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Foods to Avoid: Fish high in mercury, such as swordfish,
shark, tilefish, king mackerel and tuna.
It’s best to avoid or limit your
alcoholic consumption while trying to become pregnant.
Foods to Enjoy:
There are no specific foods that will
help you get pregnant, but you do need to eat a healthy diet including protein,
folate and calcium. |
Planning your wedding may have taken a team of family and friends – if not the assistance of a wedding planner – as well as a detailed planning notebook. You've probably got a notebook full of fabric samples, floor plans and pictures of furniture as you move forward with your family's "dream home." Now you're envisioning a new addition to the family – and that should involve a plan, too.
"Just as you would plan any important event in your life, you need to take special steps to plan for your pregnancy," recommends Frances Smith, M.D., Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. "Look at your physician as your health care advisor and advocate during this time. We can help guide you and your spouse or partner through it."
Dr. Smith and her colleagues at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic recommend that you take four basic pre-pregnancy steps before becoming pregnant.
1. Get a Physical
Dr. Smith suggests that women preparing for pregnancy should visit their doctor for a physical, to establish whether they have any chronic medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, seizures, etc.
"It's better to get these conditions under control before getting pregnant," says Dr. Smith. "Not doing so could affect the pregnancy, and in some cases, potentially result in birth defects."
2. Take Your Vitamins
Dr. Smith recommends that moms-to-be begin taking pre-natal vitamins before the pregnancy. "Women who are trying to become pregnant should take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day," Dr. Smith says. "Pre-natal vitamins contain folic acid, which decreases the chance of neural tube defects like Spina Bifida."
3. Update Your Immunizations
If you haven't had Varicella, commonly known as "chickenpox," ask your doctor to check your immunity to it, or get vaccinated. Contracting chickenpox during the pregnancy can be dangerous for the mother and may cause birth defects in the baby.
Dr. Smith recommends that women planning a pregnancy should also have their immunity to Rubella checked. "Women should make sure they are current on their Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine," she says. "Get vaccinated now to prevent complications during pregnancy."
Dr. Smith recommends an Influenza shot for all pregnant women during flu season. In addition, a Tetanus-Diphtheria booster is necessary every 10 years. She also suggests patients discuss Hepatitis A and B immunizations with their doctor.
4. Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise
Daily exercise and maintaining a well-balanced and healthy diet are vital to a healthy Mom, which helps to produce a healthy baby.
"There are no specific foods that will help you get pregnant," says Dr. Smith, "but you do need to eat a healthy diet, including protein, folate and calcium." (See the accompanying box for foods to avoid and foods to enjoy.)
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, all fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before consumption. Listeriosis, an illness caused by bacteria found in certain food, can also cause miscarriage and can cause serious problems for a fetus.