Starting a family is a big decision and the more time you have to plan, the less stressful your experience will be. When planning a pregnancy, it’s important to think not only what you’ll do during the pregnancy, but what you should know and prepare for before you even conceive.
Curb Bad Habits
Dropping habits cold turkey that can harm your baby, like smoking, can be difficult. Not to mention that many moms-to-be don’t even know they’re pregnant until several weeks after conception. When you’re planning ahead of time, you can better curb habits like smoking and drinking that will ultimately impact fetal health and development. You can work out a diet plan that will give you both the nutrients you need, and plan better habits for exercise and overall health.
Aim for a Healthy Weight
A common concern for many pregnant women is gestational diabetes. In fact, an estimated 4 percent of pregnancies result in gestational diabetes. One of the best ways to combat this medical condition is through maintaining a healthy weight both before and during your pregnancy. As such, if you are currently overweight, a high risk obstetrician might suggest losing weight before conception. This also sets the standard for continuing good dietary and exercise habits throughout your pregnancy.
Boost Folic Acid Intake
Folic acid has been shown to help reduce the risks of birth defects like spina bifida, which is why many women supplement with this B vitamin during pregnancy. What you may not know is that folic acid is important starting from day one of pregnancy. Planning ahead will allow you to ensure your body is getting enough folic acid from the start, versus increasing this vitamin intake weeks or even months into the pregnancy. At least 400 mg of folic acid is recommended by doctors like Dr. Gilbert Webb, and can be found in prenatal vitamins as well as many multivitamins.
Watch Your Fish
Doctors regularly warn against eating certain types of fish during pregnancy due to the high levels of mercury found in several varieties like shark, swordfish, and tilefish. However, mercury accumulates in your fatty tissues, allowing even fish that has been consumed before conception to still possibly impact fetal growth. This doesn’t mean you have to give up fish and its omega-3 benefits altogether. Simply opt for lower mercury fish like salmon or sardines, and limit your overall intake to just a few days a week.
Determine Your Risk Factors
Before you conceive, you should know if you currently have health problems that could impact your baby, as well as whether your family history will place your baby at risk for certain conditions or disorders. Tests that should be considered include those for sexually transmitted diseases, rubella, hepatitis, and anemia. Work with your doctor to determine which of these or other tests may be necessary. You may also want to consider screening tests for genetic problems that run in your family, such as sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis.
Visit the Dentist
Pregnancy impacts almost every aspect of your body, including your teeth. Pregnancy has been known to increase risks of gum disease due to the changes in your hormones. It can also impact calcium levels, which impacts the strength of your teeth. Your dentist can help evaluate how much you’re at risk for these side effects, and can help develop a plan to combat or significantly reduce the negative impact on your teeth.
When you start planning for pregnancy, an important resource is your doctor. Your doctor can take your pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or circulatory problems, as well as any conditions you are at risk for like gestational diabetes, and help create a plan to treat problems before they occur. It’s easier to address these health problems before conception than dealing with them during your pregnancy.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan. you can also connect with her on Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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