Get pregnant healthily

Quitting smoking and pregnancy

From the moment you want to become pregnant, it is wise to stop smoking. Smoking reduces fertility. This also applies to your partner, as smoking reduces sperm quality.

Alcohol when wanting to have children

At one desire to have children it is better to avoid alcohol. Research has shown that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume during pregnancy. It is therefore not possible to indicate a safe limit. If you do not drink before or during pregnancy and while you are breastfeeding, you increase the chance of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child.

Drug use and becoming pregnant

Drug use can affect the egg, sperm, fallopian tube and uterus. It can also seriously disrupt a child's development before and after birth. It is therefore important not to use drugs if you want to become pregnant.

Healthy eating before and during pregnancy

It is wise to eat healthy if you want to become pregnant and while you are pregnant. Start this when you want to have children, because you do not know exactly when you will become pregnant. It is therefore wise to adhere to the nutritional advice for pregnant women:

• Do not eat raw meat (meat well done, for example do not eat filet americain, roast beef or carpaccio)
• Do not use raw milk or cheese made from raw milk. This is indicated with 'au lait cru' on the packaging)
• Do not use too much vitamin A (vitamin A is found in liver and liver products, but also in vitamin preparations that are not specifically intended for pregnant women)
• Do not eat vacuum-packed fish, such as smoked salmon.

You can find more advice on the page Advice during pregnancy. There is one on the nutrition center site useful table that indicates which products may be harmful during pregnancy.

In addition to the nutritional advice, it is also important to adhere to the following rules:

• Don't change the litter box
• Wear gloves when working in the garden and wash your hands well

Folic acid during your pregnancy

By taking folic acid daily from the moment you want to become pregnant, you reduce the risk of spina bifida in your child. The recommended amount is 0.5 mg per day.

Medication and getting pregnant

You must handle medications carefully during pregnancy. This also applies to medicines that you can obtain without a prescription. Some substances can influence the development of the baby early in pregnancy. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor whether your medications are safe to use during pregnancy. If necessary, they can also help you determine what a safer alternative is.

If you have pain, you can do it without danger paracetamol to use. An anesthetic by the dentist is also no problem.

Fertility and desire to have children

To get pregnant, you have to have sex around ovulation. During ovulation you are fertile and your egg can be fertilized. Usually you ovulate 2 weeks before your period. Your egg cell lives for 12 to 48 hours and sperm cells for 48 to 72 hours.

If you have just stopped taking the pill, you may still have a somewhat irregular cycle. Your periods usually become more regular about 2 to 3 months after stopping the pill.

If you have a very long cycle (6 weeks or longer) or if you have been trying to get pregnant for more than a year without success, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss this.