What do you need to supplement when preparing for pregnancy?

Conceiving a baby is the most sacred moment in a woman's life. Giving birth is something every woman has to go through. So what preparations should expectant mothers make when preparing for pregnancy? What do you need to supplement when preparing for pregnancy? I think this must be an issue that many people are very concerned about, so let’s take a look at the following content to find out.

Folic acid supplementation

Even if you eat a balanced diet, it's difficult to ensure that you're getting all the nutrients you need. The phenomenon of folic acid deficiency in Chinese women of childbearing age is relatively common, and this should be given full attention. You can buy folic acid supplements (or folic acid tablets) at the drugstore, or you can take a multivitamin designed for pregnancy. But be careful, if it's a multivitamin, to make sure it doesn't contain more than the daily allowance of 0.77 mg (2,565 IU) of retinol equivalents (RAE) of vitamin A, unless it's in the form of beta-carotene, as excessive intake of vitamin A may cause birth defects. If you're not sure which one to take, be sure to consult your doctor first.

Choose Healthy Foods

Choosing healthy foods from now on can reserve beneficial nutrients for the future baby's breeding environment. Eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible every day, plenty of grains, and calcium-rich foods such as milk and yogurt. But if you really like eating fish, be aware that the mercury content in oily fish such as shark, swordfish, and mackerel is often too high (mercury usually exists in fish in the form of methylmercury), and consuming large amounts of methylmercury is harmful to the development of the fetal brain. So, you should not eat this type of fish more than twice a week.

Weight control

If your weight is within normal range, your chances of conceiving are better. Studies show that women with a body mass index (BMI) below 20 or above 30 are less likely to conceive. Therefore, it is best to keep your body mass index between 20 and 30 before preparing for pregnancy. Go check your BMI now.

Develop and stick to a fitness plan

According to research by the American College of Sports Medicine, a healthy fitness plan includes: 1) 20 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling, 3 to 5 days a week; 2) muscle strengthening training, such as strength equipment training, 2 to 3 days a week; 3) flexibility exercises, such as daily stretching and yoga, 2 to 3 days a week.

What do you need to supplement when preparing for pregnancy? The above content has given us a detailed introduction to this issue. Dear expectant fathers and mothers, do you understand it? I hope everyone will pay more attention to the body of pregnant women in daily life so that a healthy baby can be born.