How do you plan?

For 3 months before you start trying for a baby, get to know and understand your body, address any health issues you have or suspect.  Arrange to have a smear test and any adult immunizations you may need.  Some doctors offer pre pregnancy medical screening to check your heart, lungs, blood and urine.  It is also possible to have hormone profiles done at certain times in your menstrual cycle to check you are ovulating.  Look into your family history – if you  can, ask your mother how it was for her and any problems she had with trying to get pregnant or during her pregnancies.

It is the ideal time to perfect your lifestyle.  If you smoke, drink alcohol or lead a stressful working life try to take time out to relax and quit bad habits.  If you are overweight try to shed some of those extra pounds – a GP and nutritionist can help you achieve your optimum and there are lots of different methods worth trying to quit unwanted addictions before you get pregnant. 

Start taking Folic acid.  This helps prevent developmental problems with the spinal cord (the neural tube in fetus) and decreases the chance of a condition called Spina Bifida.  It can be bought in the chemist or health food shop as a tablet of 400 micgograms (mcg) to take once a day.  Foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, black-eye beans and fortified breads and cereals help to boost folic acid levels. 

© The Westover

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