The future is now: Preconception advice for all women

For the ladies with pregnancy plans, it’s time to get going on your health, pronto! The healthier you are before your pregnancy, the healthier you’ll be during pregnancy – and healthy mums means healthy bubs. Even if you’re not sure if you want to have a baby right now, you can still benefit from this preconception advice. This way, you’ll be healthy for yourself and if you do choose to become a mum in the future, you’ll be healthy for your baby too.

Tout suit, s’il vous plait!

You wouldn’t start a superannuation account when you retire, would you? The same goes for getting healthy for your pregnancy. Because once you’re pregnant, it’s much harder to get fresh, fit and fabulous when all your energy is going towards growing a human being.

For women who are not sure when they will start a family, beware that it can often sneak up on you. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so if you take care of yourself now, you won’t be caught with your pants down … so to speak.

If you are planning a pregnancy as soon as you can get your boots off, then make a trip to the doctor first. This way, you can ensure you are in optimal health before you ‘rock and roll’.

For both superannuation and pregnancy, it’s always best to think ahead – even if your future baby is still just a twinkle in your partner’s eye.

Timing is everything

Reproductive planning is an important part of preconception care and can help you become aware of the measures you need to take so you can have kids at the best time for you. Your doctor can tell you when the best time is, for your life and body, for babies. You can either get contraception or, if you’re planning a pregnancy, you may want to talk about infertility treatments.

Baby blocks: Food and exercise

Like a happy rental tenant, a growing foetus needs ‘food and board’. Vital nutrients are the building blocks of your baby, so you don’t want to eat too little or exercise too much, otherwise your body won’t be able to provide enough calories to grow your baby.

Eating well is of utmost importance, but also talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements to make sure you have all the bases covered.

Maintaining a healthy weight will benefit your baby as much as it benefits you, which is why pre-pregnancy planning is so important. If your doctor advises you to put on a few kilos or drop a few, get cracking before conception, because afterwards isn’t a good idea.

The once-over

Before you get pregnant, you definitely need a ‘once-over’ to check for any existing, chronic or even ‘hiding’ health conditions. For example, diabetes and STIs can create extra health risks for mum and baby during pregnancy, so screening for diseases and getting vaccinations or treatments is an important component of preconception care.

You may even have something you’re not aware of, so if you get a full check-up you can manage any conditions before they become a problem during pregnancy.

Your doctor will also let you know if you need any boosters for things like chicken pox, measles and mumps.

Mummy Go-Lightly

Pregnancy is a time of massive changes in a woman’s life and body. Not to mention the raging torrent of hormones running through your system. So it’s perfectly normal to need an extra set of ears to talk to if you find you are experiencing any mental or emotional problems.

Health is just as much about your mind as your body. Talk to your doctor about how to keep happy throughout your nine months.

If you need extra help to curb any substance use, don’t be afraid to let your doctor know.

She’ll be comin’ round the mountain

Pregnancies come on thick and fast, so the more prepared you are now, the easier your life will be later. Healthy pregnancies rely on good preparation, not good luck, so don’t leave your or your baby’s health to chance, and talk to your doctor about this advice.

Even if you’re not planning a baby immediately, good health is never wasted.

More information

For more information about the importance of preconception care as well as its interventions, accessibility and limitations, see Preconception Care: An Overview.

For more information about pregnancy planning, including the importance of nutrition before pregnancy, being under-weight, being overweight, tobacco exposure, and alcohol consumption, see Pregnancy Planning (Preconception Advice).