The time has finally come that you and your partner have been dreaming about for a while – starting a family. You’ve assessed your financial situation, prepared room in your home and are ready to start trying for a baby, but what else should you do? Here’s a look at five essential steps all women should take when trying to conceive from the gynecologists and obstetricians at Women’s Way to Wellness, a branch of Carthage Area Hospital.
#1 – See Your Doctor
Before you and your partner attempt to start a family, you should visit your healthcare provider. When future mothers choose Carthage Area Hospital’s OB/GYN services at Women’s Way to Wellness, our doctors and nurse practitioners evaluate your individual medical history to make recommendations for pregnancy preparations. These can include:
- Getting caught up on vaccines
- Completing all necessary blood work
- Receiving information on which medicines, herbs and supplements may affect an unborn baby
- Discussing your family health history and which problems may be passed on to children
- Determining when and how to stop using contraceptives
The same goes for men, whose role in conception is equally important. The trusted Urology Department at Carthage Area Hospital can help ensure your partner is healthy in the following ways:
- Fertility tests
- Analyzing and eliminating unhealthy habits, especially smoking and drug and steroid use
- Evaluating weight and other conditions that can affect testosterone, sperm production and fertility
- Addressing conditions such as diabetes, infection, trauma and more
#2 – Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
In the time leading up to becoming pregnant, it’s important to prepare your body by practicing a healthy lifestyle, and your OB/GYN will help you navigate that. As it is not recommended to attempt weight loss during pregnancy, attaining an ideal body weight prior to conception will reduce any risks for complications, such as:
- Birth defects
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Requiring a cesarean birth
Part of preparing your body for pregnancy requires eliminating unhealthy habits. Smoking, drinking alcohol and using drugs can make it more difficult to conceive, as well as increase the risk for a miscarriage or fetal anomalies. If your current diet is less than ideal, you’ll also want to consider making the following changes:
- Adding high-protein foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products
- Eliminating artificial sweeteners and empty calories
- Reducing caffeine consumption
- Limiting fish and other seafood, which contains mercury and could cause birth defects
#3 – Start Prenatal Vitamins
Your doctor will also discuss the importance of taking prenatal vitamins, along with 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid, prior to conceiving. It is recommended that you take these supplements every day for at least three months before getting pregnant. This is because these vitamins lower the risk of birth defects, specifically in the baby’s brain and spine.
#4 – Monitor Your Cycle
Conceiving is all about timing. By keeping a record of your menstrual cycle frequency, you can increase your chances of getting pregnant by being able to better predict when you might be ovulating. This is a crucial step, as eggs only remain fertile for up to 24 hours after release.
#5 – Don’t Stress
Last but not least, try your best to relax and not stress yourself out when trying to conceive. Getting plenty of rest will keep you relaxed and may make it easier to get pregnant, as stress can have a negative impact on conception. At Women’s Way to Wellness, our team of OB/GYN medical professionals can provide you with several techniques to keep stress low, as well as walk you through everything you need to know about expecting a child to minimize worry.
Learn More about Conception and Pregnancy
Are you ready to take the first steps toward welcoming a new baby into your family? If so, contact Carthage Area Hospital today or call Women’s Way to Wellness at 315-493-3100 for more information on our maternity and women’s health services. Our caring team will be with you every step of the way from conception and pregnancy to delivery.