The act of procreation has been with us since our world began. The idea of consciously preparing for conception and pregnancy is a phenomenon of our times. It has to do with the way we live today, the way food is produced and the visual and environmental pollutants that surround us. These things have changed enormously over the millennium. For those couples who want to give their children the absolutely best start in life the preparation will begin before conception. It is all about spring cleaning, getting your physical "house" in order. It is also about producing the highest quality product, the sperm, to begin this new life with. Just dwell on that thought for a moment. The life that is to grow within a woman's body and is born through her will result of such a tiny bit of both partners. To give the child the healthiest start it is worth putting in the time and effort to make sure that the child is produced from the purest essence of each of you and is able to grow and develop in a healthy, pollutant free, nutritionally sound and stress free body. A woman is born with her full quota of ova or eggs so the validity of these is genetic. The man's sperm is produced constantly and is more vulnerable to toxins, drugs and environmental pollutants. This is why the male's participation in the preparation is equally as important as the woman's preparation. Preparation for conception and pregnancy takes a minimum of four months. Six months allows for a better physical, emotional and spiritual preparation.

To begin the physical preparation it is necessary to stop using artificial contraception. If you have an IUD in place it needs to be removed. You will need to stop taking the pill if this has been your choice of contraception. Learning when your fertile period is and avoiding intercourse at that time is the preferred way of avoiding pregnancy during the preparatory phase. Condoms are another choice. A full blood screen of both partners to check iron levels, liver function, Rubella, Hep. B, Hep. C, HIV and Toxoplasmosis. A woman should attempt to be at a healthy weight for her height and body type. Underweight can cause problems with fertility, prematurely, an underweight and nutritionally deficient baby. Being overweight during pregnancy can predispose a women to high blood pressure, diabetes and prematurely.

Consideration should be given to eliminating any residual toxins that you may have in your body. The benefits of taking this step are enormous and cannot be over emphasized. One only has to remember the effects Agent Orange on the children of Vietnam veterans. The simplest way to do this is a ten day fast eating only steamed green vegetables and drinking one and a half litres of purified water a day. Other foods are then slowly added back into the diet starting with a wider variety of steamed vegetables, fruit, salads, grains and lastly eggs, dairy and protein. Another benefit of cleaning the body of residual toxins and pollutants is that there is likely to be less nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy. If either of your lifestyles have included prescription or illegal drugs, heavy environmental, industrial or chemical pollutants, you will need to consider a more stringent detoxification and liver cleansing under the guidance and supervision of an experienced naturopath.

Cats have the potential of transmitting Toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can cause severe damage to the developing foetus. If you have a family cat it is worth having it tested for the parasite. Avoid handling other domestic or stray cats. Women should not handle or change cat litter when pregnant.

Drugs, alcohol, smoking, second hand smoke, caffeine, household cleaners containing harsh chemicals need to be completely avoided. Your diet can be improved by simply eliminating nutritionally deficient substances such as sugar, white flour and processed foods. Avoid foods that contain preservatives and artificial colouring. Choose instead from the wide range of fresh wholesome fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains. Dandelion coffee and small amounts of beetroot juice will help to ensure a clean and healthy liver. Ginger, onion and garlic will help to strengthen your immune system and cleanse the blood. Where ever possible, choose organic products. Aim for a diet of simple, good food. Invest in a good quality water purifier. It is strongly recommended that women avoid eating raw seafood, (sushi, oysters), raw or undercooked meat and soft cheeses such as camembert, brie cottage cheese and ricotta because of the very slight risk of contraction listeriosis. Listeriosis is a very uncommon infection in humans but can have a devastating and usually fatale consequence for the developing baby.

Avoid breathing in petrol and other toxic fumes such as solvents, ammonia, oven cleaner, mould treatment, pest eradication products, paints and glue. These have been shown to have a detrimental effect on the health of the sperm and egg.

Consider taking regular exercise together. This can be in the form of walking, swimming, bicycling and yoga. This is an ideal way enhance the bond between you and the commitment to your future child.

Stress factors need to be fully addressed before the pregnancy begins. This can be done with each of you listing the things that cause you stress and talking them through to resolution. Sort out what is really important and what is not. If stress is a serious problem in your relationship consider professional help. Meditation is a good way of bringing stress under control.

Following the preparation the pregnancy can be started with strong, vital sperm and ovum, the embryo can implant in a healthy uterus and develop in optimum conditions to eventually be birthed gently and lovingly into the arms of two very committed parents. This is the most valuable, lifelong gift that you can give your child.

Article prepared by Akal Khalsa

Akal Khalsa is a Sydney based midwife and provides midwifery services including: homebirths, pre-conception consultations, childbirth preparation, nutritional advise and breastfeeding support.

For more information Contact Akal.