Pre-Pregnancy

If you are a smoker, now is the time to stop. Chemicals absorbed from cigarette smoke reduce the number of cells produced in the baby's body and brain. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels to the placenta which reduces the blood supply to the baby. The raised levels of carbon monoxide in the mother's blood also reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the baby, resulting in lower birth weight and a higher incidence of premature birth. Studies have shown that babies of smokers are more likely to have congenital abnormalities, and miscarriage is twice as likely due to damaged blood vessels in the placenta.

The father-to-be should also stop smoking as children of fathers who smoke heavily are twice as likely to have malformations.

There are a variety of ways to stop smoking. Your GP can advise you or you can find out about support groups in your local library or Yellow Pages. At the end of the day, whichever method you choose, you will only succeed if you really want to give up. And, if you want a healthy baby, then that should be a major incentive.

Alcohol is a poison and can seriously damage the developing baby, especially in the first six to 12 weeks of pregnancy. There is no safe level but you should never drink more than two units per day (one unit = one small glass of wine, half a pint of beer/ cider, a pub measure of spirits) and certainly not every day. Alcohol in pregnancy can lead to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome which can cause facial abnormality, heart defects, abnormal limb development and reduced intelligence in your baby.

Recent studies have shown that over-the-counter painkillers like Ibuprofen should be avoided in pregnancy and aspirin is also advised against. If you are in need of a painkiller for a headache, paracetamol is regarded as a safer choice. However, if you wish to avoid all drugs, a headache can be dealt with by lying down or rubbing Lavender oil on your temples.

During the pre-pregnancy stage, you'll still need to use contraception. If you have been taking the Pill, you should stop taking it for about six months before trying for a baby to allow your hormone levels and your menstrual cycle to return to normal. The Pill contains synthetic hormones which need to be eliminated from your body. Barrier methods or natural birth control methods should be used instead and your GP or family planning clinic will be able to help.

Subvene cream, available from NEWAYS, is also beneficial at this time as it may help to balance your hormones and help your body produce progesterone which is vital for the survival of the embryo. This cream, applied 21 days in each 28 days' cycle, also helps reduce symptoms of pre-menstrual tension. When you are ready to try for your baby, stop using Subvene, then resume when you know you are pregnant.

Now is the ideal time to reach your desirable weight. If you are severely overweight, you should see your GP to discuss starting a family. He may refer you to a dietician. First you should establish your body mass index (BMI). This is a measurement which is used by health professionals to establish what a patient's correct weight should be for their height.

If you have more than a stone to lose, then you should be careful how you reduce weight. It is best to do this gradually rather than do a restrictive diet, like the Atkins diet or other such diets that leave out major food groups. Eating little and often with regular aerobic exercise, is the safest way to reduce weight. Restricting foods also reduces your nutrient intake and it is vital in this pre-pregnancy period to maintain optimum nutrition for a healthy body.

NEWAYS have produced a weight control system which can help you lose weight and provide you with the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. It consists of a milkshake called ProThin which can be taken in place of one or two meals a day and ProMega, which is a dietary supplement containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which have been found to safely aid weight reduction. This system allows a steady reduction in weight.

If your BMI shows that you are underweight for your height, ProThin can be used between meals to help bring you up to your desired weight. Pregnancy takes a lot from the mother's body, especially calcium from her bones and teeth.

Where possible, organic fresh fruit and vegetables should be eaten, at least five portions a day but preferably eight. Processed food and Takeaways should be avoided or eaten only occasionally.

The old saying "eating for two" is quite right - not in quantity of food but in quality. More nutrients are required during pregnancy because the baby will take all it needs from the mother's resources and if they are low, she may become malnourished. Therefore, it is important to build up the body before pregnancy.

There are certain nutrients which are essential to prevent birth defects as they are the building blocks for a new baby. The most well-known of these nutrients is folic acid which has been proven to prevent spina bifida. At least 400mcg of folic acid is needed daily and should be commenced at least three months before stopping contraception.

Folic acid can be found in citrus fruits, wheatgerm, wheatbran, nuts, pulses, wholemeal bread, eggs, brown rice, kidney beans and asparagus. Zinc helps the absorption of folic acid and can be found in meat, hard cheese, wholemeal bread, eggs, pulses, rice, green leafy vegetables and potatoes.

Your intake of Protein, calcium,magnesium and iron are also important at this stage and the vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K to prevent cleft palate, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), Siamese twins and kidney, limb, eye and brain malformation.

NEWAYS produce a range of high quality nutritional supplements recommended by doctors around the world for their safety and effectiveness. They also recommend supplements for the father so he will be able to produce healthy sperm. Click here for the list of recommended supplements for pre-conception for the parents-to-be.

Most people do not drink sufficient fluids each day but now is a good time to get into the habit of increasing your consumption of water. Ideally you should be drinking at least two litres of water a day. That should not include water used for tea or coffee as they are both dehydrating. This means that the benefit from their volume is soon cancelled out by their diuretic effect.

Sufficient fluids allows your body to remove toxins. If you are dehydrated, water is drained away from some cells and sent to the vital organs. This can lead to tiredness, lack of concentration and gastro-intestinal problems.

Tea and coffee both contain caffeine and should be kept to a minimum. If you drink a lot of these beverages then now is the time to cut down, gradually. Some women find that they cannot tolerate these drinks during pregnancy.

Fizzy drinks and any drinks containing artificial sweeteners should be avoided. Aspartame, which is commonly used in diet drinks is a bio-chemical toxin and has been found to cause birth defects amongst many other health problems. For more information on Aspartame click here.

A glass of fruit juice can be counted as one of your required daily portions of fruit but you should not drink more than two a day because they can be quite acidic.

If you have problems drinking water, then diluting fruit juice is one way of making it more palatable. However, like most things, if you drink it often enough it becomes an acquired taste.

Filtered water is better than water straight from the tap but remember to change the filters regularly to prevent bacteria, nitrate, and metal build up. Mineral water is also good, preferably “still” water from glass bottles rather than plastic. Plastic bottles may contain chemicals which can cause birth defects. If you can only buy plastic bottles, make sure you drink it as soon as possible, as the closer it is to the expiry date, the higher level of chemical contamination in the water.

The safest form of water is by reverse osmosis filtration. This is a very fine mesh filtration system that can be fitted under the sink. It filters out chemicals, metals, viruses, and bacteria. For details about a reverse osmosis system, click here.

You may be shocked to discover that many of the products you use daily for personal hygiene contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals which cannot only harm your long-term health but can also cause birth defects. Recent studies have shown that shampoos, shower gels, and bubble baths contain chemicals which have the potential to cause infertility in boys. These chemicals are able to pass through your skin into your bloodstream and across the placenta into your unborn baby.

Common chemicals that should be avoided are: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate found in toothpastes and some mouthwashes; Sodium Laureth Sulphate found in shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths; Propylene Glycol found in skin care products; DEA, MEA, TEA found in cosmetics, shampoos and shower gels; Fluoride found in toothpastes; and Talc. See Common Toxins for more details.

Therefore, the best chance of having a healthy baby would be to find safer alternatives like those supplied by NEWAYS. Neways International have made it their mission to produce toiletries that do not contain any harmful ingredients. Their efforts have been recognised by toxicologists and scientists all over the world for setting an example to other manufacturers.

Dr Samuel Epstein, a world renowned toxicologist, says "Neways has pioneered and succeeded in providing consumers with cosmetics and toiletries free from cancer-causing and harmful ingredients and contaminants. I warmly congratulate them on their accomplishments."

To see our range of safe, toxin-free personal care products, click on Products

There are a number of books available on the market giving details on how to detoxify your body. One that has the backing of many health professionals is Carol Vorderman's Detox for Life. This gives a 28 day detox programme which provides an excellent way of detoxing through the foods you eat. Fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, are wonderful at eliminating toxins and the recipes and meal plans include these. Dairy products, wheat, meat and fish should be avoided during the detox and their nutrient value is replaced by seeds and other nutritious alternatives.

The diet is not intended to reduce weight but most people find they manage to achieve this, too. Exercise is an important part of detoxing as it will encourage the elimination of toxins through perspiration, and by helping to move the lymph around the body.

Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly hydrating fluids like water will also help to flush out the toxins more efficiently.

Some people experience headaches and a feeling of general malaise in the first two to three days of any detox programme. This is a good sign as it shows your body is effectively removing the toxins. Do not be tempted to take medication for a headache but instead try to relax in a warm bath with aromatherapy oils or listen to a relaxation tape, and drink extra water.

By the end of the detox you should notice that you are less tired with more energy, and your skin should be clearer and your eyes brighter.

After the 28 days you can continue to have occasional detox days and use some of the principles and recipes you used before.

If 28 days seems too long to detox and you would prefer to do it over a long weekend, NEWAYS have a range of products that can help, such as Revenol, ParaFree, Feelin' Good, Puri Tea or CassieTea - all available from our

If there is any possibility that you are pregnant when you decide to detox, then it is advisable not to continue. Instead, drink plenty of water, do the recommended amount of exercise and take the recommended dietary supplements as described in Nutritional Support.

Starting a family is an exciting part of your life and will be one of your greatest life-changing moments. When you hold your newborn baby in your arms, nothing will ever be the same again. Providing your precious child with a safe environment to grow, from a tiny collection of cells to a fully developed baby, is the first step in becoming a responsible parent and will give your baby the best chance of a healthy future.