There are a number of things that can affect your ability to get pregnant. At Baptist Health, we want you to prepare yourself and start thinking about your pregnancy before it happens. Here are a few physician-recommended lifestyle changes to make before getting pregnant:
Quit smoking
You probably already know that you shouldn’t smoke while you are pregnant, but smoking while trying to get pregnant can also affect your chances of conceiving. There are a number of studies detailing that smoking hurts female fertility by affecting hormone production. We recommend that women quit smoking at least three months before trying to get pregnant. You should also avoid secondhand smoke (smoke from someone else’s cigarettes, cigar or pipe).
Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is important before trying to conceive, as being either overweight or underweight can affect your ability to get pregnant.
Read more on the importance of maintaining a healthy weight before you get pregnant
Eliminate alcohol consumption
Women who are trying to get pregnant, or are pregnant, should not drink alcohol. Even moderate drinking during pregnancy can cause behavioral or developmental problems for your baby.
Limit your caffeine intake
While there’s no hard and fast rule about how much caffeine is appropriate for women trying to conceive, we recommend that women limit their caffeine intake to 200mg or 2 cups of regular coffee per day. Caffeine is also found in tea, chocolate, soda and some over-the-counter medicine.
This is not an exhaustive list of lifestyle changes to make before pregnancy – however, if you are concerned, or have questions about fertility, we suggest that you request an appointment with your OB/GYN.