Trying To Conceive? Here’s Why Everybody Should See A Fertility Dietitian
It’s pretty well known that eating healthily during pregnancy is important, but what about during the preconception stage? If you have a healthy diet and lifestyle already you might be wondering what a prenatal dietitian has to offer. Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed by the conflicting advice out there. Let me clear it up for you.
The First 1000 Days: A Foundation for Life
The first 1000 days of your baby’s life are incredibly formative. The nutrition you provide during this time doesn't just affect your child’s development in the womb, it sets the groundwork for their health throughout their life. Here’s what’s at stake during this crucial period:
Brain Development
Prenatal nutrition has the ability to influence your babies brain function and cognition throughout their whole life.
Immune System
Proper nutrition helps build a strong immune system, which means your child can better fight off illnesses.
Metabolic Programming
What you eat in the months prior to conception and during pregnancy can influence how your child’s body uses and stores energy, which can affect their weight and overall health later in life. Being both underweight or overweight has been shown to increase your babies risk of obesity later in life.
Chronic Disease Prevention
Adequate nutrition can reduce the risk of developing conditions like diabetes and heart disease decades down the line.
Your Diet Can Influence Your Baby’s Genes
Epigenetics is the science of how your environment and lifestyle choices can affect the way your child’s genes work. This means that in the months prior to conception and during pregnancy, the nutrients you consume can actually alter gene expression in ways that impact your child's health outcomes. For instance:
- Nutrient-rich diets can promote genetic modifications that enhance health and reduce disease risk.
- Folic acid and other methyl donors are particularly influential, affecting brain development and reducing the risk of certain birth defects.
Research consistently shows that nutrition during the first 1000 days can have long-lasting effects. Studies reveal that children whose mothers had a diet rich in essential nutrients during pregnancy have better health outcomes throughout their lifespan. These children tended to have lower incidences of chronic diseases and better developmental scores.
Why You Should See a Fertility Dietitian
Whilst this may sound overwhelming, a fertility dietitian is here to walk you through this stage of your life with expert nutrition advice. Working with a fertility dietitian will allow you to:
- Identify and correct any nutrient deficiencies.
- Improve your diet to enhance fertility by supporting you with tailored nutrition advice and a comprehensive plan.
- Ensure you and your baby receive all the necessary nutrients for a healthy pregnancy and beyond.
- Assist you in managing pregnancy complications such a nausea & vomiting, constipation and gestational diabetes.
- Support your recovery and nutritional needs postpartum and during breastfeeding.
Working with a fertility dietitian isn’t just about improving your diet, it's about ensuring your child has the best possible start in life. Let a fertility dietitian help you get there!
Book an appointment With a prenatal dietitian
References:
Zimmer C. The famine ended 70 years ago, but Dutch genes still bear scars New York: Science Times; 2018. Available from: The Famine Ended 70 Years Ago, but Dutch Genes Still Bear Scars - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Heijmans BT, Tobi EW, Stein AD, Putter H, Blauw GJ, Susser ES, et al. Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2008;105(44):17046-9.
Stuppia L, Franzago M, Ballerini P, Gatta V, Antonucci I. Epigenetics and male reproduction: the consequences of paternal lifestyle on fertility, embryo development, and children lifetime health. Clin Epigenetics. 2015;7:120-.
Davies PSW, Funder J, Palmer DJ, Sinn J, Vickers MH, Wall CR. Early life nutrition and the opportunity to influence long-term health: an Australasian perspective. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. 2016;7(5):440-8