Preparing For Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Guide
5 steps that you must take before planning your pregnancy
Preparing For Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Guide
Preparing for pregnancy can be very exciting for you. After all, you are going to experience a life-changing journey throughout the nine months. But let’s face it! The excitement can soon turn into an overwhelming feeling.
There are a lot of preparations that you must make before getting pregnant. Planning your pregnancy will ensure that you take all the necessary steps for a healthy baby.
If you and your partner are looking to give birth, you are at the right place! Our guide will help you prepare to welcome your baby into this world.
A] Pre-Pregnancy Counseling
Before you plan to grow your family, you must first visit your gynecologist. It doesn’t matter if you had previous pregnancies or if it’s your first one. Your doctor will take a look at your health status. He/she will assess any risks that might come with getting pregnant.
Make sure that you tell your gynecologist about any personal or family medical history that might lead to complication in pregnancy. If you experience problems such as epilepsy, high BP, or any allergies, your doctor will help you get them under control.
B] Get Your Health Check-Ups Done
To grow a healthy baby inside your womb, you must first have a healthy body. Your doctor will run a few tests on you to ensure that you have a safe pregnancy.
Usually, the doctors go for blood tests to ensure that you do not have any sexually transmitted diseases. The medical practitioner will also check the health of your pelvic organs.
Apart from this, the doctor will assess your weight, BP, breathing rate, etc. You’ll get a green signal from the doctor if the test results approve pregnancy.
C] Preparing Your Body To Conceive
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while and it’s not happening, don’t worry. There might be some things you can do to increase your chances. It’s important to make sure your body is ready for pregnancy.
Here’s how you can prepare your body:
1. Quitting alcohol
Alcohol is known to affect a woman’s fertility. If you want to expand your family, you must give up on alcohol while trying to conceive.
Alcohol can affect your hormone levels. It also plays with your menstruation and population. If you conceive and continue drinking, you might end up giving the baby a lot of problems.
In most situations, babies have a premature birth and also develop disorders.
2. Eat healthy
Getting proper nutrition will ensure that you nourish your fetus. You can start eating healthy even before you conceive. A good diet will help you prepare your body to grow the baby.
You must eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Try adding some whole grains and low-fat dairy products to your diet. If you are a coffee lover, it’s something that you would have to limit. Try to stick to only one cup of coffee per day.
3. Exercise Regularly
Exercising will help you get your body in shape and maintain a proper weight. You can start exercising before conceiving and continue even after you get pregnant.
However, once you get pregnant, you should do only light exercises. The doctor will suggest to you the kind of exercises you can do to get in shape.
Having a healthy weight will ensure that you deliver a healthy baby.
4. Quit smoking
Smoking can compromise the health of your baby. Mothers who smoke end up delivering premature babies. Most of the premature babies have a very low weight.
When trying to conceive enough to get pregnant, you should also try to avoid any exposure to smoke.
5. Take Your Vitamins
Your doctor will prescribe you certain prenatal vitamins. These vitamins contain 400 µg of folic acid.
You must consume these vitamins daily as Folic acid helps reduce any risk of birth defects. Folic deficiency can often lead to brain and spinal cord defects in babies.
6. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is the key to making your body work effectively. So, you should drink plenty of water throughout the day and keep yourself hydrated. A sufficient water intake will ensure that your body functions normally so that you can get pregnant easily.
7. Manage Your Stress
Too much stress can affect your body’s functioning. You might not be able to conceive if your body and mind are stressed.
So, work on busting your stress. You can try relaxation techniques such as deep, breathing, meditation, and mindfulness.
8. Family Discussion
Getting pregnant is a special feeling. So you must make sure that you discuss your family planning goals with your spouse. You both must be on the same page regarding your pregnancy.
After you deliver your baby, this is going to be a lot of emotional turmoil. There will be joy but you will also experience a few challenges in the beginning. You and your partner should prepare yourself emotionally to embrace the pregnancy.
9. Create A Safe Space
Finally, you have to prepare your home for your baby’s arrival. You can babyproof your home and create an environment where you can nurture your baby.
You should also try to minimize exposure to harmful substances at your place. Get rid of any chemicals and toxins from your house or workplace.
Conclusion
Preparing for pregnancy requires a lot of effort. You have to prepare yourself physically and mentally so that you can enjoy every bit of it. Pregnancy can bring a lot of emotional ups and downs. But if you prepare yourself, you can enjoy this journey.
This guide will help you ready yourself for pregnancy and cope with the pregnancy blues. Your doctor will recommend a few lifestyle changes that you can make to prepare your body for the baby.
Every pregnancy is unique. So, you must consult with your doctor to help you make preparations as per your specific needs. Apart from following these tips, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice whenever necessary. Medical professionals will help you increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
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