•Women who are obese have irregular menstrual cycles and produce fewer ovarian hormones.
•A woman who is trying to get pregnant should make sure her diet is full of vitamin B9
Image: FILE
Although the diet of both a man and a woman may have an impact on fertility and possibly the genetic makeup of their offspring, the woman's nutrition has the biggest impact on the growing fetus.
The environment for the growth and development of a new human being is provided by her body.
A woman has a special chance to psychologically, physically, and emotionally get ready for her pregnancy before it happens.
In preparation for a healthy pregnancy, a woman can establish the following habits:
Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight
Infertility is linked to both overweight and underweight conditions. Low sperm counts and hormonal changes in obese and overweight men lower fertility.
Women who are obese have irregular menstrual cycles and produce fewer ovarian hormones. In the event of pregnancy, difficulties are more likely for both underweight and overweight moms as well as their newborns.
Choose an adequate and balanced diet
Should a woman become pregnant, malnutrition lowers fertility and harms her infant's early development.
Depending on the stage of pregnancy, nutritional quantities change.
Due to their function in preventing organ malformation and common neonatal abnormalities, some nutrients are more important than others during different trimesters of pregnancy, while others are more helpful before conception.
A woman who is trying to get pregnant should make sure her diet is full of vitamin B9 to lower the risk of neural tube defects, enough iron to prevent anaemia during and after pregnancy, and enough calcium to support the growth of strong bones and teeth.
Additionally, calcium governs proper cardiac rhythms, neurons, muscular contraction, blood clotting, and normal heart rhythms.
Be physically active
If a woman wants to be physically active while she is pregnant, she must start doing so now. A doctor or certified gym instructor should endorse the exercises to ensure that there is no risk to a woman's body.
Receive regular medical care
A healthy pregnancy can be started with regular medical checkups. Regular physical examinations, such as blood pressure and blood sugar checks, can help identify disease warning signs.
Manage chronic conditions
Pregnancy can be negatively impacted by illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, phenylketonuria, and sexually transmitted diseases, all of which require close medical treatment to help assure a good outcome.
Avoid harmful influences
The primary source of nutrition for the fetus is what the mother consumes. When dangerous chemicals like cigarettes, narcotics, or environmental toxins are consumed by both mothers and fathers, it can result in deformities, change how genes are expressed, or affect fertility.
Alcohol use causes fetal alcohol syndrome, which is characterized by neurological issues such as learning difficulties, growth retardation, and other issues that are not clinically evident.
It is always a good idea to build a healthy eating habits to get your body ready for any physiological changes because neural tube abnormalities happen early in a crucial period of fetal development before most women realize they are pregnant and because half of the pregnancies are unplanned.
Lucy Chege is a registered and licensed nutritionist based in Kenya, proficient in medical nutrition therapy.
Twitter: @LucyChegeM