"Practicing handstand after sex" can "hit the jackpot"? Don't believe these 5 big pitfalls in preparing for pregnancy! Read this if you want to prepare for pregnancy!

Author: Song Qin, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gynecology, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital

Reviewer: Li Peng, Director of General Medicine Department, Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Chief Physician

How curly can you be in preparation for pregnancy?

In order to prepare for pregnancy, some young people will completely change their lifestyle habits, such as carefully proportioning each meal, eating different chicken, duck, fish, beef and mutton every day, and even using "folk remedies to help children" to "replenish" themselves in various ways... But after all the hard work, their stomachs still don't get "bloated".

Why is it that preparing for pregnancy is as difficult as climbing to heaven for some people, but is "easy" for others? Does pregnancy really depend on "fate"? In fact, many things about preparing for pregnancy are not what we think!

Some of the secrets to preparing for pregnancy circulating on the Internet require everyone to keep their eyes open to distinguish their authenticity.

01

Rumors: "The probability is highest on those days of the month" and "Practice handstand after having sex" so that you can "hit the target with one shot"!

Analysis: Half true, half false! It is true that the probability is higher 1-2 days before ovulation, but the saying that "standing upside down after sex can lead to 'hitting the jack off'" has no scientific basis.

Some female friends calculate the time of conception precisely, monitor ovulation with ultrasound in the hospital during the period of preparing for pregnancy, and have sex only on the day of ovulation for one month. However, too little sex will cause sperm to stay in the body for too long, sperm aging and poor vitality, resulting in low quality of fertilized eggs, which is not conducive to preparing for pregnancy.

The most suitable time for sexual intercourse is 1-2 days before ovulation. The reason is that the process from ovulation to fertilization of the egg is within 24 hours, generally no more than 48 hours, and the best fertilization time is within 14-18 hours; sperm can survive for 48-72 hours after being released, but the strongest fertilization time is 1-2 days. Therefore, sexual intercourse 1-2 days before ovulation, so that the sperm waits for the egg, can seize the best fertilization time of the egg.

For women with regular menstruation, the ovulation period is 14 days before the next menstrual period. You can use ovulation test strips to grasp the ovulation period and increase the chance of pregnancy.

In addition, "standing upside down" does not make the "tadpoles" swim faster or deeper, and there is no definite research data to prove that the probability of pregnancy is higher in this way.

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02

Rumor: "I didn't know how I got pregnant", preparing for pregnancy is just a waste of time!

Analysis: This statement is totally wrong! Preparing for pregnancy is very important!

Although it takes about three months for sperm and eggs to mature, adjusting the body's condition is a long process. In addition to creating a good external environment for the baby materially, the couple who are planning to have a baby should also be prepared to welcome the baby in terms of physiology, psychology and other aspects.

Both parties planning for pregnancy need to go through a systematic pre-pregnancy check-up and adjust their physical condition. For example, they should follow the principles of safety, nutrition, and balance to improve their daily diet; take supplements such as vitamins; try to ensure 30 to 90 minutes of exercise every day; quit smoking 3 to 6 months in advance, and other measures. These can give the baby a healthier future.

03

Rumor: "The more you have sex, the faster you will conceive." Preparing for pregnancy is a physical battle!

Analysis: Wrong! Preparing for pregnancy is a delicate task, and haste makes waste.

When some couples want a baby, they will consciously increase the frequency of sexual intercourse, thinking that this will help them get pregnant as soon as possible, but the result is often counterproductive.

After an ejaculation, it usually takes two or three days to restore a certain amount and quality.

If you have sex too frequently, your semen will become scarce, and the number and quality of sperm will decrease accordingly, which will reduce the chance of conception.

According to the results of semen level tests, if you have sex more than 3 times a week, the quantity and quality of semen will decrease significantly. Therefore, during the pregnancy preparation period, it is best to maintain a frequency of sex every 2-3 days.

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04

Rumor: You should eat more folic acid when preparing for pregnancy, the earlier the better!

Analysis: Not necessarily! There is no need to take too much too early.

Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that participates in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. It plays an important role in cell proliferation, tissue differentiation, and body growth and development. It is one of the most important nutrients in the pregnancy preparation period. Folic acid deficiency can easily lead to fetal neural tube defects.

Since folic acid cannot be synthesized in the human body and its utilization rate from food is low, women need to take additional folic acid supplements during pregnancy preparation.

But folic acid is not the case that the earlier you take it, the better, or the more you take, the better!

It is recommended that folic acid be taken starting from the first three months of pregnancy preparation and continuing until the third month of pregnancy. The recommended daily intake is 400-800 μg.

According to research, long-term, high-dose (>1mg/d) folic acid supplementation (including folic acid-fortified foods) may pose health risks.** Therefore, mothers should check the folic acid content when purchasing it. Some multivitamin tablets also contain folic acid. At the same time, pay attention to the total amount of folic acid when taking it to avoid overdose.

05

Rumor: You need to "nourish" yourself when preparing for pregnancy, and eating and drinking a lot will help you get pregnant!

Analysis: Not advisable! **Overeating and overdrinking can cause harm to both mother and baby, **Say no to "supplements"!

Simply taking excessive supplements may cause women of childbearing age to become overweight or obese, which may lead to hidden dangers of pregnancy diseases.

Rapid weight gain during pregnancy may be harmful to the short-term and long-term health of both mother and baby.

For mothers, it may increase the risks of pregnancy complications, difficult labor, gestational diabetes, affect postpartum body recovery, and increase the chance of breastfeeding failure.

For babies, it may increase the probability of macrosomia, increase the risk of dystocia, bleeding, and injury. The probability of macrosomia babies developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease when they grow up is also higher than that of normal-weight babies.

Before you get pregnant, you should adjust your weight to a normal range (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m), and ensure that you are healthy and well-nourished. You should also eat a balanced diet and control your weight throughout your pregnancy, leaving room for possible weight gain in the late stages of pregnancy.

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Compared with earlier years, more and more young people are now paying attention to the quality of pregnancy and realizing the importance of preparing for pregnancy. So what preparations should expectant parents make before preparing for pregnancy?

1

Conduct pre-pregnancy check-up in advance

Doctors can identify potential risks to parents, fetuses, and pregnancy through a series of examinations and medical history inquiries, and take intervention measures to avoid many preventable and treatable "misfortunes."

Because intervention treatment may take several months to adjust, it is recommended that everyone should have a prenatal check-up when they plan to become pregnant, at least 3 to 6 months before pregnancy.

2

The prospective father should do

① Quit smoking and drinking (quit smoking and drinking 3 months before pregnancy).

②Avoid wearing too tight jeans and riding for long periods of time.

③ Avoid being in high temperature environment frequently, such as taking hot spring bath, steam bath, sauna, etc.

④ You can do appropriate exercises such as walking, swimming, Pilates and yoga according to your personal physical condition.

⑤ When using and storing various electronic products, you should maintain the correct posture. If you are inevitably exposed to radioactive/toxic substances at work, please take protective measures in accordance with the regulations.

⑥ Focus on eating protein-rich foods, soy products, seafood, vegetables and fruits to ensure a balanced diet.

⑦ Pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid infections in the female reproductive system. Even if pregnancy is successful, it may cause intrauterine infection of the fetus, leading to adverse results.

3

Expectant mothers should do

① Keep a regular work and rest schedule, develop good living habits, avoid staying up late, get enough rest, and ensure a normal sleep time of 7-8 hours per day. Quit smoking and drinking 3-6 months in advance, and refuse secondhand smoke. Try to avoid gathering in enclosed public places and stay away from bacteria and viruses.

② Improve your physical fitness, strengthen your exercise, and maintain proper exercise; it is recommended to choose a sport that suits you and exercise for 30 minutes a day, such as aerobic exercises such as jogging, brisk walking and swimming.

③ Balanced diet, healthy diet, and reasonable combination of meat and vegetables; make sure to have sufficient folic acid, iron and iodine; it is recommended to start taking folic acid tablets 400-800μg in the first 3 months of pregnancy to meet the body's needs.

④ Carry out weight management and strive to adjust the body weight to a reasonable range and achieve the standard body mass index (BMI is 18.5-23.9 kg/m2).

⑤ Adjust your mindset, relax, and keep a good mood.

⑥ If you feel sick or unwell during the pregnancy preparation period, seek medical attention promptly and take medication under the guidance of a professional doctor. Try to avoid taking medication on your own.

in conclusion

Expectant mothers must control their diet, whether it is food or folic acid, do not take too much, just moderate, and do not stand upside down after sex. Do the above, please relax and do not fall into the vicious cycle of "anxiety-failure to get pregnant-more anxiety".

If you are under 35 and have not gotten pregnant after one year of trying to conceive, or if you are over 35 and have not gotten pregnant after half a year of trying to conceive, it is recommended that you go to a regular hospital's infertility clinic or related specialist department for treatment.

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