{"id":1614,"date":"2022-07-20T10:12:15","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T10:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/?p=1614"},"modified":"2022-09-02T10:24:48","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T10:24:48","slug":"preconception-care-5-tips-to-prepare-your-body-for-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/preconception-care-5-tips-to-prepare-your-body-for-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Preconception Care: 5 Tips to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ready to have a baby?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is so much information available on what to expect when you are expecting and what to do and not do when you are pregnant.<\/span><\/p>\n

But preconception planning is equally as important. It\u2019s never too early to start preparing your body for the possibility of motherhood. Ideally, your preconception care should begin six months to a year before conception, but even three months of proper body prep can make a big difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

In our <\/span>South Miami and Doral OBGYN practices<\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> we encourage our patients to schedule a visit with us as they plan for the \u201cconceptional\u201d journey ahead. That\u2019s our first tip.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are an additional five recommendations to help you prepare emotionally and physically for a successful pregnancy:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Share Your Family\u2019s Medical History<\/b><\/h2>\n

During your initial meeting, your OBGYN will ask about your health, your previous medical history as well as your family history. Certain medical conditions can be hereditary and affect your ability to conceive, such as uterine, cervical, ovarian, and breast cancers. Other health issues can also be impactful, so make sure to let your doctor know whether there is a family history of hypertension, diabetes, and blood clotting disorders as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Armed with a complete understanding of you and your family history, your OBGYN can help you make adjustments to your lifestyle and give you the information you need to promote a successful pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

Start Taking a Prenatal Vitamin<\/b><\/h2>\n

While some vitamins and medications should be avoided when preparing for pregnancy, taking a prenatal vitamin before you conceive is one of the easiest ways to promote a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are designed specifically for the needs of pregnant women and contain increased doses of calcium, iron and folic acid and other vital nutrients essential for proper fetal development and to reduce the risk of birth defects. Not all prenatal vitamins are created equal so we recommend you consult your OBGYN before starting your prenatal vitamin routine.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Eat a Balanced Diet<\/b><\/h2>\n

While a prenatal vitamin is an essential way to make sure you are getting the essential nutrients you will need for your health, and for proper fetal development, it does not replace a balanced diet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your diet preconception not only affects fetal development in the womb but also the baby\u2019s health in the future. That\u2019s why a well-balanced diet of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and protein is recommended.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eating a balanced diet is also a way to control your weight. Your weight can affect your ability to get pregnant. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> show that underweight women may have small babies while overweight women are at risk for high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. By eating a balanced diet and optimizing your weight, you are improving your chances of conception and having a healthy pregnancy.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Limit Caffeine and Eliminate Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking<\/b><\/h2>\n

As for caffeine, you do not need to give up your morning cup of Joe or tea and there is no problem reaching for a second cup. But it is best to follow the guidelines of the <\/span>American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)<\/span><\/a> which recommend limiting your caffeine intake to less than 200 mg a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alcohol affects each one of us differently. However,<\/span> research<\/span><\/a> confirms drinking alcohol impacts fertility and conception and can pose a danger to the fetus. According to <\/span>The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span><\/a>, \u201cthere is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including wine and beer.\u201d Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been known to cause miscarriage as well as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, so it\u2019s best to avoid it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same is true for drug use. While there are certain over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are safe to take when you are trying to conceive, or while you are pregnant, there are some both partners should avoid, including <\/span>ibuprofen.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

As for marijuana, an <\/span>NIH study<\/span><\/a> highlights how smoking weed may reduce fertility. For both men and women, the use of illicit and recreational drugs when trying to conceive and during pregnancy can impact your chances of having a healthy baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our recommendation to couples trying to conceive: Avoid alcohol and illicit\/recreational drugs at all costs. Consult with your OBGYN before any over-the-counter and prescription drug use.\u00a0 If you can\u2019t stop drinking or taking drugs on your own, let your OBGYN know so they can refer you to the proper organization for professional help.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Beautiful<\/p>\n

Engage in Regular Physical Activity<\/b><\/h2>\n

Exercise is good for you. It plays an important role in our physical and emotional health. and can help your body prepare for conception, pregnancy, and delivery. The benefits of exercise in our everyday life are well-documented. It reduces stress, promotes sleep, and good heart health, and helps us maintain a healthy weight\u2013all of which are important when trying to conceive and during pregnancy. Exercise has the added benefit of toning your muscles which can aid with a smooth delivery and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. A <\/span>2021 study<\/span><\/a> highlighted the benefits of Pilates while <\/span>another study<\/span><\/a> focused on the indirect benefits of yoga to promote fertility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line is to find a way to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. The choice is yours. So, try Pilates or yoga, walk, swim, dance, or bicycle your way to motherhood (and beyond) though always check with your OBGYN first just to make sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you are trying to conceive, there are some things in your control and some that are not. Ovulation and fertility issues may not be in your control but how you prepare your body physically is something within your control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scheduling a preconception visit with your OBGYN of choice is proactive and is the first step in planning for the exciting journey ahead. At South Miami OBGYN, we have two locations, in Doral and South Miami,\u00a0 with both male and female physicians from whom to choose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose your <\/span>OBGYN <\/span><\/a>and schedule your first visit today. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ready to have a baby?\u00a0 There is so much information available on what to expect when you are expecting and what to do and not do when you are pregnant. But preconception planning is equally as important. It\u2019s never too early to start preparing your body for the possibility of motherhood. Ideally, your preconception care […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[313,98],"tags":[317,315,316,318,314,319],"class_list":["post-1614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-preconception","category-pregnancy","tag-detox-before-pregnancy","tag-how-to-prepare-your-body-for-pregnancy","tag-preconception-care","tag-prenatal-vitamins","tag-preparing-for-pregnancy","tag-ttc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/south-miami-obgyn-associates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}