A Perfectly Healthy Pregnancy

By Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy

A healthy baby begins with two healthy adults – you and your partner! Here are six simple steps to help both of you get there.

Having a child is one of life's most thrilling experiences. Of course, every parent wants their child to be healthy. But instead of just keeping your fingers crossed, why not help your baby out by providing it with a gift that will last a lifetime – healthy parents? Ensuring your baby's health begins before conception and involves both parents. Our step-by-step list of what to do before and during pregnancy is designed as an easy-to-follow road map that can guide you to good health throughout the process.

1. Get Physical

Before starting on the road to parenthood, I strongly recommend thorough physical examinations for both parents-to-be. It's important to identify health issues that could interfere with fertility (See Sidebar: Dealing with Infertility, below) or cause complications during or after pregnancy. A physical is fairly quick and minimally invasive, but it provides your physician with a wealth of information. A simple blood panel, for example, can provide important clues about overall health, as well as thyroid function, hormone levels, blood sugar and much more. More importantly, once we know the status of your health, we can begin working on making improvements that will benefit you and your baby. If you're going to be a family, you want all the members to be happy and healthy!

2. Detox

Even if you eat organic foods, drink pure, clean water and avoid other common sources of pollution, you need to detox. We are surrounded by toxic substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are nearly 80,000 man-made chemicals in existence and in most cases; the long-term effects of those chemicals on humans are unknown.

Here's one example: Each year, fruits and vegetables in this country are treated with five million pounds of pesticides. These products may be odorless and undetectable to the naked eye, but that does not mean they are benign. And that's just one form of environmental exposure to toxins!

According to the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) latest findings, published in the Fourth Annual Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, there is “widespread exposure to some commonly used industrial chemicals” in the U.S. One of the most prevalent – bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in making plastics – is particularly worrisome to anyone planning to start a family, since it is thought to play a role in reproductive toxicity. CDC scientists found BPA in more than 90 percent of the urine samples taken from study participants, suggesting it is widespread in the general population.

The bottom line: There's no escaping pollution and toxins. But detoxification can work wonders by removing these potentially dangerous substances from your body. At Center for New Medicine, we offer a wide variety of detox methods, including Body Cleanse, Chelation Therapy, Far Infrared Sauna, Heel Detox-Kit, Lymphatic Therapy, Liver Cleanse and many others and those are not optional. The physical examination described in Step One will provide details on which type of detoxification method would work best for you.

3. A Baby-Friendly Diet

The chances of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby are greater for parents who are healthy before conceiving. That means smoking; illegal drugs and/or alcohol use are off the table. Discuss any prescription medications and supplements you're taking with your physician, to determine whether they are safe for a fetus.

Having parents who are overweight (with a Body Mass Index or BMI above 27) or underweight (having a BMI lower than 17) can also affect a baby's health. Excess weight has been linked to complications during pregnancy, as well as difficulties ovulating and, therefore, becoming pregnant. On the opposite end of the spectrum, being underweight may interfere with ovulation and can result in a premature or low birth weight baby. Your physician can assist you in making smart dietary choices to remedy either problem.

On the nutrition front, a healthful diet is one that primarily consists of organic (whenever possible) whole foods, as opposed to prepared, processed fare or fast foods. Try to cut back on sugar and salt intake, and increase consumption of fiber-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables. Avoid caffeine, soft drinks and fish (due to mercury contamination). Focus on “good fats,” like extra-virgin olive oil and fish oil that has been molecularly distilled to remove heavy metals and toxins. Good fats are particularly important because fats form a portion of cell walls throughout the body.

Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fresh, clean water. So-called “energy drinks” tend to be loaded with sugar, caffeine and sometimes other ingredients that are best avoided. Sparkling mineral water with a wedge of citrus fruit is another option.

Diet is a fairly complicated issue, but your physician can recommend a nutrition expert to help you sort through the choices.

Supplements are another area that can be confusing, but again, your physician or nutrition expert can help. For example, adequate supplies of folic acid, also known as folate, is critical to proper development of a fetus, protecting against neural tube defects (spina bifida). If a blood test reveals low levels, supplements are an absolute must and can improve the situation. A high-quality prenatal vitamins, fish oil and vitamin D are also recommended, along with appropriate minerals. Your physician can help you select products that are right for your situation.

4. Keep Active

Fitness matters! You'll need strong muscles and endurance after the baby is born to care for and keep up with a small child. Plus, maintaining muscle strength, aerobic abilities and overall health during pregnancy makes the experience less taxing on the body, and eases delivery and recovery.

The key when it comes to exercising is “moderate.” Brisk walking is fine; training for a marathon is probably not a great idea once you become pregnant. Similarly, strenuous activities like downhill skiing, diving and horseback riding are fine before and after the baby is born, but not during pregnancy.

5. Prenatal Care

Once you become pregnant, regular visits with your doctor can help identify and deal with health issues that may arise, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and anemia. The doctor will also monitor the health and position of the fetus, so these visits take on increasing importance as the delivery day approaches.

Your doctor will recommend an appropriate pre-natal vitamin, as well as any other helpful supplements. You can also discuss remedies for common discomforts, like lower back pain, swollen ankles, sleep issues and morning sickness. There are many lifestyle changes and safe, natural remedies for these types of concerns, so don't be shy about mentioning them to your physician.

Throughout pregnancy, it's a good idea to avoid exposure to toxic home cleaning products and pollution whenever possible. Investing in things like air and water filtration systems for home or office and replacing non-stick cookware with a safer alternative are some steps to consider. Furthermore, an EMF (electro-magnetic frequency) protector can help counteract negative effects of the countless electronic devices surrounding us. http://www.cfnmedicine.com/ReadNewsletter.aspx?Article=46)

Additionally, before or during pregnancy are good times to learn stress management techniques. Holosync Audio Therapy is one option, Heart Mat is another option. You may also want to look into Mindfulness Meditation, massage and one of the gentler forms of yoga.

6. Post Natal Care

Now that you have a new person in your life, one that needs 24/7 care, don't forget about You! Post-partum concerns are common for many new parents, including depression, hair loss, weight changes, hormonal disruption and mood swings. The good news is, there are solutions for these problems. Talk to your doctor about what you're experiencing. Being a new parent can be overwhelming, but there's no reason to suffer alone. Many post-partum difficulties, like weight gained during pregnancy, resolve with time. For the others, there are a whole range of remedies that can make a tremendous difference.

Dealing with Infertility

For some couples, pregnancy comes easily. Millions of others, however, struggle with infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after having regular intercourse for more than a year. Major advances in assisted reproductive technology have made it possible for many of these couples to have children. That process can be expensive, though, so anyone who is having trouble conceiving may want to consider some lifestyle changes that are recognized as helpful.

Have your physician review all medications you are currently taking, as some may interfere with conception.
Avoid excessive caffeine consumption, including coffee, tea, energy drinks, and many soft drinks. Caffeine has been linked to miscarriages and possibly decreased fertility and should be avoided during pregnancy.
If you're an athletic woman, try backing off strenuous regimens for a time. Intense exercise can lower estrogen and progesterone levels, two hormones necessary for a healthy pregnancy, as well as sperm production in men. Gentler activity, like walking at a moderate pace or recreational swimming, can help you stay in shape without affecting fertility.
Learn stress management techniques (see above). Excessive stress is a recognized factor in infertility, plus it affects your overall health. Your physician can help you find an appropriate method of stress management.
Here at the Center for New Medicine, we have developed a fertility protocol that includes a number of natural products, including wheat germ oil and Ovex. Check with your physician for details on the fertility enhancing choices that are available.
Eat well! Many of the most popular foods – particularly fast food and processed fare – are low in nutrition. Making good eating habits a part of daily life now can enhance fertility, and benefit your baby during and after pregnancy. Healthy parents are one of the greatest gifts you can give your child!
Hormonal Imbalance
Low DHEA and Testosterone will lower the ability to get pregnant
Blood sugar imbalance