It takes approximately 120 days for healthy sperm to form and the egg to mature before conception. All prospective parents - particularly those who want to preserve their fertility, overcome any fertility problems, or simply have the healthiest baby possible - should begin their conception attempts with this in mind.
The health of your egg and sperm today is the result of your actions and all the things you have been exposed to during the previous four months. The health and viability of your sperm or egg - and their ability to create a healthy pregnancy 16 weeks from now - is a product of the changes you implement now.
What does it take to boost your fertility?
The short answer is two ultra-healthy prospective parents. Have you and your partner been absolutely super-conscious of your habits and lifestyle over the past 120 days? Can you truly say that you are in absolute optimum health now - just prior to a conception attempt?
Optimum fertility requires a multi-layered, comprehensive approach; especially if your aim is to overcome infertility. Often the many essential lifestyle changes required are the very hinges to swing you to 'the other side', which is the possibility of you holding your very own baby of your dreams. This approach is not a one-size fits-all solution. However, research shows that optimising a couple's health prior to a conception attempt can increase chances of natural conception by as much 78.4 per cent for couples who were previously infertile. It can also increase the odds of IVF by 47.1 per cent.
Implement the right changes in your day-to-day life and you will dramatically improve your chances - not only of conceiving, but also of having the healthiest possible baby and becoming the proud parent you always wanted to be.
You just want to be pregnant. Then you'll be super healthy ...
By eight weeks' gestation, a baby's health blueprint is already created, as are his or her tiny organs and little fingerprints! At this stage, his or her health vulnerabilities and strengths are set by the 'map' already existent in this magnificent creation. Your child's future health predispositions and potentials are in place from this point onwards - but most mums-to-be do not even know they are pregnant by this crucial stage.
Once a pregnancy is established, your child's full health potential - which has now been reached - becomes the lowest common denominator of yours and your partner's health. The opportunity for making significant improvements are present in the 120 days of preconception preparation before a pregnancy even exists.
The time to optimise your child's future is not during your pregnancy - it is during your preconception preparation, involving both prospective parents.
So what is the best way to optimise your fertility?
- Healthy Diet
This is an absolutely vital aspect of optimum fertility. If your diet is not supporting your body's metabolic functions your ability to conceive and carry a healthy pregnancy to term will suffer.
- Environment and Lifestyle
Through our environment today we are in direct contact with over four million chemicals - most of which are dangerous for the healthy development of the egg, sperm and embryo. The problem is that often dangerous chemicals, disguised with pretty labels, enter our homes. These chemicals are free to have their destructive effects without us even realising they are damaging our health and fertility.
In addition to this, our lifestyle has a huge impact on fertility and reproduction. Things such as smoking, alcohol, coffee, unfiltered drinking and cooking water, recreational substances and more will all have a devastating effect on female and male fertility.
- Emotions
This is a greatly under-estimated key to optimum fertility. The mind-body connection is real and it is taken for granted. If you think you are infertile, you reinforce a belief that continues to manifest in your life through your unconscious will. The turning point is realising that right now you can take action to change all aspects you want in your life, including your health and reproduction. When it comes to fertility, faith and acceptance of your existing situation with love and understanding enables you to choose to move forward in healthier attempts to become a proud parent.
Optimising your ability to conceive a healthy baby, overcoming infertility and carrying a pregnancy to term is very possible. It requires the total commitment of both partners towards a better outcome and several specific changes in how you do certain things - and as the old saying goes: "Do your part and the heavens will come to your aid..."
This article was kindly written for us by Gabriela Rosa