How you should be preparing for kids in your 20’s even if you’re not ready yet

If you’re in your 20’s and know you want kids but maybe not until you’re in your 30’s, then keep reading. 

When you’re in your 20’s it can sometimes feel like you’re an adult in training. Yes, you are an adult but you might be putting off the real grown-up things like building a house and having kids until you’re in your 30’s. However, if you are planning to have kids in the future it is important to start thinking about your health and fertility health now.

Why Start Thinking About That Now?

Typically, people are at their fertility peak when they are in their 20’s. A healthy lifestyle during this time will help to promote healthy fertility and it will help to give the best start possible when you do decide to start trying for a baby.

What Steps Can I Take to Improve my Fertility?

It’s no surprise that the better your overall health is, the better the health of your reproductive system will be. Dr Shahin Ghadir, Scientific Director of the Southern California Reproductive Center recommends women in their 20’s should:

• Maintain a normal and healthy weight: It is important to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Being underweight has just as much of an effect on your fertility as being overweight.
  
  
• Eat a lot of Antioxidant-rich foods: Berries, beans, nuts, tomatoes, carrots and dark chocolate are all examples of foods that are rich in antioxidants. The golden rule to live by is: the more colour on your plate, the better it is for you.
  
  
• Limit alcohol intake: According to the National Health and Medical Research Council, “heavy drinking can definitely affect fertility, increasing the length of time it takes to get pregnant.”

And they definitely shouldn’t:

• Smoke: As we all know smoking is possibly the worst thing you can do for your health, let alone your eggs.
  
  
• Take Drugs: Recreational drugs can affect fertility for both women and men, while long-term use can lead to permanent reproductive problems.

Dr Ghadir said “Unfortunately, much of the damage that occurs to a female’s egg is irreversible, but stopping a bad habit for a healthier one is always encouraged,” and it’s never too late to make those changes.