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You and your partner may have decided to have a baby. This is a huge and momentous decision that will certainly change your lives and is a big milestone. However, you need to prepare your body for pregnancy, as you prepare yourself for conception.
Pre-pregnancy health is your health before your pregnancy. Being healthy before pregnancy can increase your chances of getting pregnant. It can also help prevent any pregnancy complications if you do get pregnant. Looking after your health before your pregnancy includes a pre-pregnancy check-up. It also includes talking to your doctor about the health conditions that can affect your pregnancy.
If you are thinking about getting pregnant you need to start focusing on your health and preparing your body for pregnancy at least 3 months before you start trying to get pregnant. Preconception health and health care focus on things to do before and between pregnancies so you can have a healthy baby. Here are some ways you should prepare for a pregnancy…
- Make a plan and act upon it: You and your partner have probably planned when to have children and when not to. You may also be using certain birth control methods. If you are planning a baby, you need to stop using birth control and achieve your pregnancy goals. These may include the number of children you want to have, their spacing, and other such considerations.
- Consult your doctor: Before you get pregnant you need to talk to your doctor about preconception health care. Your doctor will discuss your health history with you, as well as any medical conditions you may have that could affect a pregnancy. Your doctor will also discuss with you any previous pregnancy problems you may have had, as well as medicines you are currently taking, vaccinations you may need, and steps you can take before pregnancy to prevent any and all birth defects. You should make a checklist as to what you want to discuss with your doctor before your initial preconception appointment.
- Take Folic Acid: This is a B vitamin. If you have enough folic acid in your body at least one month before and during your pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. You should also eat a healthy diet which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats.
- Stop drinking alcohol, smoking and using certain drugs: Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using certain drugs can cause many problems during pregnancy for both the mother and the baby, such as premature birth, birth defects, and infant death. If you are planning a pregnancy it is best that you stop smoking, ingesting alcohol, and using certain drugs. If you are having difficulty controlling your intake of these substances, you should get help before you get pregnant.
- Avoid toxic substances and environmental contaminants: You should avoid harmful chemicals, environmental contaminants, and other toxic substances. The latter could include synthetic chemicals, metals, fertilizer, bug spray, cat faeces, and rodent faeces, around the home and in the workplace. These substances can hurt the reproductive systems and capabilities of both men and women. They can also make it more difficult to get pregnant.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight: If you are obese or overweight, it may not only be more difficult to get pregnant but it could also lead to certain serious health conditions before and during pregnancy. The key to maintaining a healthy weight is to adopt a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity. If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, you should talk to your doctor about achieving a healthy weight before you become pregnant.
- Learn your family history: Being aware of your family’s health history is important before you become pregnant. It is also very important to share your family history with your doctor. If you have had prior miscarriages, you may need to go in for genetic counselling. You and your doctor should both understand that certain family conditions like a heart defect or sickle cell disease may affect your child.
- Get mentally healthy: Before trying to get pregnant, you need to feel good about your life and to value yourself. Everyone feels anxious, stressed, sad, or worried, sometimes. However, if these feelings persist and affect your daily life, you need to seek professional help. You should talk to your doctor about your feelings and your treatment options.
- Indulge in moderate exercise: If you are trying to get pregnant, you should certainly not ditch your exercise regimen. However, you should not overdo it either, as strenuous and exhausting exercise has been known to decrease fertility. Moderate exercise is the key both before and during pregnancy.
- Have a healthy pregnancy: Once you become pregnant do continue with all the healthy habits that you have learned and consult your doctor regularly for prenatal care.
Whether you are trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant, Harsha Hospitals is the place to go. This hospital specializes in women’s health issues and will work closely with you to ensure that you become pregnant as naturally and as easily as possible.
All the consultations and treatments that you need are under one roof, with highly skilled doctors and support staff who will provide you with the holistic care that you need. So, whether you want a preconception consultation, fertility treatment, prenatal screening and care, or a healthy and successful delivery, look no further than Harsha Hospitals. After all, these are your dreams that you are looking to fulfil and that we are talking about!
For more information about preparing your body for pregnancy and other women’s issues, consult Harsha Hospitals at +91 7799565793 or at info@harshahospitals.co.in or go to our website https://harshahospitals.co.in/ for more information.