Considering your health while TTC? You should! - Trying to Conceive (TTC) Message Board

Marie M · 08-20-2005, 08:42 PM

Hi ladies! I just wanted to throw out some useful information I've read, seeing as I've found some people haven't heard of them.

They say that one of the most important developmental time in your unborn child's life is the first 2 weeks after conception. 2 WEEKS! You don't even know you're pg yet! so I found these top 10 things that are important durring pregancy, and i've been doing/concidering them now while TTC so my futre baby can be healthy:

ZINC -it helps your baby form an immune system
dose: at least 15 milligrams a day

FOLIC ACID -is critical before and durring pregancy for proper growth and to prevent birth defects
dose: at least 400 to 800 micograms a day

Magnesium -a common human defficiency which can increase the possibility of high blood pressure and seizures during pregnancy
dose: 200 milligrams of magnesium in the glycinate form daily

B Vitamines -critical for energy, mental clarity and to prevent depression. dose: take approximately 25 to 50 milligrams a day of B vitamins and plenty of vitamin B12 for normal nerve function.

Fish Oils -DHA(and essential fatty acid) is critical for baby to develop healthy and optimal brain tissue
CAUTION! Salmon and Tuna are high in DHA but also Mercury! If taking the supplement, be sure there's not a high mercury content
dose: Eskimo 3 fish oil, 3 drops daily

Calcium
dose:1,500 milligrams of calcium per day

Iron - iron deficiency can sometimes cause infertility. Pregnant women who with iron deficiency are at risk for anemia, fatigue, poor memory and decreased immune function.\
dose:18 to 36 milligrams daily

Water
Be sure to drink plenty of water. When pregnant, blood volume can increase about 30 percent and it is easy to become dehydrated.

Check your Thyroid
Hypothyroidism accounts for more than 6 percent of miscarriages and can be cause for learning disabilities in the child

Things to avoid:
-avoid taking more than 8,000 units of vitamin A per day
- don't partake in anything that can raise your body temperature too high (hot tubs, saunas or steam rooms) due to risk for birth defects.
-smoking, drugs and alcohol

Exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to be very beneficial and results in babies and moms that are quite healthy.

Happy Baby Dancing to all!

tglenn · 08-20-2005, 09:54 PM

Great Info.! Thanks! Did you happen to read anything about caffine, by chance?

Marie M · 08-21-2005, 08:09 PM

Yes, I have heard quite a lot of arguments about caffeine, and although I'm not sold on the idea that it's actually bad for you, I have quit it all together just to play it safe (with the exception of chocolate now and then--just no more coffee or coke). What I heard is that there were a lot of out-dated studies that showed caffeine was bad for ovulating and pregnancy...but the tests were JUST for caffeine and didn't take in to consideration other factors like smoking, drinking and etc. They say that more recent studies have shown that a cup or 2 of caffeine has little to no effect whatsoever, and some studies of some sorta caffinated tea supposedly even HELPED conception. However, there has been evidence that caffeine does enter into an unborn child...so that's why I figure, it's not worth it. I've been doing good, no caffeine now for about 3 or 4 weeks now... and I was a BIG coffee drinker! I'm slightly overweight right now (by only 10 to 20 pounds more than my BMI recomendation) and I'm getting so health concious about this baby stuff, I'm thinking by the time I DO have a baby I'll probably be in a lot better shape than I was before!!