Things All Women Should Do Before
Pregnancy
Want to create the perfect environment to welcome your baby
into?
Focus on healthy eating - One of the best things you can do is to
start eating healthy now, before you’re pregnant. And ask your partner to join
you. You'll need plenty of protein, iron, calcium, and folic acid. So stock up
on fruits, nuts, vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains, and low-fat dairy
products. Cut back on chips, baked goods, soda, and other junk foods that have
empty calories. Cleanse your body of harmful chemicals by eating clean and
greening up your home for three months prior to TTC (trying to conceive)
Work
towards a healthy weight - Being too thin can make it harder to get
pregnant. Being too heavy puts you at risk for health problems, including
diabetes and high blood pressure -- and it can make labor last longer. The good
news is that regular, moderate exercise can help you feel your best as you try
to get pregnant. Begin doing a safe yet rigorous workout that you enjoy for 30
minutes to an hour, five or six days per week. Walking, bicycling, and
swimming are all great ways to get a workout. Or look into joining a prenatal
exercise class.
Create and plan a Suitable Baby Budget - You'll want the best
for your little one. So start planning now. Consider formula, baby food,
diapers, equipment, pediatrician visits, child care -- and baby clothes -- fun
and functional. Discuss the financial implications of having a child with your
partner and rebalance your budget to reflect both pregnancy and parenthood. Review
your medical, disability, and life insurance policies and make any necessary
changes to suit your plans for pregnancy. Make sure you know and understand the
maternity leave policies at your job.
Make
appointments with your general practitioner, OB/GYN, and family dentist for
pre-conception visits.
Begin
taking a good quality pre-natal vitamin
(folic acid) as early as three months prior to TTC.
Watch the Caffeine
- Can't
get going without that cup of coffee? It's OK, but you may want to stop at just
one. Some experts recommend that you get no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day
while trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy itself. That's about one
12-ounce cup of coffee. Even warm, spiced milk can be a soothing substitute for
a regular cup of Joe.
Avoid alcohol - What if you had a
drink before you knew you were pregnant? One drink is probably not a concern. It
is safest to avoid it entirely. And, it is well known that drinking during
pregnancy itself raises the risk for birth defects and learning problems
Quit Smoking - If you smoke, now's the time to quit.
Smoking can make it harder for you to get pregnant. And smoking during
pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and even
miscarriage. It also puts your baby at risk for sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS). Ask your partner to quit, too. Breathing in secondhand smoke is also
dangerous. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor.
Engage
in a hobby that relaxes you for at least 20 minutes once or twice per week.
Browse
pregnancy and parenting books and films and choose to read or watch those that
interest you.
Talk
to your own mother and/or other women in your family about the types of
experiences they had during pregnancy.
Discuss
the type of labor and delivery you’d like to have including use of drugs during
labor, feelings about C-section and assisted birth, etc.
Discuss
your views on vaccination and childhood nutrition.
Discuss
family history of disease with your spouse and parents.
Research
and discuss the potential for genetic diseases in your family and consider
having genetic testing done.
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