Photo by casalatina on Flickr
Some people may not be so methodical when planning to have a child. In fact, some don’t even plan a child at all – it just happens. But, being methodical in nature, my husband and I not only plan when to have a baby, we also plan the steps we take to prepare ourselves for the upcoming pregnancy.
No, no…don’t get me wrong. We are not planning every step necessary to conceive a child (though we are loosely tracking my cycle and ovulation dates). What I mean, rather, is that we took steps to prepare our bodies for conceiving. Me more than him, obviously, since I’ll be the one actually growing our new son or daughter. But, even men should take steps to ensure they are healthy, and in turn, that their baby is healthy.
For me, though, I had to take a few extra steps due to some medical issues I had after my last pregnancy. A few weeks after my baby girl was born, I went through some horrible lower back/leg pain and was unable to walk very well. Physical therapy took care of that, but I still have pain every now and again. Of course, I wish to lessen the chance of pain after the next pregnancy. I also wanted to be sure I was up to date on physicals and that my body was in proper condition for being pregnant and giving birth. So, what did I do to help ensure my body is ready for pregnancy?
Preparing Your Body for Pregnancy
- Schedule a physical with your primary doctor.
- Schedule your annual gynecologic (GYN) exam (if you haven’t had it that year already).
- Follow up on any lingering medical issues and necessary exams.
- Begin taking prenatal vitamins.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Exercise.
- Drink water.
Like I mentioned earlier, even men need to take care of themselves when you’re trying to conceive. They do make up 1/2 of that baby after all. What are some simple things men can do before trying to have a baby? Much of the same steps women take can be done by men as well, with the exception of a GYN exam and prenatal vitamins, of course. However, taking a daily vitamin and cutting out on drinking alcohol are two really simple, yet often overlooked items men can do before conceiving a child.
What other tips do you have for women who are trying to conceive a child? Did you take any special steps to prepare yourself for pregnancy?
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