Well, you're considering trying to conceive? Congrats! To
improve your health, lifestyle, finances, and more, check out our pre-pregnancy to help speed up the process.
Have a
Parenting Talk Before You Get Pregnant
Before you start trying to conceive, talk to your partner
about some of the most important parenting issues, such as how you'll share
childcare, working vs. staying at home, and religious traditions.
"But before you freak out about differing opinions on
circumcision, public or private schools, or other issues that are far down the
road," say Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris, authors of From the Hips: A
Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy,
Birth, and Becoming a Parent. "It's critical for couples to begin talking
about their priorities, expectations, and fears early on in the
relationship."
Don't
take birth control pills any longer.
According to Robert A. Greene, M.D., co-author of Perfect
Hormone Balance for Fertility, you should stop taking birth control a few
months before you plan to start trying for a baby. This gives you some time to
assess your natural menstrual cycle and determine when you're ovulating, or
when you're most fertile during the month. If you've been on the pill for a
while, your cycle might be different than it was before. Hormone levels can
take a while to normalize after you stop taking the pill, but if your period is
still missing after three months, you should see your doctor.
Lower you’re
partying
Do you drink and smoke while you're pregnant? We don't have
to tell you that these are major no-nos. If you indulge in either, Jennifer
Wider, M.D., author of The New Mom's Survival Guide and medical advisor to the
Society for Women's Health Research, recommends starting to cut back now.
"As long as you're not pregnant yet," she says, "you probably
don't need to change anything if you're a moderate drinker—you have a couple of
drinks on a Thursday night or over the weekend." "However, drinking
every night of the week or downing five cocktails in one sitting can be
problematic." The same is true for your partner. Excessive alcohol
consumption has been shown to interfere with fertility and can also lower
testosterone levels.
Even social smoking can affect the quality of your egg and
your partner's sperm, as well as increase your risk of birth defects,
miscarriage, preterm labor, and other complications after you become pregnant.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, tobacco use may be
the cause of up to 13% of fertility problems, and no level of smoking or
exposure to smoke is safe. According to studies, even women who aren't exposed
to secondhand smoke have more difficulty conceiving than those who aren't.
Bottom line: There's never been a better time to quit smoking, and you should
insist that your partner do the same.
Caffeine should be avoided at all costs.
"Do yourself a favor and cut back your caffeine intake
now," says Dr. Wider, if the Starbucks barista knows your order as soon as
you walk up to the counter, or if you can't get through the day without four
cups of French roast. "Not only because studies have shown that too much
caffeine can cause miscarriage, but also because you don't want to go through
withdrawal while pregnant."
Doctors disagree on how much caffeine is safe to consume
while pregnant. Most experts agree that up to 200 mg is safe, but some experts
advise against taking it at all, especially during the first trimester. Don't
forget to add in other common caffeine sources like soda, tea, energy drinks,
and even some pain relievers. Caffeine levels in a 12-ounce can of soda or an
8-ounce cup of green or black tea range from 30 to 60 milligrams; two
extra-strength Excedrin tablets contain 130 milligrams. Start reading labels to
see how much caffeine is in your diet if you're concerned.
Place
your foot on the scale.
Now is the time to go for it if you can stand to lose a few
pounds. "Not only will losing 10 to 15 pounds help you have a healthier
pregnancy and delivery with fewer risks and complications," says Dr.
Greene, "but it will also help you have a healthier pregnancy and delivery
with fewer risks and complications."
If you incorporate an exercise routine into your daily
routine now, whether it's walking a few times a week or scheduling a Pilates
class, you'll be more likely to stick with it during and after your
pregnancy. Also, if you're on the thin side, consult your
doctor to see if you should bulk up. Being too thin, especially if it affects
your periods, is a well-known problem.
Before
You Get Pregnant, Start Saving
Soon, you'll be putting money aside for college, diapers,
and other baby-related expenses. "However, even pregnancy can be more
expensive than you think," says Katina Z. Jones, author of The Everything
Get Ready for Baby Book (think doctor's co-pays, new maternity clothes,
prenatal vitamins, and so on). "You'll feel better knowing you have some
sort of nest egg set up before you start trying to conceive, even if it's just
$20 a paycheck. If you have any spare cash, you can put it towards nursery
furniture or other baby expenses."
Prenatal
vitamins are a good idea.
"Any woman planning to become pregnant in the next
three to six months should begin taking a daily multivitamin with 400
micrograms of folic acid," Dr. Wider advises. The March of Dimes claims
that getting enough of this B vitamin during pregnancy can reduce brain and
spine birth defects by up to 70%. In addition, the multivitamin contains other
nutrients that are important for a healthy pregnancy, such as iron to prevent
anemia and calcium to maintain strong teeth and bones. Put the pill in a jar at
work and set an e-mail reminder to take it after you brush your teeth in the
morning. Chewable pills are available if you don't like swallowing pills. To begin,
Sleep
is a good investment.
Jackie Rose, co-author of The New fully Non-Drinking Girl's
Guide to Pregnancy, advises getting those zzz's now. "Sleep in on weekends
with your husband and nap whenever you can," she advises. Most of us
expect sleepless nights once the baby arrives, but it can be difficult to get a
good night's sleep during pregnancy, when things like heartburn, needing to get
up to pee, and adjusting to side-snoozing can keep some expectant mothers
tossing and turning. Getting enough sleep may even help you
get pregnant faster; studies show that women who get too little sleep have more
trouble ovulating on a regular basis than those who don't.
Check
Your Stress Levels
According to some research, having extremely high-stress levels
can make it difficult to conceive (by disrupting ovulation or interfering with
an embryo's ability to implant in the uterus). Furthermore, if you have a Type
A personality, your stress levels may rise even higher while you're pregnant
and planning for the baby.
"Do an emotional gut check now to make sure you're calm
and ready for this next phase of your life," says Dr. Wider. "Perhaps
it's drinking tea while watching old episodes of Sex and the City, going for a
three-mile run, or simply dumping on your best friend." Whatever it is, if
it is working for you now, keep it.
Analyze
Your Living Situation
Do you need to relocate for a better location, more space,
or any other reason? Our advice is to get started as soon as possible. Getting
settled and feeling good about your home—ideally, somewhere you want to be for
at least a couple of years—will help you feel more prepared for pregnancy. When
you're pregnant, you won't want to deal with movers, renovations, lawyers, or
closings (and no one wants to be packing at 8 months!).
However, if you're happy where you are, don't feel obligated
to relocate now that you're planning a family; you don't need a large,
multi-bedroom house in the suburbs to raise a child. Remember that many infants
sleep in their parents' bedrooms for the first few months, and having your own
nursery and playroom won't make your baby any happier. If you're happy with
your current apartment, you'll have plenty of time to make the big move later.
Start
examining Your Job
According to Cathy Stahl, co-author of Twin Set, it's
critical to take a 10,000-foot view of your career and ask yourself the
following questions: Are your working hours satisfactory? Is there enough
childcare flexibility once the baby arrives? Do you think you'll be able to handle
the commute? Do other new parents seem to enjoy their jobs at your firm? If you
answered "no" to any of these questions, you should look for another
job or see if your boss is willing to work with you to change your job
description. If you have a particularly arduous commute, perhaps you can take
on smaller clients to reduce your hours or clock in from home a couple of days
a week.
Ask a
few questions about your family members' pregnancies.
If possible, ask your mother, sisters, aunts, and
grandmothers. Is it true that they took a long time to conceive? Were there any
issues, such as preterm labor or a breech presentation? Certain illnesses run
in families, so it's a good idea to review your medical history and share any
relevant information with your doctor. But don't get too worked up about it.
Just because your sister had trouble getting pregnant for a year doesn't mean
you will. Although many common fertility issues, such as poor egg quality (due
to age) or blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, are not hereditary, others, such
as fibroids or ovarian cysts, can run in families. Your physician can assist
you in comprehending the situation.
Seek
medical advice.
According to Dr. Greene, many experts recommend scheduling a
pre-pregnancy check-up at least three months before you plan to begin trying
for a baby. Your doctor should check for STDs, test for heart problems like
high blood pressure and cholesterol, and keep track of any chronic conditions
you have (such as diabetes, asthma, or thyroid problems). Bring up any
questions you have about getting pregnant during your appointment, and make
sure you aren't taking any medications that could interfere with your
fertility.
Use this appointment to evaluate your relationship with your
doctor and ensure that you'll want to see them again once you're expecting.
(Also make sure they take care of pregnant women.) It's possible that your
gynecologist isn't an obstetrician, for example. Do they take the time to
thoroughly answer your questions, or do you get brushed aside with eye rolls
and phrases like "You don't have to worry about that"? Remember,
you'll be seeing this person a lot while you're pregnant, and you'll need to be
able to trust their advice at one of the most crucial times of your life.
Consider taking your partner to an internist as well; most
men do not see doctors as frequently as women do.
Go Back
to Your Roots
If you've been concealing your true hair color, now is the
time to change your mind. "While you're pregnant, you don't want to be
getting touch-ups every few weeks," says Dr. Wider. Though there isn't
conclusive evidence that hair coloring is harmful to your baby during
pregnancy, most experts advise limiting your exposure to the chemicals,
especially during the first trimester, when your baby's major organs are
developing. If you're worried, talk to your colorist about how to cut back—you
might be able to phase into highlights, which require less upkeep and are
potentially safer.
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