7 For Those Wanting Pregnancy, Being Pregnant or BreastFeeding [For going into labor, see extreme sports]

[For going into labor, see extreme sports]

The best guarantee of healthy offspring is achieved when both partners prepare for pregnancy. This does not mean decorating the spare room. It means learning all you can about what is truly best for you and baby. Optimum nutrition can greatly improve fertility and chances of a healthy pregnancy. Vitamins are essential for both.

There are three main problems facing wannabe and gonnabe parents. They are:

1. Vitamin deficiency
2. Toxins & pollution
3. Anxiety

Starting with the diet in section 1, you should do the optimum nutrients questionnaire in section 3 above.

The most important vitamins & minerals for a pregnant body are: B6, B12, folic acid, iron, zinc. If you are getting enough of these you will not get 'morning sickness' or increased blood pressure and you will not feel tired. Nibbling small, frequent amounts of fruit or carbs such as nuts, seeds or wholegrains will increase your stores of these vital nutrients. You should not take vitamin A supplements if you are pregnant.

Pollution Check

(Score 1 point for each 'yes' answer in this category)

• [ ] Do you live in a city or by a busy road?
• [ ] Do you spend more than two hours a week in heavy traffic?
• [ ] Do you exercise or do your job in areas of heavy traffic?
• [ ] Do you smoke more than 5 cigarettes a day?
• [ ] Do you live or work in a smoky atmosphere?
• [ ] Do you buy non-organic foods (particularly fruit and veg)?
• [ ] Do you buy foods that may have been exposed to traffic pollution?
• [ ] Do you drink more than one glass of wine or one pint of beer per day?
• [ ] Do you spend long periods of time in front of CRT screens (VDU or TV)?
• [ ] Do you drink ordinary tap water?

[ ] Total score

The higher your score, the more pollution danger you are in. To counteract the effect of toxins, boost your immune system [see section 3 above –BUT do not take large quantities of vitamin A when pregnant!]

If you're currently pregnant, you can use section 6 above right after birth, and also remember to continue to boost your immunity. (You should read the information on breastfeeding and health, especially mental health, and immunity, both below and in the articles in our library; nutrition section.)

At all times you must keep anxiety to a minimum or preferably eliminate it entirely. There is now no doubt that anxiety damages unborn children more than anything else, and we know that living with anxious parents is also harmful to children. Lots of vitamin C after birth and during early years [for parents]. If you suffer from anxiety, depression or mood swings, also see section 10 below.