Lifestyle
When you have a desire to have children, it is good to take a look at your lifestyle. This applies to both men and women. An unhealthy lifestyle can reduce fertility for both. Think about diet, alcohol, smoking and drug use. But medication and exercise can also affect getting pregnant.
Folic acid
Before stopping contraception, it is a good idea to start with folic acid. You can get folic acid separately from the pharmacy, but you can also choose to take a full vitamin supplement. In that case, choose a supplement meant specifically for pregnant women. This contains the amount of folic acid you need, which is 0.4 to 0.5 mg (or 400-500 micrograms). It takes a while for your body to build up enough folic acid, so start 4 weeks before stopping contraception. You take it until the 10th week of pregnancy. Taking folic acid reduces the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (NBD), such as spina bifida. In some cases, you may need a different dose of folic acid. For example, if you have epilepsy, take medication or if NBD runs in your family. In these cases, contact us or your GP.
Smoking
By the time you want to get pregnant, it is wise to have already quit smoking. Besides reducing fertility, smoking increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth, among other things. Second-hand smoke is as unhealthy as smoking yourself.
Alcohol
Consuming alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and birth defects such as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Since you are, often pregnant before you can know it, we recommend stopping drinking when you stop contraception.
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Drugs
The use of drugs (both soft and hard drugs) affects the fertility of both men and women. In addition, it is harmful to the unborn child. It can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth or death of the baby. In addition, in some cases, the baby may be born addicted. Therefore, stop using drugs before you want to get pregnant.
Nutrition
When you want to get pregnant, a healthy diet is very important. Make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals. Also, it is good to remember not to eat too much, but the right fats. How to do this? For useful tips, go to voedingscentrum.nl
Exercise
Regular and sufficient exercise is important for everyone. So also for someone who wants to get pregnant. If you are in good shape and if your muscles are strong, you are less likely to experience symptoms during pregnancy. Try to get half an hour's exercise a day. Take a brisk walk, do some sport, or go for a bike ride to work.
Medication
During pregnancy, you need to be careful with medication. Sometimes you have to stop taking certain medications even before you want to become pregnant. So contact your specialist or GP if you are taking any medication.
From the moment you may be pregnant, it is a good idea to use only paracetamol (without codeine) as pain relief. Lay off ibuprofen and similar products. These can be harmful to your unborn baby.