As the New Year begins, is your biggest plan to finally get pregnant and welcome a new ‘bambino’ to your family? Preparing for conception is an important part of having a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a healthy baby. Most women are already two weeks pregnant before they are aware of their pregnancy, but your unborn child is particularly vulnerable during the first weeks of your pregnancy. Fortunately, most children are born healthy, but being well prepared helps to decrease the risk of health problems during pregnancy. A healthy body increases your chances of conception and enhances the health and wellness of your baby.
Here are a few tips for preparing to conceive
Take a folic acid tablet daily
The Kenyan government has been running a campaign popularly known as ‘IFAS’ which stands for Iron and Folic Acid Supplements. Taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of a neural tube defect in the baby. It is recommended to start taking these tablets at least 4 weeks before you try to conceive and to continue to take them until you are 12 weeks pregnant.
Maintain a healthy body weight
Normal body weight is important for your fertility, for your pregnancy, and for the health of your unborn baby. Both obesity and being underweight are unhealthy. If you want to lose weight, try to do so well in advance. This is safer than losing weight right before or during your pregnancy.
Stop drinking, smoking, or taking drugs
Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs can seriously damage your fertility, your pregnancy, and the health of your unborn child. The same goes for passive smoking when you breathe in someone else’s cigarette smoke. These things also affect your partners’ ability to have healthy sperm.
Medication use
Use of certain medication may have a negative impact on your fertility and on the health of your future child. This includes some over-the-counter drugs. Discuss this in advance with your midwife, doctor or pharmacist. If you do use medication for a chronic illness, your doctor may be able to suggest a safer alternative.
Know your health status
It is important to stay healthy. Infections can harm your unborn child. Here are some tips for avoiding infections:
- Find out whether you have been vaccinated against any diseases, including childhood diseases, such as German measles. If not, get vaccinated before pregnancy.
- If you own a cat, have someone else change the cat litter
- Do you possibly have an STD (sexually transmitted disease)? Arrange for a health assessment with your health provider to rule out any of these and also to determine your HIV Status
- If you have a chronic condition – such as high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, or mental illness – they can affect your fertility, pregnancy, and the health of your future child. Pregnancy can also affect your condition. Ask your doctor for advice.
