Planning to have a baby? Be sure to know these things (Pre-pregnancy Checklist)

Are you and your partner thinking about having a baby? It's a beautiful decision in life. But before you have a baby, it's your responsibility to create the best possible environment for your future baby to come into the world healthy. It's like building a beautiful house by laying a good, strong foundation. So, let's take a look at how you should prepare yourself before getting pregnant. Think of this as your "Pre- Conception to-do list."

First of all, let's meet a doctor, right?

Yes, you know that you have to see a doctor all the time when you are expecting a baby. But it is very important to see a doctor beforehand. It is good to do this even if you have had a baby before. Because, some health problems you have (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure) can affect your pregnancy. Also, getting pregnant with such medical conditions can increase the risk. So, it is best to control all of these before getting pregnant .

When you see your doctor, he or she will ask you and your partner about your full medical history. This includes any medical conditions that run in your family, any medical conditions that you may have, etc. In addition, they may also run some tests to make sure that neither of you has any medical conditions that could affect your ability to conceive or your pregnancy.

Be aware of vaccines as well.

If you have any vaccinations you need to get, it's important to get them before you get pregnant . Some vaccines, like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox ( varicella ), are not given during pregnancy. They can be dangerous to the baby. Therefore, doctors recommend waiting at least 28 days after getting one of these vaccines before trying to conceive.

Also, some vaccines, like the Tdap vaccine for diphtheria, are given during pregnancy. This also protects the baby. Talk to your doctor about all of this and explain it to him.

You also need to take care of your teeth and gums.

This may not be something you'd expect, but there's a big link between healthy oral health and a healthy pregnancy. Mothers with gum disease are at higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight. So, it's a good idea to see a dentist right away to address any issues you may have with your mouth.

It's time to break away from these bad habits now.

Smoking and alcohol

You probably already know that smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy are not good at all. These things directly affect the baby's development and can also cause health problems for the baby later on.

If you're having trouble breaking these habits, talk to your doctor about programs that can help you. Don't be ashamed. Asking for help is empowering.

Think about caffeine too.

Drinking more than two cups of coffee (or 8 ounces of soda) a day can make it harder for you to get pregnant and increase your risk of miscarriage . There's another benefit to cutting back on caffeine now. You won't have to deal with the nausea and caffeine cravings that come with the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Healthy diet and weight control

Think more about what you eat and drink.

This is the best time to stay away from junk food, which has no nutritional value and is full of empty calories. Make sure to include fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and lean protein in your daily diet. If you get used to a healthy diet before you get pregnant, you will also be greatly helped in protecting yourself from gestational diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy.

Folic Acid is an essential

Folic acid, which is naturally found in green vegetables and legumes, has been scientifically proven to reduce the risk of certain birth defects in the baby's brain and spinal cord.

Therefore, doctors recommend that, in addition to a good diet, you start taking a daily vitamin containing folic acid 3 months before you get pregnant and continue taking it throughout your pregnancy. If you have had a baby with this type of birth defect in a previous pregnancy, your doctor may recommend a higher dose.

This is the best time to lose excess weight.

Being overweight increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure (preeclampsia). Trying to lose weight during pregnancy is not a good idea. So, if you want to lose weight, now is the best time to do it.

A few more important things to think about

• Tell your doctor about the medications you take: It's important to tell your doctor about all the medications you take—including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and even herbal remedies. Some medications can affect your baby.
• Be careful when choosing seafood: You may have heard that it is not good to eat fish high in mercury during pregnancy. But it can take up to a year for the mercury in your body to be eliminated. Therefore, avoid eating fish high in mercury like tilefish, tilefish, and shark right now.
• Start exercising: Exercising not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, but it also helps you gain the strength and flexibility needed for childbirth.
• Prepare yourself mentally for the changes in your life: Having a baby means that everything in your life will change. Your job, your finances, your relationship with your partner, it will all be affected. Nine months is a short time to think about and sort through all of this. So, sit down with your partner and talk about these things. You can also talk to your doctor for advice if necessary.

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