What do I need to eat to get pregnant?

You already know that your diet affects your health. But did you know that it can also affect your fertility and even the sex of your unborn baby? That’ s why it’s important not to randomly choose your vitamins, dairy products and carbohydrates. Some foods can improve the quality of ovulation in women, sperm quality in men, and even increase your chances of having either a boy or a girl. MyBuBelly, your preconception coach, will show you what you need to put on your plate to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Choose the right carbohydrates

To get pregnant, you will want to avoid foods with a high glycemic index because they increase blood sugar levels very quickly. These foods are primarily white flour, sodas, refined sugar and potatoes. Eating them causes the pancreas to secrete a large amount of insulin, which will interfere with ovulation.

Instead, eat foods with a low glycemic index, such as whole grains and flours, dried vegetables, fruits and agave syrup.

Know that the good eating habits you will develop today will be highly beneficial when you are expecting. Good carbohydrates will help prevent the risk of gestational diabetes. And the fibres contained in these low GI foods will slow down the body’s uptake of bad carbohydrates and sugars, thereby regulating insulin secretion.

Beware of fatty acids

Beware of fatty acids! Some are necessary, while others can really put your health and your conception project at risk. It’s important to choose them carefully.

Omega-3 acids contribute to the body’s healthy functioning and consequently the reproductive system. Whether or not you are trying to conceive, it is important to include these fatty acids in your daily diet.

Choose rapeseed, olive or flax oil and margarines that are specially enriched with omega-3. You should also regularly eat fatty fish (such as salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel), eggs (from hens raised outdoors) and seafood.

You should know that these omega-3s will contribute to your baby’s healthy neurological development during pregnancy, while trans fatty acids contribute to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and fertility. These bad fats are found under the term “hydrogenated vegetable oils” on food labels, which are mainly ready-to-eat meals and other types of processed foods.

Choose whole dairy products

Dairy products are important: whole dairy products have the potential to improve fertility, but only when they are of high quality. They can also (and most importantly) influence the sex of your unborn baby! The careful consumption of dairy products will modify your vaginal pH and thus promote the survival of sperm X during intercourse. This way, you increase your chances of having a little girl. On the other hand, minerals such as potassium increase your chances of having a baby boy.

However, the consumption of dairy products to have a daughter must be well prepared with an appropriate program. You can visit the dedicated section of the MyBuBelly website to learn more. Our coaches give you all the nutritional advice you need to maximize your chances of getting pregnant with a little girl.

 

Folic acid: a helping hand to get pregnant

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9 or folates, is an essential nutrient for all women of childbearing age. It contributes to the smooth running of menstrual cycles, and therefore to ovulation and conception.

Women generally don’t get enough of it, so doctors often prescribe it to women who want to get pregnant.

You can easily put it on your plate, however. You can find it in lentils, spinach, watercress, lamb’s lettuce, chestnuts, melon, quinoa, nuts, mussels, chickpeas and clams. It is also available as a natural food supplement that allows you to control the dose. That’s why we’ve including it in your MyBuBelly Box.

Vitamin B9 has many advantages. When consumed at least three months before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy, it is effective in reducing the risk of miscarriage, preventing the risk of premature delivery and protecting the embryo and foetus from certain malformations.