Preconception with Clinical Nutritionist Tahlia Mynott
As the co-author of your second book ‘Nourishing those who Nurture - more than a preconception guide to conscious conception’, tell us about how that came to be and why you saw the significance in creating it?
Creating a Preconception book has actually always been a dream of mine, so to have it come to fruition this year is pretty amazing and something I am still wrapping my head around. I began my first preconception journey in 2015. It was something I was extremely passionate about before conceiving my first child and something I am still so passionate about. In 2015 it was very nuance and a lot of people couldn't quite get their heads around why I was investing so much time and energy solely focusing on my preconception. Since then it has become a lot more common and now I would say at least 50% of the clients I have in clinic are preconception clients. Each of my pregnancies has had a preconception component, all varying in time and focus, but still something I have consciously put energy into and three beautiful healthy pregnancies, births and babies I am very happy I invested all that I did in those months/years prior to conceiving.
The Australian statistics show us that fertility problems affect about 1 in 9 Australian couples of reproductive age. The number of couples who need fertility treatments to become pregnant is increasing. In your professional opinion why do you believe the rates of infertility are rising?
I believe there are many components to this. What we are seeing in the science is that sperm health is contributing a lot more to infertility than it used to, which I believe is playing a large role as often men aren't as invested in their preconception/health journeys prior to conception. But, honestly I believe the biggest contributing factor to infertility is the modern world we live in. Stress plays a huge role in infertility for both men and women, alongside sleep, environmental toxins, poor food choices and more sedentary lifestyles. This is what I also love about preconception, its multi faceted and supporting fertility truly means supporting an overall healthy body.
A couple decides they want to start trying for a baby - where is the first place they should start on the preconception care journey?
For me, it is body literacy. Actually understanding their bodies, how they function and what a healthy reproductive system actually looks like. Many women and men are not taught this and most don't seek this information out, unless they have health issues that they are aware of, which leads to a whole other conversation as I believe a lot of women and men are walking around with symptoms of a body that needs support, but they're not acknowledging them. I believe a lot of the population aren't at optimum health. Education is a big part of my work at The Hormone Suite Clinic and educating women about their menstrual cycles is something I am deeply passionate about.
Why is preconception care so important to not only our babies but ourselves?
Pregnancy and Postpartum are both very vulnerable times for a Mother, they are giving so much to their child/ren during these months/years, so we want to ensure that women are going into these times with optimal health, optimal nutritional statuses, balanced hormones, healthy gut microbiome etc etc so that they feel the best version of themselves. Postnatal depletion stats are around 80% currently in women, and, I truly believe a focus on preconception will support a woman through her pregnancy and postpartum. I have seen this in clinic and have also experienced this in my own fertility journeys.
What are the main factors to be considered in a preconception care plan from a Nutritionists perspective?
A key focus of mine is on nutrient dense foods and treating food truly as a medicine. I believe we have lost this in the Western world and one of my goals in life is to bring more conscious awareness to this in women, men and families. I want to ensure both partners are meeting all their nutritional requirements through food and only using supplementation if and when needed.
What should someone on a preconception care plan consider including in their diets?
My top preconception foods include wild salmon, organ meats, cruciferous vegetables, fermented foods, full fat dairy, eggs and oysters.
Women often hold the sole responsibility of infertility problems but we know that in over one third of infertility cases the issue relies within the male. What are your tips for getting your partner involved in a preconception care plan?
Thankfully over the last 10 years in clinic I am seeing more men coming to preconception appointments, but there are still some that avoid this. I think the knowledge and mainstream attention of sperm health decline has helped in this area, but it still definitely needs a little bit more awareness. We have a whole chapter in our book dedicated to sperm health in hope that we too can bring more attention to this area. Unfortunately in most cases I think it starts with the woman educating her partner on why it is important that they are as equally on board as themselves. 50% of their DNA will come from the sperm, so it makes sense. And, I always say to my clients, we want men to be in optimal health so they can support you and your family in pregnancy and postpartum too.
How much of an impact does emotional health play in preconception and the fertility journey in general?
Emotional health is huge in all areas of health, but I think it plays a significant role in fertility as stress, in my eyes, is one of the top contributing factors to fertility issues. It's such a tricky and complex element though, as for those who have been on fertility journeys will know this well, it can be a stressful time, the two week wait, the months of trying etc etc. So, having some mindfulness techniques in place in your preconception is also something we are very passionate about. Having the tools you need to support you and your emotional health is so important.