Planning to add a new member to your family is an exciting moment. There are things that you and your partner can do to prepare for a successful and healthy pregnancy. Here are some ways to prepare your body to nurture a healthy baby.
- Achieving a normal weight leads to healthy moms and babies.
- Maintaining adequate exercise and a balanced diet.
- Avoid excessive caffeinated drinks. Limit to 1-2 coffee or teas a day.
- Taking a prenatal vitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid at least three months before trying to conceive.
- Stop smoking before planning to conceive. Encourage your partner to also quit to minimize the side effects of second hand smoke.
- Stop any alcohol and illicit drugs.
- Test and treat any infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
- Discontinue any unnecessary medications. However, check with your doctor before stopping any prescription medication. In some situations, discontinuing a medication may lead to worsening of certain conditions, which may be more harmful to the pregnancy than the medication’s potential side effects.
- If you have any chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, or psychiatric conditions, it is best to optimize these conditions before trying to conceive to minimize adverse effects.
- Proper immunization before conceiving. Being vaccinated protects you and your child from diseases that can cause serious complications contracted during pregnancy. Some vaccinations require that you wait a month before you become pregnant to avoid any side effects.
- Talk to your doctor about genetics screening, particularly if you have a family history of genetics disorder or if you belong to a high-risk ethnicity group.
