Planning to conceive? Here are the ways to boost your fertility

The goal of preconception care checkup is to find things that could affect ones pregnancy Identifying these factors before pregnancy allows you to take steps that can increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby Before you plan pregnancy you need to modify your lifestyle stop medications if contraindicated in pregnancy and inquire about any family history of diseases which can affect your pregnancy and should be taken care ofDr Aruna Kalra Director and Senior Gynaecologist Surgeon at C K Birla Hospital says If you are planning to become pregnant it is a good idea to have a preconception care checkup The first 8 weeks of pregnancy is a key for the foetus growing inside you Most of the foetuss major organs and body systems have begun to form Your health and nutrition can affect your fetusrsquos growth and development in these early weeksGood dietYour body needs a regular supply of nutrients to grow replace wornout tissue and provide energy You can get your daily dietary reference intake of nutrients from food as well as from supplements However most of your nutrients should come from the foods you eatTo be sure that your diet gives you enough nutrients you need to know which ones are in the foods you eat Your diet should be balanced with carbohydrates proteins essential fatty acids roughage dairy products and vitaminsPregnancy should be started with optimum weight being underweight and overweight can pose risks to your pregnancy Excess weight during pregnancy is associated with childbirth complications including high blood pressure preeclampsia preterm birth and gestational diabetes Obesity during pregnancy also is associated with macrosomia defined as a largerthannormal baby as well as an increased risk of birth injury and cesarean delivery It also increases the risk of birth defects especially neural tube defects Having too much body fat may make it more difficult for your doctor to monitor your fetus with ultrasound and to hear the fetusrsquos heartbeatHere are few important tips byDr Aruna Kalra Director and Senior Gynaecologist Surgeon CK Birla Hospital to boost your fertility and ensure you a healthy pregnancy Before planning conception follow these simple rulesLose weight if overweightTo lose weight you need to use up more calories than you take in The best way to lose weight is by making a few changes in your diet and by being more physically active Cutting back on the number of calories you consume is a good first step Exercise burns calories and helps you lose weight In certain situations medications or weightloss surgery can be consideredUnderweight affects pregnancyBeing underweight also poses risks during pregnancy It increases the risk of having a lowbirthweight baby These babies are at risk of problems during labor and may have health and behavioral problems that last into childhood and adulthood Being underweigduring pregnancy also increases the risk of preterm birthVitamin supplementAlthough most of your nutrients should come from the foods you eat it is a good idea to start taking a prenatal vitamin supplement before pregnancy Prenatal vitamin supplements contain all the recommended daily vitamins and minerals you will need before and during your pregnancyFolic acid before pregnancyFolic acid helps prevent neural tube defects when taken before pregnancy and during pregnancy It is recommended that all women even if they are not trying to get pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folic acid a day by taking a vitamin supplement containing folic acidIron supplementsIron also is important during pregnancy It is used to make the extra blood needed to supply oxygen to the baby Not getting enough iron can be a problem for some womenLifestyle changesSmoking drinking alcohol and using drugs during pregnancy can have harmful effects on a fetus The time when the fetus is most vulnerable to the harmful effects of these substances is during the first trimester of pregnancy Stopping harmful behavior before pregnancy may reduce or even eliminate the risks of some birth defects that occur early in pregnancyBest environment Some substances found in the home or the workplace may make it harder for a woman to become pregnant or could harm her fetus If you are planning to get pregnant look closely at your home and workplace Think about the chemicals you use in your home or garden Find out from your employer whether you might be exposed at work to toxic substances such as lead or mercury chemicals such as pesticides or solvents or radiationMedical conditions Some medical conditionsmdashsuch as diabetes mellitus high blood pressure depression and seizure disordersmdashcan cause problems during pregnancy If you have a medical condition your doctor will discuss with you the changes that you need to make in order to bring your condition under control before you try to get pregnantMedicationsSome medications including vitamin supplements overthecounter medications and herbal remedies can be harmful to the fetus and should not be taken while you are pregnant It is important to tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking during your preconception care checkup Do not stop taking prescription medication until you have talked with your doctorInfectionInfections can harm both the mother and the fetus Some infections during pregnancy can cause birth defects or illnesses in the baby Infections passed through sexual contactmdashsexually transmitted infections STIsmdashalso are harmful during pregnancy Many types of STIs may affect your ability to become pregnant They also may infect and harm your fetus If you think you or your partner may have an STI get tested and treated right awayVaccination also called immunisation can prevent some infections Some vaccines are not safe to use during pregnancy It is important to know which vaccines you may need and to get them before becoming pregnantProblems in a previous pregnancySome pregnancy problems may increase the risk of having the same problem in a later pregnancy These problems include preterm birth high blood pressure preeclampsia and gestational diabetes However just because you had a problem in a past pregnancy does not mean it will happen againmdashespecially if you receive proper care before and during your pregnancyFamily health historySome health conditions occur more often in certain families or ethnic groups These conditions are called genetic or inherited disorders If a close relative has a certain condition you or your baby could be at greater risk of having itAlso ReadExperts list six lifestyle changes that can help you get pregnant fasterCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates