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Following a healthy diet will ensure you have adequate stores of nutrients to meet your and your baby's needs during pregnancy. Follow the principles of healthy eating and choose appropriately from the major food groups, making sure you have a well-balanced and varied diet:
Fruit and vegetables - all types, fresh, juiced, frozen or canned (in natural juice} you should be aiming for 5 portions per day.
Milk & dairy products eg. low-fat milk, cheese, yoghurt 2-3 servings per day.
Meat, fish, lean meat, eggs, poultry, white fish, oily fish, beans and pulses 2 servings per day.
The following foods should be kept to a minimum. Fat and sugar rich foods, eg. butter, margarine, cooking fats, pastries, cream, crisps, cakes, chocolate, sugary drinks, biscuits and sweets.
Body weight and fertility.
Being a healthy body weight is important before pregnancy. If you're underweight, it can be more difficult to conceive; if you're overweight, you run a greater risk of complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy. Even a small weight loss can greatly increase your ability to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. If you are concerned about your weight, you may find it useful to speak to your doctor or practice nurse for further advice.
Folic Acid
Taking folic acid before and in the very early stages of pregnancy can reduce the risk of your baby suffering neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida. Current advice is that all women of child-bearing age who may become pregnant should take a supplement that provides 400mcg folic acid per day. This is in addition to a dietary intake of folic acid of around 200mcg per day.
Rich dietary sources include fortified breakfast cereals, bread, green leafy vegetables (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and green beans), oranges, dried beans, peas and lentils. Some supermarkets and food manufacturers identify good sources of folic acid with a special label. Look out for these next time you go shopping.
Women who've already had an NTD-affected pregnancy should take a supplement that provides 5mg per day. See your doctor for more information.
Supplements
Ideally you should not need a vitamin and mineral supplement (apart from folic acid) if you're eating a healthy diet. However, if you want to take a supplement, choose a specially formulated prenatal multivitamin and mineral supplement. These are more likely to provide nutrients in balanced amounts, not high doses that may be dangerous to your health.
Dads Too
Being super-fit and healthy is important for men who are hoping to conceive. There have been numerous research studies looking at preconceptual nutrition in men. We know that diets low in zinc can reduce sperm counts, while excessive alcohol intakes can reduce zinc levels even further. Zinc may be found in foods such as meat, wholegrain cereals, seafood, eggs and pulses.
Another nutrient that has a role in male fertility is selenium. Brazil nuts contain lots of this important mineral, along with meat, seafood, mushrooms and cereals. As with women, being very overweight or underweight can influence your fertility significantly. Aim to be the right weight for your height by eating sensibly and exercising on a regular basis.
The key message is to stick firmly within the alcohol limits - or reduce them further - and embark on a healthy eating regime to ensure you and your sperm are in tip-top condition. Don't expect results overnight - better quality sperm will result in about three months, the length of the sperm production cycle. Plan well in advance of the intended time of conception. Each day, simply choose foods from each of the major food groups, as outlined in nutrition basics. This will help you ensure you have a diet packed with energy-giving carbohydrates, moderate in protein and fat (but low in saturated fat) and rich in vitamins and minerals.
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in September 2005.
First published in March 2001.