Guest post from Rosie Tadman Nutrition

When it comes to having a healthy pregnancy, baby and mum-to-be preconception nutrition is the key. You may think that 3-4 months before conception is too soon, but there are so many benefits to preparing your body with proper nutrition during that time. Here, we will discuss why it’s so important and how you can get started.

It takes a woman’s eggs 3-4 months to mature – therefore, there is a huge window of opportunity to improve your chances not only on conception but also to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy, healthy baby and Mum. I think often this preconception window can feel overwhelming and women can feel guilty if they are not doing ‘all the things’ in the preconception phase. Firstly, all you can do is do your best and when you know better…try and do better (starting point below) – leave guilt as the door. Secondly, it’s not about being ‘perfect’ – there is no space for perfection, just consistency and also food for the soul. Perfection is often the destroyer of health. 

The importance of vitamins and minerals cannot be overstated when it comes to preconception nutrition; they are essential for the development of the foetus and should be included in any preconception diet plan. 

Folate is especially important for developing a baby’s neural tube which will eventually become their brain and spinal cord, while Vitamin D helps build strong bones and teeth. Omega-3 fatty acids help with vision development while Calcium aids in bone growth; both are found in foods like salmon, eggs, leafy greens, nuts, beans and dairy products.

Start by making sure you get enough calories from nutrient-dense sources like meat, fish, whole grains, fruits & vegetables every day. Eating at least three meals per day. Make sure you are getting adequate protein as well as plenty of fruits & veggies; these provide essential vitamins and minerals that are needed for proper foetal growth.

 Additionally, cutting back on processed foods is essential; these contain unhealthy additives like artificial sugars or trans fats which can hinder foetal development or increase your risk of certain health problems later on down the road. 

If you would like to dive into preconception nutrition more, then Rosie Tadman has written a simple, enjoyable and non-judgemental e-course about Fertility Nutrition and she would like of offer it to you at a discounted price of £5 (RRP £29), use code: MELFIVER and the course information can be found here.