Got Plans for a Christmas Conception?

Conceiving easily and having a beautiful bright happy healthy baby is what all parents want, but how does that fit with the Gratitude Online Christmas theme? Since my recommendations for achieving both outcomes are definitely at odds with the over-consumption of food and alcohol during the festive season and certainly at odds with the stress that Christmas celebrations bring for many, what to do?

Well here’s my best advice – delay your preconception work-up (and your baby’s conception) until well into the New Year! Don’t make things even more stressful (explaining why you’re careful with what you eat and drink), don’t miss out on the good cheer (alcohol has particularly adverse effects around the time of conception) and certainly don’t throw caution to the winds and forget your contraception (as many do, with Christmas a well-known time for an accidental pregnancy).

But what happens when the Christmas party’s over?

Well first up, my preconception recommendations are for both of you, but in this article I want to talk in particular about the critical importance of ensuring optimally healthy sperm. Unfortunately, the father’s role in promoting truly health reproduction is often overlooked! While sperm health is only one of three factors (egg & womb being the other two), sperm are actually more vulnerable than eggs – they are smaller, more exposed and develop entirely within their present environment. Some studies indicate that as much as 75 percent of infertility may be due to the male, while men are at least 50 percent responsible for the health of the baby and the pregnancy.

Sperm abnormalities have a number of causes, with environmental factors high on the list. Australian Research Council’s Centre for Excellence in Bio-technology and Development is conducting research into effect of pollutants such as fertilisers, pesticides, cigarette smoke, medical drugs and organic solvents on declining male fertility rates, and the health of children (and grandchildren). Both toxic exposure and infection have been associated with DNA fragmentation in sperm. Other potentially detrimental factors include exposure to heat and pressure e.g. wetsuits, saunas, spas, tight pants and bike riding.

What prospective Dads need to do in the critical 4-month period before they and their partner start ‘trying’ is pretty simple.

In addition to reducing environmental toxicity, Dad’s part of the bargain includes an organic, wholefood diet, no alcohol, caffeine or cigarettes, regular exercise, reduced stress and sex on a daily basis! While men may sometimes need encouragement to undertake preconception care, the last recommendation usually gets them excited. Listen up prospective Dads – frequent sexual activity improves the genetic quality of your sperm! A study of men revealed that genetic defects in their sperm fell substantially after going on a program that required them to engage in sexual activity daily for a week.

David Greening, a fertility doctor at Sydney IVF presented his findings to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine ‘I’m convinced that ejaculating more frequently, i.e. daily, improves sperm DNA damage in most men by a decent amount – the longer sperm are held in the tube that leads from the testicles, the more genetic damage they accumulate from free radicals circulating in the body.’ Woohoo, so Christmas Holidays are a great time to get lots of practice and start boosting sperm numbers and quality – just remember your contraception until your preconception care is complete.

So there you have it fellas – your sperm are not bullet-proof!

Taking up to four months to form, they’re adversely affected by a host of dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors. And my last word on those environmental influences relates to electromagnetic radiation, unseen but insidious and now thanks to Wi-fi and mobile phones, hard to avoid. But particularly risky habits are mobile phones in pockets and laptops or tablets in laps. You need to put some distance between your mobile phone and your laptop and that sensitive part of your anatomy where sperm are being produced! Find somewhere else to stow that phone, put your laptop or tablet on a desk, particularly in the 4 months before conception. Foresight UK Association for Promotion of Preconceptual Care says ‘Carrying a mobile phone in the trouser pocket has been linked to low sperm count and immotile sperm, so do whatever it takes to stop your husband from this practice.’ The good news is – remove all the bad guys during that four month period and add all the factors that are known to improve sperm health and voilà – much healthier and more robust little swimmers.

So Merry Christmas and may all prospective Mums and Dads come to their 2017 preconception work-up with energy and enthusiasm. If you know someone hoping to conceive in 2017, Jan Roberts’ 10-Module 5-Point Better Babies Program can help instill that energy and enthusiasm. At just $395 for the 10-Module Series it’s the ultimate Christmas Gift – one that will keep on giving for that whole family’s lifetime.

The perfect gift for prospective parents!

So Merry Christmas and may all prospective Mums and Dads come to their 2017 preconception work-up with energy and enthusiasm. If you know someone hoping to conceive in 2017, Jan Roberts’ 10-Module 5-Point Better Babies Program can help instill that energy and enthusiasm. 

Click here to view Jan’s Free 30min Introductory Webinar  

Jan Roberts is a pharmacist, nutritionist, author and educator, graduated from Sydney University (B. Pharm [Hons] 1967), with further studies (Dip. Clinical Nutrition 1982) leading to an area that has been her passion for thirty five years – encouraging couples to achieve optimal physical and mental health before they conceive as a means of having the healthiest baby possible.

Read samples of Jan’s books and mini e-books at the following links: