You’ve decided it’s time to start a family. Before you pick out the name or even start trying to get pregnant, you can take steps to promote your baby’s health.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
- See a gynecologist. Six months BEFORE conception is not too soon.
- Start prenatal vitamins.
“Treat your body as if you are pregnant,” advised Dr. Amanda Von Hoene of Women’s Health in Cold Spring. Long before the stripe turns pink or the doctor says congratulations, there are plenty of things a woman can do to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
That means an end to even casual use of alcohol and tobacco.
If you are on medication for any condition, Von Hoene strongly urged a talk with your doctor. Some medications are just fine. For others, “there are alternatives to medications that are better for pregnant women,” she said.
Six months before starting to try to conceive, see a gynecologist. Share your plans, understand the specifics of your cycle, and ask questions. Why wait until it’s a done deal? Go to the expert first.
Three months out, start taking prenatal vitamins. Folic acid, a staple in prenatal vitamins for example, is crucial to a baby’s development in the very earliest stages, said Von Hoene. Over-the-counter prenatal vitamins work fine, she said, adding “they are good for a woman’s hair and nails. So, it doesn’t hurt.”
Continue your normal exercise but don’t start anything new. “Running is okay when you are already a runner,” she advised. Once pregnant, you want to keep your heart rate around 140 so it doesn’t interfere with blood flow to the baby. And, be smart. Von Hoene says “if you cramp, then don’t repeat it. Also, sports are okay. But, if you are going to get hit in the stomach, then no,” she added.
The Mayo Clinic reminds prospective moms that a healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals needed. But prenatal vitamins also provide more of that key folic acid which promotes brain and spinal cord health and iron which promotes healthy red blood cells.
Work with your doctor to ensure you are including enough fish or foods high in omega-3 fatty acids needed for baby’s brain development. Later in the pregnancy, doctors may urge more calcium rich foods and vitamin D.
- Check the label, the Mayo Clinic advises, for vitamins that contain:
- Folic acid – 400 to 800 micrograms
- Calcium – 250 milligrams
- Iron – 30 milligrams
- Vitamin C – 50 milligrams
- Zinc – 15 milligrams
- Copper – 2 milligrams
- Vitamin B-6 – 2 milligrams
- Vitamin D – 400 international units
If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, reach out to an OB/GYN for more information.
