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10 Things Every Parent Should Do Before They Try to Conceive

A Step towards Happiness

Trying to conceive and thinking about having a little one in your life is a big step. And with huge responsibility comes better preparation. To give your baby an amazing start to life, you need to make sure that you take some time out to plan for the future and prepare your body for pregnancy. Here are some pre-pregnancy planning tips that would make your journey much easier.

Your Pregnancy Checklist

1. Preconception visit

A visit to the gynecologist before you start planning for conception is of the utmost importance as this will help your doctor assess your health in detail. If you suffer from any conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, etc. she might suggest you some medicines or give you some tips on how you need to take care of yourself. The doctor will also give you some pre-pregnancy vitamins which will help in preparing your body for pregnancy. Genetic screening is also done so that the doctor will know beforehand the chances of certain diseases in the offspring.

2. Hone in on a Healthy Weight

It is very important to have a normal BMI before you start your journey towards parenthood. On one hand, underweight women are more prone to having a low birth weight infant and preterm delivery while on the other hand; overweight women are more prone to high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and blood clotting problems. If your BMI lays between 18.5-24.9, then you have a healthy BMI. If it is lower than 18.5 then you are underweight and if it is higher, you are overweight. Therefore it is important for you to keep a check on your weight at regular intervals to avoid further physical complications.

3. Indulge in a Strict Fitness Regime

A mother’s health will determine the health of her newborn, therefore keeping yourself fit and healthy is an extremely important part of conception. Women and men who exercise (even brisk walking counts) generally have higher chances of getting pregnant. You should continue exercising during pregnancy too. Make sure you are eating right and getting all the nutrients. Include healthy fats in your diet as it helps to absorb all the essential nutrients. Stay away from processed and junk foods as much as you can.

4. Don’t Ignore Your Mental Health

The process of conceiving a little one can prove to be emotionally taxing on both you and your partner. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that you keep a close eye on your mental health before, during, and after conception. It is crucial that you get a mental health checkup done especially if there is a history of mental illnesses like depression in your family. Stress can lead to miscarriage and a host of other problems during pregnancy. Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy can also lead to depression, so do visit a specialist at least once during and after your pregnancy.

5. Get as Much Sleep as Possible

Resting your mind and body is very important when you are going through so many changes for conception. A minimum of 8 hours of sleep is recommended for potential parents, both the mother and the father. We all know that once your little bundle of joy comes along, you will have to dedicate every minute to your baby. So, just stock up on the sleep as much as you can before the little one arrives. Even during pregnancy, your sleep cycle maybe is disrupted due to various reasons such as discomfort or weak bladder control in the later stages of pregnancy. Thus, make the most use of these nine months until you experience the joy of parenthood.

6. Limit Your Caffeine Consumption

A number of surveys have been undertaken to determine what level of caffeine can be consumed during pregnancy so as not to cause any harm to the fetus. Most doctors agree upon 200 mg of caffeine as the limit if you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant. 200 mg is probably 2 tall cups of cafe latte, 1 strong espresso, and 4 cups of chai. So don’t worry your morning tea and coffee is not going anywhere. All you have to do is keep a watch on the quantity you take every day and limit it to just two cups a day.

7. Stay Away from Smoking and Alcohol

There is nothing surprising in the fact that smoking and drinking can affect the fertility of both men and women. It has been shown through various research works that couples who smoke and are heavy drinkers take longer to get pregnant. In fact, studies have shown that passive smoking can also reduce the ability to become pregnant. Therefore this is the right time to take a break or completely quit smoking and alcohol as your baby’s welfare depends on how well you treat your body.

8. Keep Track of your Ovulation Cycles

Keeping a close eye on your monthly cycles can help you take a calculated approach towards conception which will also increase your chances of conceiving. Apart from going off the pills, it is also important to know which days you will be ovulating in order to give you a better shot at conception. There are various apps that can help you keep track of your period cycle or you can look for symptoms such as basal body temperature or clear discharge.

9. Say Goodbye to the Pill

Pills can affect the hormonal cycle of a woman as it prevents the egg from being fertilized. For some even, their bodies may go back to their regular cycles once they stop using the pill but for others, it may take up to a month or two before they can try to conceive. It is important that you discuss this in detail with your gynecologist before going off the pill.

10. Avoid Infections

One of the most important tips to be aware of before your pregnancy is to avoid high-risk foods such as unpasteurized dairy, undercooked and deli meats, soft cheeses, sushi, high mercury fish, etc. They can cause infections such as E.Coli or Listeria. These infections can affect the fetus and can cause various complications like low birth weight, premature delivery, and in some cases, miscarriage. Make sure that you cook your meat properly and have only pasteurized dairy.

Always remember, your health is linked to your baby’s health, therefore all of these tips will help avoid any complications before, during, or after pregnancy. At Shrikhande IVF, our team of experts can guide through this wondrous journey towards parenthood and educate you on the importance of behaviour and health in the preconception period as well as the need for different vitamins. Get in touch with us today to know more.

Tags: fertility expert in nagpur, gynecologist in nagpur, parenthood journey, pre-pregnancy planning tips