The Essential Pre-Pregnancy Planning Checklist

So you have finally made the decision that it is now time to start thinking about having a baby, but slow down, before you rush into anything, you should ensure that you are completely prepared. It is important that you are aware that it is completely normal for you to conceive at any point in the first twelve months of trying. If you do not conceive after 12 months of trying, it is then advised that you should get some expert help and advice.

Here are some other things you may want to consider before you try to get pregnant:

GP Check Up

Before you begin trying to conceive, you should make an appointment with your GP for a full check up. It is likely that your doctor will want to complete a smear check and a breast check; this will be to ensure that your body is completely healthy for pregnancy.

As well as checking your general healthy, it is likely your doctor will ask you some key questions such as checking your vaccinations are all up-to-date. If you have not had certain vaccinations, you should be aware that it is not necessary to have them, however it is recommended as it will protect you and your baby from dangerous diseases and infections.

Bad Habits

We all have habits, but when you are trying to get pregnant it is important that you get rid of the bad ones, such as smoking, drinking, fast food take aways etc. Smoking is highly dangerous for your baby if you do conceive, so it is essential that you do not smoke whatsoever. As well as being a danger to your baby’s health if you do conceive, it is also worth considering that smoking can reduce your fertility chances.

Women are advised not to drink alcohol at all when trying to get pregnant as it can provide problems with trying to conceive. If you do conceive, then it is also advised that women should continue not to drink alcohol throughout the full nine months as experts have found it very difficult to state the safe level of alcohol consumption in pregnant women.

Folic Acid

It can be quite difficult to get all the folate you need from your diet, so it is a good idea to take folate supplements, this helps prevent pregnancy defects like Spina Bifda (the most common birth defect).

It is advised that you should start taking folate around three months prior to conception and continue taking it for the full course of pregnancy.  There are many foods that contain folate, so you should conduct further research to discover what these foods are and implement them into your diet.

[box_light]Kerry likes to share advice about women’s healthcare, especially those who are trying to get pregnant.[/box_light]

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