Not only should you modify your diet to increase your chances of getting pregnant, but it is also important to the development of your baby once you are pregnant. Conception occurs two weeks before your period is due, which means that you may not find out you are pregnant until you are more than three weeks along. According to Family Doctor.org, the website from the American Academy of Family Physicians, your baby is most sensitive to harm two to eight weeks after conception, while his organs are forming. For that reason, it is important to eat like you are pregnant before you actually are.
Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your chances of conceiving. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, an overweight or underweight woman may have trouble conceiving due to imbalanced hormones. If you are underweight, talk to your doctors about ways to bring your weight to a healthy and normal range. If you are overweight, start making dietary changes, like switching to lean meat and low-fat dairy products.
Healthy Sperm
Your partner also may need to change his dietary habits. The website Babycenter states that zinc and vitamins C and E can help improve the health of sperm, increasing the chances of conception. Zinc can be found in meat, poultry, beans, nuts and oysters. Oranges and red and green peppers are good sources of vitamin C, and spinach, asparagus and avocados are sources of vitamin E.
Folic Acid
Babycenter notes that most women of childbearing age should consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid a day in the event they get pregnant because the vitamin can reduce a baby's risk of developing neural-tube defects. If you have a family history of neural-tube defects, your doctor may recommend that you start consuming 4,000 mcg of folic acid daily at least a month before conception. In addition to a prenatal vitamin, you can also get folic acid from spinach, kale, citrus, whole grains and fortified bread or cereal.
Other Changes
Not enough nutrients and vitamins can make your periods and ovulation unpredictable, causing you to have a difficult time planning to conceive. Eat a balanced diet, and talk to your doctor about taking a prenatal vitamin. The National Women's Health Information Center also recommends that you get a lot of calcium from sources such as yogurt and milk.
Things to Avoid
Before getting pregnant, avoid having more than 300 mg of caffeine a day. You should also avoid alcohol, which can cause birth defects and mental problems for an unborn baby. Stay away from fish that contain high levels of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel. According to Babycenter, mercury can build up in your body and remain for over a year, so it is best to watch what kind of fish you eat if you are planning to conceive.
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