Bump Pregnancy Planner and Journal

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Planning a pregnancy is an exciting time in your life, but it can also be overwhelming. Your doctor can guide you on what to do before getting pregnant to help you feel prepared and confident as you embark on your journey. From preconception counseling to lifestyle modifications, there is a variety of ways you can reduce risks for you and your baby. Preconception Counseling If you've been using hormonal contraception like the pill, patch, ring, implant, shot, or intrauterine device (or non-hormonal long-acting reversible contraception like the Paraguard IUD), plan to stop before you plan to start trying. When to stop depends on the type of birth control you're using, and you'll want to consult an OB-GYN or health care provider. If you're overweight, you may have problems getting pregnant and fertility treatment is less likely to work.

Planning for Pregnancy | Preconception Care | CDC Planning for Pregnancy | Preconception Care | CDC

Make healthy lifestyle choices – like eating well, cutting down on drinking alcohol, quitting smoking and getting active. Discussions with a woman's partner and her health care team, and includes discussions about nutrition and vitamins, exercise, genetic counseling, weight gain, and the need to avoid certain medications and alcohol. If you are taking medication for your health condition then it is important that you keep taking your medication until you’ve spoken to your healthcare professional. They will explain the safest options for you and the pregnancy you’re planning. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to your baby, and the more you drink, the greater the risk. It's recommended that you should take a daily supplement of folic acid when you're pregnant, or there's a chance you might get pregnant.

6. Keep it moving

People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk for many serious conditions, including complications during pregnancy, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon). 1 People who are underweight are also at risk for serious health problems. 2 The baby charity Tommy’s has produced a personalised tool that will help you work out where to start with planning a pregnancy and how to get any information or support you might need. Establishing good stress relief outlets now will help you during pregnancy and in the hectic first year of your baby’s life. If you have ever had deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, whether or not you are currently on treatment.

Pregnancy - NHS

After a miscarriage it is important to seek advice and support from your healthcare team about how to manage your diabetes well before getting pregnant again. Being overweight before and during pregnancy increases the risk of potentially dangerous pregnancy conditions, such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, some medicines are not safe and may be harmful to a developing baby - in particular, if you take them in the early weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, always tell a doctor or dentist who prescribes medication for you that you intend to become pregnant. Also, don't take medicines that you can buy over the counter (including herbal remedies) unless they are known to be safe in pregnancy. The pharmacist will advise you about this. Always tell a doctor or dentist who prescribes your medication that you intend to become pregnant. Women taking oral contraceptives who become pregnant are not believed to be at an increased risk for poor outcomes, although oral contraceptives should be discontinued immediately. Smoking, using drugs, and drinking alcohol can harm an unborn baby in a number of ways. Smoking exposes your baby to harmful chemicals, restricts blood flow, and may even cause preterm labor.When you're planning for a baby you should consider taking folic acid at least three months before you start trying. Folic acid, or folate, the natural form of folic acid found in food, is one of the B vitamins - vitamin B9. Folic acid reduces the risk of your baby having a neural tube defect, a condition where the baby’s brain and spinal cord does not form normally, which is seen in cases of spina bifida. Family medical history: An assessment of the maternal and paternal medical history will help determine if either parent has had medical conditions that might be passed to your child. Let your doctor know if anyone in your family has high blood pressure, diabetes, birth defects, an intellectual disability or other health concerns. You’re more likely to have a healthy baby if you manage your blood sugar levels before you get pregnant, as well as during pregnancy. Your HbA1c

Planning to Become Pregnant | Pregnancy Advice | Patient Planning to Become Pregnant | Pregnancy Advice | Patient

If you’re finding it difficult to get pregnant, it’s a good idea to talk to your GP. They will be able to give you more advice. Finding out that you’re pregnant If you want to conceive, you’ll need to discontinue any form(s) of birth control you’re using. You can get pregnant right away after stopping some types of contraception like birth control pills. In fact, many women get their first period within two weeks of quitting the pill. The more overweight you are, the greater the risk. Being underweight is also associated with problems in becoming pregnant and complications in pregnancy. If your BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, you have ideal body weight in preparation for pregnancy. Food and diet

5. Avoid Toxic Substances and Environmental Contaminants

If you find you need some extra support with your mental wellbeing, it can be accessed through your GP practice. Your healthcare professional can talk to you about treatments if you have symptoms that you feel are interfering with your day-to-day life. Periods and planning a pregnancy The first step in planning ahead is to make an appointment with your GP or Diabetes Specialist Nurse. You should do this before stopping any contraceptives. Good oral hygiene is encouraged year-round, but if you’ve been putting off your trip to the dentist, now’s your time to give them a call. Apart from good oral hygiene being important to looking lovely in your selfies, it can also impact your baby’s health. Exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle and is recommended for most pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Pregnancy Calendar | BabyCentre

Folic acid should ideally be taken two months before conception to build the level of the vitamin up in the body to give maximum protection. As 1 out of 3 women can get pregnant within a month, waiting until stopping contraception to take folic acid means that many are at risk of inadequate protection from neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Two women a week give birth to a baby affected by a neural tube defect that requires intensive lifelong medical care. Excessive weight loss or weight gain during this time can impact your menstrual cycles and make ovulation irregular, which can make trying to get pregnant difficult. Intimate partner violence (IPV) screening: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is physical, sexual or emotional abuse caused by a current or former spouse or partner. It can also include reproductive coercion and pregnancy coercion. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all people who are planning a pregnancy be screened for IPV. The Domestic Violence Hotline is a helpful resource if you’re experiencing any violence at home that might compromise your health or your future baby’s well-being. Services are confidential. Before a woman becomes pregnant, she can discuss her medical history with a doctor, focusing on the following:

You can buy supplements from a pharmacy. See also the separate leaflet called Vitamin D Deficiency for more information. Alcohol If you have not had both doses or there's no record available, you can have the vaccinations at your GP surgery. For hormonal birth control pills, you'll want to stop a couple of months before you plan to start trying for a baby, says Robert A. Greene, M.D., co-author of Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility. This timing gives you some time to evaluate your natural menstrual cycle and figure out when you're ovulating, which is the time of the month when you're most fertile.