Preparing for Parenthood: Why Preconception Care Matters More Than You Might Think

As naturopaths who specialise in fertility and preconception care, we often say this: the journey to conception starts well before that positive pregnancy test. In our clinics, we work with individuals and couples at all different stages, from those thinking about having a baby one day, to those who’ve been trying for years without answers. No matter where you are on the path, our approach is built around one simple truth: a healthy body is one where all systems are working in harmony.

We wanted to share some of the key ways we support fertility and why we believe preconception care is one of the most powerful things you can do, not just for conception, but for the health of your future baby and family.

We Start With the Whole Picture

When someone comes to us for support with fertility, we don’t jump straight into prescriptions or protocols. We start by listening. Before your first appointment, we ask you and your partner (if applicable) to complete a detailed 10-page questionnaire. This covers everything from your menstrual cycle, general health, stress levels, and sleep, to diet, toxin exposure, family history, and previous reproductive health experiences. It’s deep and thorough, and that’s intentional.

Initial consults take between 1.5 to 2hours. During this session, we go through your history in detail, answer your questions, and begin the process of creating a tailored preconception plan that’s specific to you. No generic advice here, every recommendation is grounded in your story, your body, and your needs.

Preconception Care Is About Laying Foundations

We like to say that fertility isn’t just about your reproductive organs, it’s about the entire body working in harmony. That’s why our first priority is to support foundational health.

We assess:

• Hormonal health and the endocrine system

• The immune system

• Gut function and digestion

• Liver detoxification pathways

• The nervous system (especially stress and sleep)

When these systems are functioning well, the chances of a healthy conception increase. Supporting the whole person - physically, emotionally, and even spiritually - is what sets this work apart.

Ideally, we begin working with people at least four months before they start trying for a baby. This allows us time to positively influence the full maturation cycles of egg and sperm, which take roughly 90–100 days. But we work with people at any stage, from early preparation to navigating IVF and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Understanding Your Cycle Is Empowering

Cycle tracking is one of the first tools we teach. Unfortunately, many people never learned how to understand their menstrual cycle properly. We change that.

We teach clients how to chart their basal body temperature, observe cervical mucus changes, and recognise key ovulation symptoms. This allows for a far more accurate understanding of when you’re fertile than relying on generic apps or calculators.

We also discuss ovulation predictor kits (like Mira) and how to use them effectively, while highlighting the limitations of certain menstrual tracking apps that assume every person ovulates on day 14 of a 28-day cycle. Most people don’t. Understanding your body’s own pattern is not only helpful for conception, but deeply empowering.

Coming Off Hormonal Contraception? We’ve Got You.

For those transitioning off the pill or other forms of hormonal birth control, our focus is on gently clearing synthetic hormones from the body and supporting a return to natural hormonal rhythms.

This includes supporting liver detox pathways, rebuilding nutrient stores, and identifying whether the contraception may have been masking underlying conditions such as PCOS or irregular cycles. Everyone’s timeline is different, and we tailor our support to meet you where you are.

When There’s a Diagnosis: PCOS, Endo, Thyroid Imbalances & More

If you’re dealing with a known reproductive or endocrine condition, preconception care is even more important, and yes, naturopathy can help.

For example:

• With PCOS, we focus on regulating ovulation, balancing insulin levels, reducing inflammation, and supporting adrenal health.

• With endometriosis, we often work on immune function, reducing systemic inflammation, and supporting liver detoxification to balance oestrogen.

• For thyroid imbalances, we look at a full thyroid panel and support optimal function through nutrition, lifestyle, and supplementation.

Testing is a key part of what we do, and we often interpret lab results differently than conventional medicine. Our ranges for what we consider “optimal” are narrower and more fertility-specific. We also look for trends over time, not just whether a number is within the reference range.

Nutrition and Supplementation: Foundational, Not Optional

Food and nutrient status have a profound effect on fertility. Some of the most important things we support our clients with nutritionally include:

• Eating a whole food, anti-inflammatory diet high in vegetables, fibre, and healthy fats

• Reducing processed foods and sugar

• Incorporating omega-3-rich foods, such as oily fish, chia seeds, and flaxseeds

When it comes to supplements, we always tailor our approach, but the foundations often include:

• A high-quality preconception multivitamin with folate (not synthetic folic acid), iodine, B12, and iron if needed

• A clean, independently tested omega-3 supplement

• Magnesium and zinc, both of which play key roles in reproductive health

While we do use herbs in our practice, we never recommend self-prescribing. Herbal medicine is powerful, and what’s helpful for one person could be inappropriate for another. We always prescribe based on clinical assessment and test results.

Stress, Sleep, and Emotional Wellbeing Matter.

Fertility doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and we can’t talk about hormones without talking about stress. We spend a lot of time helping our clients understand the impact of chronic stress, poor sleep, and burnout on their fertility.

We also support the emotional side of the journey. Fertility struggles can be deeply isolating and stressful. As naturopaths, we often become part counsellor and part advocate, helping our clients feel supported, heard, and hopeful.

If deeper mental or emotional support is needed, we refer to trusted professionals, including psychotherapists, clinical hypnotherapists, mind-body specialists, and more.

The Impact of Preconception Care

What makes all of this worthwhile? The outcomes, not just in conception, but in the health of the future child.

Research tells us that by improving egg and sperm quality, reducing inflammation, supporting the uterine environment, and lowering exposure to toxins, we can influence not only the health of a future baby, but potentially the health of their children as well. This is called epigenetics, and it’s a key reason we’re so passionate about this work.

We’ve seen couples go from “unexplained infertility” to healthy conception, simply because someone finally took the time to look at their whole health picture.

One case that stays with us is a couple who had suffered 17 miscarriages. After seeing numerous specialists, they were told the cause was unknown. Through deeper testing, we discovered that the woman couldn’t metabolise folic acid due to a genetic variant. She’d been prescribed high doses of it, but it wasn’t helping. We switched her to a methylated form of folate that her body could actually use, and she went on to carry a healthy baby. That’s the power of personalised care.

Our Final Thoughts

Preconception care is one of the greatest gifts you can give your future family. It’s not about perfection, it’s about intention. About taking time to nourish your body, reduce stress, understand your cycle, and make informed, empowered decisions.

You don’t need to wait until something is wrong to seek support. And if things are already feeling hard or unclear, know that there are people who will sit beside you, look at the whole picture, and help you move forward.

This work is deeply human, and deeply hopeful. We’re here for it, and for you.