Whether you and your partner are trying to get pregnant for the first time or are hoping for a new addition to your family, the planning journey is a great opportunity to focus on your health and wellbeing. From eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising to getting a medical check-up, we walk you through preconception tips and advice to help you both prepare.
This article may help answer:
↓ Why should you talk to the doctor before getting pregnant?
↓ How can a pre-conception supplement help?
↓ How can a healthy lifestyle support our chance of conceiving?
Find out more:
Ask a doctor for pre-conception advice
A pre-conception health check-up can give you and your partner peace of mind and help you understand the lifestyle changes you could make to improve your chance of conceiving.
At your appointment, the doctor will check if their vaccinations are up to date, explain the benefits of taking a pregnancy supplement – such as Elevit Pre-conception – and discuss any health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or epilepsy.
You may also decide to do reproductive carrier testing for you and your partner. The test will determine your combined risk of having a child born with cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) or fragile X syndrome (FXS).
You and your partner will likely build a trusting relationship with your GP or Gynae throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born, and this access to medical advice can also help support your overall health.
If you smoke, your doctor can share advice and treatments to help you quit and, if relevant, help you understand how eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising can optimise your sperm health.
Adopt healthy habits together
Eating a healthy diet can support the planning journey, so add plenty of fruit and vegetables to your shopping basket and take the time to prepare some delicious nutrient-rich recipes together. By getting into the habit of selecting ingredients packed with vitamins and minerals, you’ll be in a great place to the increased nutritional needs throughout the pregnancy.
Now’s also a good time to check your body mass index (BMI) by entering your height and weight into an online BMI calculator. If either of you feel you need to lose or put on weight to help improve the chance of conception or support a healthy pregnancy, speak to your doctor.
And whether you want to work out together or prefer to follow your own routine, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week to boost your overall health. This can include a brisk walk, cycling or swimming.
Discover how supplements can help
The woman might find it tricky to get the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of folic acid (folate) required during pre-conception and pregnancy through diet alone. By taking a prenatal multivitamin, such as Elevit Pre-conception, for at least one month before trying to become pregnant, to ensure they’re getting the right amount.
References
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes, 2006.
- De-Regil Lm et al, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD007950.
- Vutyavanich T. et al. Obstet & Gynecol 2001; 97(4): 577–582.
- Sahakian V. et al. Obstet & Gynecol 1991; 78(1): 33–6.
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Pregnancy (2019) Available at: Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Pregnancy
- European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion, EFSA Journal 2010; 8(3):1461.
- Bramswig S et al. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 79(2), 2009, 61-70. Sponsored by Roche Consumer Health Ltd.
- Czeizel AE, Dudás I. Prevention of the first occurrence of neural-tube defects by periconceptional vitamin supplementation. N Engl J Med. 1992;327:1832–1835. Supplements supplied by Hoffmann-LaRoche.
- Department of Health (Cth) Pregnancy Care Guidelines available at: Pregnancy Care Guidelines
- Schaefer C et al. Nutrients 2020, 12(12), 384. Sponsored by Bayer.
- National Institutes of Health: Choline fact sheet for health professionals. Accessed July 2022. Available at: NIH Choline Fact Sheet
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Choline. Accessed November 2022. Available at: Nutrient Reference Values
- Long S. Goldblatt J. MTHFR Genetic Testing: Controversy and clinical implications. RACGP. AFP Vol 45, No. 4, April 2016. Accessed Nov 2022. Available at: MTHFR Genetic Testing
- Cabezuela M et al. Nutrients 2020, 12(1):80. Sponsored by Generaliert Vacciniana, grant PROMETEO-2018-167 to J.R.V. and T.B.
- Elevit 20th Anniversary Source Data. We estimate that we have supported 2 million babies over the last 20 years. Based on ABS Births 2001-2019, FiftyFive5 Brand Penetration research 2018 and FiftyFive5 Green Cross 2 Research 2021.
- Healthdirect website: Healthdirect Foods High in Vitamin D
- National Health and Medical Research Council. Iodine Supplementation for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women. 2010. Accessed November 2022. Available at: NHMRC Iodine Supplementation
- Linner A, Almgren M. Epigenetic programming – The important first 1000 days. Acta Paediatr. 2020;109(3):443-452.
- Morning Sickness. Government of Western Australia. Available at: Morning Sickness Article
- Kuroda et al. 2021. Effects of periconceptional multivitamin supplementation on folate and homocysteine levels depending on genetic variants of methyltetrahydrofolate reductase in infertile Japanese women. Nutrients. 13.1381. Study financially supported by Bayer Healthcare Consumer Care.
- The Pregnancy Nutrition Survey by Elevit. Survey of 1,000+ Australians aged 18-54. Commissioned by Bayer, executed by Researchify.
[S0] Elevit® Pre-Conception Film Coated Tablets. Category D: Multiple substance formulation. Each tablet contains calcium (calcium carbonate, calcium-D-pantothenate &calcium-L-methylfolate) 125 mg; magnesium (magnesium oxide) 100 mg; vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 85 mg; niacin (nicotinamide) 18 mg; iron (ferrous fumarate) 14 mg; zinc (zinc citrate) 11 mg; vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate)10 mg; vitamin B5 (calcium-D-pantothenate) 6 mg; manganese (manganese sulfate monohydrate) 2 mg; vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 1,9 mg; vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1,4 mg; vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 1,4 mg; copper(cupric sulfate) 1 mg; vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) 770 μg; folic acid (calcium-L-methylfolate) 400 μg; iodine (potassium iodide) 150 μg; selenium (sodium selenite) 60 μg; biotin (D-biotin) 30 μg; vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 5 μg; vitaminB12 (cyanocobalamin) 2,6 μg. Elevit® Pre-Conception supports good health for mom and baby, before pregnancy and until the end of first trimester.
[S0] Elevit® Pregnancy Soft Gelatine Capsule. Category D: Multiple substance formulation. Each capsule contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 200 mg; vitamin C (calcium ascorbate) 85 mg; EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 80 mg; magnesium (magnesium oxide) 57 mg; niacin (nicotinamide) 18 mg; iron (ferrous fumarate) 14mg; vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) 10 mg; zinc (zinc oxide) 10 mg; vitamin B5 (calcium-D-pantothenate) 6 mg; vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 1,9 mg; vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1,4 mg; vitamin B2 (riboflavin)1,4 mg; copper (cupric sulfate) 1 mg; vitamin A (beta-carotene) 771 μg; folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid & calcium L-methylfolate) 400 μg; iodine (potassium iodate) 150 μg; selenium (sodium selenite) 60 μg; biotin (D-biotin) 30μg; vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 5 μg; vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 2,6 μg. Elevit® Pregnancy supports good health for mom and baby during pregnancy.. Always use as directed on the label.
[S0] Elevit® Breastfeeding Soft Gelatine Capsules. Category D: Multiple substance formulation. Each capsule contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 200 mg; calcium (tricalcium phosphate) 120 mg; vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) 60 mg; vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) 17 mg; iron (ferrous fumarate) 9 mg; vitamin B5 (calcium-D-pantothenate) 7 mg; vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) 5 mg; zinc (zinc oxide) 5 mg; vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) 2 mg; vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 1,6 mg; vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1,4 mg; vitamin A (beta-carotene)721 μg; lutein (lutein) 250 μg; folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid) 200 μg; iodine (potassium iodate) 150 μg; biotin (D-biotin) 35 μg; selenium (sodium selenite) 35 μg; vitamin D (cholecalciferol) 5 μg; vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 2μg. Elevit® Breastfeeding supports the increased nutritional needs during breastfeeding for baby’s ongoing healthy development
This unregistered medicine has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use. Bayer (Pty) Ltd, Collaboration Hub, 1st Floor, Waterfall Circle, 9 Country Estate Drive, Waterfall City, Midrand, 2090, South Africa. Co. Reg. No.: 1968/011192/07 Tel: +27 11 921 5000 www.bayer.co.za CH-20260327-102
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