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Parentpedia
Getting Your Body Ready for Pregnancy
If you're thinking about having a baby, start living as though you're already pregnant. Here are some ideas to help you prepare, but first, talk to your doctor so he can advise you about specific changes you need to make.
Eating and Nutrition
As soon as you decide to start trying, consider taking a prenatal vitamin but discuss it with your doctor first. Also, it's fine if you're already taking a general multivitamin, but be sure to tell your doctor if you're taking any specially formulated vitamins, especially those with herbs or an extra vitamin boost. Not all of them are safe to take while pregnant.
And, while you're at your doctor's office talking about vitamins, go ahead and chat about the rest of your diet, too, to find out what nutrition recommendations he has.
Exercise
Now is not the time to start training for your first marathon, but if you don't have a regular exercise routine, think about starting a workout habit. Most women will be able to exercise throughout their pregnancies, so why not start now before the morning sickness kicks in?
Lifestyle
Once you're ready to try to conceive, quit smoking and put aside that after-dinner glass of wine. Cigarettes and alcohol are two big no-nos while you're pregnant. Also check in with your doctor to discuss any prescription or over-the-counter drugs you're taking so you can be sure they're safe during pregnancy.
Doing all of this upfront work before you get pregnant gives you a head start in two ways:
- It's a lot easier to change habits over the long-haul than to quit cold turkey the day you get a positive test.
- If you get that positive test sooner than you expected, you won't be frantic worrying about the things you did over weekend that now you wish you hadn't.
Besides, getting into optimum health can help head off pregnancy difficulties now and post-partum issues later.
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