Summarize the following:
When you decide to try conceiving, it's important to be on folic acid. That means that if you go off your birth control, you need to start a supplement. Most women take a folic acid supplement in the form of a prenatal vitamin for the duration of the pregnancy. You need 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. If you take a multivitamin, check what it has in it before adding a supplement. You need to be prescribed an extra 4mg (far more than is found in over-the-counter supplements) if you have had a child with a neural tube defect. Talk to your doctor about additional folic acid if you (or your partner, or a relative) have celiac, sickle cell, or thalassaemia disease, or you are on anti-epileptic drugs. Choline can help reduce the chances of birth defects in your baby, so try to eat foods that are rich in it, such as egg yolks. Other good options include beef liver and cauliflower. Herbal teas and supplements may sound like a great idea; however, some can be harmful while you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, such as St. John's Wort, ginseng, sassafras, and licorice. Ask your doctor about any supplement and tea you are taking. Though not definitive, it's possible that BPA can lower your fertility rates. Therefore, if you're trying to get pregnant, you should avoid this chemical. The best way to avoid it is to not consume foods out of hard plastics or cans labeled with number 3 or number 7. Do not microwave in plastic containers. Heat can cause BPA to leach out into food. Purchase BPA-free plastic when available. Discard scratched or warped plastic ware, which are more likely to leach BPA. Choose frozen food over canned food when available. Can linings may be made with BPA. Heavy alcohol drinking is linked to lower fertility. In addition, if you consume alcohol while trying to get pregnant, you may be consuming alcohol after you get pregnant without realizing it, which is bad for the baby.
Take folic acid. Increase your choline. Check with your doctor about teas and supplements. Skip bisphenol A (BPA). Limit alcohol.