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If you are planning to have a baby, ensure that are you at your optimal health before this new life begins to grow inside you. Your baby will have been developing for 2 weeks before you have missed your period. So if you are planning to get pregnant you have to know and follow the following information’s to take care of your baby before you are pregnant.

Preconception care is how a woman prepares and cares for her baby before her pregnancy. So if you are planning to have a baby this article contains more information’s for you.

Nutrition intake during preconception

There is an old saying ‘You are what you eat’? Yes that’s true, and now you are growing a whole new little person inside you, it’s time to consider what you have to and not to eat.

The guidelines for eating well during the pre-conception phase are the same as when you are pregnant. The basics of a good diet hold true, as always:

• Have more grains, cereals, rice and pasta, rather than fats and sugars so that you can obtains more energy
• Eat 6 portions of fruit and vegetables a day - particularly green leafy vegetables, which are high in iron and folic acid
• Obtain dairy products which is rich in calcium and energy
• Consume meat, fish and pulses which contains high proteins
• Minimize the quantity of in taking fats and refined sugars each day.

What is Rubella immunity

Women who are planning to have children should have their Rubella immunity checked by means of a blood test before becoming pregnant. If they have no antibodies to the virus they need to receive the vaccine and then wait at least three months before trying for a baby.

Rubella (German measles) can do serious damage to the fetus, causing congenital rubella syndrome which remains dangerous to the fetus throughout the whole pregnancy. Especially if it is caught by a woman during the first 3 months of pregnancy this can cause serious birth defects, such as deafness and heart defects, miscarriage or stillbirth.
Pregnant women need to be checked for their Rubella immunity status during each pregnancy, as immunity can reduce over time. If they are found to be not immune they will be offered a rubella vaccine after the birth of their baby, to protect any future pregnancies.

Smoking during pregnancy

Well you’ve never had a better reason to quit smoking than now.

Smoking is a risk to your fetus. It reduces the baby’s chances of their full potential growth in the womb and also increases the chances of complications such as premature birth.

Baby’s chances of respiratory problems and ‘cot death’ also increases. Even the baby might be prone asthma and other allergic conditions.

There is a lot of support available in the community to help you to quit smoking. Ring your GP's surgery and check whether they offer smoking cessation clinics and see web links below.

Essentiality of Folic acid in the preconception period

Approximately 200 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day should be there in our balanced diet which we can consume from green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits. It is advisable to take 800mcg folic acid daily prior to and during early pregnancy. Research shows that folic acid reduces the chances of the baby developing neural tube defects, such as spina bifida or anencephaly (where the brain, spinal cord or coverings of these vital organs have not developed as they should).

If you have a family history of spina bifida or any other neural tube defect, talk to your GP about taking a higher dose of folic acid at this time (5 grams).

Preventing toxoplasmosis before pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that is carried in cat faeces which can be harmful to your unborn child. If you have a cat at home, better ask someone else to handle the cat litter for you, to prevent catching toxoplasmosis or if there is no one to help you then wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly. You should also be very careful while gardening, as this bug can lurk in the soil.

Toxic chemicals

Stay away from potentially harmful chemicals and fumes; for example, insecticides or solvents whether at home or at work.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Some Sexually Transmitted Infections can be dangerous to the baby in pregnancy and birth. If you are planning to become pregnant and if you feel that there is any chance of having an infection it is better to undergo a health screen, in a local clinic at your GP surgery or sexual health clinic. This will usually involve vaginal and urethral (entrance to bladder) swabs and your partner will be encouraged to attend also.

Alcohol consumption and your baby

Women are advised to reduce their alcohol intake during pregnancy the amount varies from country to country. But as per the recent message it is better to cut out alcohol altogether to prevent a worrying condition called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), whereby the child has a level of intellectual impairment. This can happen due to excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but in some cases not only excessive quantities even small amounts of alcohol consumption by the mother in pregnancy may display symptoms of (FASD) in babies.

Quitting drugs before you are ready for your pregnancy

Illegal drugs should be strictly avoided during pregnancy. Consumption of illegal drugs in pregnancy can lead to irreversible harm to mother and baby like miscarriage, premature birth and placental abruption.

Prevention is better than cure

During pregnancy many medical conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy and hypertension (raised blood pressure) need to be carefully monitored time to time. It is advisable to check with your GP or your specialist before becoming pregnant, in order to receive their expert care and advice - right from the start.

Some of the tips to be followed:

• Consume liver once in a week, as it contains potentially dangerous high amounts of vitamin A
• Avoid soft non pasteurized cheeses due to a risk of listeria
• Avoid taking raw eggs and pre cooked chicken due to a risk of salmonella
• Don’t take ready or already prepared meats and salads which could contain harmful bacteria and be especially careful at those summer BBQs.
  

Exercise before and during pregnancy

Carry on your exercise as normal if you are in a good exercise routine. If you do not already do so this is an ideal time to adopt new exercising habits. Swimming and walking are ideal throughout pregnancy, and even more forms of exercise such as running and cycling are suitable for pre and during pregnancy, until you feel too cumbersome to continue.

Finally…

Many people have a question whether they are psychologically ready to start a family. There’s certainly no right answer to this! There would be no planned pregnancies if we all got to thinking about in too much detail about it! But you can talk to your partner about your hopes, aspirations, your own upbringing, and your thoughts on child rearing issues such as smacking and coping with crying babies. Make sure you are ready to settle down and put those travel plans on hold - at least for a little while!