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Are you expecting a baby? Then never make these mistakes! (Pre-conception Health)

Are you expecting a baby? Then never make these mistakes! (Pre-conception Health)

Becoming a mother is every woman's biggest dream. You too must be one of those who dreamt of that beautiful dream. Perhaps you are thinking of a beautiful name for your baby, and you are eagerly looking at the cute baby clothes on the Internet. As you prepare your mind for that beautiful experience, now is the best time to prepare your body for it in a healthy way. But just like making a list of things to do, there are also things you should not do. So, if you are expecting a baby, do not do these things.

It's not good to suddenly get too big or too thin.

Being overweight or underweight can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. In both cases, your menstrual cycle may be irregular. Not having a period every month could be a sign that your ovaries are not releasing an egg (ovulating) . There will be no egg to fertilize, so pregnancy will not occur.

Sometimes, sudden weight changes can cause changes in hormone levels, which can lead to infertility. Additionally, being overweight can lead to the following risks:

  • Miscarriage
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Preeclampsia - High blood pressure during pregnancy.
  • Increased birth weight and some birth defects .

So your goal should be to maintain a healthy weight before and during pregnancy. Experts say that a mother-to-be should try to keep her body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27.

It's not good to exercise too much.

Not exercising at all is not good for you. But if you're thinking about having a baby, this is not the time to train for a marathon. Excessive, strenuous exercise can cause changes in your hormones, making it difficult for your ovaries to produce or release an egg.

Even if you are at a healthy weight, activities like heavy running, fast aerobics, swimming, or cycling can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. However, if you are overweight, moderate exercise can help you lose weight and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Don't make it too late to start a family.

It's common knowledge that fertility declines with age. For example, if you're in your late 30s, your fertility may be less than half of what it was in your early 20s. Just as a woman's egg count and quality decline with age, a man's sperm quality also declines after age 50. This applies to both.

Therefore, talk to your doctor about your age and your chances of conceiving a child. Then you can get a clear understanding about this.

Stop drinking alcohol today!

If you're thinking about having a baby with urine , experts say you should stop drinking alcohol right away .

Just think, half of all pregnancies in the world are unplanned. So you might be having fun with your friends and having a few drinks, and you might not even know you're pregnant.

When you drink alcohol, your baby in the womb also drinks it. Alcohol, which may make you feel relaxed, can interfere with the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. This is especially dangerous in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Here are some more reasons why both you and your partner should stay away from alcohol .

Reason Description
There is no safety level. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink before or during pregnancy.
Fertility Treatments If you are undergoing treatment like IVF, drinking 4 or more alcoholic drinks a week can reduce your chances of conceiving a baby.
Impact on partnerAlcohol can lower testosterone levels in men and cause erectile dysfunction.

If you smoke, that's also a big obstacle.

Tobacco is always bad for your health. If you are not thinking about having a baby, you should stop smoking. But if you are thinking about having a baby, it is imperative to stop smoking . Remember the risks of smoking:

  • If you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, your chances of getting pregnant are significantly reduced.
  • Smoking can cause changes in your fallopian tubes and cervix, which can lead to miscarriage .
  • It can also be an ectopic pregnancy , where a baby is conceived outside the uterus. This type of pregnancy does not result in a baby.
  • Smoking can damage your ovaries and reduce the number of eggs you produce. The fewer eggs you produce, the lower your chances of getting pregnant.

Ask your partner to quit smoking too. Smoking can reduce his sperm count and slow down their movement . Also, if you are going through IVF treatment, smoking can greatly reduce its success rate.

Don't take too many vitamins.

When you're thinking about having a baby, it's important to take a prenatal vitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. This can help prevent neural tube defects in your baby's nervous system.

However, don't take too many different vitamins and supplements. For example, it has been found that taking too much vitamin A can cause problems for a growing baby. Ask your doctor which vitamins you need.

Limit caffeine use.

Rest is very important for you at this time. Remember, you'll need to sleep a lot at night after the baby arrives. When it comes to caffeine, the most important thing is to control the amount . Drinking about two cups of coffee a day will not have a big impact on your chances of getting pregnant. However, if you're consuming things like a strong espresso shot, 3 diet sodas, or a chocolate bar a day, now is the time to cut back.

Don't avoid having sex.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's worth mentioning. If you want to have a baby, you need to have sex frequently . Couples who have sex at least every two days are more likely to get pregnant.

Do not stop taking any medication you are currently taking without consulting your doctor.

You may think that you need to stop taking all the medications you are taking when you are planning to have a baby. But not all medications are safe for the baby. Some medications can be dangerous for both you and your baby if you stop taking them suddenly.

Therefore, never stop any treatment without talking to your doctor.

This is especially important if you are being treated for conditions like seizures, depression, or high blood pressure. For example, if you stop taking your epilepsy medication and have a seizure during pregnancy, your baby may not get enough oxygen. So, work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is safe for both you and your baby.

Be careful with illegal drugs and vaccines.

Illegal drugs can harm you as well as your growing baby. It is not helpful to stop using them once you find out you are pregnant. This is because the baby's organs are still developing during this early stage. Therefore, the drugs in your body can affect their development. Therefore , stop using illegal drugs completely from the moment you think about having a baby.

As soon as you decide to become a mother, talk to your doctor to make sure you're up to date on all your vaccines . If you have any vaccines you need, you should get them at least a month before you plan to conceive. Particularly important vaccines are:

  • Rubella (Rubella or German Measles)
  • Chickenpox (Varicella or Chickenpox)
  • Hepatitis

If these diseases develop during pregnancy, they can cause serious problems or birth defects for the baby.

Take-Home Message

  • Maintain a healthy body weight even before pregnancy. Avoid sudden weight gain or loss.
  • You and your partner should completely quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • If you are currently taking medication for a medical condition, avoid stopping it without medical advice.
  • Take folic acid daily as recommended by your doctor.
  • Don't delay starting a family. Talk to your doctor about age-related issues.
  • Make sure you have received all the necessary vaccinations.

Pregnancy, having a baby, pre-conception care, women's health, healthy pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, trying to conceive, women's health sinhala, reproductive health
⚠️ Important: The medical articles and information on Nirogi Lanka are for general awareness only, and are by no means a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any medical problem you have, consult a qualified physician immediately.

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Are you expecting a baby? Then never make these mistakes! (Pre-conception Health)

Are you expecting a baby? Then never make these mistakes! (Pre-conception Health)

Becoming a mother is every woman's biggest dream. You too must be one of those who dreamt of that beautiful dream. Perhaps you are thinking of a beautiful name for your baby, and you are eagerly looking at the cute baby clothes on the Internet. As you prepare your mind for that beautiful experience, now is the best time to prepare your body for it in a healthy way. But just like making a list of things to do, there are also things you should not do. So, if you are expecting a baby, do not do these things.

It's not good to suddenly get too big or too thin.

Being overweight or underweight can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. In both cases, your menstrual cycle may be irregular. Not having a period every month could be a sign that your ovaries are not releasing an egg (ovulating) . There will be no egg to fertilize, so pregnancy will not occur.

Sometimes, sudden weight changes can cause changes in hormone levels, which can lead to infertility. Additionally, being overweight can lead to the following risks:

  • Miscarriage
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Preeclampsia - High blood pressure during pregnancy.
  • Increased birth weight and some birth defects .

So your goal should be to maintain a healthy weight before and during pregnancy. Experts say that a mother-to-be should try to keep her body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27.

It's not good to exercise too much.

Not exercising at all is not good for you. But if you're thinking about having a baby, this is not the time to train for a marathon. Excessive, strenuous exercise can cause changes in your hormones, making it difficult for your ovaries to produce or release an egg.

Even if you are at a healthy weight, activities like heavy running, fast aerobics, swimming, or cycling can reduce your chances of getting pregnant. However, if you are overweight, moderate exercise can help you lose weight and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Don't make it too late to start a family.

It's common knowledge that fertility declines with age. For example, if you're in your late 30s, your fertility may be less than half of what it was in your early 20s. Just as a woman's egg count and quality decline with age, a man's sperm quality also declines after age 50. This applies to both.

Therefore, talk to your doctor about your age and your chances of conceiving a child. Then you can get a clear understanding about this.

Stop drinking alcohol today!

If you're thinking about having a baby with urine , experts say you should stop drinking alcohol right away .

Just think, half of all pregnancies in the world are unplanned. So you might be having fun with your friends and having a few drinks, and you might not even know you're pregnant.

When you drink alcohol, your baby in the womb also drinks it. Alcohol, which may make you feel relaxed, can interfere with the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. This is especially dangerous in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Here are some more reasons why both you and your partner should stay away from alcohol .

Reason Description
There is no safety level. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink before or during pregnancy.
Fertility Treatments If you are undergoing treatment like IVF, drinking 4 or more alcoholic drinks a week can reduce your chances of conceiving a baby.
Impact on partnerAlcohol can lower testosterone levels in men and cause erectile dysfunction.

If you smoke, that's also a big obstacle.

Tobacco is always bad for your health. If you are not thinking about having a baby, you should stop smoking. But if you are thinking about having a baby, it is imperative to stop smoking . Remember the risks of smoking:

  • If you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, your chances of getting pregnant are significantly reduced.
  • Smoking can cause changes in your fallopian tubes and cervix, which can lead to miscarriage .
  • It can also be an ectopic pregnancy , where a baby is conceived outside the uterus. This type of pregnancy does not result in a baby.
  • Smoking can damage your ovaries and reduce the number of eggs you produce. The fewer eggs you produce, the lower your chances of getting pregnant.

Ask your partner to quit smoking too. Smoking can reduce his sperm count and slow down their movement . Also, if you are going through IVF treatment, smoking can greatly reduce its success rate.

Don't take too many vitamins.

When you're thinking about having a baby, it's important to take a prenatal vitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. This can help prevent neural tube defects in your baby's nervous system.

However, don't take too many different vitamins and supplements. For example, it has been found that taking too much vitamin A can cause problems for a growing baby. Ask your doctor which vitamins you need.

Limit caffeine use.

Rest is very important for you at this time. Remember, you'll need to sleep a lot at night after the baby arrives. When it comes to caffeine, the most important thing is to control the amount . Drinking about two cups of coffee a day will not have a big impact on your chances of getting pregnant. However, if you're consuming things like a strong espresso shot, 3 diet sodas, or a chocolate bar a day, now is the time to cut back.

Don't avoid having sex.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's worth mentioning. If you want to have a baby, you need to have sex frequently . Couples who have sex at least every two days are more likely to get pregnant.

Do not stop taking any medication you are currently taking without consulting your doctor.

You may think that you need to stop taking all the medications you are taking when you are planning to have a baby. But not all medications are safe for the baby. Some medications can be dangerous for both you and your baby if you stop taking them suddenly.

Therefore, never stop any treatment without talking to your doctor.

This is especially important if you are being treated for conditions like seizures, depression, or high blood pressure. For example, if you stop taking your epilepsy medication and have a seizure during pregnancy, your baby may not get enough oxygen. So, work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is safe for both you and your baby.

Be careful with illegal drugs and vaccines.

Illegal drugs can harm you as well as your growing baby. It is not helpful to stop using them once you find out you are pregnant. This is because the baby's organs are still developing during this early stage. Therefore, the drugs in your body can affect their development. Therefore , stop using illegal drugs completely from the moment you think about having a baby.

As soon as you decide to become a mother, talk to your doctor to make sure you're up to date on all your vaccines . If you have any vaccines you need, you should get them at least a month before you plan to conceive. Particularly important vaccines are:

  • Rubella (Rubella or German Measles)
  • Chickenpox (Varicella or Chickenpox)
  • Hepatitis

If these diseases develop during pregnancy, they can cause serious problems or birth defects for the baby.

Take-Home Message

  • Maintain a healthy body weight even before pregnancy. Avoid sudden weight gain or loss.
  • You and your partner should completely quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • If you are currently taking medication for a medical condition, avoid stopping it without medical advice.
  • Take folic acid daily as recommended by your doctor.
  • Don't delay starting a family. Talk to your doctor about age-related issues.
  • Make sure you have received all the necessary vaccinations.

Pregnancy, having a baby, pre-conception care, women's health, healthy pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, trying to conceive, women's health sinhala, reproductive health
⚠️ Important: The medical articles and information on Nirogi Lanka are for general awareness only, and are by no means a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For any medical problem you have, consult a qualified physician immediately.

💬 Comments (0)

No comments have been posted yet. Add your comment here for the first time.

Add your comment

Please calculate: 4 + 8 =