Planning to start a family? Congratulations! The decision in itself is a big step and yes there are things to you need to know and do before you jump in to start a family.
It is a good idea to begin with a medical checkup at a health screening center for both you and your partner. Also confirm whether you are up to date on your immunizations as some vaccinations cannot be given during the pregnancy. During this checkup the doctors will also be able to guide you if you are diagnosed with any health conditions which can affect the pregnancy. The main conditions which concern pregnancy are thyroid, blood pressure, lupus, epilepsy, heart disease or diabetes. Even mothers suffering from anxiety or depression will require special care. Special executive health screening is made available at various clinics for new parents.
You will also be advised to not take any medicine over the counter and if you have any at home for headaches, allergies or other conditions not to use them. If you are on oral contraceptives it is required to stop taking the pills as early as possible to give your cycle time to regulate and ovulate.
Not only do you need a medical checkup, a dental checkup is also vital for mothers to be as gum diseases are known to lead to preterm delivery. Also, if you feel you are being exposed to any dangers at work speak to your employer and work out a solution that is beneficial for both parties.
Once all the above pre-preparations are done, it is time to think about your health and diet. If you have been eating junk food it is time to rethink your diet. Include whole grains, vegetables and fruits every day. Include foods which are high in calcium and iron. Even a multivitamin supplement can be taken after discussion with your doctor as there are specific vitamins which should not be taken more than the recommended dosage.
Folic acid supplement is a vital vitamin to be taken even before you conceive as it is vital to reduce the possibilities of neural tube defects in the unborn baby. It is advised even for dads to take a multi vitamin which includes vitamin C, folic acid, zinc and various other nutrients to ensure the optimal quality of sperm production.
Consideration also needs to be given regarding your weight. If you are heavier than the recommended weight for women your age and height try to reduce your weight before you conceive as women who are overweight face a greater risk of diabetes, high BP and even be more likely to undergo a C-SECTION. The same is true for underweight women, as being underweight can lead to the mother being anemic, go into early labor and have a low weight baby. And most importantly it is time to kick out the bad habits, especially smoking as it can lead to low fertility, preterm delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth and various other complications. Not only the mother, even the father needs to stop smoking as even second-hand smoke is not good for the mother and soon-to-be-born baby.
Source : articlesbase.com
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