The Importance of pre-conception planning
Pre-conception nutrition contributes to foetal health.
A paper published in The Lancet in 2018 stated that:
“Micronutrient supplementation started in pregnancy can correct important maternal nutrient deficiencies, but it is not sufficient to fundamentally improve child health; dietary interventions in pregnancy […] are also insufficient in improving pregnancy outcomes.”
This statement highlights just how important nutritional status prior to conception really is for fertility health. It illustrates how, where maternal nutritional deficiencies pre-pregnancy are concerned, supplementation and healthy eating during pregnancy appears inadequate to positively altar the health of the baby. This information may seem radical, but this is due to the lack of focus placed on the pre-conception period in modern medical care. Fertility nutrition prior to conception is essential knowledge for any couple whose aim is to conceive.
The preconception period presents a special opportunity for intervention
2-3 months before and after conception is critical for optimising egg and sperm production and early placental development.
Nutrient-efficiency for foetal health.
A non-exhaustive list of examples whereby female pre-conception nutrition is considered essential :
Daily Folic Acid supplementation can reduce risk of neural tube defects by up to 70%. Preconception supplementation may also decrease the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, miscarriage, low birthweight, stillbirth, new-born death, and autism in children
Iron deficiency at preconception is another example of a nutrient with which repletion after conception is not considered to rectify structural impairments to developing foetal brain structures.in addition low iron intake from early gestation is found to induce 40–50% decrease in brain iron 10 days after birth, when tested on rodents.
Having low levels of Zinc in the preconception period is also found to compromise foetal and placental growth and cause issues with the developing neural tubes.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone mineral deficiency in the developing child, and has been implicated in gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, low birthweight and preterm birth. In addition, vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy showed that most women became vitamin D replete, but infant bone mineral content was not increased overall; thus supporting the importance of preconception nutrient levels.
These examples are used to help to illustrate why the period before conception is critical for the health of a pregnancy. This information should not scare anyone who has recently become pregnant without such precaution as the body has an amazing ability to balance order in favour of the foetus; this information is intended to help to educate anyone hoping to become pregnant and highlight where opportunity lies in order to support their odds..
Pre-conception nutrition in males
Whereas pre-conception health for women is generally accepted, although often overlooked, on the other hand preconception health in men is hardly ever discussed, that is until difficulty conceiving is presented, and in most cases male factor infertility will then be considered. However, just as with females, the male has an opportunity in the preconception period to alter the health outcomes of the pregnancy and growing foetus, and thus reducing risk of miscarriage and other such complications. There is a stark contrast in the amount of research done on men in this area compared with women, and a great need for further in-depth study, particularly given the evidence so far. For example, **two papers outline that their research indicates that 400 μg/day higher preconception folate intake in men was associated with a 2.6-day longer gestation, a key indicator for reduced rates of morbidity and mortality in infants.
Consider working alongside a Nutritional Therapist specialising in fertility who can help to identify areas of opportunity and help you to make specific and achievable changes within your diet to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Supplementing nutrients pre-conception is recommended
Minimum fertility supplement and nutritional recommendations, (3 months) prior to conception:
400 micrograms daily of folic acid
10 micrograms daily of vitamin D3
Including food high in zinc such as nuts & seeds (sprinkled over salads, yoghurt, porridge), dairy such as cheese & whole milk, legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and beans.
High intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish and low intake of red and processed meat.