There comes a time in a couple’s life when they actually start to notice babies all around them. It is that turning point from being annoyed at being seated next to a family with kids at a restaurant to actually cooing and tearing up when you see a baby in the grocery line in front of you. You’ve got a case of baby fever and you’ve got it bad. Other than throwing caution to the wind and ridding your home of all contraceptives, there are some other important factors you should take into consideration. What are some things you will want to do before diving in and getting pregnant?
Before doing anything, get examined by your gynecologist. Talk to her about your concerns and let her know that you are thinking of getting pregnant. Some questions you may want to ask her may include finding out how long you should be off of birth control before you start trying to conceive. You will also want to know about prenatal pills and when you should start taking them. Even though you are not currently pregnant, she may advise you to begin taking them straightaway. Also let her know what other medications you may be currently taking (for example, allergy medications or acne medications) so that she can advise you to stop taking them or to speak to your primary care physician to take alternate routes.
You may also want to speak to your friends and relatives about their own concerns when they decided to get pregnant. This may make you think of options and concerns you had not quite considered. Read a book on pregnancy, so you know what you are getting yourself into. A great book to start would be “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” This book goes over all of the trimesters and symptoms and feelings you may be experiencing.
If you are currently underweight or overweight, do what you can (within reason) to gain or lose weight. You want to be healthy when you conceive, as well as have a healthy body during your entire pregnancy. If you do not currently exercise, start. Go on daily walks with your husband or friends or start going to the gym. One thing to keep in mind is that a healthy heart and a healthy body will make your pregnancy so much more bearable. Also, if you have already begun a health regimen and cardiovascular workout by the time you get pregnant, you will not have to give that up and can actually continue to work out up until the end of the pregnancy.
In addition to getting exercise in, you will also want to start reconsidering your current diet. If your idea of a meal for lunch consists of you going to a drive-thru restaurant and ordering your burger and fries, you will want to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with yourself about your diet choices. Many pregnant women start to gobble everything within their sight and simply justify this by saying, “Well, I’m eating for two.” Technically, this is correct, but you must remember that the baby is not yet a full-size adult, so you do not need to consume many more calories a day to give baby all she needs. Have a balanced diet consisting of fresh vegetables and fruits.
If you drink, stop. If you currently smoke, please stop right this instant. Do whatever it takes to quit these awful habits which are not only horrific to your own body, but would be wretched for your unborn child. If you take care of all of this before conceiving, then you will have a head start on a smooth and healthy pregnancy.
