Get Your Body Ready For Pregnancy

Prenatal care? Check. Read pregnancy books? Check. Take prenatal vitamins? Check.

There are a lot of things a woman should do when she is pregnant. But did you know there are also things she should do before becoming pregnant? The decision to grow a family is one of the most important and joyous times in a woman's life. It's a time spent imagining the future, picking names and choosing nursery colors. However, before a woman even gets pregnant, she should start thinking about her own body and making lifestyle changes.

"Preconception health is the most vital time to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby," said John Monk, DO, an OBGYN with Franciscan Physician Network Crown Point Health Center.

Key Takeaways: Prepare Your Body For Pregnancy

• A healthy pregnancy starts before conception. Scheduling a preconception checkup allows you to review your medical history, medications, lifestyle habits and overall health with your provider before becoming pregnant.
• Managing chronic health conditions before pregnancy is essential. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other medical conditions can increase the risk of pregnancy complications for both mother and baby.
• Nutrition and supplements play a critical role in pregnancy preparation. Eating a balanced diet rich in leafy greens, healthy fats and whole foods, while taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, can support fertility and help reduce the risk of certain birth defects.
• Pregnancy preparation is important for both parents. Healthy habits such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods and managing stress can support fertility and contribute to healthier outcomes for both mom and baby.

Do I Need A Preconception Checkup?

All women considering pregnancy should schedule a preconception check-up where they will be started on prenatal vitamins, undergo blood work, have a pap smear and discuss their current medications, family history and previous pregnancies.

"This is a time to be very open with your doctor about your lifestyle and past history," Dr. Monk said. Topics such as smoking, alcohol, marijuana and drug use will also be discussed, and he stresses there is no safe level of any of these activities during pregnancy.

Smoking can lead to low birth rates, preterm labor, and slower healing after you have the baby. Even if you're already pregnant, stopping smoking will benefit you and your baby.

What If I Have A Chronic Medical Condition?

Increasingly, moms in the United States are starting their pregnancies already having heart risks like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and obesity. A new study finds that 60% -- even higher in some states -- of pregnant women have one or more of these complications of pregnancy, according to a study published in the journal Circulation.

The number of women entering pregnancy with high blood pressure has nearly doubled in a decade, new research finds. The most common of those three heart health risk factors was being overweight or obese. Only about 42% of women ages 30 to 34 had good heart health, as did 37% of those ages 40 to 44.

Blood pressure levels going into pregnancy make a difference in the health of mom and baby. If a mother's blood pressure is high in pregnancy, she faces a greater risk of complications, such as preeclampsia, preterm labor and delivery, and kidney problems. And babies born to women with high blood pressure have an increased risk of developing heart and blood vessel disease later in life.

The risks of heart disease before pregnancy can be significant. About 1 in 4 pregnancy-related deaths is caused by heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Their babies may be born early or small for their gestational age. And the effects of having poor heart health during pregnancy can affect the children for years.

For women with chronic medical conditions, it is important to have the condition as well-controlled as possible before pregnancy with medications considered safe throughout pregnancy.

"It's not enough to just treat a medical condition," said Walter Harry, MD, a Franciscan Physician Network board-certified maternal and fetal medicine specialist in Indianapolis. "It must be treated in a way that is safest for baby."

Do I Need Genetic Counseling Before Becoming Pregnant?

For some couples planning a pregnancy, underlying genetic abnormalities can cause a genetic condition in the future baby. For these couples, genetic counseling can play a vital role. Genetic counseling is a process to evaluate and understand a family's risk of an inherited medical condition. A genetic counselor is a healthcare professional with specialized training in medical genetics and counseling.

"The field of genetics is one of the most rapidly advancing areas of medicine and the role our genetic counselors play can't be over-emphasized," Dr. Harry said. Many of his patients fall into this category because they have a genetic condition themselves or they have a previous child born with a genetic abnormality. For these patients, genetic counselors can provide testing, education and in some cases, prevention, to help parents minimize risk and optimize health.

How Should I Eat Before I Become Pregnant?

Getting healthy before pregnancy reduces the chances of gestational diabetes and hypertension, healthy eating is key, said Pamela Lynch, MD, a family medicine physician who delivers babies at Franciscan Health Mooresville.

I don't like to use the word "diet" because it's all about choosing healthy nutrition, which is what helps regulate hormones and increase the chances of becoming pregnant," she said.

Dr. Lynch recommends:

• Eating more leafy greens and healthy fats such as salmon, nuts and avocados
• Eliminating processed foods
• Reducing sugars and grains

Should I Be Taking Prenatal Vitamins Or Supplements?

One of the most important things that can be discussed with an obstetrician is the use of prenatal vitamins, even before a woman is pregnant, said Ashley Monk, DO, a Franciscan Physician Network obstetrician/gynecologist in Crown Point, Ind.

“Prenatal vitamins should be taken before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding,” she said. "There are many benefits to taking a prenatal vitamin before pregnancy. Ensuring you have adequate intake of folic acid is the main reason. However, other vitamins (such as vitamin D) can help regulate hormone balance, which play a big part in fertility and over all general health."

Prenatal vitamins have a higher level of vitamins that pregnant women need to develop a healthy baby. Some of the most important supplements and nutrients within a prenatal vitamin include:

• Folic acid: Reduces the chance of a neural tube defect, which is a condition that negatively impacts the brain and spine of a fetus. "Few things can have such an important impact as taking folic acid," Dr. Harry said. "In addition to preventing open neural tube defects such as spina bifida, research is also showing that folic acid may prevent other birth defects, too."
• Iron: Helps the placenta by increasing blood in the body to create oxygen for the baby and prevent anemia.
• Vitamin D and Calcium: Assist with the growth of the infant’s bones and teeth.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Assist the development process of the baby’s brain.

Dr. Monk doesn’t recommend using herbals, essential oils, and other natural products as an alternative to supplements because they haven’t been studied enough.

“If you are taking prenatal vitamins and eating a balanced diet, women will get what they and baby need,” she said.

What Medications Are OK To Use During Pregnancy?

The CDC has stated that 90% of pregnant women in the United States use medication. Thankfully many medications are safe to use during pregnancy. The key to safely using medication while pregnant is talking to your healthcare provider before taking or stopping a medication.

There are three areas that you should be discussing with your provider when it comes to medications:

1. Overall health goals for you and your baby.
2. Medications, supplements, and vitamins that you currently use.
3. Methods for managing health conditions that you may have.

“Ideally, prescription medications are discussed at a visit before pregnancy occurs,” said Hollyn McCarty, MD, a Franciscan Physician Network obstetrician/gynecologist in Lafayette, Ind.

If a medication is considered safe for a developing baby, pregnant women can continue taking it. If it’s not safe, your OBGYN or healthcare provider will likely look for alternatives.

There is no safe amount of illicit drugs, alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco. If a pregnant woman uses any of these substances, she should talk to her provider about her usage immediately.

Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

Plenty of foods hold the nutrients you need during pregnancy, but several foods should be avoided. These include foods containing:

• Mercury: Some seafood contains high mercury, which can affect your baby’s nervous system. Dr. McCarty recommends salmon and tilapia as safer options.
• Caffeine: While caffeine can affect the placenta, it’s unclear how the baby may be impacted, so keep any caffeine products to a minimum.
• Herbal Tea: Like caffeine, there isn’t much information on how specific herbs can impact the growing baby, so it’s best to talk to your provider beforehand.
• Alcohol: It’s recommended to avoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy. Yes, including food cooked with alcohol.

The way food is prepared matters. Undercooked eggs, meat, seafood, unpasteurized food, and unwashed goods can potentially hold bacteria and viruses, leading to foodborne illnesses.

Dr. McCarty also suggests staying in touch with the news regarding food-related illnesses.

“Pay attention to news regarding local and national recalls and outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella in foods such as salad mixes and poultry,” she said.

What Health Changes Should Dad Make?

When planning a new baby, future dads can prepare their bodies, too.

In the study of nearly 786,000 births, researchers found that dads who weren't in the best of health were more likely to have preterm and low birth weight infants who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Specifically, fathers with conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, cancer or depression had 19% higher odds of having a preterm infant, 23% higher odds of having a low birth weight infant and 28% higher odds of having an infant who needed a stay in the NICU, the researchers found.

Tips for dads-to-be include:

• Stop smoking. Tobacco use negatively affects sperm. Additionally, second hand smoke in the home increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Choose healthy foods and stay hydrated. Healthy nutrition and adequate water consumption both increase male fertility.
• Exercise. Moderate exercise can reduce stress and increase male fertility.
• Make sleep a priority. Quality sleep balances testosterone levels and can help reduce stress.
• Communicate. Focus on good communication with your partner and make sure both future parents are ready for the stresses of a new family member.

"It's easier for mom to be healthy if dad is on board," said Dr. John Monk. "I love to see couples make a group effort and support each other during this exciting time in life."