Preconception

Ideally, before you try to conceive it is worth taking the time to ensure that your body is ready for the exciting yet demanding on-set of pregnancy. Some couples seem to get pregnant simply by talking about it! For others, it takes plenty of patience. Some important considerations during this time are:

Stop taking the contraceptive pill

Many women take contraceptives as a way of preventing unplanned pregnancy. Women hoping to fall pregnant should go off the pill at least one year before the desired month of birth and it is recommended that women should allow at least two normal, spontaneous menstrual cycles to pass after going off the pill before conceiving.

Prevention

It is important to ensure that you are immunized against diseases such as rubella (German Measles), which can seriously harm unborn children, causing side-effects such as deafness and blindness. Supplementation of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 in the month before conception, and during the first trimester of pregnancy can help to significantly reduce your risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, anencephaly, and hydrocephaly.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

Preparing for pregnancy is an excellent reason to improve your health. To give your future baby the best possible start in life. Don't smoke and avoid passive smoking also Eat a healthy & balanced diet Exercise moderately Avoid alcohol

Folic Acid & Spina Bifida

It is highly recommended that women planning pregnancy have an increased daily intake of Folic Acid for at leat 1 month before conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy, to help reduce the risk of spina bifida in your baby. For more information about spina bifida and neural tube defects, please see the below table.

Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects

During the first 25 days after conception, the neural tube develops. It is from this neural tube that the brain and spinal tube are formed. Ultimately, the spinal cord takes shape within this spinal tube, and, when a baby develops normally, is protected by the spine. Neural tube defects, such as that found in cases of spina bifida, can leave a gap in the protective spine. A sac or cyst may form, in some instances containing nerve cells and part of the spinal cord. A degree of paralysis results, and may be severe depending on the level of nerve damage involved. Studies have shown that supplementation of dietary folic acid, before pregnancy and during the first trimester, can decrease the incidence of neural tube defects by about 50 percent - adequate vitamin B12 is also important during pregnancy because B12 is involved in the use of folic acid in the body.

Besides spina bifida, neural tube defects include anencephaly, where the infant brain does not develop, and hydrocephaly, commonly known as "water on the brain."

Cenovis^® Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Formula contains 225mcg of Folic Acid along with 2mcg of Vitamin B12 per capsule.

Women attempting to conceive should consult the advice of a health care professional that they trust and feel comfortable with.