Before you start trying to get pregnant you want to do everything you can to make sure you are ready emotionally, physically, and financially for this life changing experience. Being ready physically means being healthy.  Being healthy is important to help support a growing fetus but also to help you conceive in the first place.  Good eating habits and a healthy diet are an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Getting pregnant comes easy for some women but for others it isn’t so easy.  There is a lot about our daily lives that can impact our ability to conceive such as our stress level, our work/life balance, the safety of our job, how or if we exercise, and what we eat.

What we eat can have a big impact on our ability to conceive, but it also has a big impact on that tiny little baby as soon as it begins to grow inside of you.  We all know that good nutrition is important during pregnancy but it is also important before you get pregnant as well.  What goes into our body seems to have an impact on fertility.

Here are a few things to consider about your diet when you are trying to get pregnant.

1. Reduce your intake of alcohol.  You shouldn’t drink alcohol while you are pregnant so this is a great time to get used to not drinking.  Skip that extra glass of wine with dinner.
2. Eliminate caffeine if you can, if not at least reduce your intake of caffeine.  Caffeine has been linked to miscarriage risk early in pregnancy so it is a good idea to cut your caffeine intake before you get pregnant anyway.
3. Eat whole grains instead of a lot of refined carbohydrates.  Skip the white bread and pasta and go for the heartier whole wheat versions instead.
4. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake.  Pick fruits and vegetables with a lot of color.
5. Watch your fish intake.  Limit how much fish you consume each week and make sure what you do eat is low in mercury.  Steer clear of those high mercury fish like tuna, swordfish, etc.
6. Increase your iron intake.  You can get iron from foods like red meat and spinach.  You can also consider a multivitamin with iron (most women’s multivitamins contain iron).
7. Eat a well balanced diet, try to avoid fad diets especially those that limit any one food group.

Talk to your doctor about your current diet and what changes he or she recommends for women trying to conceive.  If you think your diet may be impacting your ability to get pregnant consider going to a nutritionist for help.  The saying goes that we are what we eat.  By starting to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating habits you may be able to impact your chances of getting pregnant.