Having decided to become pregnant, what must you do to ensure that the journey is a safe?
1. Visit your gynecologist / general practitioner / medical doctor
If you have a known medical problem undergoing treatment it is important to be cleared before becoming pregnant . Your doctor should ensure that your medical problems are well controlled and review your medications to ensure they are safe and adjust accordingly.
Even if you have no known medical illnesses, it is still important to visit your physician who can do a routine checkup, assess risk factors and offer further advice on nutrition and exercise to improve the chance of having a healthy pregnancy.
If you smoke or drink alcohol, it is recommended that you stop before pregnancy and your doctor will be able to assist you in quitting.
2. Take supplements
A prenatal multivitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid should be taken at least one month before a positive pregnancy test. Folic acid is important to reduce the chance that your baby develops a neural tube defect ( abnormalities of the bones of the spine, brain or nerve roots ) which forms just one month after conception; before you may be aware of the pregnancy.
A higher dose of folic acid ( 5 milligrams ) may be needed for women who
- have epilepsy and on medications
- are diabetic
- are obese ( Body mass index over 30 kg/m2)
- previously had a child with a neural tube defect
- have a family or personal history of neural tube defects
Vitamin D is also important, particularly if you have dark skin or low to no exposure to the sun. It is essential for bone health and growth.
Speak to your health care provider about all supplements and herbal medication that you are taking.
3. Achieve a healthy weight/ Eat a healthy diet
Obesity increases your risk of many problems during pregnancy for both mother and baby.
These include
For the Mother :-
-pregnancy losses
-diabetes in pregnancy
-high blood pressure disorders
-blood clot in the veins and lungs
-difficulties during labor leading to cesarean section
-heavy bleeding after delivery
-difficulty breastfeeding
For the Baby:-
-abnormalities in the development
-stillbirths
-baby being born big or early (before 37 weeks)
-childhood obesity and illness
Regular exercise and eating a healthy diet which includes 5 portions of fruit and vegetables and 1 portion of oily fish is recommended.
Planning your pregnancy in discussion with your health care provider will ensure that you are fully prepared for this new chapter of life. Good Luck.🙂
References and Links:
Denison FC, Aedla NR, Keag O, Hor K, Reynolds RM, Milne A, Diamond A, on behalf of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Care of Women with Obesity in Pregnancy.Green-top Guideline No. 72. BJOG 2018
Overview | Vitamin D: supplement use in specific population groups | Guidance | NICE
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