Lifestyle tips we recommend to further improve your chances of getting pregnant
Limit your sugar intake
Refined sugar, found in soft drinks, cookies, and candy, can make it difficult for your body to conceive.
Don’t skip meals
You’ll need to provide your baby with a steady flow of nutrients.
Cut back on caffeine
A healthy amount to stick by is one 12oz cup of coffee daily. Too much caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Don’t smoke
Using tobacco makes getting pregnant more complex, and increases the chance of miscarriage while you are pregnant.
Limit alcohol
Consuming a lot of alcohol while trying to get pregnant can make it harder to conceive. We recommend sticking to a couple of glasses of alcohol a week.
Exercise
Being active can help increase your fertility naturally. Studies have shown that women who do moderate exercise, regularly, get pregnant quicker than women who do not exercise.
How can I stay healthy during pregnancy?
Sticking to the health and diet recommendations listed above can help optimize you and your baby’s health during pregnancy. But there are some other factors to keep in mind to keep both of you safe for the next nine months...
While there are ‘superfoods’ that are important to consume during pregnancy, there are also major foods to avoid while you are pregnant. Foods to avoid include:
Raw or undercooked seafood may contain viruses or harmful bacteria. This includes sushi, sashimi, or ceviche. Be sure to avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood as well. Seafood labeled as nova style, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky should not be eaten during pregnancy.
Undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs can cause foodborne illnesses. Since you are more susceptible to food poisoning while pregnant, you may react more severely to these foods, and in rare cases, the baby can be affected too.
Unpasteurized foods like soft cheeses such as brie, blue cheese, and feta can lead to foodborne illnesses. Do not consume these unless they are clearly labeled as being pasteurized or made with pasteurized milk
Unwashed fruit and vegetables may have harmful bacteria still on them. Thoroughly wash all produce before consumption. Also, avoid raw sprouted vegetables like alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean, which may also contain disease-causing bacteria.
Herbal Tea has been shown to have negative effects on a baby’s health during pregnancy. Avoid all herbal teas, even the ones marketed toward pregnant women, unless approved by your pregnancy care provider.
Alcohol consumed during pregnancy poses a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. No level of alcohol during pregnancy has been proven completely safe, so it’s best to abstain from it entirely.
How can I stay healthy during pregnancy?
Sticking to the health and diet recommendations listed above can help optimize you and your baby’s health during pregnancy. But there are some other factors to keep in mind to keep both of you safe for the next nine months...
While there are ‘superfoods’ that are important to consume during pregnancy, there are also major foods to avoid while you are pregnant. Foods to avoid include:
Raw or undercooked seafood may contain viruses or harmful bacteria. This includes sushi, sashimi, or ceviche. Be sure to avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood as well. Seafood labeled as nova style, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky should not be eaten during pregnancy.
Undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs can cause foodborne illnesses. Since you are more susceptible to food poisoning while pregnant, you may react more severely to these foods, and in rare cases, the baby can be affected too.
Unpasteurized foods like soft cheeses such as brie, blue cheese, and feta can lead to foodborne illnesses. Do not consume these unless they are clearly labeled as being pasteurized or made with pasteurized milk
Unwashed fruit and vegetables may have harmful bacteria still on them. Thoroughly wash all produce before consumption. Also, avoid raw sprouted vegetables like alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean, which may also contain disease-causing bacteria.
Herbal Tea has been shown to have negative effects on a baby’s health during pregnancy. Avoid all herbal teas, even the ones marketed toward pregnant women, unless approved by your pregnancy care provider.
Alcohol consumed during pregnancy poses a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. No level of alcohol during pregnancy has been proven completely safe, so it’s best to abstain from it entirely.
In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, it’s important for expecting mothers to regularize their stress levels. Being pregnant can induce many emotions, such as stress and anxiety, which is completely normal. However, chronic stress can have detrimental effects on you and your baby’s health. If you are stressing too much during your pregnancy, you may experience headaches and problems sleeping. The consequences of increased regular stress can also impact the growth of your baby and your length of gestation. Here are key recommendations to handle your levels of stress during pregnancy:
Pay attention to stress-inducing triggers and take note of the effects it causes on your body.
Slow down and rest your body.
Talk to someone about what you are experiencing- your partner, pregnancy.
Regularly exercise with pre-approved exercises by your doctor.
Take meditation, yoga, or breathing classes.
Spend time with people who make you feel at peace.
In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, it’s important for expecting mothers to regularize their stress levels. Being pregnant can induce many emotions, such as stress and anxiety, which is completely normal. However, chronic stress can have detrimental effects on you and your baby’s health. If you are stressing too much during your pregnancy, you may experience headaches and problems sleeping. The consequences of increased regular stress can also impact the growth of your baby and your length of gestation. Here are key recommendations to handle your levels of stress during pregnancy:
Pay attention to stress-inducing triggers and take note of the effects it causes on your body.
Slow down and rest your body.
Talk to someone about what you are experiencing- your partner, pregnancy.
Regularly exercise with pre-approved exercises by your doctor.
Take meditation, yoga, or breathing classes.
Spend time with people who make you feel at peace.
It’s very important to stay moving and exercise regularly to keep you and your baby’s body healthy. Although, it’s important to avoid putting your body through overly intensive workouts that could strain your body and affect the health of your baby. Here are some safe workouts that our doctors recommend during gestation:
Walking provides you with a full-body workout and is easier on your joints and muscles than running.
Swimming and water workouts allow you to use many muscles in your body. Also, the water helps support your weight so you can avoid muscle strain
Stationary bicycling is favorable to standard bicycling because your growing belly can affect your balance and make you more prone to falls.
Modified yoga and modified pilates for pregnant women are both great exercises to incorporate into your exercise routine. Yoga helps reduce stress, improves flexibility, and encourages stretching and focused breathing. You should avoid poses that require you to be still or lie on your back for long periods.
Childbirth classes offered by Samantha Padilla, our NP (nurse practitioner), are also a great way to prepare your body for birth and what to expect for delivery. You can find more information about these classes
It’s very important to stay moving and exercise regularly to keep you and your baby’s body healthy. Although, it’s important to avoid putting your body through overly intensive workouts that could strain your body and affect the health of your baby. Here are some safe workouts that our doctors recommend during gestation:
Walking provides you with a full-body workout and is easier on your joints and muscles than running.
Swimming and water workouts allow you to use many muscles in your body. Also, the water helps support your weight so you can avoid muscle strain
Stationary bicycling is favorable to standard bicycling because your growing belly can affect your balance and make you more prone to falls.
Modified yoga and modified pilates for pregnant women are both great exercises to incorporate into your exercise routine. Yoga helps reduce stress, improves flexibility, and encourages stretching and focused breathing. You should avoid poses that require you to be still or lie on your back for long periods.
Childbirth classes offered by Samantha Padilla, our NP (nurse practitioner), are also a great way to prepare your body for birth and what to expect for delivery. You can find more information about these classes
