Congratulations! You and your spouse are ready to enter one of life’s most rewarding experiences, having a child. This is a pretty important milestone in life that you’ve probably thought a lot about. My name is Erica Johnson and I am the main editor for InnerParents, a website for parents (to be). Today I am sharing 5 of the best ways to prepare your body for pregnancy.
1. Stop taking birth control
For me this was one of the most exciting first steps. After being on birth control for my entire teen and adult life, I didn’t know what life was like taking that little blue pill every day. To tell you the truth, it wasn’t so different, except I had a knew-found excitement that I could actually get pregnant! When your first period starts, so does your first cycle of trying to conceive. Depending on your body and the type of birth control you were on, results can be really different. Some women get pregnant right away, others might take a few months.
2. Start taking a Multivitamin
As soon as you decide you are going to try and conceive, you’ll want to pick up a pre-natal multivitamin. This isn’t just for your health, but for your baby’s too. Look for something that contains Folic Acid, or purchase a second Folic Acid supplement. This will help prevent any neural tube defects that can occur during early pregnancy. Make sure that you are taking at least 400 to 800 mg per day.
3. Diet and Exercise
Eating a balanced diet and getting exercise is an important part of preparing your body for pregnancy. Try incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into your diet and limit your exposure to unhealthy toxins. Get up and move your body between 4 and 5 times a week. If you’re coming from the coach, start with 10 to 15 minute walks a day and gradually work your way up to 30 minutes. You’ll want to target 150 minutes of exercise a week.
4. Commit to Healthier Living
If you haven’t already, you’ll want to quit smoking and drinking alcohol, along with any other harmful and potentially toxic activities. Not only do these activities make it difficult to get pregnant, they don’t provide healthy environment for your little one’s first weeks of life. Furthermore is may take your body some time to completely detox for years of smoking or months of drinking. Try cutting out these toxins as early as you can.
5. Get a Checkup
Letting your doctor know you are trying to get pregnant and keeping up with your physicals can help to ensure that you are in good physical condition for pregnancy. Your doctor will examine you and possibly request blood work to look at your levels. During your visit you can also bring up any health concerns you may have.
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