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Planning a pregnancy
Are you hoping to have a baby?
Pre-conception advice protocol
Are you worried you won't be able to get pregnant?
Have you been trying to get pregnant but without success?
Ante-natal Care - More guidance.
Calculate your due date & advice at each week of your pregnancy HERE
Post-natal Care - More guidance.
www.baby-parenting.co.uk
www.babycentre.co.uk
Some people get pregnant very easily, but getting pregnant may be harder than you think. This can come as a surprise after years of being careful not to get pregnant. Once you stop using contraception it may take a while to get pregnant. After six months of trying, six out of ten couples will have conceived a baby. For the other four couples it will take longer and this is quite normal, so you should not worry if you do not get pregnant straightaway.
This information explains how you can prepare for a pregnancy, how conception occurs and how you can improve your chances of conceiving. It also explains how you might get help if you are finding it difficult to get pregnant.
Your chances of getting pregnant are affected by your general state of health. So it's important to look after yourself and this may mean changing to a healthier diet and cutting down on drinking and smoking. Improving your diet and lifestyle before you try to get pregnant will also give your child the best possible start.
Rubella
It is very important to have a German measles (Rubella) test before you try to get pregnant, as infection when you are pregnant can damage your baby, particularly in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Immunisation will probably last for life, but it is worth checking you are immune before you become pregnant. If you are not immune your doctor or nurse will give you another injection. You should have this injection at least one month before planning a pregnancy.
Inherited conditions
Take advice if you know about any hereditary problems in your family, such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia before stopping contraception.
Sexual health
If either you or your partner think you might be at risk from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) it is important that you go to a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic or to your GP. Some STIs can affect fertility and an untreated STI could be passed on to your baby.
Smoking
Try to stop smoking. This may be the most important thing you can do for your own and your baby's health. Women who smoke during pregnancy have a greater risk of complications during labour, a greater risk of giving birth prematurely and of having low weight babies. There is also some evidence that regular smoking decreases fertility.
If you smoke during pregnancy the nicotine you inhale is absorbed by your body and can make your baby's heart beat too fast. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke also affect the supply of oxygen in your blood to your baby.
Do try not to start smoking again after you've had your baby. Babies whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from coughs and chest infections and are at higher risk of cot death.
Alcohol
Heavy or frequent drinking can harm your baby's development and should be avoided. Try to limit alcohol to the occasional drink, no more than one or two units of alcohol, once or twice a week. A glass of wine or half a pint of beer counts as one unit.
Diet
Think about what you eat. Eating a variety of foods, with as much fresh food as possible, will ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals that you need.
Folic acid, a member of the vitamin B family, is needed for a baby's development in the early weeks. The Department of Health now recommends that all women planning a pregnancy take a daily supplement of 0.4mg of folic acid before they conceive and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you are taking drugs for epilepsy or have a family history of neural tube defects (spina bifida), you will need to seek medical advice. You can get folic acid from a pharmacy. You should also eat foods containing folic acid, such as green leafy vegetables, breakfast cereals and bread (check the labels).
Avoid soft cheeses, paté, soft boiled eggs, cold prepared meats and cook-chill foods as there is a small risk of them being contaminated with listeria which can cause birth defects. Pregnant women are now advised to avoid eating liver and taking vitamin A tablets as there is a possibility of consuming too much vitamin A, which can be harmful to a developing baby.
Medicines
If you take medicines for any reason tell your doctor that your are trying for a baby as some drugs, including street (illegal) drugs, may affect the developing baby. If you buy over the counter medicines it is wise to ask the pharmacist's advice first. Ideally, avoid any treatment which is not essential, at least until after the third month of pregnancy.
The Pill
It is usually advised that you stop the Pill and have one normal period before trying to get pregnant as it helps to date the pregnancy more accurately. Don't worry if you get pregnant sooner – it will not harm the baby.
X-rays
It is best to avoid X-rays, including dental X-rays, if you think you might be pregnant or are trying for a baby. However, if it is essential to have an X-ray your doctor will advise you to go ahead, as ill-health could be more harmful than an X-ray.
Toxoplasmosis
Avoid changing cat litter and wear gloves when gardening as there is a risk of being infected with a parasite (toxoplasmosis) that can harm a developing baby. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after handling uncooked meat.
Exercise
Regular exercise will improve your health, but if you are not used to exercise start off slowly. The more active and fit you are the easier it will be for you to cope comfortably with pregnancy.
While this might seem like a long list of dos and don'ts, your baby is at its most delicate in the early weeks when you might not even know you are pregnant. Doing your best to make sure your body is healthy and ready to nurture a child can be a great reassurance.
Antenatal care
Seek antenatal advice from your GP or hospital as soon as you know you are pregnant.
Your partner
Both you and your partner ought to be as healthy as possible before trying for a baby. Your partner's health affects the number of sperm he produces and their quality. Although sperm production is a continual process, sperm do take 70 days to develop. This means your partner's health in the couple of months before you conceive is especially important.
Smoking
Giving up smoking to maximise the chances of a healthy baby also applies to your partner. Men who smoke tend to produce fewer sperm and have more damaged sperm.
Drinking
Regular heavy drinking can lower the number of sperm and may damage them. Cutting down on alcohol is something you and your partner can do together.
Heat
Sperm are sensitive to heat. Tight trousers and underwear made from synthetic material may cause the temperature in the groin to become too high for healthy sperm to develop. You may like to suggest that your partner wears looser trousers and boxer shorts to avoid the potential problem.
What can go wrong?
Even if you keep track of your body's changes it may still take a while to get pregnant.
One problem is that ovulation may not occur every month. If you have recently stopped taking the Pill, ovulation may be delayed or irregular for a short time. If you have been using an injectable method of contraception, ovulation may be delayed or irregular for a year or more.
Stress can affect ovulation. It may stop for one or more months if you are tense, angry or upset. Ovulation can also be affected by such things as: air travel, a change of job, sudden weight loss, strenuous exercise or poor health.
Even if you do have sex when you ovulate you may not become pregnant immediately. Sometimes fertilisation does take place but the egg does not implant securely and is lost in the next period. This is much more common than most people realise.
You should therefore not be too surprised or upset if you do not get pregnant straightaway. It is usual that after six months of trying, 4 out of every 10 couples will not yet have achieved a pregnancy.
What if none of this works?
If you are worried that it is taking an unusually long time for you to conceive, there may be a problem your doctor could help you and your partner with. Because some couples do take longer than others to conceive, many doctors prefer you to have been trying for a year to get pregnant, for example having regular sexual intercourse, two to three times a week, before referring you for fertility tests and treatment.
If you are over 30 you may be referred for help more quickly. If you are having difficulty conceiving because of a sexual problem, then a counsellor skilled in such problems may be able to help you. If you or your partner have specific physical difficulties you may need special help, and your GP will be able to refer you to a specialist.
Do remember that:
· eight out of every ten couples become pregnant within one year
· nine out of every ten couples become pregnant by the end of two years.
If you don't get pregnant at once you are not unusual and it doesn't necessarily mean that you have a problem. Don't be ashamed or worried if you don't get pregnant after several months of trying, but do go to a doctor for further help after trying for a year.
Further information
Understanding your body.
Finding your most fertile time.
Other organisations that can help
· Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
· The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is a non-departmental Government body that regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing IVF, donor insemination or the storage of eggs, sperm or embryos. The HFEA also licenses and monitors all human embryo research being conducted in the UK.
· Miscarriage Association
· The Miscarriage Association produces leaflets, factsheets and audiotapes which answer the most commonly asked questions about pregnancy loss, and help people who have been through this experience.
· National Childbirth Trust
· The National Childbirth Trust offers support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.
· NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline
· An online resource for advice, information and support people need to stop smoking.
· Relate
Relate offers advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face, by phone and through this website.
· Tommy's
A UK charity committed to funding medical research and providing information to help parents through a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Where can I get more information and advice?
Find out where to get more information and advice.
The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
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