Before pregnancy there is preconception…

A healthy lifestyle and good general health before you become pregnant will help you deal with pregnancy – there is mounting evidence to suggest – and its common sense really – that health at the beginning of pregnancy and during pregnancy can have a major effect on you and your developing baby – in the past it was considered OK to be healthy during pregnancy – now, however, some doctors are telling us that we should look beyond the 9 months of pregnancy and think about pregnancy in terms of “12 months” – to include 3 months before you conceive. You could argue that pregnancy preconception is the most important stage in the life of your unborn baby.

Read about pregnancy preparation.

Preparing for pregnancy checklist

Is my pre pregnancy weight acceptable ?
Have I started taking a folic acid supplement ?
Nutrition: Do I have a well balanced diet ?
Do I need vaccinations, such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) ?
Do I have asthma ?
Have I given up smoking ?
Do I have thyroid problems >
Do I have epilipsy ?
Is my alcohol or drug use a problem ?
Am I having any tests such as an X-ray ?
Am I a diabetic ?
Do I have SLE ?
Do I have HIV ?
Have I visited my Doctor ?
Is my workplace a healthy environment for a growing baby ?
Have I considered work related benefits and maternity leave ?

Preconception is the 3 months before the first trimester

Its much easier to address any issues even BEFORE the “12 months” of pregnancy begin – by visiting a doctor for a check up you can understand if there are any medications you need to stop taking – or what lifestyle changes you need to make. You need to prepare your lifestyle and body for the big changes ahead – a good lifestyle will help you right throughout pregnancy – having a baby will more than likely change your lifestyle but by the time many women realise they are pregnant, they are 2 or 3 months pregnant ! – thats roughly 13 weeks – or the full first trimester of pregnancy ! – this is the stage when your baby’s body structure is formed – and most organs develop !

There is advice out there about what you might do to prepare for pregnancy but you should really consider visiting a doctor AND lean on someone close to you for support. If you have someone in your corner who is genuinly concerned about you as a person then they will be supportive and help you make changes to your lifestyle. Some advice you may get in preparing for pregnancy will more than likely be about your ideal pre pregnancy weight, how much you exercise, X-rays during pregnancy, the dangers of smoking, avoiding drugs and alcohol, what vaccinations you should have before becoming pregnant and so on.

In preparing for pregnancy, if you visit a doctor in advance, then he or she will give you an understanding of what you should be doing, what not to do and very importantly figure out what tests you might need based on your family history etc. so that it may be possible to avoid pregnancy complications. There are medical problems you might have and you might not be aware of how they play a role during pregnancy.

Also, the doctor is another person to lean on and many are genuinely supportive before, during and after pregnancy. Not only that but having a good doctor who knows your medical history is an important part of a successful pregnancy. Its a doctors job to help you and many doctors have a vocation to be a doctor and will be more understanding and supportive than you may think.

More information on preparing for pregnancy
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10293
http://www.pregnancytoday.com/topics/preparing-for-pregnancy/