Giving birth to a healthy bouncing baby calls for a little bit of planning and, yes, preparation. Unfortunately, most women of childbearing age think care only starts during pregnancy.

Well, now you know that’s not the proper way to go about it. In this article, we’ll give you some tips that will go a long way in helping you prepare for pregnancy.

How to Prepare for Pregnancy

If you are interested in being a mother, follow these outlined guide:

1. Make appointments with your doctor

Though you might feel healthy and ready for pregnancy, it’s always important to consult with your doctor for relevant advice.

The doctor will likely talk you through a list of medicines, herbs, and foods you may or may not take.

Also, your doctor will highlight potential pregnancy-related problems and necessary vaccinations that you might need.

2. Stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking, and reduce your caffeine intake significantly.

Besides increasing the odds of miscarriage, this trio (caffeine, alcohol, and cigarette) is also known to make it harder for you to conceive.

Similarly, avoid supplements and other medicines that are not prescribed by your doctor. Herbal preparations and street drugs aren’t any safer. You may want to avoid them too unless prescribed by a qualified doctor.

3. Avoid environmental contaminants

If you’re considering having a baby soon, then you should start avoiding exposure to toxic substances such as fertilizers, synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, etc.

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Exposure to such substances before or during pregnancy has been shown to lead to birth defects and childhood diseases.

4. Eat healthy foods

Before you get pregnant, it’s important to strive to always eat a balanced diet whenever possible. That’s to say you should eat foods that are high in proteins and low in calories.

Avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine. Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products. Note that you may have to limit dairy intake once you conceive.

5. Vitamins and folic acids

Folic acid supplements and vitamins are vital to prepare you for pregnancy. Folic acid is necessary to reduce the risk of birth defects. Remember not to take too much of the vitamins.

Too much of anything is dangerous. Research studies on the effects of high doses of essential vitamins on animal models have shown increased incidences of birth defects at high doses.

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Therefore, the recommended daily dose of folic acid is 400 mg before and during pregnancy.

6. Work out regularly.

Exercise helps ready your body for the changes that will occur during pregnancy. It is therefore important to hit the gym or jog for 30 minutes or an hour daily for at least 5 days a week.

7. Maximize rest and minimize stress

To boost your odds of conception, it’s advisable to reduce stress and take time off tedious activities. I can’t stress this enough.

Research has shown that depression, anxiety, and other psychological stressors can reduce your chances of conception, albeit with a small margin. It’s much better to be free of any form of stress, both physical and psychological.

8. Stop taking contraceptive pills

When you finally decide to have a baby, you will have to stop taking your birth control pills. Considering that the effects of some birth control methods take time to wane, you may want to stop taking your pills a couple of months prior.

Robert Greene, M.D, in his book Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility says that the sooner you stop your pills the easier it will be for you to track your menstrual flow.

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This is important for the purposes of knowing your ovulation cycles. If you still miss your periods three months after stopping the pill, contact your doctor for further assistance. 

9. Seek advice from your parents, friends, and close relatives

You may want to learn a little more about what to expect. Inquiring about pregnancy from close relatives and parents might give you some insights on possible hereditary pregnancy-related concerns in your family lineage.

You may want to share such info with your doctor so that they may advise appropriately.

10. Discuss with your partner

If you are trying to conceive, it’s highly likely that you and your partner are always discussing your experiences and journey together. In fact, if you’ve been trying for some time without much success, you may want to seek the help of a gynecologist together.

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The bottom line is, you and your partner should be part and parcel of the journey every bit of the way.

Methods of Preventing Pregnancy

With so many methods of contraception in the market, getting frisky is no longer a risky business. And you know what? Some of the contraceptives also protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

So, before settling on a method, it’s important to decide on what it is that you want. Typical concerns when choosing a method of contraception would be:

• Which method suits you best?
• Which methods also protect against STIs.
• Which methods are best in terms of convenience.
• Which methods are most effective?
• Which methods are cost-effective?
• What are the side effects associated with each method?

That being said, let’s get started with our list of the various methods of contraception.

Note that we won’t recommend any of these methods. Read for yourself and consult your doctor on what’s best for you.

a). Condoms

A very common contraceptive that also protects against STIs. The contraception method is available in both female and male varieties. Besides, condoms are hormone-free and available on demand.

Even with the advantages, this contraceptive method also has some downsides. For instance, condoms may burst during intercourse leading to accidental infections and pregnancy.

Also, they are not recommended for individuals who are allergic to latex.

b). Oral contraceptive pills

This another very popular method of contraception. They come in two distinct types: combined oral contraceptives (which contain both estrogen and progesterone) and mini pill ( contains either estrogen or progesterone).

This method has plenty of advantages including allowing for uninterrupted sex, reducing acne, and reducing premenstrual pain.

Some notable downsides would include the inability to protect against STIs, only available for women only, and lastly, estrogen-only mini pills may not be suitable for some women.

c). Intrauterine Device (IUD)

This is a long-acting contraception method. IUD is a T-shaped device that’s inserted in the womb. It releases progesterone hormone in pulses and this alters the normal ovulation cycles.

It can be used for anywhere between 3-10 years. At times, it can be used as an emergency contraceptive if used within five 120 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.

Some common complaints about this method include irregular bleeding and spotting within the first 6 months of use. Also, the method doesn’t protect against STIs.

d). Contraceptive Implant

Another highly effective long-acting contraceptive lasting up to 3 years. The implant is basically a flexible rod placed under the skin of a woman’s upper arm. Its mechanism of action is by releasing pulses of hormone progesterone thereby interfering with ovulation cycles.

It also thickens cervical mucus thus impeding fertilization by blocking the entry of sperm into the uterus. It also comes with some disadvantages. For instance, there may be instances of irregular bleeding. Also, the method does not protect against STIs.

e). Contraceptive injection

This contraception method has a 12 week efficacy period. It involves the injection of a synthetic version of progesterone into a woman’s buttocks or upper arm. Some notable downsides include irregular periods and bleeding.

Also, you will have to keep track of the number of weeks since the injection because its efficacy often wanes towards the lapse of the 12 week period. In addition, it doesn’t protect against STIs.

f). Emergency contraception pill (“Morning After” Pill)

This is the typical go-to contraceptive for preventing up to 85% of unexpected pregnancies.

It has a 72-hour efficacy window and should be taken soon after unprotected sex, but not later than 72 hours. Typical side effects include nausea, vomiting, and delayed periods.

That’s it for the methods of contraception. And like I said earlier, consult a qualified doctor or medical practitioner on the best method for you.