8 Ways To Prepare Yourself For Pregnancy

Starting a family is one of the most rewarding things a person can experience and many people look forward to the day that they find out they are expecting a baby. For some women falling pregnant can be as simple as stopping contraception while other women may take a long time to fall pregnant and may even need to undergo fertility treatment.

Even if you are one of those fortunate women that fall pregnant easily it is important to note that while falling pregnant quickly is great you also want to ensure that you are prepared for pregnancy. You want to ensure that you are healthy throughout your pregnancy, that your birth goes smoothly and your baby is born health and strong.

Here are some ways to prepare yourself for pregnancy:

Have A Medical Checkup

Make an appointment with your doctor for a preconception visit. Your doctor can asses your health, family history and any medications or supplements that you are taking.

It is important to remember that certain medications are not safe during pregnancy and chances are high you will need to stop taking those medications before you try to get pregnant. It can take some time for medication to work out of your system and if you are still on the medication while trying to fall pregnant it it inevitable that you will be pregnant for a few weeks before you find out and during that time the medication could affect your baby in the early stages.

Your doctor may also want to address your eating habits, weight, fitness and exercise, as well as any unhealthy habits such as smoking cigarettes, vaping, drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

If you have any medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma you may be referred to a specialist to help you get these conditions under control before you try to fall pregnant and to manage them during your pregnancy.

Smoking, Drinking and Drugs

It is common knowledge that smoking, drinking and taking drugs while pregnant can cause premature birth, low birth weight and even miscarriage. Smoking can have an impact on your fertility so it is a good idea to stop smoking before attempting to fall pregnant.

Giving up smoking, drugs and alcohol can be incredibly hard. There are plenty of great programs and support groups to help. Chat to your doctor for advise.

Healthy Eating

It is so important to get into healthy eating habits to not only prepare your body for pregnancy but also to get into healthy habits before you conceive. Waiting until you are already pregnant to make these important changes can add unnecessary stress.

Make sure to drink plenty of water each day, as well as include enough fruit and vegetables in your diet. Focus on eating whole grains, a variety protein and calcium rich foods.

Avoid eating junk food, fizzy drinks and sugar.

Having a balanced diet is going to help you not only to fall pregnant, but also to have a healthy pregnancy, a smooth birth, a healthy baby and later on in your child’s life you will be able to be a role model which will help your child to make healthy choices.

Watch Out For Fish

If you love eating fish make sure to limit your fish intake and to avoid fish that are known to be high in mercury.

While fish is an excellent source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D, fish also contains mercury which can be harmful.

Fish to avoid: swordfish, tilefish, shark and king mackerel. Limit tuna to one serving per week.

Fish low in mercury: salmon, sardines, farm-raised rainbow trout, herring. Limit eating these fish to two servings per week.

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Start Exercising

Create a fitness program and stick to it. Build up your fitness until you are exercising for 30 minutes a day. The fitter you are the better your chances of having a smooth and complication free pregnancy and birth. Yoga is an amazing form of exercise that also has many benefits for pregnancy.

If your body is healthy you will be much more likely to fall pregnant. Exercise is also important during pregnancy so get started as soon as possible.

Folic Acid and Other Vitamins

It is crucial to start taking folic acid before you fall pregnant. Taking folic acid before conception can help to reduce the chances of your baby having neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent.

Make sure to get 400mcg of folic acid per daily. You can take folic acid on its own or in a multivitamin. Take a prenatal multivitamin or make sure that your multivitamin has the right amount of folic acid and that there is less than 770 mcg RAE (2,565 IU) Vitamin A. Taking in too much Vitamin A can cause birth defects.

Visit Your Dentist

Your dental health is important and during pregnancy your hormones change and it is very common to get gum disease during this time. While it may seem like something that is not important gum disease has been associated with miscarriage. If you have gum disease during pregnancy your risk of miscarriage is 3 times higher.

Visiting your dentist to ensure that your oral health is in top notch will help you to have a healthier and happier pregnancy.

Charting Your Fertility

Getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy and baby will be so much easier by following all of these suggestions to prepare yourself. Once your body is prepared and ready for a baby you can greatly increase your chances of falling pregnant if you know when your body is at its most fertile.

The SmileReader Ovulation Test Kit is everything you will need to take charge of your fertility and successfully start the family you have always dreamt of.

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While it is possible to fall pregnant at any time during your menstrual cycle, knowing when you are ovulating is going to greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant. There is one week each month where you are at your most fertile and most likely to fall pregnant. This week is called your fertile window.

Having sex two to three days before ovulation will be your best chance of conceiving. Your egg can only be fertilized for 1 to 3 days after it has left your ovary and sperm can survive for up to 5 days. This means that it is best to have sex just before ovulation rather than after ovulation.