Diet plays a crucial role in your overall health and conception journey too. Every one of you focuses on what to eat and what not to eat during pregnancy. However, paying attention to diet from conception to postpartum (after childbirth) is important. Food facilitates your body to prepare for a healthy pregnancy and has quick healing after giving birth to a baby. A doctor at an IVF fertility centre can help you in this regard. However, have a look at what you should eat and what you should not eat from fertility to pregnancy and postpartum phases.
Fertility diet
An effective fertility diet refers to having a healthy and balanced diet. Food with a proper balance of nutritional elements, especially vitamins and minerals can help you increase your fertility and facilitate your getting pregnant soon.
Several recent studies disclose that fertility diets that are rich in vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin D are better and bring positive outcomes. To boost your fertility, you can try a Mediterranean diet that includes:
- Fresh fruits
- Whole grains
- Vegetables
- Seafood
Apart from focusing on a healthy diet, you need to maintain your body weight for increasing your fertility. Maintaining a healthy weight while taking a fertility diet will help you attain your goal soon. Extra body weight hampers oestrogen production and this can alter your menstrual cycle and ovulation. It can stop your menstruation. So, keep a check on your body weight and your BMI under 25.
Pregnancy diet
After taking proper care of your diet during conception, it is crucial for you to maintain a healthy pregnancy. A pregnancy-friendly diet can help you a lot. During pregnancy, you need to be strict on the diet, eat it, not that. Here, it means you should have a clear idea of what you should eat and what you should not eat during pregnancy. Have a look at what to eat when you are pregnant:
- Artichokes: Folate and iron
- Cheese (not soft): Protein and calcium
- Eggs: Essential amino acids and calcium
- Avocados: Good fats, folate, and fibre
- Basil: Vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin A, dietary fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin K, vitamin B6, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, folate, and iron
- Figs: Fibre, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium
- Leafy Greens: Folates, calcium, and iron
- Broccoli: Folate, antioxidants, fibre, and calcium
- Lean Meat: Protein and iron
- Bananas: Potassium
- Lentils: Protein, folate, and fibre
- Molasses: Magnesium, manganese, and vitamin B6
- Nonfat Milk: Calcium
- Nuts: Unsaturated fat
- Oats: Fibre, iron, B vitamins, and fiber
- Soy: Protein
- Pumpkin Seeds: Protein, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, and potassium
- Yoghourt: Probiotics and calcium
- Red Bell Peppers: Vitamin C
- Sweet Potatoes: Vitamin A
Now, have a look at what you should not eat when you are pregnant
- Raw Fish: Several bacteria and parasites
- Soft Cheese: Listeria bacteria
- Fresh Juice: Salmonella bacteria and E. coli
- Raw Eggs: Salmonella bacteria
- Unwashed Produce: Listeria bacteria and toxoplasma
- Raw Sprouts: Various bacteria
- Fish with Mercury: Methylmercury
- Deli Meats: Listeria bacteria
- Locally Caught Fish: Industrial chemicals
- Unpasteurized Milk: Listeria bacteria
- Undercooked Meat: Toxoplasma bacteria
As far as possible, you should avoid consuming caffeine during pregnancy. If you can’t leave it, make it moderate and avoid having not more than 200mg of caffeine a day. You should quit smoking and drinking. Smoking and drinking can cause pregnancy complications.
Postpartum diet
After giving birth to a child too, you need to take care of your diet. Your postpartum diet is less strict in comparison with the fertility diet and pregnancy diet. The primary focus in this phase is on the supply of nutritional elements that can facilitate your healing process and baby’s growth after the delivery. The food items you should take are:
Whole grains
- Fresh and seasonal fruits
- Green leafy vegetables
- Unprocessed meat
- Fatty acids, especially Omega-3 fatty acid
Conclusion
Paying attention to your diet is essential for you throughout your parenthood journey, from planning to pregnancy and childbirth. In case of any confusion, you should consult your doctor and request him/her to recommend a specific diet for you.
