Planning to get pregnant?
Preconception Planning is very important to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Research has shown that couples taking informed decisions can lead to not just healthier babies but healthier mothers as well.
If you are planning to get pregnant, here are some tips that you’d to consider:
Discontinue Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking:
It will be better to stay away from substances that are known to hinder fetal development. Potential mothers should avoid some medications for treating cancers, certain antibiotics and anti-depressants, or at least reduce consumption so that possible complications may be avoided.
Know your family history:
Both partners need to ask their parents, grandparents and relatives for any known genetic birth defects or miscarriages. You may also want to go through genetic counseling for genetic disorders like mental retardation, down’s syndrome and other chromosomal disorders.
Get tested for infections:
Preconception planning can be good time to get tested for HIV/AIDS. Women with HIV should know the risks associated with pregnancy. Other infections like Rubella (or German measles) can cause birth defects. Vaccination is a simple preventative measure if you are not immune to it already.
Stay off the pill:
You need to flush the residual hormones from birth control pills out of your system before your try to conceive. The residual hormones can have a negative effect on the health of the new-born. It will also help your body in getting back to your normal cycles and also help you determine when ovulation occurs.
Folic Acid in your diet:
Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin (B9) which is very important for an expectant mother. It reduces the risk that their will be born with neural tube defects – the most common being spina bifida (where the spinal cord is not completely enclosed). The recommended dosage before conception and into pregnancy for folic acid is 0.4-1.0 milligrams. You can get it from either prenatal supplements or by eating green leafy vegetables and some fruits.
Eat healthy food:
Good nutrition will help your body nourish the developing baby. ‘Getting fat’ is not the same as weight gain during pregnancy. You are supposed to gain 25-25 pounds over the course of the pregnancy. Eating healthy includes taking prenatal and antenatal vitamins and supplements. A good rule of thumb is to eat when you are hungry when you get pregnant – your appetite is the best guide to how much you need to eat to sustain yourself as well as the baby.
Filed Under: Preconception Planning • Pregnancy Planning • Pregnancy Tips
dang nice info man.
Not many new mothers realis how important it is to eat a healthy diet BEFORE you get pregnant, as well as during pregnancy. It makes so much difference to how things go with both your pregnancy and your baby’s development.
Thanks for this great article.