Preconception: Women’s Health

Pregnancy is not a nine-month journey, but a year-long journey. As the first few weeks are the most crucial to the child’s development, a woman should strive to be healthy and avoid potentially harmful substances before conception. Some habits are more difficult to break than others, and some health issues take time to address. In light of this, following a few simple guidelines can help you better prepare for pregnancy.

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Before becoming pregnant, make sure you break any habits that could be harmful to the child. These include:

• Smoking. According to the American Lung Association, smoking while pregnant accounts for an estimated 20 to 30 percent of low birth-weight babies, up to 14 percent of premature births and, most sobering, around 10 percent of infant deaths.
• Consuming alcohol. There is no such thing as a safe amount or level of alcohol during pregnancy.
• Using recreational drugs. Smoking marijuana during pregnancy puts one at risk for miscarriage, premature delivery, low birth weight, and future developmental and behavioral issues for the child. And this is only one example.
• Prescription drugs. Even drugs prescribed to you and used as directed can be teratogenic (cause birth defects). Discuss any prescription medications you are currently taking or have taken in the recent past with your doctor.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some common chemicals can also be teratogenic. For example, studies indicate that the greatest risk of exposure to pesticides is during the first 3 to 8 weeks of pregnancy, when the neural tube is developing. This is often before a woman is even aware of the pregnancy.
• Stress. While difficult to avoid and impossible to eliminate completely, stress has been linked to late or missed periods. This, in turn, creates difficulty in tracking your cycles and conceiving. Try to limit and/or avoid stress as much as possible.
• Herbs. While they seem harmless and even healthy, they are not regulated by the FDA. This means that there is little or no research on the affect they have on pregnancy. Like all over-the-counter medications, you should discuss with your doctor any that you currently use or have used in the recent past.
• Caffeine. Some studies suggest a link between consuming high levels of caffeine and delayed conception. A few have even shown the possibility of an increase in miscarriages in women who consume more than 300 mg daily. That’s the equivalent of 3 five-ounce cups of coffee.

For optimum preconception health, replace these habits with new, healthy ones. These include:

• Exercise. Start now. Determine what you want to accomplish (weight loss, gain, building muscle, increasing lung capacity) and set goals for yourself accordingly. Some great, simple exercise options include walking, swimming, bicycling and aerobics. Yoga is also an excellent choice. It incorporates posture, breathing and concentration, all of which come into play during delivery. Discuss with you doctor the best option for you.
• Reading. Read books on pregnancy and childbirth in order to be educated and prepared.
• Tracking your menstrual cycles. This is important as your doctor will ask you about them. You need to be able to provide answers in order to assist him or her in your care. It will also help you predict ovulation, thereby increasing your chances of conception. Products to Help Track Ovulation
• Practicing relaxation techniques. Relaxation can help in dealing with and minimizing stress. Stress is bad for your health anytime, but as noted above, it has a particularly negative effect on conception and pregnancy. Again, try yoga, or simply listen to some soft, relaxing music while soaking in a warm bath.
• Sleeping adequately. If you are not getting 8 hours of sleep each night, start now. Getting enough sleep also helps to alleviate stress and tension.
• Eating healthy. Proper nutrition for conception is vital to your health at any time, but especially now. The healthier you are, the easier your pregnancy will

If you are what you eat, how much more so is a child? Be sure there are plenty of vitamins in your diet, and start taking folic acid now. Studies show that taking 300-400 mcg a day of folic acid before conception can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Order Prenatal Vitamins with folic acid. For more information on recommended amounts of vitamins during pregnancy (same for preconception), see our chart on Essential Nutrients & Vitamins. Maintaining an ideal weight Body weight plays a significant role in both conception and pregnancy. When attempting to conceive, avoid being over or under weight. See the following guidelines for each situation to accomplish this.

• Underweight (10% below normal weight range)
• Exercise to build muscle
• Increase caloric intake
• Eat at least three meals a day
• Eat more at each meal
• Snack more often
• Drink milk and juice Overweight (20% above normal weight range)
• Find or create a realistic diet plan
• Be sure your diet plan provides adequate nutrition
• Drink plenty of water
• Combine your diet with exercise

Make a doctor appointment

Discuss any plans or attempts at weight loss or weight gain, as well as any diet plan, with your doctor. It is important to visit your doctor before becoming pregnant. You might have a medical condition that you are unaware of which could affect your pregnancy. Some of the most common ones are:

• Diabetes. If you know or suspect you are diabetic, you should get it under control. Pregnancy increases the risk for diabetes and can create complications for the diabetic mother.
• High blood pressure. If you have elevated blood pressure prior to pregnancy, you need to monitor it very closely during pregnancy.
• Anemia. A complete blood count, or CBC, can measure your hemoglobin level, your white and red blood cell counts, and the appearance of your platelets. Anemia during pregnancy can cause fatigue and weakness.
• Thyroid issues. The test for this is a blood test that measures your thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can result in premature delivery and low birth weight of left untreated. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can cause infertility or miscarriage if left untreated.
• STD’s, or sexually transmitted diseases. Chlamydia can cause an ectopic pregnancy or lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) if left untreated. This, in turn, can cause infertility. And this is only one example.

Other common preconception tests and screenings are:

• Pap smear. This common test checks for cervical dysplasia.
• Breast exam. Mammograms are recommended for women over the age of 35.
• Blood type. Women who are found to be RH negative must be desensitized prior to delivery.
• Immunity to rubella, or measles. The March of Dimes recommends that all women be tested for immunity to rubella before conceiving. If no immunity is found, it is recommended that they consider being vaccinated at that time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends waiting at least 4 weeks after receiving the vaccination before attempting to get pregnant.
• Immunity to Varicella, or chicken pox. As with rubella, it is recommended that all women be tested for immunity to chicken pox prior to conceiving. If not immune, vaccination is recommended. The CDC recommends waiting at least 4 weeks before trying to conceive after this vaccination also.

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See also: Pre-Conception: Men’s Health