❦ 1

Chapter outline
Planning for a
healthy baby
The Chinese viewpoint on
preconceptual care

Acupuncture treatment to aid

conception
Imbalance of the Liver
Kidney
4
4
The vital role of nutrition in
2 pregnancy
Optimum nutrition
Infertility
Nutrition to prevent defects

5 Negative influences on prenatal

8
8
8
11

Stomach 5 health 13
Stress 13
The menstrual cycle 5
Smoking 13
Factors which affect periods 5 Alcohol intake 13
Treatment with acupuncture Drugs 14
during the cycle 6 Toxic chemicals, metals and minerals 14
How to protect yourself nutritionally 16
Postperiod – day 5 to day 11 6
Other points on protecting yourself
Ovulation – day 11 to day 15 6
from pollution 16
Postovulation, premenstrual – day
15 to day 28 6 Exercise 17
Natural family planning 8
The female cycle 8

Healthy parents produce healthy babies. And healthy babies, in general, have a
better chance of growing into healthy children and healthy adults. All parents hope
that their baby will be free of abnormality, ‘bouncing’ and strong, not sickly and
weak.
Professor David Barker, head of the Environmental Epidemiology Unit of the
Medical Research Council, has been conducting research into the effect of the
mother’s nutrition prior to conception and during pregnancy on the health of her
children in later life. His early conclusion is that: ‘it looks as though getting it right
at the beginning may be a key to good health throughout life’. Ensuring optimum
health in both partners in the period leading up to conception (as well as in the
mother during pregnancy) can do a great deal to enhance fetal growth and minimise
the risk of fetal abnormalities.
This chapter looks at the way in which parents can influence the health of their
unborn child by optimising their own health before conception occurs. It examines
the simple measures that can be taken to eliminate toxins, allergies and environ-
mental pollutants from the body, along with all the other negative influences on
prenatal health. It discusses methods of natural family planning and the vital role
that nutrition plays, both preconceptually and throughout pregnancy. It explains

Ch001-F10371.indd 1 10/10/2007 4:44:04 PM