Prepregnancy is the ideal time to
review your lifestyle, habits and health history. Getting healthy before
pregnancy will help you cope with the stress of labor, delivery and recovery.
And it will help your baby, especially in those critical early weeks of
development. Let's review a few ideas of prepregnancy (or
"preconceptual") planning.
Nutrition and vitamins are critical
for you and your baby. Women who are planning a pregnancy should take prenatal
vitamins, which contain folic acid. Folic acid supplementation can lower the
incidence of neural tube defects (spina bifida). The spinal cord closes by 28
days of embryologic life, prior to when many women realize they are pregnant,
making vitamins particularly important in the preconceptual period.
Before becoming pregnant, you should
also decrease or eliminate caffeinated beverages. Heavy ingestion of caffeine
may be associated with smaller, less healthy babies. A Costa Rican study showed
that maternal coffee intake decreases iron absorption, potentially causing anemia
for you and your unborn child.
Pregnancy is not a time to diet, so
optimize your weight prior to conceiving. Obesity is associated with a higher
incidence of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and difficult labors.
Ideal nutrition is achieved with your old-fashioned food pyramid, containing
moderate servings from all five food groups. Fad diets are unbalanced; they
could be harmful to you and your baby.
Discuss your medical history and any
medications you take with your obstetrician prior to becoming pregnant. Some
medications (including some antibiotics, antiseizure drugs and drugs used for
psychiatric disorders) may harm your baby and should be stopped well before
conception. If a type of medication is essential for your health, perhaps your doctor
could minimize the dose or substitute an alternative, safer drug. Women with
serious health problems (diabetes, lupus, hypertension) can have successful
pregnancies, but they need to get special care before and during their
pregnancies.
A moderate exercise program begun
preconceptually is safe to continue in an uncomplicated pregnancy. High
temperatures, contact sports and heavy lifting should be avoided. The key is to
initiate the exercise program before you become pregnant, then to make remaining
fit and active a part of your healthy pregnancy.
Finally, review your immunization
status, family genetic history, work environment, and prior pregnancy history
with your doctor before becoming pregnant. These are all important areas where
early intervention will help you and your baby throughout your pregnancy.
Becoming a parent is a major
commitment; improving your health before pregnancy can help you to have a
normal pregnancy and a healthy baby.
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