Being psychologically prepared for pregnancy is very important as pregnancy comes with anxiety also. How will I manage my career, how will I manage my baby, what about my weight, etc, all these questions come to mind whenever a woman thinks to conceive.
So before planning a pregnancy you should be mentally as well as physically prepared to start a family.
A baby comes with lots and lots of responsibilities and so one should be prepared for it.
Anxiety regarding delivery, diet, exercise are common and these have been dealt with in this post.
What should I keep in mind if planning for pregnancy?
Pregnancy should be planned. A few things should be kept in mind before you get pregnant. These are:-
10 Tips if you are planning for pregnancy.
1. Pre-conceptional check up
Once you decide to plan a pregnancy, visit your Gynaecologist for a check-up. The doctor will examine you generally and advise a few routine tests.
If you have some pre existing medical condition then your medicines should be reviewed. Certain medications are contraindicated in pregnancy and should be switched over to safe medicines which can be continued in pregnancy.
Doctor will discuss about your diet, what things to avoid, exercise which can be done, weight loss if required, etc. You may need a pelvic examination if having some vaginal discharge, to rule out PID.
2. Folic acid
Your doctor will prescribe you daily folic acid tablets. These are essential to prevent any neural tube defects in baby. Deficiency of folic acid in body at the time of conceiving can result in serious neural tube defects which are not compatible with life.
Folic acid should be started at least three months before pregnancy.
3. Proper balanced diet
You should start taking proper nutrition and avoid unhealthy foods which are not good for body.Junk foods should be avoided.A healthy and balanced diet will improve your chances of conception.
You should increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, include milk and dairy products in your diet.
Vit D deficiency in both the partners is also a cause for difficulty to conceive. If blood reports show vit D deficiency, then you may need vit D supplements for both you and your partner.
Also Read: <<What is Pregnancy test called ?>>
4. Weight management
If you are overweight, its better to loose some extra kilos before getting pregnant.If your BMI is high before pregnancy, it may lead to several complications . There may be difficulty in conceiving, risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy is more.There are chances of miscarriage, risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy is more.
If the BMI is low then there may be risk of low birth weight babies.
Check your BMI here
5. Quit smoking and alcohol
Smoking and alcohol intake in pregnancy can lead to complications in pregnancy. Miscarriage, birth defects in baby, premature birth, low birth weight babies, chances of preeclampsia, risk of all these increase if you are consuming alcohol or are smoking during pregnancy.
Smoking and alcohol also decreases the sperm count and lower the quality of sperms in the male partener. This may lead to difficulty in conceiving.
6. Dental checkup
Its very important to maintain your dental hygiene. Hormones during pregnancy may cause your gums to become red, swollen. So its better to visit your dentist beforehand so that if any dental procedure is required it can be done before pregnancy.
7. Meditation
Its important to focus on your mental health. Meditation and prenatal yoga helps you to connect with your baby. It reduces anxiety and depression which is harmful for the unborn baby. Meditation helps to cope up with the stress , enabling you to relax and have peace of mind.
What you talk, what you feel have an impact on your baby in the womb. So try to remain happy.
8. Understand the Fertile Period
If you are planning for pregnancy you should be able to calculate your fertile period, the days in which you should have intercourse.
Also read: <<HOW TO CALCULATE FERTILE PERIOD>>
Various apps are also available by which you can predict your ovulation days. Calculating the ovulation days helps you to predict the most fertile days of your menstrual cycle.
9. Limit your caffeine intake
Women who are planning to conceive should check on their intake of tea or coffee. Too much tea or coffee can harm you. It may also increase your blood pressure which may have negative effect on your overall health.
Link “How much tea should I take in pregnancy”
10. Check your finances
Last but not the least you should check on your savings and finances. Having a baby will increase your expenses from day one.
Its a good idea to talk to your insurance company about maternity cover and insurance cover of baby.
If you don’t have any insurance , its better to save a specified amount of money every month from day one of pregnancy so that at the time of delivery, you are not worried about finances.
Summary
Your pregnancy should be well planned. Follow these simple but useful tips if you are planning to conceive.These tips will make your life happier and healthier. Stay happy and take care of your mental as well as physical health.
Also read : <<Ultrasounds During Pregnancy: Everything You Need to Know >>
