Before You Conceive
There are many aspects of your life to explore prior to getting pregnant. It may be helpful to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your general health and nutrition and to get a routine physical. If you are planning a pregnancy you should consider your diet and lifestyle, medical conditions, medications and herbal supplements.
Women who are planning to conceive should be sure that they are getting enough folic acid. Folic acid can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. The neural tube is formed very early in pregnancy, usually before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Therefore, all women of childbearing age should take 0.4 milligrams of folic acid daily (400 micrograms). Folic acid is found in foods such as leafy dark-green vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and enriched breads and cereals. However, it is hard to eat enough of these foods to meet the requirement. For this reason, doctors advise women to take a daily folic acid supplement or a multivitamin that includes folic acid.
Nutrition, environment and exercise should all be considered. A balanced diet should be followed. Www.MyPyramid.gov is a wonderful resource to help you design nutritional meal plans and count calories. An average woman needs about 2,000 calories per day. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products each day. Drink fat-free or low-fat milk and other dairy products. If you already have a good diet, it is easy to make changes during pregnancy to get the extra calories and nutrients you need.
If you follow a fitness routine before you conceive, you can improve your chances of having a comfortable and active pregnancy. The sports and exercise you can do during pregnancy depend on your health and how active you were before you became pregnant. Daily walking, swimming and yoga are great forms of exercise.
Drugs and alcohol should be avoided if you are planning or may become pregnant. Smoking, even second-hand smoke can affect sperm and may have a damaging affect on the fetus. If you need help quitting, please talk to your physician.
Becoming pregnant is not always planned, but making healthy choices in life can be done at any time!