Health 3mths prior to TTC....

[Shanti]

Hi Girls,
What did you do when you were 3mths away from TTC to try and optimise your chances of conceiving sooner rather than later?

Did you lose weight? Did you eat healthier? Did you exercise? Did you take pre natal vitamins?

I am off the BCP's since March 07,and currently on cycle #2 and it's 31 days! I'm so excited as the last one was 48 days!!! That was terrible... My periods were always regular before BCP's so fingers crossed I'm back to regular again! I'm taking iodine/folic acid tablets/B6 vitamins & am about to start on Blackmores Pregnancy Gold tablets.

I am not exercising (yet), I have 2-3 drinks per week (if that) and I am a little overweight so do need to lose weight to make it even easier for me to conceive sooner than later... I am trying to find a good female GP in the area also who I will see when I am actually pregnant.....
is there anything else I should be doing before we fall pregnant or just let it happen when it happens? Just interested in hearing people's stories about before they were pregnant.
Thanks for reading

[visitor1]

I honestly done nothing but come off BCP. I SHOULD have lost lots of weight... but fell within 2-3 months. I never took vitamins til i was pg.

In others words... i done it all around the wrong way!!! I didnt think it would happen so soon....and we were planning to actively TTC in june 06... but i fell in march 06 instead!!

[Shanti]

LOL! Kimbaz you're funny...! Well perhaps I'm just being a big padantic and thinking about it too much!! I just can't wait to TTC it's all i think about. (most of the time!).
You must be very fertile! One of the lucky one's i'd say!! I hope I can fall as fast as you can Chelsea is sooo cute

[visitor1]

Yeah i fall way to easy.. 6 weeks after Chels was born

and quick the first time.

Thanks.. i think she is cute too...dont all mummies say that!!!

[ticklish]

Hi Renstar,
All of the above. I lost my first bub. I realised I was so unprepared. I was not healthy at the time and had been sick for sometime.

While TTC#2, I lost weight, got our diets right, took vitamins (only ones suitable for me as I can't take all of them - Blackmores included) and went to the gym. It took almost a year to concieve but I think a lot of that was due to the stress of losing our first. Actually, DS was only concieved when we both totally gave up on it ever happening (actually we were advised by Dr that it was very unlikely to). Also, we both gave up the alcohol!! I accidentally drank too much first time round without knowing and feel really guilty.

I think it is great that you are preparing for TTC. My advice would be to get as healthy as possible and just let it happen. Me and DH don't seem to be able to concieve when we think about it, both times were times when we didn't give it a thought. (Trying to just let it happen again!!)

GOOD LUCK

[Shanti]

Good luck TTC Ticklish Babydust your way....

Thanks for the advice, I agree, I do need to try and be as healthy as possible, I think everyone should, for the sake of the woman and the baby too, I don't want to get diabetes whilst pregnant or something like that and I do want to be able to run around and not get so tired. The heavier you are, the more strain on your heart etc etc... I need to lose about 12 kilos to be healthy enough to be pregnant. Looking at me, i'm not huge, but I hide my weight well as i am tall.

I just can't wait til August! Until then, I'm going to concentrate on not having a drink at all (don't really like the stuff anyway these days) and walk 30mins per day EVERY day. if i can do that, that's something. along with what i'm already doing such as vitamins.

[ticklish]

Thanks for the babydust, Renstar. I am just waiting for it to float bye so I can catch it. Not the right time of the month at the moment though - maybe next month.

[Shanti]

Next month for you I hope

[principessa76]

Hi Renstar,

I got checked out by a GP 3 months before going off the BCP and got some advice. One important thing I did was get a blood test. You should get your immunity levels for Rubella in particular checked. My sister found her immunity level had dropped and she was already pg with #3 so she had to stay pretty much house bound for the first 10wks. The rubella virus causes deafness, blindness and mental retardation if you become infected in the first trimester (and it is very contagious). If your level is down then you need to get a booster shot but then the GP told me you shouldn't ttc for 3 months after the booster. Most of us would have been immunized a high school but the immunity does drop off over the years.

I take Elevit daily. I've cut out caffeine altogether - I've read it decreases fertility - and will only have 1-2 glasses of wine once a week at the most. I'm generally healthy with my diet and have always exercised. The main thing for me I think is trying to drink more water.

All the best

[Shanti]

Principessa, you reminded me! I got a referral for a blood test for rubella levels from GP last week and it's still sitting in my bag so I will get it done tomorrow (glad don't have to make appts for blood tests) and then get the results really soon. it's a good idea as if i need the booster shot, then i can have it done now as later will mean i can't TTC for a few months so thank you for giving me that piece of advice, very glad you told me that. doc didn't tell me that. I told him we were going to TTC 3mths time and he didn't mention anything... doctors/GP's don't tell us everything, we need to ask!!!

I had my last drink tonight! No more now... that's it! I only have 2 or 3 every week so not much of a drinker anyhow. I drink 2 cups of tea a day so that's moderate and don't drink coffee thank goodness.
starting 30mins walking per day tomorrow - Df is coming with yeah!