It is exciting for a woman to be pregnant, but it can also cause many lifestyle changes. So preparing for pregnancy shouldn’t start too late if you’re thinking about it.
Your preconception health and prenatal care are about enhancing your embryonic child’s health before and during pregnancy. Some women have to prepare their bodies months ahead, and some take longer than others.
So, if you’re trying to conceive, here are some changes you can make in your regular lifestyle to help you have a healthy pregnancy.
Don’t use birth control.
You need to stop taking your birth control to get pregnant. But, it’s not as easy as quitting and becoming a mother the next day.
You should stop using oral contraceptives two cycles before you plan to get pregnant. Take out your IUD a month before conception and get your last injectable birth control shot three months before conception.
Once you reset your hormones, you’ll know when you will most likely get pregnant. However, some couples get pregnant right after stopping birth control.
Track your cycle
Menstrual cycles can help you know when to get pregnant. To do this, you must determine your ovulation date.
Take note of when your period starts and ends, your flow, and if you have any symptoms. Also, check your body temperature and cervical mucus for signs of ovulation.
Don’t be concerned if it seems overwhelming. Many mobile apps are available to assist you in doing this.
Nutrition and diet
Getting your baby the proper nutrition starts with eating the right stuff. Here are some tips on what to eat while pregnant:
- Prenatal vitamins are good even if you’re not pregnant. Get 400 micrograms of folic acid and iron-rich vitamins. A woman’s neural tube forms her brain and spinal cord before she knows she’s pregnant. It’s easy to prevent neural tube defects with folic acid supplements.
- Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and dairy products are part of a healthy diet. Don’t eat too much sugar or fat.
- Pregnant women should limit their alcohol intake. While pregnant or suspecting you’re pregnant, don’t drink alcohol.
- Caffeine shouldn’t exceed 200 milligrams daily, which is one to two cups of coffee.
You’ll need to be more careful about your diet when trying to conceive through IVF. It’s always better to get IVF at a reputable IVF center.
Health tests
Pre-pregnancy tests can let you know if you’ve any health issues that might interfere. Take care of yourself, your partner, and your fertility by getting checked out. A health care provider can assess risk factors based on your family’s history during an exam.
Working out
When women exercise regularly, they’re less likely to get pregnancy’s unwanted side effects (back pain, swelling ankles, piles, etc.), gain weight, and feel good about changing bodies. If you’re in shape and healthy, you’ll handle childbirth better. Exercise in moderation, though, because too much can make your period irregular or cause you to miss ovulation.
Don’t stress yourself out.
It is believed that many women experience excessive worry about getting pregnant, but when they release that stress, their bodies respond by creating a new life. Therefore, don’t worry about trying to conceive and enjoy the experience.
Maintain a healthy weight
Get your weight under control if you or your spouse have a high Body Mass Index (BMI). If you’re overweight, you might have trouble getting pregnant. In addition, it’s essential to control blood pressure and diabetes if you’ve got metabolic diseases.
Get your folic acid daily.
Some vitamins, like folic acid, help fetal development and can prevent congenital problems like Spina Bifida. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says women of childbearing age should take folic acid before getting pregnant. You should take four milligrams of folic acid daily if you’re at risk for neural tube defects. You should start one to three months before conception and continue until the 12th week.
The smoking habit
According to the British Medical Association (BMA), smoking reduces women’s chances of getting pregnant by 40%. Smoking makes men less likely to produce sperm, and abnormal sperm are more likely to occur. So, ask your doctor how you can quit smoking.
MMR vaccinations must be current
You get it to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. Rubella can severely impact a child’s development, especially during pregnancy. MMR will protect you and your baby. A child usually gets two injections before the age of six. If you’re unsure or haven’t been vaccinated, ask your doctor if they have a record. If you don’t have a history, get shot.
Summary
Weighing all the pros and cons of welcoming a child into our family can be challenging. However, there is good news: you can have a healthy pregnancy with some preparation.
