eggs, Avoid eating any shark, swordfish and marlin. Limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna steaks a week (weighing about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna a week (with a drained weight of about 140g per can). This is because of the levels of mercury in these fish. At high levels, mercury can harm a baby's developing nervous system. Also avoid Raw or undercooked meats. Wash hands very well after handling raw meats. It is advisable if you are trying for a baby to start avoiding these food types now, as you may be in the early stages of pregnancy and not know for the first few weeks. For more advice go to Eat Well.gov.uk Healthy eating during pregnancy is one of the key elements to a comfortable and enjoyable pregnancy, not only are you providing the very best nutrients for your growing baby, you also help yourself keep free from common complaints such as constipation during pregnancy.
NHS Direct.National Health service advice freely available online for all your health concerns.
Emma's Diary, Help and advice through pregnancy, birth and care for newborn.Find out what is happening to your body from the very first weeks of pregnancy, right through to when you finally meet your baby.
Fertility Friend.The Leading Destination for Women Trying To Conceive
Bounty. Help and advice in pregnancy, birth and care for newborn.
ThinkBaby UK advises and supports from pre-conception to parenthood. Subjects include conception, pregnancy, birth, post-natal, babies and toddlers. Lifestyle, fashion, health and sexual issues, product reviews, picture gallery, best photos competitions, shops and forum. ThinkBaby writers: experienced parenting journalists, mums and dads, health experts. If you think about babies, join the club!
Mother and Baby Magazine.Trying for a baby, pregnancy to birth, babies to toddlers you'll find everything you need here at UK's leading parenting magazine online.
AskBaby. We provide information relating to getting pregnant, being pregnant and parenting. You'll find everything from medical advice to baby names to reviews of baby items.
Baby Talk, all About Babies: Conception, Pregnancy, The Birth Of Your Baby, Illnesses And Babycare.
Pregnancy Weekly Track your pregnancy week by week with your pregnancy calendar, count down to your due date, and connect with other moms in your birth club community.
I village, Pregnancy and baby section.Find information and answers on getting pregnant, being pregnant, giving birth, parenting and how to cope. Ask experts and talk to other parents on ivillage pregnancy and baby.
Netmums is a local network for mums by mums with a wealth of information and advice on being a mum or dad with young children in your home town.
ACeBabes- National support group for parents of children born after fertility treatment.
Adoption net. Thinking of adoption? This is the web site for you to get all the advice needed.
Pregnancy is split into three distinct stages, each very diferent. They are known as the first, second and third trimester and have unique physical changes and emotional stages during each phase.
The First Trimester
This is the first stage of pregnancy, the first 12 weeks. These are often the most critical for the new mother, as there is a heightened chance of miscarriage. New mothers can feel very anxious or inadequate - even feeling frightened and what lies ahead. These are all very normal feelings! Other women may feel very happy and relieved if they have been trying to conceive for a time. Once the pregnancy has been confirmed the new mum should seek medical help and support with baby questions and answers. Your doctor or health professional will be able to offer advice and reassurance and also speak to you to establish whether any risks such as hereditary issues should be explored. They will also talk to you about the `do`s and don`ts` of this part of the pregnancy - obvious ones include not smoking, not drinking, cutting out soft cheeses, raw eggs and other higher risk items. You may find that you experience morning sickness in this phase - it`s unpleasant, but will pass. Speak to your doctor if it is becoming problematic - there are also natural remedies you can try such as ginger. Be careful not to use products such as essential oils or chemical hair colourants without seeking advice first though - they are generally not advised for use by pregnant women. Speak to your doctor about supplements to take for your baby - folic acid is the classic one and a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral may be advised if you are deficient in any key nutrients.
Second Trimester
This is often described as being the most enjoyable stage, as women have become used to the feeling of being pregnant and their bodies are used to the changes associated with it - so fatigue and other symptoms such as morning sickness should stop. After the first 12 weeks, women generally make their pregnancy public - and they start to show too! It`s usually the time to start buying maternity clothes and it`s a good time to take a holiday before it becomes too uncomfortable or risky to travel. Keep taking any supplements that your health professional has recommended and keep your stress levels low. It`s important to relax and to stay healthy by exercising gently and eating a healthy diet.
Third Trimester
This third stage is the period building up to your baby`s birth! It`s normal to experience mixed emotions at this stage - worry at being a good mother or fear of the birth are very common. It`s a great time to confide in other mothers or trusted friends at this stage - and your midwife too will be a great sense of health. Make sure you are attending ante-natal classes. Gentle yoga, walking and aqua-aerobics are also great relaxants and beneficial for your health. You`ll have a due date now, but bear in mind it may change - first pregnancies in particular are often late. It can be deflating waiting for the big date - go first to see the hospital and know where you`re going. You may also have options for a water birth or other natural birth methods - speak to your doctor about options available to you. Some mothers choose to have home births with a midwife present, or drug-free labours, but don`t feel under pressure. You`ll probably be in nesting mode by this stage too - getting the house and nursery clean. This will focus your mind on the exciting journey to come!
