No matter how you come to the conclusion that you’re ready to start a family, it’s a great idea to do your best to prepare your body for pregnancy before you actually get pregnant.
A healthy, viable pregnancy will automatically take from your body to sustain itself. That being said, even if your health is not that great, you can still sustain a pregnancy. But it’s going to be very hard on your body to keep up with the demands that that pregnancy will hold. I highly suggest preparing your body, nutritionally, physically, and mentally before beginning to try for a baby.
Adjust your lifestyle choices
Avoiding risky behaviors and creating good habits before you get pregnant is a great idea! Try cutting out alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, caffeine and other risky substances. Remove yourself from stressful situations and try to cut out toxic relationships, work towards financial stability, and avoid things that increase your anxiety.
Do your best to get enough good quality sleep every night. Getting good sleep and reducing your stress levels and can lower anxiety levels and help you function better every day. Everyone needs good sleep, whether you’re pregnant or not!
Make your home environment a safe, comfortable, quiet one. Try lighting candles when the sun goes down instead of turning on the lights. Play some soft music before bed. Read more books instead of scrolling on your phone. All of these actions can reduce overstimulation and contribute to your personal home life being calmer and quieter. I know this isn’t always possible, but do what you can for yourself!
Exercise daily
Daily exercise can help condition your body to carry and deliver a baby. Pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum; it’s all very taxing on your body. Exercising daily can help prepare your muscles and joints to hold all the extra weight of a baby. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day (whether that just be a walk or a light yoga session) is helpful. Try to focus on strengthening your deep core and your back, as those areas are stressed the most during pregnancy and postpartum. Go ahead and start a good prenatal exercise program or join a prenatal exercise class. These programs usually focus on strengthening the areas that need it most when pregnant while, at the same time, protecting the vulnerable parts of your body.
Exercise can also help you sleep better at night and can help lower your cortisol levels i.e. lowering anxiety and helping you relax.
Eat nutritionally dense foods
Pregnancy can leech the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients straight out of your body. Building up those nutritional stores before you’re pregnant can prepare your body to build another human being. They can also help sustain your muscles and tissues throughout the childbearing process. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, meat-based proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals are all essential for yours and your baby’s bodies to function properly.
Taking food based supplements like beef liver can help sustain the amounts of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, thiamine, riboflavin, and so much more! Introducing food-based supplements instead of synthetic supplements, can make all the difference in your overall health. Especially when you’re preparing to carry a baby.
Maintain a healthy weight
Not only is it easier for you to get pregnant and stay pregnant if you are at a healthy body weight, but maintaining a healthy BMI can help your pregnancy run more smoothly and be a bit easier on your body. It’s unhealthy to be overweight or underweight, and those factors can affect your baby. Eating properly will help with this area of preconception maintenance, This is an important thing to discuss with your doctor at least 3-6 months before trying to get pregnant. Everyone’s body is different and what some may consider “underweight” or “overweight” may be perfectly healthy for you.
Talk to a therapist
Pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting are sometimes very mentally and physically draining. Not only are you creating a whole new person within you, but you are also being molded into a whole new person yourself. No aspect of building, birthing, and raising little humans is “easy”. In fact, it can sometimes be a beautiful challenge. Bringing along baggage from your past can sometimes bring up serious issues for you mentally after your baby is born. Speaking with a professional can help you be mentally and emotionally prepared for motherhood. There is no shame in asking for help, even if you don’t think you need it. Mental health is a massive aspect of raising the next generation. Let’s not just survive motherhood, let’s thrive in it!
Take a prenatal vitamin
Talk with your doctor or midwife about taking a prenatal vitamin for a few months before pregnancy. Some say it’s best to start three months before a pregnancy, but others may need to take it longer than that. Make sure your prenatal choice contains folate, not folic acid. Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, and your body cannot assimilate it properly. Try and find a good prenatal that contains choline, adequate vitamin D, vitamin C, fish oils, calcium, and magnesium. Here are a few great options to read through.
Preparing your body to create another life is such an exciting adventure! It’s often the first step in welcoming a little one into your life. While there is never a guarantee that your journey will end in pregnancy, your chances may rise by implementing the 6 things listed in this blogpost. I hope your preconception journey is absolutely amazing, and that you have a little baby to hold in your arms at the end of it. Good luck!
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