We've heard of conception, the action of conceiving a child or of a child being conceived (1), but what is Periconception? The periconception period starts 6 months before conception and lasts until the tenth week of gestation (2). According to the research, there are two critical times when the "programming" of the baby is vital:
i) Gametogenesis = When the gametes (sex cells: including female & male haploid) come together, and divide, divide, divide, and on.
ii) Pre-implantation embryonic stage
What that means is that the stage where the female and male parent-to-be cells are vital that determine the program of the baby. So when we hear that to have a baby, you have to act like it (that is pretty much true). So how important is it to be healthy before making the magic happen - VITAL to the health of your future child. Below are three ways you can easily follow to make sure you are both on the right track:
1. Body balance:
Your body is so intelligent! It knows how to breathe, digest, and circulate your hormones WITHOUT you needing to think about it. Now what can cause it to be imbalanced? Three things: STRESS, TOXINS, and TRAUMA/micro-trauma
Does your body still work when these things happen? YES! However, then your body will tend to its needs (from that trauma: stress, toxins, and physical trauma) leaving your body in that Fight/Flight mode. That's the main dilemma here because in order for your body to be prepped and ready to make another human being, or simply heal yourself - it needs to be able to Rest and Digest, the parasympathetic state. I won't leave you hanging here, so some takeaways for your nervous system to be in a more relaxed state are:
Vinyasa/flow yoga
Principled/Neurological Chiropractor
Meditation
2. Nutrient-dense
Simply whole foods is what your body needs which include the basic macronutrients and micronutrients. When you hear the saying, "What you eat is what you are" is definitely correct in this context. An easy way to know what to eat is the 'Farm-to-Table' method. Therefore, processed foods that come in a box is not a nutrient-dense way to find the best type of foods.
Macronutrients:
Protein
Fats
Carbohydrates
Micronutrients:
Vitamins
Minerals
3. Let it ride
We know the science behind making a baby, so sometimes you just need to let the innate intelligence do its "thang" and make things happen. Often than not, many couples struggle with questions like: "What position is best to be in after sex?" We come from a mindset that, when you want to make a happy baby we should be consistent with what we do. How about joining together in a state of happiness mindset to concieve when your body is ready? That is what our goal is to help you through that shared journey with us. However, we know that there are a lot of factors that play into this and not everyone is a first time mom with no drugs or surgery in their system that altered their chemical or biological make-up. That is why getting checked regularly on how your body is functioning is great, especially working with professionals like:
doulas
midwives
Naturopaths
Webster-Certified Chiropractors
Homeopaths
Mercier Therapists (post c-section trauma, endometriosis, PCOS, etc) References:
1. www.dictionary.com
2. Amoako, A. A., Nafee, T. M., & Ola, B. (2017). Epigenetic influences during the periconception period and assisted reproduction. In Periconception in Physiology and Medicine(pp. 15-39). Springer, Cham.
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