A healthy pregnancy begins with making good choices about your diet before trying to conceive. Before pregnancy, you should try to get the most out of vitamins and minerals, as many women are unaware they are pregnant until several weeks have passed. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a nutritious diet before pregnancy result in the best circumstances to carry a baby.
Weight
A woman should plan to reach a healthy weight before becoming pregnant, states the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Women who are underweight may have an increased chance of infertility and are at greater risk of giving birth to a baby who is small in size. Women who are overweight have a greater risk of health issues during pregnancy, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Nutrients
Many foods such as fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants such as vitamin C that protect the body and boost the repair of damaged cells. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, asparagus and cucumbers. A regular multivitamin or prenatal vitamin can provide necessary nutrients for a daily allowance even before becoming pregnant. Many prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, which is important to protect against neural tube defects in a fetus, according to Babycenter.com
Choices
Foods that promote optimal health and that are full of vitamins and nutrients include many fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat dairy. Choose raw fruits, such as apples, pears and bananas rather than canned fruits in syrup. Vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower are all healthy choices whether eaten raw or cooked. Low-fat dairy products such as milk, frozen yogurt, hard cheeses and yogurt; as well as lean red meat and poultry, all contain protein to promote health before getting pregnant.
Considerations
Some foods can be harmful to a developing fetus and should be avoided. Examples include some types of fish that could contain high levels of methyl mercury; deli, unprocessed or undercooked meats; raw eggs, including those found in uncooked dough; and soft cheeses, such as Brie or Camembert. Other foods to avoid include those that promote poor health or weight gain for an expectant mother. These foods include fried foods with saturated fats; foods with refined carbohydrates, including white flours, sugars and sweets; and caffeinated drinks, according to FertilityJourney.com.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is the leading cause of preventable birth defects, as stated by the Tarjan Center at UCLA, and drinking alcohol can cause damage to a fetus in the early weeks after conception. Women who are planning to become pregnant should abstain from alcohol to lessen the possibility of birth defects.
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