ask the dr
PHOTOGRAPH: ISTOCK
You can improve your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy with a bit of planning. Visit your doctor a few months before trying to conceive; they can optimise the care of existing medical issues, make sure your immunisations are up to date, and help you reduce exposures to toxins. They can guide you towards following a balanced anti-inflammatory diet rich in brightly coloured fruit and veg, whole grains and cold-water fish. Previous guidelines that advised pregnant women to limit fish intake to minimise mercury exposure were reversed, after it was shown that the omega-3s found in Alaskan salmon, herring, sardines and black cod, support healthy foetal nervous-system development. Those fish known to contain high levels of mercury, like king mackerel, tilefish and swordfish, should still be avoided.