So, you are ready to get pregnant; CONGRATULATIONS, your life is going to change!
But is your body ready? Here is a compressive guide to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.
It is never too early to start preparing for pregnancy if you are mentally and physically ready for it. Preconception health and healthcare focuses on things you can do and things you should not do to improve your chances of having a healthy baby during pregnancy.
It can take up to a few months for a woman’s body to prepare themselves for birth. For some women, it may take even longer. SO, whether you are conceiving your first child, second child, or fifth child, it is essential to make changes sooner or later and prepare yourself for the healthiest possible pregnancy.
1. Birth Control Pills? Stop
If you want to have a baby and start a family, the first and the most important thing is to stop using any birth control pills. If you stop using some methods of contraception, such as birth control pills, you can get pregnant the right way. Many women experience their first period within the first two weeks right after stopping the pill.
2. Plan And Eat Healthy
The nutritional resources of the body are depleted during pregnancy. To fill these gaps, it is essential to fill your body with nutritions like multivitamins. There are some vitamins like prenatal vitamins specially created to provide your body with the nutrients needed during pregnancy. Starting a prenatal vitamin routine will help you avoid nutritional deficits during your pregnancy. You should also take time and research other vitamins and micronutrients that work the best for you.
Planning healthy and nutritious food before time can result in less unhealthy choices. This can be done in the following ways:
- Before you go to the grocery store, farmland or purchase online, make a list that includes various fruits and vegetables.
- Look for healthier options of foods and try swapping unhealthy choices with healthier ones
3. Be Active
Another great strategy to prepare yourself for pregnancy is to exercise and move your body at least four to five times a week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity every week.
Why not start it today? Choose a light exercise like walking that you can do right outside your front door or on a terrace, or in a park with a good ambiance. Benign with 10-15 min at a time and gradually increase to more considerable periods. If you are active and into exercise, aim for 150-300 minutes of movement every day.
More exercise provides more significant health benefits to your body.
4. Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
Consuming too much caffeine when trying to conceive has been linked with an increased chance of miscarriage. This applies to both men and women. Caffeine consumption during pregnancy has also been harmful to the unborn child.
If you and your partner are trying to conceive, you should limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.
5. Stop Having Alcohol
Excessive drinking can often result in a low fertility rate for both men and women. In addition, during pregnancy, alcohol increases the chances of risks and complications. Therefore, it is imperative to say complete NO to alcohol when trying to conceive and during pregnancy.
6. Keep A Track
Now is the time to get to know your menstrual cycle, whether you are on your periods or not. If you narrow down your period of fertility and ovulation, there are high chances of getting pregnant. Besides that, knowing your cycle can also help you figure out if something is off and needs to be addressed, like spotting or irregular periods.
7. Visit A Doctor
Having regular physical checkups will allow you to catch health concerns before they become severe and threatening. It becomes significantly more important when you are preparing for pregnancy. With regular checkups, your doctor will evaluate you and ask for some blood tests to assess your cholesterol levels and other factors. You can also discuss your other health issues or concerns in your session for expert advice.
Read More: what causes miscarriage
Takeaway
There are many things to consider while you are trying to get pregnant and start a family, but once you take precautions, keep up healthy habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can indeed have a healthy and stress-free pregnancy.
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