What Comes Before Conception? Your Health

Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting times of your life, though there are some things that you need to get an order in advance. Preparation for a baby should start months before you are even considering trying. While it is nice to think things like where the baby might sleep, baby’s first outfit, which small cuddly toy is going the cot, and which top of the range pushchair will fit in the back of your car – there are actually some more practical things then you should do for you first.

Make an appointment with your GP, or OB/GYN, just for a check-up. The Preconception check-up to go through your medical history, your current health, and to look at any medications or alternative herbal remedies that you are currently taking. Some supplements and medications are not recommended during pregnancy, and it is preferable that you find alternatives during the period in which you’re trying to conceive. Switching over medications early is a good thing because some are stored in the body fat and can linger for some time. This check-up will enable you to make changes sooner.

You can also discuss any unhealthy habits that you feel may impact your ability to conceive such as drinking or smoking. Your OB/GYN or GP will likely want to talk about weight, diet and exercise. They might also like to ensure and that you are taking a multivitamin with added folic acid, and are up-to-date on all immunisations. You might also want to get checked for your immunity to the following items:

Chickenpox

Rubella

It is advisable to be tested for STDs before considering getting pregnant. Diseases like Gonorrhea can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage. You might like to get a genetic screening too. You and your partner might be carriers of severe illnesses like sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and some rarer diseases that would happen if you and your parent have specific genes.

Take the Folic Acid

Start taking folic acid from the day you decide to start trying to conceive. The more folic acid in your system the higher the chance of preventing neural-tube defects in your baby. While you’re making sure you’re getting enough folic acid, be sure to make sure you aren’t getting too much vitamin A. Excess vitamin A has been linked to some birth defects – you only need 770 mcg RAE per day. If you aren’t sure if you’re taking too much, or too little head to your doctor and have a conversation, get a recommendation for the best type of multivitamin.

Give Up the Vices

If you have wine a few times a week or more or occasionally socially smoke then you should be aware that this can lead to premature birth, low-birth-weight babies, miscarriage and reduced maternal health – which can lead to more complicated delivery. If you occasionally use drugs, you need to keep in mind that some drugs can stay in the system for an extended period of time and will affect yours and your partner's fertility should you both have taken these drugs. If you happen to get pregnant while on any kind of medicine, it is best that you talk to your midwife, GP, or OB/GYN as soon as possible.

Stopping of the habits can be difficult if you do not feel supported by your health care providers. If you should need to do not hesitate to ask for referrals to help you quit smoking, lower your drinking, and stop taking drugs. It might be advisable to join a group or seek assistance from private counsellors.

Eat Better

Even though you are not yet pregnant, you need to nourishing body as if you were catering for pregnancy. When they say you should eat a rainbow, it is even more important in pregnancy than ever. It is recommended and that you need a minimum of 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetable every day. You should also eat plenty of whole grain foods, high calcium foods, and a variety of protein. For protein sources think about seeds, poultry, soy products, and beans. Reducing your caffeine intake is also a good idea, experts tend to agree that pregnant women or women who are trying to conceive should limit their daily caffeine intake. It is advised that you’re consumption is 200 mg or less per day. That is approximately one cup of coffee depending on the type of coffee and the size of the cup.

Get Fit

Many healthcare professionals recommend that Women who are trying to get pregnant have a lower BMI. Exercising and eating well will get you to a healthy weight, which has been proven to improve chances that woman can conceive naturally. It is highly likely that women were higher BMI are more likely to have complications like gestational diabetes and unhealthy weight gain during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes and unhealthy weight gain can lead to delivery complications which are best avoided.

Get Rid of Birth Control

Once you feel that you are mentally, emotionally, and physically ready for the baby, it is time to throw away your birth control. If you happen only to use condoms or diaphragm this will potentially be the most natural step for you. If however, you use some sort of hormonal contraception like the pill, the patch, the injection, the implant, or the ring – you may have to wait a month or more for your fertility to return. It is a good idea to pick up some ovulation testing kits to help you track when your eggs are released and the best time for you to conceive naturally.

If it Doesn’t Happen

For millions of women conceiving naturally is seemingly impossible, and unfortunately the stress of trying to conceive can you make the situation worse. If you’ve been trying for between eighteen months to two years, then you might like to consider other options like IVF or egg donation. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in read more now.

Having a baby is an enormously exciting thing in life, but not everything is easy. However, follow the advice above and get your body in tiptop physical condition ready for your baby.