9 Steps For Pre Pregnancy Planning For Female and Male

Having a baby is an exciting experience in every couples’ life. A number of things should be considered as pre pregnancy planning, before becoming pregnant. Although plans and dream for the future of your baby is really important, you should take some plan into consideration, to prepare yourself for pregnancy and having healthy baby.

In this article on Hipregnancy, we will discuss pre pregnancy planning and all you need to change about your lifestyle to have a better start and give birth to a smart, healthy child. Keep reading to the end to know how you can manage your pregnancy period.

Also Read: pre pregnancy test

Is it necessary to have pre pregnancy planning?

It would be best if you had planned for everything you want to do in your life. Now, think about pregnancy. Isn’t it important enough to have planned? Of course, yes. You should prepare yourself for having a baby.

Usually, you get pregnant within the first year of trying for a baby. But even before that, you should have planned. In other words, planning for pregnancy should be before conception if you want a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Everything you do before conception directly effects on your chances of getting pregnant and reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage or preterm labor. Therefore, you should plan for your pregnancy, search and think about what you can do to have a better experience of getting pregnant, and then conceive.

The following steps will help you to start your journey of pregnancy better. Keep reading, and don’t miss any part to prepare for pregnancy and give birth to a healthier baby.

Also Read: best books to read before getting pregnant

Pre pregnancy planning for females, “9 steps“

Getting pregnant is not simple, and you require doing several things to improve your chances of getting pregnant. In other words, preparing the body for pregnancy is a must to increase the chance of pregnancy.

Here is a useful list of pre pregnancy planning containing important steps to help you have a healthy pregnancy. Let’s see how to start pregnancy planning;

• Track your cycle.

One of the most important parts of pre-pregnancy planning is tracking your cycle. You need to be familiar with your menstrual cycle if you want to know what the best time to get pregnant is.

It would be best if you recorded when your period starts and ends; this can help you to know the length of your cycle and its changes from month to month. According to studies, the average length is about 28 days, but in some cases, it may differ and range from 21 to 35 days. Don’t be worried if you fall into the second group! It is normal too, and isn’t a sign of a problem.

Besides noting your menstrual cycle, note irregular bleeding, and spotting, and physical signs of ovulation like a rise in basal body temperature and stretchy, clear cervical mucus. If it is hard for you to note the mentioned things, you can use mobile apps specifically designed to help you.

Also Read: Can You Get LASIK While Pregnant

• Stop taking birth control pills.

Ladies who want to get pregnant should stop taking birth control pills a couple of months before trying for a baby. This step should be your priority because your hormones should return to their normal levels, to maximize your chance of getting pregnant.

It is better to mention that if your menstrual cycle still isn’t normal after three months of putting birth control pills aside, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

• Take a folic acid supplement.

Hipregnancy recommends that all ladies take folic acid supplement, specially those who want to get pregnant, have a chance of getting pregnant, or are in pregnancy. You should take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid before pregnancy and until the end of the first three months of your pregnancy.

Consider that, if you take antiepileptic medication, have diabetes, or even have a family history of neural tube defects, you should consult your doctor about the exact amount of folic acid your body needs.

• Get enough iodine

Your body requires iodine to produce of thyroid hormones, which play a key role in the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus. You can get iodine from foods, but often it is not enough. If you are trying for a baby, you need to take approximately 150 mcg of iodine per day; this should be one of your pre pregnancy planning.

If you have thyroid problems, you should consult your doctor before starting iodine supplement.

• Limit your caffeine intake.

Caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage, so you should take it seriously and limit your caffeine consumption if you want to try for a baby. According to studies, consuming about 200 mg of caffeine daily is safe.

Coffee, green tea, black tea, soda, energy drinks, and even pain medications contain some levels of caffeine and should be consumed in moderation. In addition, you should be aware of your caffeine intake during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, to decrease the risk of miscarriage.

• Start saving money.

You should save money for pregnancy and all your baby needs after birth. Therefore, you should save your money before conception and have enough budget for going to a doctor, having a healthy pregnancy diet, checkups, labor, etc. In addition, you need extra money after childbirth for diapers, nursery furniture, baby’s clothes, and other baby expenses.

• Ask your relatives about their pregnancies.

It is better to ask your family members, such as mom, sister, aunt, or even grandma, about their pregnancies, how long it took for them to get pregnant, and whether they have experienced preterm labor, or other issues. In addition, you and your partner should know your family’s genetic history for congenital disabilities.

In the preconception appointment you should tell your doctor all you know about your family’s pregnancy history; this can help your doctor to guide you better before conception and during your pregnancy and also inform you what affects your fertility or the chance of getting pregnant.

• Make a preconception appointment.

Hipregnancy advises you to visit your doctor before trying for a baby. It is an important part of your pregnancy planning because your doctor should check whether you are ready for getting pregnant or not. Your blood pressure, vaccination, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and many other things should be checked.

You can make a list of getting pregnant questions and ask all of them during your appointment; this can help you have the best possible start, safe pregnancy without any complications, and a healthy baby.

Also Read: questions to ask doctor before getting pregnant

• Quit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

You should know that if you take drugs or drink alcohol, your lifestyle should be changed even before trying for a baby. Hipregnancy warns you about smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs before pregnancy, due to the following reasons;

• Smoking can increase the chance of preterm labor.
• Drinking alcohol can put the baby at risk of fetal alcohol syndrome.
• And taking drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, etc, can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and congenital disabilities.

As a result, you should avoid drinking alcohol, or taking drugs, if you are planning for pregnancy and your baby’s health is imprtant for you.

Pre pregnancy planning for male

Both men and women should be healthy to have a healthy baby and follow some steps before trying for a baby. Men should avoid doing things that can have negatively impact their fertility and should have a healthy lifestyle to increase their partner’s chance of getting pregnant.

Here are the most vital steps that men should pay attention to and follow to prepare themselves for being fathers;

• Try for a baby before your 40s
• Have a general medical checkup before conceiving
• Quit smoking
• Exercise regularly
• Have a healthy, nutritious diet
• Limit your exposure to some chemicals, like heavy metals, and pesticides
• Be in a normal and healthy weight range
• Avoid recreational drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and marijuana
• Reduce your alcohol consumption and keep it within safe limits

All the above steps should be followed as a plan for conception if you want to have a healthy baby. Remember, couples should prepare their body before trying for a baby to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.

How to plan for pregnancy after a period?

If you plan for pregnancy after a period, you should know the best time to have sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Here we want to tell you when the right time is to try for a baby.

Overall, the chance of getting pregnant is more during the two days before and the day of ovulation. Ovulation is the time that an egg is released from the ovary. If the egg and sperm meet then, you should wait for a baby in the next nine months.

You should know when the ovulation happens to determine the right time to plan for pregnancy after a period. The ovulation happens 14 days before your period starts. For example, if your cycle 28 days, the ovulation will be around day 14, and the best time to have sex to get pregnant is between days 11 and 14.

It is good to know that the vaginal mucus becomes clear and slippery a few days before you ovulate; this can help you know the time for trying to get pregnant. Another way is to use an ovulation predictor kit. You can test your urine with the kit, and if it shows a positive result, you might ovulate in the next 24-36 hours.

Conclusion

Everyone who wants to have a baby should have pre-pregnancy planning; this can help them prepare for having a healthy pregnancy and taking care of their future baby as well as possible. In this article, we discussed some of the top steps that ladies and their partners should pay attention to before conception.

We are eager to know about your experiences, “Did you have pre pregnancy planning? What did you do before trying for a baby?”  Share your answers with us and other moms-to-be.

FAQ

How to prepare for pregnancy after 30?

Several things should be done to prepare body for pregnancy in your 30s, including getting weight in a healthy range, quitting alcohol, following a healthy diet, limiting caffeine intake, exercising, tracking your cycle, having sex every two or three days, taking a folic acid supplement, etc. It is recommended to consult your doctor before planning for pregnancy and ask your health professional what you should do and should not.