That whole pregnancy thing is so amazing and a transforming journey in life, but the months leading up to conception are just as important as the pregnancy itself. Preconception preparation will also increase one’s chances of having a healthy pregnancy and giving that baby the best possible start. Dr. Avhad Hospital believes that preparing for preconception is proactive planning for conception and may even be entirely different for the health of yourself as well as the little one in the future.
1. Schedule a Preconception Visit
Another way of preparing the body for conception is to plan a preconception visit with your healthcare provider. It would be an opportunity to have your physician assess your overall health condition and past illnesses, if any, for the very best conception conditions.
- Screen for chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or thyroid disorders, which can impact your pregnancy.
- Examine your reproductive health; look at your menstrual cycle and calculate your ovulation.
- Provide the vaccinations you would need to get before getting pregnant.
- Review the medications you're on and, if appropriate, discuss other alternatives.
2. Healthy Weight
Being underweight or overweight significantly influences fertility. Properly being weight-adjusted is in direct association with the proper functionality of hormones and thus improves ovulation chances. Further, this will also help to avoid some of the complications occurring during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
3. Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
The very first step in preparation for getting pregnant is starting prenatal vitamins even before pregnancy. There is one most important nutrient for focus: folic acid. Folic acid will prevent a defect in the developing baby, especially in neural tube defects. Do this right by attempting to get the prescribed 400 to 800 micrograms daily. This would then ideally be done at least a month before trying to conceive.
4. Avoid Smoking, Alcohol, and Recreational Drugs
Smoking, alcohol, and other drug abuse are quite dangerous as they cause considerable reproductive and health damage during a pregnant woman’s lifetime. Smoking leads to decreased fertility in females as well as to higher risks of miscarriages, premature deliveries, and birth underweight than anticipated.
5. Adequate Nutrition and Fluid Intake
A good nutrition plan is necessary before getting pregnant. Make sure to consume nutrient-rich food items that would provide the basic vitamins and minerals. Stay well-hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water in a day to enable fluidity and optimal performance of all the body systems.
6. Monitor your ovulation cycle
Knowing your menstrual cycle and pattern of ovulation will enable you to time conception well. It’s usually on about the 14th day before your next period, so that is when you should attempt conception. Keeping track of how a woman ovulates can make it possible to have sexual intercourse at routine times in the fertile window, thus raising the chances of conception.
7. Minimize Stress and Maintain Mental Well-being
Stress management can affect fertility as well as overall reproductive health; therefore, this is an important component of preconception planning. High levels of stress will change hormone levels, making it more difficult to conceive.
8. Talk to Your Partner
Both partners need to prepare before conception. Your partner, just like you, must get a preconception checkup and most importantly a sperm health check-up. Healthy living through diet, regular exercise, and abstaining from smoking and alcohol intake remarkably increases count and improves motility, making chances of getting pregnant probable.
Conclusion
It is an active, holistic preparation for pregnancy through care for your body, mind, and spirit. You must schedule an appointment for a preconception checkup, get your weight to a healthy level, take prenatal vitamins, quit substances that harm your body, monitor ovulation, and reduce stress to conceive in the best environment to have a healthy pregnancy. For all the women and couples who are ready to conceive, we treat them here at Dr. Avhad Hospital in a holistic manner.
