Sex Education Now

Conception 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. This is 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. As this is a critical phase of development, the more planning you do, the greater the pay off can be in terms of the health of your baby.

We have divided this article into two parts. First part deals with precautions you must follow that will help you decide whether you should go ahead with pregnancy. The second part will deal with activities you should follow for all round fitness of yourself and your baby.

Schedule a preconception visit

You can talk with your doctor about pregnancy at any time, even before you’re thinking about getting pregnant. You can talk about your diet, habits, weight, lifestyle, exercise routines, etc. if you need a prenatal vitamin; make sure you’re up to date on your immunizations; test you for immunity to childhood diseases If it’s been a year since you had a checkup, you can also expect to have a pelvic exam and a pap smear, and to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases if you’re at risk.
You’ll also both have the chance to ask your doctor questions.

Medical conditions and medications should get a pre-pregnancy tune-up.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, epilepsy , and other medical conditions can complicate pregnancy. Some infections also can be dangerous. For example, hepatitis B, rubella (German measles), and chickenpox are common infections that can pose serious risks to a pregnancy. 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.

If you have a cat, get yourself tested for Toxoplasmosis- A disease spread through cat’s feces. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects including blindness and brain damage. You can also get Toxoplasmosis by eating raw or undercooked red meat or touching dirt, such as gardening, that has been contaminated by cat feces.

Oral Health

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.

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 want to make sure you get 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 nutrients you need and how to get them. Stock yourself with nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.

You might also need to make some changes if you follow a vegetarian or weight-loss diet. Talk with your doctor before taking extra vitamins and minerals. Some may actually be harmful, like high doses of vitamin A.

Fish eaters
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. Instead, eat about two servings (12 ounces) of lower-mercury fish such as salmon and canned light tuna a week.

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.

The next article will deal with dietary and other changes for you well round health. Stay Tuned.