Planning to Get Pregnant?
Are you thinking about trying to have a baby? Before you take that leap, take the time to evaluate your current health and habits. Taking care of your body and your health before you try to get pregnant will not only help you get pregnant. It can also improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. How?
1. Visit Your Doctor
Tell your doctor your plans, so the two of you can discuss your personal and family health histories and any medical conditions you currently have that could affect a pregnancy, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, thyroid disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), seizure disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis or eating disorders. You’ll need to review which medicines you’re currently taking, vaccinations that you might need, and steps you can take before pregnancy to prevent certain birth defects. If you’ve been pregnant before, the two of you can go over any previous pregnancy-related problems.
2. Quit Birth Control
This one sounds like a given, but depending on what form you use, you may need some time. If you use an IUD, your doctor will need to remove it. If you take the Pill or use Depo-Provera, you might not ovulate for month. Give your body time to adjust and restart its own monthly cycle.
3. Take 400 Micrograms of Folic Acid Every Day
Folic acid is a B vitamin. You’ll want to have enough folic acid in your body for at least 1 month before pregnancy, then during pregnancy, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
4. Stop Drinking Alcohol, Smoking, and Using Street Drugs
If you smoke, regularly drink alcohol or use street drugs, be honest with your doctor. These habits can cause many problems during pregnancy for you and your baby, such as premature birth, birth defects and infant death. Your doctor can help you quit, or find someone who can.
5. Avoid Toxic Substances and Contaminants
Both at work and at home, stay away from potentially harmful materials like synthetic chemicals, fertilizer, bug spray and cat or rodent feces (have someone else clean the litter box or do your weeding). Any of these substances can hurt your reproductive system and make it more difficult to get pregnant. And exposure to even small amounts during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, or puberty can lead to diseases.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you are overweight or obese, you run a higher risk for many serious conditions, including pregnancy complications, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. If you are underweight, you’re also at risk for serious health problems. If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, talk with your doctor about ways to reach and maintain a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
Once you are pregnant, be sure to keep up all of your new healthy habits and get regular prenatal care from your doctor. If you have any questions about planning a pregnancy or are newly pregnant, please call Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello. Your health is our top priority!
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