Are you considering getting pregnant? If yes, then you are perhaps already knee-deep in ovulation predictor kits, temperature charts, and perhaps also pregnancy test kits.
But whilst the majority of women are worried about what happens after they conceive, healthcare providers convince that even more should be analyzed about what to do before even trying.
"We have tries to get the message out there, however I don’t think that the sufficient amount of women take advantage of the fact that there are a lot of things that can be done before conception, not only in order to ensure your own health in the course of pregnancy, but also the health of your baby," explains Michael Silverstein, MD, an obstetrician and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University Medical Center in New York City.
Quit Smoking
The leading position on the most specialists’ preconception "to do" list is giving up smoking –the most important cause of problems for both mother and baby.
"There is still an epidemic of smoking in the course of pregnancy, and one of the most significant piece of advice I could give women considering pregnancy is to quit smoking," states Bryan Hecht, MD, professor and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
Around 20 per cent of low-birth-weight deliveries, 8 per cent of preterm births, and 5 per cent of all delivery deaths are associated with smoking cigarettes throughout pregnancy. It is important to stop smoking during pregnancy, as it can give your baby the best chance of survival.
It has been proven by research that smoking cigarettes can also make it more difficult for you to get pregnant. Smoking reduces a women’s fertility level by directly influencing the ovaries and lowering the levels of estrogen. Quitting the habit during planning the pregnancy may help you get pregnant quicker. Moreover, it may also help ensure that both your pregnancy and your baby start off in the proper direction.
Folic Acid Important
The substantial majority of women, once pregnant, exactly know that it is essential to take folic acid supplements, which is proven by research to protect your baby from several serious birth defects, such as spina bifida, a life-threatening spinal malformation. A lot of women do not understand what specialists claim, however, it is extremely important to take this supplement before attempt of conception.
The reason is: "Folic acid is essential from the very first moment of conceiving your baby, and due to the fact that many women may be pregnant four, six, or even eight weeks before they are aware of it, taking folic acid prior to conception is extremely relevant way to ensure your body has a appropriate supply from the very start of your pregnancy," explains Carol Bates, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a primary care doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Actually, Bates claims that taking folic acid is not only "No. 1 recommendation" for all women attempting to get pregnant, she adds that "it’s so significant that I strongly believe that each sexually active woman who does not use a highly reliable birth control method should be taking folic acid, just on the off chance that she does get pregnant."
In the past, healthcare providers regularly indicated that each woman trying to conceive should take prenatal vitamins due to the fact that they were the only ones containing high sufficient levels of folic acid to make a difference. Nowadays, though, almost all multivitamins contain at least 400 mcg per dose, the smallest amount necessary for a healthy pregnancy. A lot of specialists are less rigorous about the kind of supplements you take in the course of the preconception time.
"I usually propose prenatal vitamins, however if a woman feels more comfortable taking a multivitamin as an alternative, that’s also okay, as long as she is consuming at least 400 mcg of folic acid each day when she is attempting to get pregnant," explains Bates.
The Two-Week Rule
As far as the dietary or lifestyle factors that might be questionable in the course of pregnancy are concerned - such as caffeine and artificial sweeteners - physicians claim that there is less to worry about when trying to conceive. However, several precautions are still relevant.
"Throughout the preconception time the only thing you really have to be worried about is what’s in your body at the time you actually get pregnant - and that is normally achievable just a few days a month," explains Silverstein.
As such, he claims, if you confine your consumption of caffeine, for instance, to the two weeks after your menstruation begins - time when you normally can not get pregnant - and refrain during the last two weeks of your menstrual cycle - when you ovulate and have a greater chance to get pregnant - then your conception is almost certainly safe.
"If you come to conclusion you just can’t live without something," states Silverstein, "just use common sense and moderation."
For John Williams, MD, the "two-week" rule does make any sense, however he adds that due to the fact that the timing of conception is not an exact science, you oughtn’t to panic if you find you were doing something doubtful at the time you got pregnant.
"Whereas we don’t advocate throwing caution to the wind, if it happens that you discover that you conceived at the same time you were drinking alcohol or doing something that you would be afraid of doing in the course of pregnancy, don’t panic or terminate the pregnancy, due to the fact that chances are everything is going to be okay," explains Williams, director of reproductive genetics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Easy on the Seafood
There is one area where Williams and other experts advise exercising a bit more watchfulness: it is in the area of seafood consumption.
"The trouble with seafood is connected with the mercury content, and due to the fact that this is a heavy metal it can accumulate in fatty tissue, therefore it can stay in the body long enough to result in at least some potential harm after conception," claims Williams.
Due to this, he suggests that women trying to conceive should follow the same fish safety guidelines recommended for pregnant women, which is to restrict seafood to twelve ounces per week. Seafood that should be totally avoided includes tilefish, swordfish, king mackerel, and shark, and also any raw fish.
Williams also claims that he believes in restricting exposure to further potentially harmful lifestyle factors, such as pesticides, cleaning chemical substances, or strong paint fumes.
"If you need to avoid anything in the course of pregnancy, it is reasonable to try and avoid it when you are trying to conceive, just in case you are pregnant and do not know it yet," eplains Williams.
The one area where there is not significant cause for preconception worry is in the fitness arena. According to scientists the majority of workouts are secure while trying to conceive. Where you should apply some watchfulness, though, is when involving in any activity increasing the risk of collision or injury, like downhill skiing, horseback riding, or kick boxing, and also such disciplines as scuba diving. And once more, it is essential if you may be pregnant and not know it.
Additionally, Bates advises that if you have a history of miscarriage, you should consult your healthcare provider before involving in any exhausting exercise program.
The Preconception Exam
Several years ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists started to recommend that all women visit their healthcare provider for a pre-conception examination - an exam that takes place before trying to conceive and concentrates on the crucial factors needed for a healthy pregnancy.
According to specialists, among the most significant features of that examination is testing for a few infections that may not only interfere with conception but also negatively influence your pregnancy.
"You ought to be tested for widespread sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) associated with pregnancy complications, such as chlamydia, and moreover you have to be sure that you are protected against the rubella (measles) virus, either through prior exposure or by vaccination, which you should get before conceiving," explains Bates.
Important suggestion: Receiving your physician’s help in controlling any pre-existing medical conditions prior to getting pregnant.
"If you are overweight, try to lose several pounds; if you suffer from a blood sugar problem, be sure that you are able to control it; if you have high blood pressure, be sure that it is treated. If the problem exists, your pre-conception examination should address it due to the fact that the better control you have over your health, the healthier your pregnancy and your baby will later be," claims Silverstein.
Additionally, if you are taking any medicines for chronic health problems – such as migraine headaches, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, seizure disorders, high blood pressure, depression, stress, or chronic pain – specialists recommend checking with your healthcare provider before trying conception.
"Particular medicines are very secure to use in the course of pregnancy, others are very dangerous, however even those which are not suggested may frequently be switched with less toxic treatments, therefore you don’t need to sacrifice relief to have a secure pregnancy," explains Silverstein.
In the end, in particular cases, you can also take advantage of an extended preconception examination - one that includes genetic testing.
"One of the things we’re seeing in the dawning of the 21st century is an incredible amount of new information concerning genetic risk assessment - and obviously the time to be aware of any prospective genetic risks is before you conceive," explains Hecht.
Some specialists agree. "One thing that a lot of patients never think about it is that some ethnic groups can be at great risk of some kinds of genetic disorders - African Americans are at high risk for sickle cell anemia, eastern Europeans have to be tested for Tay-Sachs disease, Mediterranean people and southeast Asians have to watch out for thalessemia, whilst Caucasians of northern European extraction ought to be examined for cystic fibrosis, all prior to getting pregnant," claims Williams.
Apart from the results of your examination, physicians explain that by knowing the potential trouble spots ahead of time, you have a chance to be better prepared to cope with any troubles that might arise in the course of your pregnancy, in spite of the cause.
According to Silverstein, "if you optimize your health before getting pregnant, eventually, you may have a healthier pregnancy, which is not only beneficial for you, but significant to your baby."
