It's surely an exciting prospect when you consider starting a family. Naturally, you're looking forward to a healthy and successful pregnancy, giving birth to a child that's as healthy as can be. However, many women think that they only need to start paying strict attention to their own health at conception. This isn't the case. You can't have an unhealthy body and lifestyle, which you give up only upon learning that you're pregnant. This sort of plan doesn't give you and your baby the very best chance at a successful pregnancy.
If you plan to become pregnant, give yourself at least three months to prepare. Why? When you become pregnant, your body will go through a lot of changes. You need to be in top shape. This means, if you smoke, you need to quit. You need to pay strict attention to your nutrition, attain your ideal weight and begin a regular program of exercise. If you're doing recreational drugs, or taking prescription drugs, such as diet pills or pain killers, which might harm your baby, you want to cut these substances out. Talk to your doctor to get the necessary guidance. Don't be afraid to discuss anything with the doc he or she is on your side!
If you feel that you're already in top shape, remember that there's always room for improvement. This applies particularly to nutrition. When you become pregnant, you need certain nutrients in greater abundance. For example, the RDA for folic acid in a non-pregnant woman is 400mg, while a pregnant woman requires 1200mg. Inadequate levels of folic acid during pregnancy can result in a baby born with Spina Bifida, a deformation of the spine, which causes the spine to form on the outside of the body, a devastatingly painful and irrevocable condition. No, I'm not trying to rain on your beautiful parade or scare you, but only wanting to make you aware of the importance of nutrition in pregnancy.
In addition to following your doctor's advice on nutritional concerns, it's a good idea to buy a good reference book on nutrition which includes data on the additional needs of pregnant women. You'll be surprised at what you'll learn in this self-study program. If you never have before, you'll soon find yourself loading up your grocery cart with fresh produce, cold water fish and whole grains, while reducing the fatty foods and sugary desserts. When you plan to become pregnant, it becomes far easier to clean up your nutritional act!
Getting your diet on track before you become pregnant helps you in more ways than one. Eating healthy means you'll also easily shed any extra pounds, prior to becoming pregnant, so that your pregnancy weight gain will be in a healthy framework, which will help you post-pregnancy.
Adopting a regular program of exercise at least three months before you become pregnant will get your muscles toned, attaining better circulatory and respiratory function, so important to a pregnant woman and her baby.
Follow these few simple guidelines and assure yourself and your little one of a very happy birth day!
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