In the first moments, your new little one seems more like an alien than a bundle of joy, but after a bath for baby and a few deep breaths for the new parents, your little angel looks their part. Their little red face is all scrunched up, and the sounds that voice from their puckered little mouth are the most precious notes you could ever hope for. You ache any time the nurses take them for tests, and you deny offers from well meaning friends and family who offer to hold them while you get some sleep. All you want to do is be with your new baby, and you'll forego food, water and sleep to do just that! Baby in the Making
You have dreamed of it and have long awaited for this special time in your life. Your pregnancy has been years in the planning and the decision has been made to start a family of your own. What an exciting and exhilarating yet anxiety-ridden experience!
This is the time of your life that you will never forget and one that you will treasure always. Make sure that you are off to a healthy start!
Before you start preparing for the conception of a baby, preconception planning should take place. Prepare yourself as soon as you know that you want to become pregnant. In order to have a healthy baby, you must be healthy.
Here are some important tasks you should do at least three months before planning a successful pregnancy:
- Get a full medical checkup. Ensure that you inform your doctor that you are planning to get pregnant. Discuss your medical history, past pregnancies, medications, and lifestyle.
- Stop any bad habits that you may have such as smoking, drinking, drugs or even poor eating habits.
- Reduce your intake of coffee.
- Reduce or eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation.
- Eat healthy and exercise often.
- Begin taking a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid. Prenatal vitamins protect the health of the mother as well as providing the needs for a developing baby. Folic acid is very essential as it helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine.
- Reduce stress.
- Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Relax and take time out for yourself. Pamper yourself, send yourself a gift basket, treat yourself and enjoy this time!
The key to a successful and healthy pregnancy is taking good care of your own health. It will help ensure a healthy pregnancy, from embryo, to fetus, to the birth of your precious baby. What you eat and do now will go a long way in benefitting your baby.
If you strive to make the most of your preconception period by doing the above, you are on the road to baby in the making!
Another word of advice: Do not stress about becoming pregnant! When I was trying to become pregnant I was overly consumed with the thought of becoming pregnant. I walked, lived and breathed every moment of my day wondering when I would get pregnant or if I was pregnant. The money I spent on pregnancy tests was ludicrous!
Remember to relax and enjoy the whole process from preconception, to conception, to pregnancy to the birth of your newborn baby. It is the most remarkable time of your life and one to be cherished.
