Some couples get excited, first time mothers may get anxious when talks about preganancy start. This is because some couples cant wait to have a baby and yet first time mothers may not be certain about what is going to happen to their bodies during the time. Whichever way people feel about it pregnancy is like a journey you need to take in order to reach where you want without a short cut. As it is in the case of a journey you must be well prepared before you take it inorder to avoid any regrets.
I have listed the most important tips a couple preparing for pregnancy must do not only for the benefit of the child but also for their own benefit.
Pregnancy is so important to the mother and child's health thereis need to consider change in lifestyle, diet, fitness regime; information on health background of the couple; information on stress, disorders, and anxiety in pregnancy.
Checkout with the doctor
Seek advice from the doctor about vitamins, and follic acid, medicines to take during pregnancy. So many friends will give you advice on what to eat but the doctor will advice according to you health history
The doctor may carry out some tests that can help reveal more details about your health
Change in womans lifestyle
The woman to carry the baby in the womb should change her lifestyle. Cigarettes and alcohol should be kept away.
These two contain toxins that could harm the baby's body. Caffeine should aslo be reduced. Do not take more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day.
Check your weight
As a future mother you need to fit to carry the baby for nine months. Get on the weight scale track your weight.
Is it in line with what the doctor told you? if yes keep it up. If its above then you need to do some exercises
such as swimming, bicycling to reduce the weight. For under weight people ,you need to put on more weight still by regulating your deit and exercises.One can join a prenatal exercise class.
Visit the Gynecologist
When preparing for pregnancy, the couple should be confident enough to know how to handle a child. Knowledge of early pregnancy symptoms are also important since these are signs that giving birth would happen in due time. When the couple feels that they are ready, then a visit to the Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OBGYN) would help in gleaning more information on pregnancy. At this point, the couple can make use of a pregnancy calendar in order to follow the due course of giving birth.
Anxiety is often felt by women when they know that they are pregnant. Feelings of worry and tension are usual signs that shows her being anxious about giving birth. But by spending time with your husband, regular visits to the OBGYN, finding time to relax and unwind, with good exercise, anxiety should not be a problem at all. All you have to worry about is what to name the baby?
Test for genetic disorders.
When preparing for pregnancy the couple needs to test for certain traits. Both might be carriers of recessive genes for those disorders and the baby might be at a risk of getting the traits.
The doctor will check whether any of the parents carries genes for cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, Tay-Sachs disease, or sickle cell disease.
Get STI Counselling
Sexually transmitted Diseases can ruin both the baby's life and the parents' lives if not detected and handled before conception. The couple should test for gonorreah, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, Hepatitis,Chancroid among others. Some of these can lead to blindness of the baby or health disoders.
