How to Prepare for Pregnancy

Planning your pregnancy can be pretty exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. In India, over 10-20% of couples face fertility challenges. This highlights the importance of early planning and preparation. 

Of course, your doctor can guide you on preparing your body for pregnancy naturally. However, you must also be prepared to embark on your preconception counselling, lifestyle modifications, and other steps toward motherhood. You must also follow a few additional tips to ensure the well-being of yourself and your baby. So, read on to get the expert-recommended checklist for getting pregnant to ensure a healthy journey for you and your future child.

Start with Preconception Counselling

You must set up a preconception counselling appointment with your healthcare provider when planning your pregnancy. Even if you have already had previous pregnancies, ask your doctor to review your health and evaluate new risks, if any. Always schedule preconception counselling at least three months before you conceive.

Here are some pre-pregnancy planning tips to follow during the counselling sessions: 

• Provide Your Personal Medical History

Tell your healthcare provider about any chronic conditions that could affect your pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia or allergies. You should also inform your doctor about your current medications, previous surgeries, or past pregnancies. 

• Reveal Your Family Medical History

An assessment of the paternal and maternal medical history can determine if either parent has had medical conditions that might be passed to the child. You must compulsorily let your doctor know if anyone in your family has diabetes, birth defects, high blood pressure, or other health concerns.

• Consult Your Doctor for Genetic Screening

Several genetic disorders may be passed from parents to their children, such as sickle cell anaemia or cystic fibrosis. Genes that cause these disorders can be easily identified by blood tests before pregnancy. Always consult your doctor about genetic screening before you conceive.

• Analyse Your Vaccine Status

Ensure you are up to date with current vaccines, such as rubella (also known as German measles) and varicella (also known as chickenpox). Please note that doctors do not consider it safe to get these vaccines during pregnancy. Moreover, getting these diseases during pregnancy can cause congenital disabilities or miscarriages. The only resort is to get the vaccines at least a month before trying to conceive. 

• Prevent Virus Exposure

You must promptly report any potential exposures to the Zika or COVID-19 viruses to your healthcare provider. Having either virus during your pregnancy may pose serious health risks to you and your baby. Avoid traveling to regions with active outbreaks and take preventive measures like using insect repellent and practicing good hygiene. Your doctor may recommend additional testing or monitoring if exposure occurs.

Also Read: Sleeping positions during pregnancy

Get Tested Before You Conceive

As part of preconception counseling, your doctor may also recommend a few other tests to check your health. This pre-pregnancy checkup option may include:

• Blood tests to make sure you don’t have any sexually transmitted infections.
• Pelvic exam to check the health of your vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries.
• Pap smear to collect samples of cells from your cervix and check them for cancer.
• Physical exam to analyze your current blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, body temperature and breathing rate.

How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy?

Your body is the home to new life developing in your womb. Thus, you should keep it healthy and within recommended weight ranges. Thus, you can follow several ways to prepare your body for pregnancy. Some of the steps to follow are discussed as follows: 

• Avoid Alcohol

Consuming alcohol may affect your fertility, especially when you are trying to conceive. It can affect your menstruation, hormone levels, and ovulation. Substance abuse during pregnancy can also lead to serious problems for your baby, such as premature birth and developmental disorders.

• Follow a Healthy Diet

Eating a balanced diet before and during pregnancy nourishes the foetus and keeps you in good health. Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet. Avoid fatty or highly processed foods. You should have no more than one to two cups of coffee per day.

• Eliminate Exposure to Harmful Substances

Any pregnant woman must avoid all kinds of exposure to toxic and chemical substances (such as pesticides and lead) and radiation (such as X-rays). Proximity to higher levels of radiation, chemical, and toxic substances may negatively affect the developing foetus.

• Manage Your Body Weight

You must exercise regularly and maintain a proper weight before and during your pregnancy. Overweight women may experience medical problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. On the other hand, women who are underweight may conceive babies with low birth weight. So, make sure to indulge in some physical activities regularly. 

• Quit Smoking

Several studies have proved that babies born to mothers who smoke are usually born prematurely and may be lower in birth weight. Unfortunately, most of them are more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Women with exposure to secondhand smoke are more likely to have babies with low birth weight. There may also be dangers from thirdhand smoke, such as the chemicals, particles, and gases of tobacco that are left on clothing, furnishings, or even your hair.

• Reduce Risk of Infection

Avoid consuming any kind of undercooked meat and raw eggs. Make sure to avoid exposure to animal feces and cat litter, which may contain harmful viruses or parasites. Do not come in contact with people who are sick, and wash your hands frequently.

• Take Your Vitamins

Preparing your body for pregnancy naturally also requires you to consume certain supplements. Take a prenatal vitamin or a daily vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid. This helps you reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. It’s best to start taking folic acid at least one month before you begin trying to conceive. Also, ensure your supplement includes iron, vitamin D, and B12 for reproductive health.

Contact Apollo Spectra for More Pre-Pregnancy Planning Tips!

There are several things to keep in mind when planning your pregnancy, such as your body weight, diet, lifestyle habits, and more. For this, you need expert guidance to ensure the well-being of yourself and your baby. If you want a proper checklist for getting pregnant, contact our experts now.

We provide expert and quality healthcare in a friendly and accessible way. Currently, we have our centres across different cities in India. So, if you are looking for personalised care and guidance, Apollo Spectra is your best choice.