Preparing for pregnancy

Preparing for pregnancy

Getting Pregnant Tips : Preparing for Pregnancy

Author: Michael Luthers

Getting Pregnant Tips : Preparing for Pregnancy

Healthcare practitioners recommend care from the time you start trying to have a baby. Preconception care comprises measures taken before a woman gets pregnant, and includes health care, education and counseling. It deals with several different aspects, from trying to reduce/eliminate problems that might affect mother and/or baby later, to minimizing the risk of birth defects and also covering good nutrition and physical activity. The following are some good Preparing for Pregnancy tips to follow.

Preparing for Pregnancy Tips

Folic Acid: One of the most widely stated Preparing for Pregnancy Tips is to take a dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for at least 3 months. This recommendation that comes from the U.S. Public Health Service, is in order to reduce the risk of birth defects in the fetus.

Immunizations: Certain immunizations are essential to safeguard a developing fetus against some deadly disease. Commonly taken vaccinations are to protect against chicken pox and rubella.

Overall Good health: It is very important for women to be in the pink of health before and after conception. Aspects that need to be taken into consideration are maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and minimizing stress. A healthy diet means one that comprises fresh fruits, green vegetables and plenty of water. Try to increase your intake of Omega 3. Apart from this, it is also important for a woman trying to get pregnant to have a healthy weight, as being overweight or underweight can affect normal ovulation.

Quit Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: A strong admonition for those trying to conceive is to quit smoking and drinking. Not only is smoking harmful to the ovaries, it increases the likelihood of low birth rate as well as premature birth. Women who smoke have about a 40% chance of having a successful pregnancy, as compared to non-smokers. Smoking in women is associated with a placental abruption (separation of a normally sighted placenta from its attachment in the womb) and an increased risk of placenta previa (low lying placenta). Also, studies are constantly uncovering evidence that confirms that alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes harm to the fetus. It causes increased rate of miscarriage, growth retardation, prematurity, and developmental delay, and 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome'.

Complete Heath Assessment: A woman seeking to conceive must undergo a complete medical screening so that any medical condition such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, PKU, hypertension, blood diseases and eating disorders should be detected and treated BEFORE conception. At this time, a woman's complete medical history must be reviewed, including family medical history and risk factors for infections or birth defects. The doctor must also be informed if she is is taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicines (including vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements). Good dental health is also very important.

Among the other measures that need to be taken, avoiding caffeine is a very important one. Present in coffee, tea, coca-cola, chocolate, etc., it is linked to fetal growth restriction, miscarriage and low birth rates. However, be aware that occasionally, decaffeinated coffee could aggravate the immune system more than the caffeinated variety. Needless to say, recreational/antidepressant drugs of any kind must not be consumed. Try to ensure that you are not exposed to toxic or infection carrying substances of any kind, such as chemicals, or cat and rodent feces. In the Preparing for Pregnancy period, take care not to get exposed to any sexually transmitted diseases, as they increase the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. After stopping birth control pills, it is advisable to go through several normal cycles before trying to conceive. While these are a few Preparing for Pregnancy Tips, it is very important to visit a medical practitioner to stay informed of all the care that is required to be taken.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/getting-pregnant-tips-preparing-for-pregnancy-5030148.html

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Preparing For Pregnancy - What Do You Need To Know?

Author: Sophie Middleton

Congratulations! You have made the decision to have baby and of course you want to give yourself the best chances of conceiving along with the best start possible for your unborn baby. This is why pre-pregnancy planning is so important, as it gives you time to prepare yourself and your body for a baby.

Invest in Folic Acid

It has been proven that women who take around 0.4mgs of Folic Acid each day before they conceive, and for around 10 – 12 weeks when they are pregnant, will significantly reduce the risks of birth defects such as spina bifida. If you considering trying for a baby soon, then you should still take folic acid each day, with reports stating women should do so up to 1 year before they actually conceive.

You will also find folic acid is present in many foods such as cereal, spinach and orange juice, and when you're preparing for pregnancy you need to be eating the best types of food anyway!

Get Rid of Bad Habits

Smoking when pregnant, as well as drinking alcohol when pregnant can harm your unborn baby, but did you know that smoking and drinking when trying to conceive can also affect your fertility? Stopping smoking and reducing your intake of alcohol will boost your fertility and prevent the chances of miscarriage and birth defects.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water is something we should all be doing anyway, so if you are not getting enough fluids now is the time to start doing so. Drinking plenty of water is also a natural way to increase the presence of fertile cervical mucus, which helps sperm travel to your egg during ovulation much easier!

Excercise and Health

If you are overweight, this can also reduce your chances of conceiving thus making sure you fit in around 30 minutes of exercise each day will keep you fit and help you shed any excess weight. Ladies who are underweight, may also find conceiving is a little more difficult, thus taking the time in this pre-pregnancy stage to put a little bit of healthy weight back on will benefit you greatly.

You should also make sure you are up to date on all of your vaccinations prior to getting pregnant. For instance, if your German Measles is up to date, and if not it is VERY IMPORTANT to ensure you get this done at least 1 year before conceiving. Also ensure your cervical smears are up to date and that you are free of any STDs. Preparing for pregnancy needn't have to be a scary time, look after your body and your body will look after your baby.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/preparing-for-pregnancy-what-do-you-need-to-know-4269216.html

About the Author

Sophie is the writer for The Health Benefits Of site and produces fascinating work on the health benefits of all food. She also helps women, and men, learn about preparing for pregnancy