Pursuing a healthy lifestyle should be part of every person’s daily commitment, however when it comes to fertility and reproduction, it is a necessity. The lifestyle and health practices you are making today can directly impact the success or failure you experience when trying to conceive tomorrow.

Here is an array of health factors that you need to address to maximize your fertility health:

Start Now – If you have not been taking advantage of healthy lifestyle for yourself and making choices that could pose a risk in pregnancy; spend the next three to six months beginning to make the necessary changes. This is also a good time to examine any medications you take that may need to be changed before trying to conceive.

Don'ts – Smoking, drinking, and illicit drug use are all directly related to problems with reproduction and the wellness of your baby. Giving these up may be challenging, so enlist the help of a friend or love one.

Your Weight – It is common to hear the importance of physical health and a healthy body weight. This is especially true in regards to your fertility and pregnancy. Overweight and underweight are both related to your fertility and the wellness your baby will experience during your pregnancy. Evaluate what practices you need to put in place to have your body at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight.

Enhancing Fertility – The most important thing you can do to maximize your efforts in conceiving, having a healthy pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby is to have a healthy you. Start now and make sure the following are a part of your every day routine.

• Exercise: Affecting your circulation, respiratory system, weight management, and your overall wellness, exercise is a vital part of your health.
• Nutrition: Eating well-balanced meals that include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole fiber is a great way to improve health.
• Vitamins: Supplementing with essential vitamins and minerals, in addition to eating wisely, is a great way to ensure that you get the nutrients that you need. Make sure you are getting at least 400 mg of folic acid.
• Sleep: Getting plenty of rest is necessary to allow your muscles and organs a chance to rejuvenate. Sleep affects your physical, mental and emotional wellness.
• Relaxation: In addition to sleep, you can also invest in your body by using stress relieving and relaxation practices such as deep breathing, yoga, daily meditation or prayer.

Check Up – If you are thinking about trying to conceive, your first step should be a preconception appointment with your health care provider. This may consist of a complete workup that includes a family history, blood work and health screenings to ensure that your body is prepared for conception and the pregnancy journey.