Deciding to have a baby is one of the most momentous decisions you are likely to make in your life, and the idea that you are going to become a parent can take some getting used to. Planning ahead can help you to start your pregnancy in good health and a positive frame of mind. By adopting a healthy lifestyle you can enhance your chances of conceiving, reduce the likelihood of problems during pregnancy and spare yourself a certain amount of worry. You are also more likely to feel that you are in control of your body and your pregnancy.
By the way. Many men take great delight in young children. They are keen on the idea of becoming a father, and they are enthusiastic and eager to share the preparations. Others are pleased, but reserved about it. Your partner may have moments of doubt: he may worry about being a good father, about taking on the financial responsibility for you and the baby and about your safety during pregnancy and birth. He may also be concerned about changes in your social life, your sex life and your relationship with each other.
It is normal to have anxieties when you are thinking about having a baby. You may fear losing your freedom, passing up a career, becoming dependent on your partner or simply facing up to the responsibilities of parenthood. You may also worry about the physical demands of pregnancy, about its effects on your body, about illnesses that might affect your baby or about the possibility of having a child with a disability.
Other concerns might centre around being a good mother and coping with day-to-day childcare. You may also wonder how much your partner will really help you. Working through all sorts of doubts can be a large part of preparing yourself mentally for pregnancy and you will find that many of them disappear once you are actually pregnant.
Not everyone can plan their pregnancy well in advance, and many women have a perfectly healthy pregnancy with no special preparations at all. However, if you and your partner have the luxury of time to get in the peak of health and fitness before you conceive, you will improve your chances of conception and also have a greater chance of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. It is worth finding out about the positive changes that you can make in anticipation of pregnancy, and it can also be helpful to discover just how your reproductive system functions.
Is there a perfect age for pregnancy? Physically, the best time to have a baby is in your early 20s. However, many of the risk factors associated with giving birth when you are older could affect any woman, whatever her age; being overweight or having suffered infertility problems just happen to be more common in older women. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with age but most problems, including heart defects, spina bifida, cleft palate and talipes, are no more common in older mothers.
“How far in advance should I start preparing for pregnancy?” You should start preparing at least three months ahead of trying for a baby, but ideally aim for six months or more. This will give you sufficient time to build up good nutritional reserves and eliminate all traces of the ill-effects of alcohol and smoking from your system. Encourage your partner to prepare with you, because the quality of his sperm depends on his diet and lifestyle.
“What should I do about contraception?” If you are taking pills (for example, Alesse, Yasmin, etc.) or using an intra-uterine device (IUCD) you might want to use another form of contraception for about three months before attempting to get pregnant. This will allow your body to return to normal, as both forms of contraception can alter the balance of nutrients such as zinc, copper and certain vitamins. Allowing your periods time to settle down to a regular pattern also makes dating your pregnancy much more accurate.
“Does it matter if I am fit when I conceive?” A The special needs of pregnancy often become obvious to women too late, when they realize how much harder everything is if they are unfit! If you increase your suppleness, strength and stamina before becoming pregnant you will be able to carry a baby more easily, reduce the risk of backache and other discomforts, and find you get less tired
