It is general knowledge that women must start visiting a doctor and changing their lifestyle when pregnant. For many women, first-time pregnancy is a fascinating but also scary and stressful period. A wide variety of information is shared both offline and online about preparing for a healthy pregnancy. Still, today we decided to summarize the key steps and bring it to you in a blog, accessible whenever you need it.
When choosing your medical provider during pregnancy, you need to pay close attention to their experience, knowledge, skills, and personality. As mentioned, the first crucial step is having an experienced doctor who agrees with your personality and understands your needs. This person will be there with you throughout your pregnancy, so you need to trust them and listen to their advice. The doctors at My OBGYN Specialists are experts in their field, so this would be a good starting point for your search.
Changes that need to happen for you to have a healthy and successful pregnancy need to occur before you are impregnated. Your lifestyle choices need to be altered, and you need to schedule preconception counseling to create a solid foundation for your pre-pregnancy preparations.
Steps Towards a Healthy Pregnancy
So, before you even get pregnant, there are some steps you need to take to prepare as best as possible for the most wonderful, yet often overwhelming, period of your life. This said we are bringing you a whole list of advice given to future mothers on how best to prepare their physical body and their mental headspace.
- Preconception counseling is the first step toward a successful pregnancy. When you decide you are ready to become pregnant, schedule to see a doctor. Even if you have been pregnant before, it is essential to have a consultation to avoid missing something important during the pregnancy. It is often advised to schedule the consultation at least three months before attempting to conceive a child.
When you come to preconception counseling, there are a few segments your doctor will check:
- Your medical history, where you will have the space to share with your doctor any chronic issues which could jeopardize your pregnancy, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, allergies, anemia, etc. Also, it is crucial to start treating these conditions as soon as possible, to get them under control before the pregnancy.
- Family anamnesis will also be a topic of the consultations because the doctor must assess any medical conditions which could determine the health status of the baby. Share with the doctor any information about congenital disabilities, diabetes, and similar conditions in your family.
- Vaccine status is also something your provider will ask you about because vaccination is crucial. Vaccines against rubella and varicella, i.e., German measles and chickenpox, are not safe to take during pregnancy because they can cause congenital disabilities and miscarriages, so make sure to get the vaccines at least one month before the pregnancy. Your vaccine status is significant for your protection and the child’s, so ensure you take care of that before getting pregnant.
- Genetics is a crucial question in your preconception counseling because genetic conditions can be inherited, and some of those conditions can be seen through the results of blood tests before the pregnancy. It is often advised to do a genetics screening before conceiving, just to be on the safe side and prepare as much as possible.
- If you have been exposed to any viruses, including Covid-19, it is vital to share that with your doctor because having a virus when pregnant is a serious health hazard for both the mother and the infant.
- Medical check-up before pregnancy is an obligatory part of counseling, where your doctor checks some basic parameters to establish your health status and support your future pregnancy. The checks can include, but are not limited to:
- Pelvic examination is used to check on the organs of the pelvis area, such as the cervix, vagina, ovaries, and uterus, which play the leading role during conception and pregnancy.
- Blood tests which are used to check the mother’s blood type and ensure that there are no sexually transmitted infections or diseases present in the organism, as well as some genetic predispositions for different conditions when it comes to the future child.
- Physical examination is also done, and the doctor measures your weight, height, blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, and pulse.
- A Pap smear test checks for any signs of cancer in the cervical cells. When doing a Pap smear test, it is essential to listen to any potential advice and guidance from your doctor if they notice any changes on your cervix which might cause troubles during pregnancy.
- Preparations for the pregnancy also include, as mentioned earlier, some lifestyle modifications, which for some people might seem quite intense such as:
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol because it affects infertility, hormone levels, monthly period, and ovulation phases. Also, it can lead to problems with the baby, such as premature birth and issues with development.
- Eating a balanced diet is a general recommendation, regardless of whether you want to get pregnant. A balanced diet is essential for providing nutrients to the fetus, so eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, grains, low-fat dairy, and protein. Avoid eating fatty food, a lot of sugar, or unhealthy ingredients. Try to drink a maximum of two cups of coffee daily, not more.
- Exercise regularly to avoid gaining weight because obesity can be very problematic during pregnancy. Just remain active! Mothers who are overweight can face medical issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure, so make sure you take daily walks and do yoga or some cardio in the gym.
- Avoid exposing yourself to toxic chemicals and radiation because such exposure can affect the development of the fetus in a very negative way.
- Stop smoking cigarettes because cigarette smoke can cause premature birth, a low body weight of the baby, or even cause infant death syndrome.
- Take prenatal vitamins daily, with an obligatory 400mg of folic acid, because it helps reduce congenital disabilities in children, especially those on the brain and the spinal cord.
- Try to avoid getting any kind of infection, so wash your hands often, avoid having contact with people who are sick, cook your food well, and if you have a pet, avoid contact with their feces.
- Avoid stress as much as possible, and find some relaxation techniques which will help you deal with everyday issues. Get plenty of sleep, and always find time to relax and get some rest.
Schedule Your Preconception Counseling with Us!
Do not waste time finding medical providers who can guide you through your preconception processes because our clinic is right here for you. Call us today and schedule a consultation with our specialists. Premium service is guaranteed, so come visit us!