The birth of a child is a time of
great joy and one of life’s most profound experiences. This joy is
increased when both mother and baby have come through a trouble free
and healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy.
I have been professionally involved
with mothers and babies for over 30 years and have been treating
couples with fertility problems for the past 25 years. While I am
increasingly concerned at the number of couples needing assistance,
I have also had the incredible privilege of being able to help many
couples in their quest for a healthy pregnancy and to share in their
joy with the arrival of a healthy baby.
In the last 30 years there has been a
worrying increase in reproductive health problems and infertility,
with the incidence of infertility tripling. One couple in six is
now considered to be infertile. Rates of miscarriage, prematurity
and other health issues also appear to be on the rise. Nearly every
aspect of your reproductive health has been found to be adversely
affected in some way by 21st century living conditions, diet and
lifestyle!
The good news is that the combined
evidence of many eminent researchers has shown that conditions such
as sub fertility, miscarriage, poor foetal health, breast-feeding
difficulties, behaviour & learning problems, allergy and poor
immunity are preventable and treatable with sound preconception
health care programs combined with continued healthcare throughout
pregnancy.
Isn’t it exciting to think that with
just 16 weeks of solid preconception health care you can not only
improve your own reproductive health but also that of your children
and grandchildren! Working together we can have an influence on the
health of future generations!
What is preconception care?
1. It is a program for BOTH
prospective parents aimed at :
increasing the likelihood of
conception,
improving your pregnancy outcomes
and
optimizing the health of your
baby.
2.
The focus is on
restoring optimum health and, in the case of infertility, to
address and remedy the causes of your problem rather than just
override it.
3.
The basis of
preconception care is to ensure an adequate supply (through
diet, lifestyle & supplementation) of all essential nutritional
factors known to be vital for the health of your sperm and ova
and for optimum development for your baby.
4.
Through a
preconception health care program you reduce exposure (through
lifestyle & environmental changes, & detoxification) to those
factors known to compromise your health in general and are
harmful to sperm, ova and your baby’s development.
5.
Optimum
preconception health care begins at least four months prior to
your intended conception to ensure the health of your sperm and
ova. Sperm & ova take 100 -116 days to generate and mature.
6.
This is achieved
through the use of :
natural medicines such as
nutritional supplements and individualized herbal formulations,
education regarding dietary and
lifestyle changes, detoxification, stress management
cycle charting (for hormonal &
nutritional status) and timing techniques
testing to diagnose for heavy
metal toxicity and nutritional deficiencies
preconception medical screening
for infection or other problems carried out by your doctor
Who should use preconception care
programs?
Anyone considering a pregnancy.
Those couples experiencing
difficulties with fertility.
Those couples using assisted
reproductive technology e.g. IVF etc – recent studies have shown that preconception health care will more than double chances
of success.
Those with family histories of
allergy or other health issues.
Those couples who are not
infertile but would like to improve general health, have a trouble
free pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding experience and to give
their child the healthiest start to life.
The health of your baby, his/her
childhood and adulthood is dependent on the health of both you and
your partner for the 4-6 months prior to conception. The ‘blue
print’ for your child is set at conception.
Preconception health care and
conscious conception ensures the ideal environment for your baby at
the time of conception.
The foundations of most organs are laid down within the first hours
and days after conception.
