You and your partner can try to maximise your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and labour in a number of ways including:
- Giving up smoking: Smoking in pregnancy raises the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight. Smoking can reduce fertility in both men and women. Fathers who smoke affect the health of their babies, not only before but after the birth. As this increases the risk of respiratory problems and cot death increases. For more information contact catch@rah.scot.nhs.uk
- Limiting alcohol intake: Heavy drinking may affect sperm quality and make a successful pregnancy less likely.
- Keeping stress to a minimum: Stress can cause hormonal changes in the body, which can also lead to fertility problems.
- Being aware of the temperature: Sperm is made at slightly below body temperature, so men shouldn't spend too long in warm baths. If you don't already, try wearing boxer shorts rather than tighter underwear to improve circulation around the testicles.
- Being a healthy weight: For women, being underweight can make you less fertile, while being overweight puts you at greater risk of complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy. Being a healthy weight helps conception and makes pregnancy more comfortable. If you are seriously overweight and wish to become pregnant speak to your doctor.
- Having a healthy diet: Having a healthy diet with lots of vitamins and minerals may also aid conception.
- Taking regular exercise: This will reduce stress and increase your overall fitness.
- Take a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is an important B vitamin that's been shown to prevent neural tube defects (NTD) such as spina bifida. It's recommended that you start taking a supplement before you start trying to conceive, as NTDs occur in early pregnancy. Folic acid is also found in dark green vegetables, oranges, wholewheat breads and breakfast cereals.
- Having sex: It may sound obvious, but regular sex increases your chance of falling pregnant. Work out your most fertile time and ensure you make love every day around those dates. Women mostly ovulate once during each cycle, and the most likely time for conception is 14 days before your next menstrual period is due.
