Thinking About Having a Baby?
What to Do in the
Months Before Pregnancy
After Anne learned she was
pregnant, she quit smoking and began to eat better.
But she worried whether it had been soon enough.
While no one can be completely prepared, you can
take steps in the months preceding pregnancy to ensure
that you have done everything possible for you and your
baby. Many women are unaware they are pregnant until
the second month. By this time, the fetus' body and
major organs are forming. The lifestyle choices you
make before you know you are pregnant, such as smoking
or skipping meals, can affect the fetus' development.
Taking time before pregnancy to prepare yourself physically
and emotionally can increase your odds for a joyful
nine months and a healthy baby.
Are You and Your Partner Ready?
Along with the fulfillment that a baby brings, come
stress and change. You and your partner will want to
discuss the effect pregnancy and a baby will have on
your lives:
Are you ready to lose some of your freedom? Those
times you spontaneously take off for the weekend or
meet a friend after work may have to be planned in advance
once you have a third person to consider.
Are you financially prepared? You might assess whether
you have enough money to cover the medical cost of pregnancy
as well as any unpaid time you take off from work.
Are you at the right point in your careers? While
there is rarely a perfect time to have a baby, you might
consider delaying pregnancy if, for example, you just
changed jobs or were recently promoted.
Is your marriage on solid footing? A troubled marriage
can be especially vulnerable to the stress of pregnancy.
You and you partner might first settle your differences
or consider counseling.
When to have a baby is a personal decision. Many
women today are deciding to delay pregnancy till their
30s. Generally, babies born to 30-34 year olds are as
healthy as those born to women in their 20s. The risk
of birth defects increases slightly each year over 35,
and it gradually becomes more difficult to get pregnant.
Physical Needs
Visit your doctor for a complete exam.
Discuss the
pregnancy risks of any medical conditions you may have.
Such conditions as diabetes or high blood pressure should
be brought under control before pregnancy.
Determine if you need any vaccinations.
Get tested and treated for any sexually transmitted
diseases. Discuss any past miscarriages or complicated
pregnancies with your doctor. Some complications tend
to repeat in later pregnancies.
See a genetic counselor if you or your partner have
a family history of genetic disorders or descend from
ethnic and racial backgrounds predisposed to certain
diseases.
Determine your optimum fertilization time. For several
months, mark on your calendar when your period begins.
Ovulation occurs midway through the menstrual cycle.
Lifestyle Choices
Stop smoking. Studies have linked smoking with an
increased risk of having a low birth weight baby or
miscarriage. If you quit by the end of the first trimester,
you will undo any harm done to the fetus. But it might
be less stressful to kick the habit before pregnancy.
Discontinue use of harmful substances.
Drugs such as marijuana and cocaine can impair the
fetus' growth. While having an occasional drink or a
cup of coffee each morning has shown little effect on
the fetus, excessive use of alcohol or caffeine can
cause harm.
Eat a well balanced diet. To ensure you are at your
healthiest once you become pregnant, begin a diet rich
in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Each
day choose foods from the four food groups: fruits and
vegetables, breads, dairy products, and meat products.
Maintaining a healthy diet will make it easier to add
on the nutrients you'll need once you are pregnant.
Some physicians recommend vitamins before you become
pregnant because of research that shows folic acid prevents
neural-tube defects in the first few weeks of pregnancy.
Gain or lose weight, if necessary. Underweight women
tend to have low birth weight babies, and overweight
women are subject to have high blood pressure and diabetes.
Since dieting during pregnancy would deny vital nutrients
to the fetus, it is best to try to reach your ideal
weight before pregnancy.
Exercise regularly. Beginning an exercise program
can prepare your heart and muscles for the extra work
of pregnancy. Continuing to exercise during and after
pregnancy is good for your health and will make it easier
to get back into shape.
Financial Planning
Check your insurance plan. Is prenatal care covered
as well as delivery? Is nursery care covered? Does your
plan have a deductible and copayments? Determine if
your plan limits your choice of physicians or hospitals.
Investigate your employer's maternity leave policies.
Check if you are given paid time off and how much. Determine
if you can use vacation, sick days. Or short term disability
to extend or pay for maternity leave.
Work Factors
See if you are exposed to high levels of toxins known
to increase the risk of birth defects and miscarriage,
such as lead, mercury, and ionizing radiation. For example,
if you work in certain industries, such as paint manufacturing,
or around major highways (for example, as a tollbooth
operator), you might be exposed to high levels of lead.
Ask if you can modify your job responsibilities if
your job is too strenuous or exposes you to harmful
substances. You might ask that a coworker take over
those parts of your job during the time you are pregnant.
Many of the factors that cause complications during
pregnancy can be addressed in the months preceding conception.
Considering these issues before conception can take
a lot of the worry and uncertainty out of pregnancy.
You can then spend the nine months of pregnancy preparing
for the next major change in your life: a new baby.
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