conception and pregnancy

Planning & Pregnancy

conception tips

Family Planning

There’s more to getting pregnant than deciding to have a baby! And the more preparation you both put into the planning stage, the more you’ll boost your chances of conceiving quickly and the more you’ll help ensure your baby gets the best possible start in life.
  • Stop using contraception at least 3 months before trying to conceive.
  • If either of you smoke, now is a good time to stop.
  • Avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive. Women who do choose to drink, should drink no more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week.
  • Folic acid supplements reduce the risk of spinal problems, such as spina bifida. The Department of Health recommends that all women who are trying to get pregnant should take a supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid every day and should continue taking this for the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Ask your GP/pharmacist which drugs/medication you should avoid.
  • Make love as often as possible!

Healthy eating

pregnancy diet information

“We’re trying for a baby. We already enjoy a relatively healthy diet but is there anything we should be eating?”

If you have a balanced diet, with a healthy combination of all five food groups, you should both be getting everything you need. However, you could give your folic acid intake a natural boost by eating dark and leafy green vegetables, granary bread, fortified breakfast cereals and brown rice. You could also increase your calcium intake by drinking a pint of milk every day.

Asking for help

help with conceiving
It takes time… Don’t worry if you don’t get pregnant immediately – everyone is different and some women simply take longer to conceive than others. Most couples usually manage to conceive within a year or so of starting to try, so if you're still not pregnant after 12 months, you should both make an appointment to see your GP.