Pre Pregnancy Planning or Pre Conception Care

If you are planning to have a baby then it is recommended to be well informed and prepared to provide the best care for your baby and yourself. Scientific evidence and commonsense tell us that a healthy body is the best suitable environment for the fetus conceiving and carrying it to term. In this article you will find out what a woman should plan before the pregnancy and what she should avoid.

Nutritional Diet

It is important to have a well balanced nutritional diet. A woman should eat right food to achieve the ideal weight before the conception. Always eat freshly prepared or freshly cooked food. The food must be high in fiber, and low in fat. This determines the good health of a woman. During pregnancy the metabolism of intestinal tract slows down due to the hormones, which results in the constipation. Eating fiber enrich foods will eliminate such problems.

The example of fiber enrich foods are leeks, Brown rice, garden peas, apple and raspberries. If you love to eat pasta then semolina pasta with the whole wheat pasta could be appropriate. You can use white bread as the substitute for the whole wheat. Also, you can sprinkle bran on the yogurt.

You must avoid following things

• ·         Unpasteurized milk or juice.
• ·         Soft cheese like Brie and feta.
• ·         Unheated hotdogs and deli meats.
• ·         Smoked, refrigerated seafood.
• ·         Undercooked seafood, meat or poultry.

Folic Acid

It’s a water soluble B-complex vitamin, which is very important for the women who are trying to conceive. Folic acid prevents the chances of any abnormalities in an unborn baby. According to the FDA, 400 mcg of the daily value of folic acid must contain in your diet. The women who have family history of anti-epileptic medication or diabetes must take 5mg folic acid supplement daily for at least one month before the pregnancy.

Corn, peas, winter squash, cabbage, raw celery, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, romaine lettuce, spinach, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, grapefruit, papaya, strawberries, black berries, raspberries, and orange have folic acid. Other sources of folic acid include peanut butter, peanuts, tofu, lentils, and kidney beans.

Exercise

Regular, sensible and non-contact exercise is recommended to achieve the right BMI for the pre-pregnancy preparation.

·         Aqua aerobics or swimming

·         Walking

·         Cycling

·         Yoga, stretching or Pilates

·         Light strength training

These are some of the recommended exercise for the women who are planning for pregnancy. Also, it is advocated to stay well hydrated before, during and after the exercise regime.

Avoid stressful and high-level exercise, which leads to overheated body 

Smoking, Alcohol and Other Drugs

Say NO to all these things. Quit drinking and smoking three months before conception. Moreover, avoid exposure to the passive smoking. Also, consult your doctors for the over-the-counter drugs and stop recreational drugs.  For instance, some drug contains the caffeine, which is harmful for the conception and fetus development. Your doctor will advise counter drugs for such medications.

You must reduce the caffeine intake, or you can completely avoid it. Caffeine can reduce the amount of required fluid in the body. This may lead to the dehydration in a woman. Avoid or limit the intake of tea, chocolate, cocoa, energy drinks and soft drinks.

Genetic Counseling and Blood Group

To avoid any chance of genetic disorder, a couple must present past obstetric history and a family history to the doctor to conclude the risks. Thalassaemia, Tay-Sachs disorder, hemophilia and cystic fibrosis are some of the genetic disorders.

 Also, blood groups of a couple must be known to avoid Rhesus factor. If any of the sex partners have a negative blood group and other one has a positive blood group then they require careful attention before and during the pregnancy.