Deciding you’re ready for a baby is a huge and exciting step. Now’s the time to make sure your body is in the best condition to get pregnant and carry a healthy child. Although you can’t control some fertility factors, such as age and genetics, you can improve many lifestyle choices.
Begin by leading a healthy lifestyle at least six months before attempting conception, says M. Max Ezzati, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
“Egg development usually starts three to five months before an egg is released, so your lifestyle during that time can impact egg health and fertilization once you’re ready to conceive,” he says. “The longer you’ve been living healthily, the better.”
Next, make these eight important changes.