| My fiance and I are going to start a family | | | | children. |
| after our wedding in July 2007. I have | | | | |
| started planning a pre-pregnancy change of | | | | If you are getting the right intake of |
| lifestyle to ensure I give my child the best | | | | essential fatty acids while pregnant, your |
| start in life. | | | | child will have increased brain function, |
| | | | clearer eyes and higher intelligence. |
| I have done a lot of reading both online and | | | | Essential fatty acids are found in nuts and |
| in books about preparing for pregnancy and | | | | seeds and oily fish such as salmon or tuna. |
| motherhood and how important it is to have a | | | | |
| healthy diet and lifestyle before you | | | | When eating fish during pregnancy it is best |
| conceive your baby. | | | | to eat organic fish as this will help to |
| | | | limit the metals such as mercury normally |
| It is really important to have a diet low in | | | | found in non-organic fish. It is also |
| fat, salt and sugar and high in fibre, | | | | important to eat a high quality salmon or |
| essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals | | | | tuna if you are eating them from cans and to |
| when trying to conceive. Having a | | | | also watch the salt content. Canned fish can |
| pre-pregnancy plan in place will ensure you | | | | sometimes be high in salt so opt for the salt |
| are at your optimum level of health at the | | | | reduced options. |
| crucial stage of pregnancy. | | | | |
| | | | Other important things during pre-pregnancy |
| It has been proven that a baby will do most | | | | are making sure you exercise, so muscles |
| of it's developing in the first 4 weeks of | | | | remain strong and healthy. Strong muscles can |
| pregnancy. This is often well before the | | | | also help during labour and give you stamina |
| mother even knows she is pregnant. In the | | | | to be able to last long hours in the labour |
| first 4 weeks of pregnancy the child will | | | | ward. As we all know labour is very hard on |
| develop any illnesses or genetic conditions | | | | the body and if you are fit and healthy you |
| that it may be predisposed to and set a | | | | will have a faster recovery time and more |
| memory for its future health. | | | | energy to enjoy your new baby. |
| | | | |
| It will also determine brain size, brain | | | | There are many books and e-books that will |
| functions and brain capacity. This will | | | | give you great advice on pre-pregnancy plans |
| ensure your child has an increased | | | | and diets. I feel this is essential to give |
| intelligence. Essential fatty acids have been | | | | your child the best start in life. |
| linked in producing smarter and healthier | | | | |