Pregnancy puts strain on the body. You may find it easier to cope with if you are fit, strong, and flexible. It has also been shown that labour is easier for women who are active during pregnancy.
Planning to have a baby can be very exciting. It can also be an anxious time for you and your spouse. Staying active can help to boost your mood and lessen your risk of stress and depression.
If you are an active woman, you are more likely to have children who are active too. It may help you and your partner to think about becoming active as part of your preparation to be parents.
The argument for adopting healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices and reducing stress is a strong one because it may help improve fertility. It’s also important to talk to your healthcare team to find the best options for you.
Sedentary lifestyle choices continue to be the rule than the exception these days. In fact, the tendency to lead sedentary lives is becoming what can be described as a global epidemic. Besides being responsible for millions of deaths, sedentary lifestyles can have debilitating effects on fertility.
The amount of time that you spend on the computer or before the TV set might not be entirely responsible for decreased testicular function or hormonal dysfunction but dropping sperm counts and the decline in male fertility can be traced to chemical exposures or increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
If you are a man working in sedentary jobs or participating in more sedentary hobby activities, you can begin to become more active by simply stretching, bending, and turning – working up to a goal of about 10 minutes worth every hour.
Gaining more physical activity into an otherwise sedentary routine could make all the difference that you may require. A sedentary lifestyle can cause problems such as hormonal imbalance and weight issues that impact egg quality, which can increase your risk of infertility as a woman. In a man, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to low sperm quality and scrotal heating, which can also cause infertility.
Other lifestyle factors affecting fertility include nutrition, weight, and exercise; physical and psychological stress; environmental and occupational exposures; substance and drug use and abuse; and medications. If you are obese, underweight or engage in strenuous physical labour and excessive exercise, you are at risk. If you smoke, drink, use illegal drugs, have high blood pressure, and undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy, these can all impair your fertility.
Being active by doing regular moderate exercise before and after you get pregnant will help you have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Research has shown that being active before and during early pregnancy can reduce your risk of having problems in pregnancy.
Avoid sitting down for long periods. Cut down the amount of time you spend sitting down (being sedentary). You can set a reminder on your phone to stand up regularly and try taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalator. Turning something that happens every day into physical activity is a brilliant way to get more active. Talk to your physician if you want to have a baby but are concerned about exercise and the effects on your menstrual cycle or your fertility.
Generally, if you are concerned about your fertility, consult a doctor or a fertility specialist for advice and treatment options.
You and your partner may both find it helpful to support each other to lead a healthier lifestyle as you prepare to have a baby together.
