20 Points for Planning Your Pregnancy

With so many articles on conceiving, I also thought on writing some important factors which one needs to keep in mind while trying to conceive. In this article, I shall try to bring out some points which one needs to focus when they have taken this important decision of their lives; with a special stress on working moms. Other important aspects on how to get pregnant have already been written about on this blog. My aim is to highlight some points which need to be kept in mind before conceiving.

To begin with, I am the proud mother of a one and half year old boy. I am a working mom who is a full time software engineer. Motherhood is a life-changing experience which brings with its side a sense of ownership, loving unconditionally and being cared of, and responsibility.

20 Points to Keep in Mind Before Conceiving

1. The moment you decide to conceive, maintain a happy and cheerful outlook, bond with your partner. Take time for each other. Overall boost the romance. Renew your relationship. Happy parents have happy kids, my belief
2. Consult a doctor and get necessary tests done. She might ask you to be on folic acid tablets. Also a thyroid test may be prescribed in addition to blood sugar test and normal CBC test (complete blood count).
3. Watch out your weight, maintain ideal BMI (body mass index).
4. Ask doctor about chicken pox vaccine, if you have not had it in your childhood or later, and get yourself vaccinated after consultation with the doctor. Because chicken pox in the first three months of pregnancy is harmful for the foetus and requires a MTP (medical termination of pregnancy). Also a chicken pox during the time of delivery is dangerous as the new born might catch neonatal varicella (chicken pox).
5. To be on safer side discuss all things with your doctor about any vaccines which need to be taken before planning a child.
6. Avoid allergies and infection, wash your hands or sanitize them often. Do not consume food to which you are allergic to.
7. Write each and every point and discuss with your doctor about your medical history during preconception consultation.
8. Involve your husband in each and every activity in this aspect.
9. Do not delay the whole pregnancy affair too late, because the time one takes to conceive varies from people to people. Some conceive on the very first attempt, some require more. If it takes time to conceive, then sex becomes a routine job with a goal, rather than an emotional bonding. We want it to be an exhilarating experience.
10. Be in a relaxed mood, read books, cultivate a hobby when you come back from work, cut down on partying. With the modern day working generation, women tend to reel under high level of stress which hampers with hormonal activities in our physical system.
11. Try to follow a exercise regimen/ yoga because it prepares your body for pregnancy.
12. Have dry fruits like almonds, dates, figs. These are known to perk up your reproductive system. It applies to men also.
13. Cut completely on smoking and alcohol. For both aspiring moms and dads.
14. Alcohol especially if taken by females, results in low birth weight babies as per studies. High intake of alcohol increases risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
15. Eat healthy food, fruits, milk etc. Cut down salt in take, it tends to increase blood pressure. Those with low blood pressure may have salt as they prefer.
16. Try to have fruits like pomegranate, they keep ideal haemoglobin levels. Also veggies like spinach etc.
17. Pack food from home, lunch as well as fruits, dry fruits etc if you are working.
18. Give your career goals a little break when you plan to conceive. Do not take undue stress.
19. Discuss with your company HR regarding leave policies and Maternity policies, because a supportive company does help smoothing out the problem one faces during this phase.
20. Ask about insurance policy also.

P.S.: I mentioned about chicken pox because I had chicken post during the eight and half month of my pregnancy. I was lucky to have it during the time because the baby was fully formed and also I had one more month still left of delivery. But we really don’t know when one goes into labor after the 8th month. So I mentioned it in the points to take care of.

I missed out on this on my preconception consultation and also my doctor did not ask all the details and as luck would have it, I had chicken pox. I did not have chicken earlier in my childhood or later and was not even vaccinated against it. I was visiting fortis hospital which was then wockhardt hospitals, Bangalore.

It was an uncomfortable experience, but I was ready to bear everything as long as it didn’t harm my child. I was really scared if I deliver during the period I had pox and was dead worried about my child. I just had the pox during the safe phase of my pregnancy.

I also mentioned about infection because, I caught viral fever during the sixth week of my pregnancy. The doctor did not give me antibiotics. She prescribed only antipyretics. I had to overcome it on my body’s capacity to heal.

Even after an eventful pregnancy everything was fine later on, I delivered a healthy baby that too 5 days after my due date. I continued my job till I was eight and half months pregnant.

Any questions are welcome. Hope it helps you.

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before following any of these tips.

Also Read:

How to Get Pregnant- Youtube Videos
How To Get Pregnant
How To Stay Fit and Look Good During Pregnancy
Pregnancy- Myths, Diet and Abortion
A-Z Guide to Pregnancy Weeks

Tagged as: baby, conceive, pregnancy, pregnant