How to prepare yourself for a healthy pregnancy

Did you know that taking good care of yourself prior to pregnancy and in the early weeks after conception can significantly improve your chances of delivering a healthy baby? This is very true because the developing baby and placenta are very sensitive tissues that can be injured by medications, toxic exposures, high temperatures, nutritional deficiencies, and substance use (such as smoking and drugs). Pre-pregnancy planning is an important step in your efforts to deliver a healthy baby.

 Pre-pregnancy (or preconception) care are those “interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman’s health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management.” Because the developing baby and placenta are very sensitive tissues, and baby organ development occurs between 17 – 56 days of pregnancy, exposure to hazards may occur before pregnancy is even recognized. For these reasons, planning ahead is a very important part of having a healthy baby.

 While we all take risks every day (driving in our cars for example), when it comes to pregnancy, avoid the temptation to think that a pregnancy problem cannot happen to you! Remember, an adverse pregnancy outcome can impact you and your child for the rest of your lives. While some risks cannot be prevented, many can easily be avoided or reduced.

Here are some important steps you can take to improve your chances of a good pregnancy outcome: Discuss your reproductive plans with your health care provider as this may influence the care or medications he/ she selects when treating medical conditions. Reduce your risks prior to pregnancy. Stop habits like smoking, alcohol, or drug use. Start taking a prenatal vitamin at least a month before becoming pregnant. Develop and follow good nutritional habits.

Improving control of chronic medical conditions as best as possible (ex: diabetes, asthma, hypertension) prior to conception is something within your control that can reduce pregnancy risks and improve the chance of a good outcome. Other risks may not be controllable. For example, some inherited problems cannot be prevented and some medications cannot be stopped. In these situations, you should review these risks with your doctor and be sure they are risks you can accept. If the risks seem too great, reliable contraception might be your best choice.

Sometimes, environmental factors can create risks for your developing baby. For example, mercury, lead, radiation exposure, chemicals, and well water contamination can all pose a risk to the developing baby. A common radiation source in Minnesota is radon gas seeping into basements. Simple tests are available to be sure the radon levels in your home are not at a risky level.

Certain infections, especially some viruses, can infect the baby and cause malformations. Many of these can be prevented by vaccines, so see your health care provider and be sure you are up to date on your vaccines prior to pregnancy. This is an easy way to reduce some of the risks to your baby. Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted in the feces of cats, can infect the placenta and baby. Generally, pregnant moms can avoid this infection by not handling cat litter/ waste. Ask a family member to take over the litter box duties if you are pregnant.

The old phrase “You are what you eat” may be especially meaningful in pregnancy. Placenta and baby growth are vulnerable to the effects of poor nutrition. It is believed that poor nutrition may “reprogram” fetal tissues and predispose your child to chronic illnesses. Folic acid

“There are only four kinds Those who have Those who currently Those who will Those who will -Helping Yourself is involved in DNA synthesis and defi- ciency increases spina bifida risk (a spine malformation). A good diet and a prenatal vitamin (containing folic acid) can reduce these risks. Obesity also increases the risks of malformations, diabetes in pregnancy, and labor/delivery problems. Getting your weight under control prior to pregnancy can also reduce these risks.

There are many things you can do in advance of getting pregnant that can improve your baby’s health and reduce the risk of baby malformations. A visit to your Obstetrician-Gynecologist is a valuable way to assess your health status and how it may impact your upcoming pregnancy, as well as get advice on how to reduce any identified risk factors.

Becoming as knowledgeable as you can, prior to becoming pregnant, can provide the great reward of a healthy pregnancy as you prepare for this exciting time in your life.

Dr. Scott Schultz is an OB/GYN doctor at Virginia Regional Medical Center in Virginia, MN.