Pre Pregnancy Health Tips for a Healthy Baby

Thinking of having a baby? Did you know that conception normally occurs about 2 weeks before your period is due. That means you may not even know you’re pregnant until you’re more than 3 weeks pregnant. Your baby is most sensitive to harm 2 to 8 weeks after conception coz this is the time when your baby’s organs (such as the heart) begin to form. Anything you eat, drink, smoke or are exposed to can affect your baby.

That’s why it’s best to start acting as if you’re pregnant before you actually are. The more pre pregnancy planning you do, the greater the pay off can be in terms of the health of your baby.

In this article, we talk about useful pre pregnancy health tips so that you have a healthy baby and a happier family

Pre-pregnancy Tune-up

Diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, epilepsy, and other medical conditions can complicate pregnancy. Some infections can also be dangerous. For example, hepatitis B, rubella (German measles), and chickenpox. Your doctor will help you decide if immunization (or re-immunization) is necessary.
And if you think it’s prudent to get an HIV test, this is a good time to do it. You can prevent problems by being in your best possible health before conceiving.
In addition, some medications can lead to birth defects and other problems, and these may occur before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. Even some over-the-counter medicines can increase the risk! Before conceiving, talk with your doctor about drugs that have been prescribed for you, as well as over-the-counter drugs that you take on occasion.

Pre Pregnancy Planning – Get your Oral Health Checked as well

Don’t forget about your oral health. Mounting evidence suggests that periodontal disease, a bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth, can lead to premature labor and low-birth weight babies.
See your dentist for a checkup and a cleaning now if you haven’t done so in the last six months.

Pre Pregnancy Health Tip – Stock yourself with Nutrients

What you eat will also feed your baby. Junk food like potato chips, soda and cookies won’t have the right nutrients for your baby. You must taket plenty of calcium, folic acid, protein and iron. Try to get at least 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day as well as plenty of whole grains and foods that are high in calcium, like milk, calcium-fortified orange juice, and yogurt. Talk with your doctor about what other specific nutrients you need and how to get them. Stock yourself with nutrients for a healthy pregnancy and ofcourse a healthy baby.

Fish Eaters..Beware!!

If you’re a big fan of fish, start watching your intake. Although fish is an excellent source of protein, But some fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, tend to contain too substances, which can be harmful to your baby’s growing brain in high doses. Because mercury can accumulate in your body and linger there for more than a year, it’s best to avoid high-mercury fish while you’re trying to conceive.

Another Pre Pregnancy Health Tip – Folic Acid Alert

Women who don’t get enough folic acid during pregnancy are more likely to have baby with serious problems of the brain and spinal cord. It’s important to take folic acid before becoming pregnant because these problems develop very early in pregnancy—only 3 to 4 weeks after conception. Women need about 0.4 mg of folic acid a day. You can take a multivitamin or eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables, fruits like oranges, cantaloupe and bananas, milk, grains and organ meats, such as chicken livers.

We sincerely hope that this article is of help. Have a healthy baby and a great life ahead. Best wishes – Adam n Eve