5 Signs it's time to see a Fertility Nutritionist

If you’re thinking about trying for a baby in the near future, now is the perfect time to consider seeing a fertility nutritionist. While you may be tempted to try to go it alone (hello Dr Google), using evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies to optimise your fertility and chances of conceiving can be a key step to achieving the family you’ve always wanted. 

Research continues to grow surrounding the importance of diet and lifestyle in preventing health complications and disease risk long into your future baby’s life. Making positive changes in these areas can also improve your chances of falling pregnant and of experiencing a healthy pregnancy. 

Given all the conflicting advice, fad diets and unqualified “health experts” clogging your feed when it comes to your fertility, it’s crucial to work with a nutritionist who is specifically qualified and experienced in fertility to ensure you’re getting reliable and effective advice.

If you’re not convinced or unsure if now is the right time to book in, here are five signs it’s time to make your appointment today!

#1: You want to try for a baby in the next 12 months.

If you want to ensure you’re giving yourself enough time, it’s ideal to see a fertility nutritionist at least three months before you would like to start trying to conceive.

This is because both sperm and eggs take around 3 months to develop, so any changes you make today will be evident in eggs or sperm three months from now. It takes consistent effort to create positive change to your fertility, it’s not something you can achieve overnight.

If you’re planning on TTC within the next 12 months, now is the time to book your fertility nutrition appointment to give yourself prep time.

Some of the actions you take before you conceive can also have a significant impact on your child’s health. For example, all females (or people with ovaries) who want to try for a baby in the near future are advised to begin supplementing with folate (or folic acid) in the months beforehand. This is because folate deficiencies in very early pregnancy can result in neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida. The first month of pregnancy is the critical window during which folate is needed. However, most people aren’t aware they’re pregnant at this early stage, and they might not actively optimise their folate intake or begin supplementing until it’s too late. 

Under the guidance of a nutritionist, you can rest assured you’re covering all essential nutrients and preventing any deficiencies that exist for you. Everyone’s nutrient requirements are individual, and vary according to what stage of pre-pregnancy or pregnancy you’re in, so remove the guesswork. You’ll be safe in the knowledge you’re taking all the steps within your control to optimise your fertility and support a healthy pregnancy.

#2: You don’t know what foods you should be avoiding.

The list of foods to avoid during pregnancy is ever evolving. While certain foods and food groups should be reduced or eliminated during pregnancy to reduce any potential health risks, it can be extremely difficult to understand which foods you actually need to be avoiding, and which are simply fear-mongering tactics or messages.

Again, this is an area where you don’t want to be guessing. Foods such as raw fish or eggs can contain harmful germs leading to food poisoning like salmonella, which can put your baby at risk, while eating too much mercury-rich fish like swordfish in pregnancy can increase the risk of developmental problems for your unborn child. 

To get the most up-to-date, comprehensive, evidence-based information on what foods you should be avoiding both before and during pregnancy to minimise risk to your child, it’s essential to work with a fertility nutritionist.

#3: You’re confused by conflicting diet advice on what foods to prioritise.

On the other hand, the foods you prioritise can have just as profound an impact on both yours and your future child’s health! 

There is so much information out there about fad diets you should follow during pregnancy, often shared by misinformed sources, causing potential harm and damage to yours and your baby’s well being. 

However, with the right information, your pre-pregnancy and pregnancy diet can effectively enhance your fertility and support the growth and development of your baby throughout the various stages of pregnancy. 

Certain foods and food groups, such as healthy fats found in oily fish, nuts and seeds, avocado and extra virgin olive oil, have been shown to have a significant impact in supporting hormone health, egg and sperm quality. They also help to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, and optimise the healthy development of your child during pregnancy.

Understanding information like this can help you to make dietary tweaks and changes that have long-lasting, significant benefits. Don't chance it on potentially misleading, inaccurate information you find online or on social media.

#4: You want to do all you can to support the future health of your baby.

Preconception and pregnancy nutrition can not only optimise your health and fertility, but impact on the fertility of your future child.

Epigenetics can impact on your baby’s health - not just during pregnancy and early childhood, but throughout their entire lifespan! Epigenetics refers to the switching on and off of certain genes. This can be impacted by the food and lifestyle habits of both parents before and during pregnancy. 

For example, if one or both parents have a poor quality diet containing minimal nutritional value or whole foods prior to conception, your baby may potentially have an increased risk of obesity and metabolic conditions throughout their life. 

It’s absolutely worth understanding what tweaks you can make to minimise your future child’s risk of disease and health complications. Working with a fertility nutritionist allows you to determine the key strategies you can implement in order to ensure the health of your baby for decades to come.

#5: You don’t know where to look when it comes to prenatal supplements.

Prenatal supplementation plays a pivotal role in ensuring the healthy growth and development of your baby. Preventing nutrient deficiencies before you even fall pregnant can help to reduce your baby’s risk of issues such as metabolic disease, diabetes and cognitive impairments. 

A targeted, effective supplement plan commenced before pregnancy can help to enhance fertility and minimise risk, and maintaining supplementation throughout pregnancy (and during breastfeeding too) can ensure you’re meeting your increased nutrient needs at such an important time. 

The prenatal supplement world can be totally overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be that way. With expert advice you can instantly get a targeted plan.

Given you’re providing nutrients for yourself and for a growing baby during pregnancy, it can be incredibly difficult (sometimes impossible) to meet your enhanced requirements for certain essential nutrients through diet alone. So supplementation is crucial. Not only does supplementing with a reliable, effective prenatal vitamin optimise your future baby’s health, it also helps keep you healthy as you share your body with another human.

A nutritionist with expertise in fertility and pregnancy can recommend a specific supplement or supplements targeting your individual needs, to optimise both yours and your baby’s health.

Bonus #6: You feel overwhelmed.

Growing a baby can feel exciting, empowering, enjoyable. It doesn’t need to be stressful, scary or overwhelming. Working with a qualified, experienced nutritionist can remove the guesswork and panic. It can leave you feeling assured you’re implementing the most effective, science-based strategies to your diet and lifestyle.

Remove the stress and walk away feeling knowledgeable and confident in the fact you’re doing the right things and without wasting time, money and effort on fad diets and unnecessary elements that don’t make a difference. That’s the joy of working with a nutritionist - you’re putting the health of yourself (and your baby) in capable and qualified hands.

Book a consultation today to experience these benefits for yourself! Schedule a complimentary 15 minute discovery call and let’s chat about how I can help you achieve your goals.