If you’re trying to get pregnant, you’re likely already on high alert – What did that twinge in my stomach mean? Could this nausea be a symptom? – and you don’t know that you can trust the strangers on an online message board to tell you what is or isn’t safe for your unborn baby.
Luckily, you can take a deep breath. Dr. Lily Hahn, an OB-GYN with St. Elizabeth Physicians, spells out the top six things you should never do if you’re trying to get pregnant:
Don’t drink, smoke or use marijuana.
Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco both are linked to birth defects. Also, Hahn said, there haven’t been many studies about the safety of using marijuana during pregnancy, so it’s best to refrain from it, as well.
Don’t gain or lose a lot of weight quickly.
It’s best to maintain a healthy weight, Hahn said. Weights at the extreme ““ both overweight or underweight ““ are associated with prenatal problems. Maintaining a normal BMI (body mass index) also helps make conception easier.
Don’t start a new exercise program.
You can keep doing the same exercises you were doing before you started trying to conceive, Hahn said, but don’t try anything new.
Don’t drink too much caffeine.
Caffeinated drinks or beverages should be limited to one a day, Hahn said.
Don’t get too stressed.
Stress does play a role in getting pregnant and maintaining a healthy pregnancy, Hahn said, so try to limit stress as best you can.
Don’t stop taking your medications before talking with your health care provider.
Stopping your medications before receiving approval from your doctor can be dangerous, Hahn said. The medication you’re on might be safe to continue during pregnancy, or it may need to be weaned off carefully.
If you have any questions regarding your health issues, medications or family history, you can sit down with your obstetrician for a preconception counseling appointment to discuss how best to optimize your chances of conceiving. Also, if you have been trying to conceive for more than a year without success, you should consider scheduling an infertility appointment with your OB-GYN.
