For pregnancy success, avoid these things when trying to conceive

Eat a balanced diet, take folic acid and maintain a healthy body weight. The fertility specialists at USC know that you’ve heard a lot about what you should do when you’re trying to get pregnant. However, our Los Angeles fertility clinic wants you to know that there are also some things to avoid when trying to conceive.

When trying to conceive, stop smoking, limit alcohol and caffeine

The physicians at our Los Angeles fertility clinic are committed to helping you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. This commitment involves explaining what you should – and shouldn’t – do before you get pregnant. Smoking, drinking alcohol and excessive amounts of caffeine are three of the most important habits to break when trying to conceive.

• Quit smoking. If you smoke, you should take steps to quit before you get pregnant. Smoking can make it harder for you to conceive, and it can also harm your baby. Babies who are born to smoking mothers are more likely to be premature and have a low birth weight.
• Don’t drink. You should definitely avoid alcohol during your pregnancy, and you should also limit your consumption before you get pregnant. Having more than two drinks a day has been linked to reduced fertility, and heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Limit caffeine. If you’re a coffee addict, you should think about reducing your caffeine intake when you’re trying to get pregnant. Heavy caffeine consumption has been linked to reduced fertility, so if you can reduce your intake, we recommend it.

The fertility specialists at USC have even more advice about fertility and pregnancy

At our Los Angeles fertility clinic, there’s no such thing as a silly question. Our experienced and empathetic fertility specialists can answer any question you have about fertility and getting pregnant. We are here to guide and support you as you build your family.

If you’d like more information about what to do before you get pregnant, contact USC today.