Steer Clear Of Toxins
On a similar note, your list of things to do before getting pregnant should include eliminating toxins. Drugs, alcohol, and smoking are clearly harmful to your baby, but there are others you might not know about, such as vitamin A, found in over-the-counter skin care products. Pesticides and other chemicals can also be dangerous, as can unpasteurized dairy products. Do your research, and consult with a medical professional if you have concerns.
Foods To Avoid While Pregnant
As mentioned above, there are several foods and beverages that you need to avoid while pregnant. There are some that are well-known such as alcohol, but there are actually more that you need to restrict or cut from your diet. Some of these should be avoided on a just in case basis as they can potentially contain dangerous ingredients or bacteria. Its best to use a better to be safe than sorry attitude when approaching food and drink while pregnant.
Stay In Bed Right After Intercourse
You have probably heard this one — lie in bed with your feet in the air after having sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant. The verdict? Not true.
“It’s good advice to lay in bed for 10 to 15 minutes after intercourse, but you don’t need your feet in the air,” Goldfarb says. “Your pelvis does not move when you put your legs in the air.” Don’t go the bathroom during this time either, he says. “If you wait 10 to 15 minutes, the sperm that is going to get into the cervix will be in the cervix.”
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There Can Be Discomforts During Pregnancy:
Being pregnant is not easy. There will be discomforts throughout the period. Activities such as standing or sitting for long durations that you could indulge in earlier, would either be forbidden now or you find them too difficult to do. Issues such as constipation and vomiting could drain your energy. Eating healthy and getting the required amount of rest, can help you reduce the discomforts .
Take 400 Micrograms Of Folic Acid Every Day
Folic acid is a B vitamin. Every woman needs folic acid every day for the healthy new cells the body makes daily. Think about your skin, hair, and nails. Theseand other parts of the bodymake new cells each day. Folic acid also is important to help prevent major birth defects of the babys brain and spine if you do become pregnant.
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How Will Parenting Work With My Partner And Me
Parenting with a romantic partner or a co-parent helps both parents feel supported, and many couples enjoy sharing the responsibility of raising a child. Creating a family with someone can be really rewarding, and it may even bring you closer together.
But most people find that having a child tests even the strongest relationship in ways they dont expect. Sometimes the stress is just too much and the relationship doesnt last.
Either way, your relationship with your partner will change when you have a baby. Parenting together takes good communication and a commitment to stick through the hard times. If youre considering parenting with a partner, here are some questions to think about:
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Is our relationship healthy enough to provide a loving and stable home for a child?
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Do we agree on when to have a baby?
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Will we communicate openly and honestly with each other?
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Will we share the financial responsibility of caring for our child?
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Will we share the day-to-day work of caring for our child?
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Do we agree on how child care and/or daycare is going to work?
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Can we deal with the strains that pregnancy and raising a child puts on relationships?
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If our relationship ends, how would we continue to parent?
Start Taking Folic Acid Now
Folic acid needs to build up in your body to provide maximum protection for your baby against neural tube defects. Many women conceive within one month of trying so it is ideal to start taking folic acid two months before you stop contraception. If you have already stopped contraception, start taking a 400mcg folic acid supplement daily until you are 12 weeks pregnant.
Some women may be prescribed 5mg of folic acid.
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We Are Planning To Try For A Baby Are There Any Dietary Supplements Apart From Folic Acid That Can Help Me
Monica Moore, founder of Fertile Health, LLC
Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are incredibly important prior to conception. Any additional nutritional needs can be met by taking a daily prenatal vitamin that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals. In addition, its important to make sure that the prenatal vitamin contains DHA, which is an essential fatty acid that is critical for brain and neurological development. Babies depend on a maternal supply of DHA . If the prenatal vitamin doesnt contain DHA, this should be added as a separate supplement to assure proper neurological health for the baby.
Have A Sexual Health Check
Sexually transmitted infections can affect your fertility, as well as any future pregnancy and baby.
If there is any reason to think you or your reproductive partner may have a STI, its important that you both get tested. The best places to go are a GUM clinic, sexual health clinic, your own doctor or a young peoples clinic.
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What Is A Pre
A pre-pregnancy checkup is a medical checkup you get before pregnancy. It helps your health care provider make sure youre healthy and that your body is ready for pregnancy. The checkup helps your provider treat and sometimes prevent health conditions that may affect your pregnancy. For example, your provider checks to make sure your vaccinations are up to date and gives you any you need before pregnancy.
If you can, get your pre-pregnancy checkup with the health care provider you want to take care of you when you do get pregnant. You can get a pre-pregnancy checkup any time. Get one even if youve already had a baby. Your health may have changed since you were last pregnant.
Will Orgasms Help You Get Pregnant
Some experts believe that uterine contractions during orgasm help propel sperm into the cervix, but one thing is for surethe tingles during orgasm definitely make you relaxed. And that means you’ve already cleared the biggest baby-making blocker: stress. “The better the sex, the better the chances of conception,” says reproductive physiologist Joanna Ellington, Ph.D., in the British documentary The Great Sperm Race. Men who are fully stimulated will ejaculate up to 50 percent more, according to research revealed in the program. “So if you have what I call ‘gourmet sex,’ where you really spend time and you make it fun for both partners, that is going to make the man more stimulated and he is going to ejaculate more and healthier sperm,” Dr. Ellington says. Sure, sex without female orgasm can result in a baby, too, but why not go for the gold?
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Schedule A Preconception Checkup With Your Ob
Making sure the mechanics are in good working order and knowing what things to do before getting pregnant is always a good idea before you decide to have a child. This is especially important if this will be your first pregnancy, you are over 35 and trying to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse, or you are currently or have previously suffered from endocrine issues or any other health problems that affect fertility. Your ob-gyn will offer you tailor-made advice on ovulation and how to get pregnant in a way that is healthy and safe for your body.
Know When To Seek Help
Both the woman and the man should consider having an infertility evaluation if the woman is 35 or older and has not become pregnant after six months of having sex regularly without using birth control, Pavone said.
Pavone also recommended that a woman who is under 35 and her partner should consult a fertility specialist if she hasn’t become pregnant after one year of having unprotected intercourse on a regular basis.
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You Asked: What Do I Need To Know Before Getting Pregnant
When couples are planning to have children, they often think about where they will live, what their work arrangements will be or what pet names the grandparents will go by, but planning for a successful pregnancy should involve a health check as welland it should start well before conception occurs. The pregnancy journey is not the nine months of pregnancy alone, said Robin Page, PhD, RN, CNM, midwife and assistant professor at the Texas A& M College of Nursing. It often starts a year prior.
One year before conception
Each year, women should visit their health care provideroften a gynecologistfor a wellness exam. During this exam, let your health care provider know if you believe you and your partner may or will want to begin trying to conceive within the next year. This will allow for time to address health issues or make medication adjustments so that there is minimal interference to your health when it comes time to become pregnant, Page said.
The conversation at this stage should not be limited to the health of the eventual mother but also the eventual father, and there are numerous matters to begin addressing at this stage of child planning.
Sexually transmitted infections
Birth control
Oral health
Vaccines
Diabetes
Weight
Smoking
Genetic testing
Six months before conception
Prenatal vitamins
Medication use
Three months before conception
Birth control
Caffeine and alcohol
Tracking ovulation
Time to conceive
How To Get Pregnant: Tips And Facts To Increase Fertility
ByCari Nierenberg, Sarah Wildpublished 10 December 21
We’ve spoken to the experts to come up with 10 tips for how to get pregnant quickly and safely.
You may have many questions about how to get pregnant, particularly if you have an underlying condition. Taking care of your body is a good first step to optimize your fertility. But what else can you do to improve your odds of having a baby?
The most important advice for a woman who wants to get pregnant is to get to know her body, specifically her menstrual cycle, said Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, and medical director of the in-vitro fertilization program at Northwestern Medicine’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility division in Chicago.
“It’s important to know how far apart her cycles are so she can more accurately time intercourse to try to get pregnant,” Pavone said.
We’ve highlighted the top ten tips that may help increase your chances of becoming pregnant. As always with this type of information make sure to speak to a medical professional as this advice is broad and you may require specialist attention. You should still find this article and accompanying video on how to get pregnant useful.
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Stop Smoking Or Taking Drugs
If you smoke or take any kind of drug, nows the time to break the habit. Both activities can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low-birth-weight babies. Quitting as soon as possible is especially important for two reasons: tobacco use can make it harder for you to become pregnant, and some drugs stay in your system long after their effects have worn off.
Visits To Doctor For Prenatal Care Are Important:
Many couples visit a doctor even before planning a baby just to make sure that their first time pregnancy is healthy and devoid of complications. Once you confirm your pregnancy, it is important to visit your doctor regularly. Choose the best gynecologist and never skip monthly check-ups. This helps in gauging both the mothers and the babys health. Moreover, it is also necessary to curb any developmental disorders at an earlier stage itself .
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Take Care Of Yourself
Taking care of yourself is not just physical, mental wellbeing is really important too.Pregnancy and childbirth can be a very stressful time. Concerns about work, housing, and financial security are also common areas of stress at this life stage, says Dr Sgroi.If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, try and take some me time where you do something you enjoy whether it is taking a warm bath, going for a walk, meditation or simply talking to a friend. Dont be afraid to reach out for help and speak to your obstetrician, doctor, a counsellor or psychiatrist. Why not , to help you track how you are feeling when you are pregnant and after giving birth.
Get Help To Stop Smoking
Smoking affects fertility in men and women. If you stop smoking now it will improve your chances of conceiving. Smoking has also been shown to damage the DNA of your baby. During pregnancy smoking is the biggest risk factor for serious complications in pregnancy that you can change.
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Bleeding Can Occur During Pregnancy:
Typically the first sign of pregnancy is considered to be missed periods. However, some women bleed in the initial stages of pregnancy, creating confusion if it menstrual bleeding.
This kind of bleeding occurs when the egg travels down the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it implants into the uterine lining . The best way to recognize it is from its color. It is often in brown or pink color in contrast to the usual red color of the menstrual blood. Though it is not a disturbing factor, it is good to consult a doctor.
What Is A Preconception Checkup And Why Is It Important
A preconception checkup helps your health care provider make sure that your body is ready for pregnancy. If you can, get your checkup from the health care provider you want to take care of you during pregnancy. You can get a preconception checkup any time even up to a year before you want to get pregnant.
Some medical conditions, like depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and not being at a healthy weight can affect pregnancy and your fertility . Smoking or abusing street or prescription drugs can also affect them. Your provider can help you manage health conditions and make changes in your life to help your baby is born healthy.
Get a preconception checkup even if youve already had a baby. Your health may have changed since you were last pregnant. If you had a problem in a past pregnancy, your provider may be able to help you avoid the same problem in your next pregnancy. Get a preconception checkup if youve had:
- Premature birth. This is birth that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
- A baby with birth defects. Birth defects are health conditions that are present at birth. They change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. They can cause problems in overall health, in how the body develops or in how the body works.
- Miscarriage. This is when a baby dies in the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Stillbirth. This is when a baby dies in the womb before birth, but after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
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What Is Labor Pain
When your due date comes closer, you will go into labor pain. It is necessary to consult the doctor and understand what going to labor means. It is another must thing to know when pregnant and identifying it will make it easy for you to handle your labor with no difficulty. One quick sign of labor is frequent painful contractions which increase in intensity with time. Many times, walking is recommended during early labor because it makes women feel more comfortable .
Achieve A Healthy Weight For You
Its important to look at your weight and try to reach a healthy weight for you in preparation for pregnancy. Eating a healthy balanced diet that includes fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes , fish and lean meats can help with weight management, but it will also help ensure that your developing baby is getting the nutrients it needs.Women who are underweight may be at risk of pre-term delivery, whereas women who are overweight or obese may be at risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, fetal abnormalities, high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, tells Dr Sgroi. For more information on how your weight might affect your pregnancy, read our article here, and if youre unsure if your weight may affect your pregnancy speak with a doctor, or dietitian for support and advice.
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Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Drinking lots of fluids when youre trying not to pee every five minutes can seem difficult and excessive, but you really need to drink fluids regularly. Try adding notifications on your phone to remind you to drink water throughout the day. Very few of us remember to drink enough water most of the time, let alone while youre trying to carry on with your life and grow a person. Its also a good idea to carry a reusable water bottle around with you. It will make remembering to drink water and staying hydrated much easier.
You dont have to stick exclusively to water but it should be your main source of fluid. Herbal teas are also great, especially for reducing nausea. They are also excellent alternatives for caffeinated beverages. Fruit juices are also healthy beverages but should be drunk in moderation. Try to drink fruit that is as fresh as possible and isnt from concentrate or flavored or colored with artificial additives. Its also best to avoid fruit juices with added sugars or sweeteners. They wont have a negative impact on your pregnancy but there are healthier alternatives available.
