Body weight and fertility
Being a healthy body weight is important before pregnancy. If you're underweight, it can be more difficult to conceive and if you're overweight, you run a greater risk of complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy.
The ideal range is usually calculated using the body mass index (BMI) of 20 to 25. Take steps either to try to lose or gain weight where necessary, in a sensible way - crash dieting will not be good for your overall health.
Even a small weight loss can greatly increase your ability to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. If you're concerned about your weight, you may find it useful to speak to your doctor or practice nurse for further advice.
Taking folic acid before and in the very early stages of pregnancy can reduce the risk of your baby suffering from neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should take a supplement that provides 400mcg folic acid per day. This is in addition to a dietary intake of folic acid of about 200mcg per day.
Once pregnant, women should continue taking a 400mcg supplement for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Rich dietary sources include fortified breakfast cereals, bread, green leafy vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and green beans), oranges, dried beans, peas and lentils. Some supermarkets and food manufacturers identify good sources of folic acid with a special label. Look out for these next time you go shopping.
Women who've already had an NTD-affected pregnancy should take a supplement that provides 5mg a day. See your doctor for more information.