Perhaps the only advantage of infertility is that it gives you a chance to better plan for a healthy conception, pregnancy and delivery. Following is some general information which you may want to keep in mind regardless of how you conceive.
Vitamins and Iron
Adequate intake of folic acid decreases the likelihood of severe nervous system deformities in the offspring. The current recommended daily intake of folic acid for all women of the reproductive age is 0.4 mg (which is the amount contained in most multivitamins). Pregnant women are advised to take 0.8-1.0 mg of folic acid daily (which is the content of many prenatal vitamins such as NatalinsRx and Stuart Prenatals). Folic acid is found naturally in liver, beans, peas and leafy green vegetables. If you have not been taking folic acid, you need not be alarmed because with the good nutritional standards in the United States most women get enough folic acid in their diet.
During pregnancy the body's iron stores can become depleted. Iron is not usually contained in standard multivitamins, but a small amount of iron (typically 60 mg) is contained in prenatal vitamins. Therefore, you may consider taking prenatal vitamins even before conception. However, more is not always better and the safety of mega doses of vitamins has not been established in pregnancy. Specifically, pregnant women should not ingest more than 8,000 I.U. of Vitamin A per day because of its association with birth defects.
Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine
There is strong evidence linking smoking with both male and female infertility, increased chance of miscarriage, retarded fetal growth, placental abruption and other unfavorable pregnancy outcomes in addition to the well-known general health hazards. We cannot recommend strongly enough that both partners quit smoking because passive smoking carries many of the same risks. Once pregnancy is established, alcohol is contraindicated and caffeine intake by the mother needs to be kept below 200 mg per day (the content of one cup of coffee or one cola soft drink).
Toxic Substances
Toxic substance exposure can make it difficult to conceive and could be harmful to the growing fetus. Some species of fish, such as shark, swordfish, tuna, striped bass and bluefish, may contain undesirable amounts of toxins such as PCB's and methylmercury and should be avoided or eaten only in small amounts while pregnant. Cod, haddock and pollock are considered the safest fish. Salmon, flounder and sole are relatively safe and can be eaten in moderation.
Raw and undercooked eggs, fish, shellfish, chicken and meats may contain parasites and/or unacceptable levels of bacteria which can cause serious food poisoning. Therefore, these foods should be avoided during pregnancy. Maintain good kitchen hygiene and cook all foods to the recommended temperature to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
Cat feces and cat litter also pose a risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis which is harmful to the developing fetus.
Body Weight
It is best to be neither underweight nor overweight during pregnancy. If possible, try to achieve your recommended weight before conceiving. Do not follow a negative calorie diet while pursuing conception and during pregnancy.