Posted on April 23rd, 2008 by admin

To figure out and address any potential risk factors, a visit to your midwife or doctor is in order before you get pregnant. For example, if you have high blood pressure, you should get this under control in order to help prevent any of the negative side effects associated with high blood pressure in pregnancy. You should also have a pelvic and a breast exam.

You and your practitioner will decide how you need to prepare to get pregnant. This should include blood work to measure blood sugar and screen for anemia, thyroid disease, and immunities to rubella, as well as other tests as needed. You should also get information about coming off birth control. if applicable. If you have had a baby before, you may also want to discuss health concerns that may have cropped up during your last pregnancy.

In a perfect world, you would be at your ideal weight. Since being over- or underweight can lead to fertility and pregnancy complications, the sooner you reach an ideal weight, the better off you are. Many moms say that switching to a healthier diet and adding exercise helps them find the right balance no matter where they were before getting pregnant.

To sum up, your prepregnancy health checklist should include the following:

• Cutting out risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking
• Eating a healthy diet with many fruits and vegetables Starting or continuing an exercise program
• Visiting your health-care practitioner for breast and pelvic exams, blood work, and discussion of birth control
• Taking prenatal vitamins
• Maintaining weight in normal range

Tags: having a baby, physical check up before pregnant, pregnancy health, pregnancy preparatioan, prepare to get pregnant, prepregnancy health