Mother-To-Be is the most beautiful and exciting phase of every woman’s life. During each trimester, the body goes through many changes. It is the responsibility of women to take care of their health to have a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery. 

About 60%-70% of women in Melbourne know that they must consult specialists or change their lifestyles during pregnancy. But, many of them do not know that the journey of keeping oneself and a baby healthy should start long before. So, the first step must be visiting an obstetrician who will provide the best solution that will ease and ensure a healthy pregnancy. 

Additionally, we are guiding you with some tips for preparing yourself to have good health and a healthy baby.

Some Considerations Before Planning To Conceive

Consult A Doctor

It is very important to consult a doctor before planning to conceive. Even if your health is good, it is a must to take the guidance of a specialist. Visit a gynaecologist in Melbourne, who will assist throughout the pregnancy and prepare you for labor. Moreover, here are the following points a healthcare provider will help and make sure:

• An obstetrician will discuss your existing health condition and family’s health history. It is crucial to know as there might be chances of passing some health problems to a baby. 
• They will conduct some blood tests or may ask you to get vaccines before conceiving.
• A doctor will discuss the current medicines and supplements you might be consuming. It is important as certain medications can negatively impact a fetus. So, specialists may advise to quit or change them.
• They will make sure your chronic health issues, like asthma or diabetes, are stable. 
• If a woman is suffering from obesity, an obstetrician will advise to maintain a healthy weight before conceiving. It is because this will help to prevent certain complications in pregnancy.

Have A Healthy Diet

When planning a pregnancy, start aiming to have a healthy diet. A well-balanced or nutritious food has a good impact on the body. Talk with an obstetrician and schedule a dietary plan. Here, are a few simple approaches:

• Avoid empty calories, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine.
• Intake foods that are highly rich in protein.
• Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products which are very healthy for the body.
• Drink a lot of milk and eat yogurt, kale, broccoli, and other high calcium foodstuffs.

Exercise Regularly

Exercises are a very effective practice to start doing before conceiving. They will help the body deal with all of the transformations that will occur throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Consult the doctor and know which exercises and for how long the practicing will be helpful. 

So, take the guidance of a practitioner or trainer as they will help in doing those activities in the best way possible. Besides this, plan a routine of 30 minutes brisk walks for 5 days a week. 

Stop Smoking, Alcohol, and Drugs

If you are planning to conceive, quit smoking, alcohol, or drugs. They are injurious to the health as these can:

• Raise the chances of miscarriage.
• Get it more challenging to conceive.

So, if you have a habit of consuming these toxic substances and need help to quit them, talk with a specialist. It should be done as soon as possible, as a little amount of alcohol can harm an unborn baby. It can cause certain lifelong disorders such as intellectual disability, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, and facial and heart defects.

On the other hand, smoking is very harmful to a fetus and can risk health issues in the future, like:

• A woman who smokes is more likely to give birth to a child with low weight.
• Smoking makes it more problematic to heal after delivery. 

However, any drugs not prescribed by a health care provider can be harmful to consume at any moment of life.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

If you are planning to conceive and are overweight, it is best to maintain an ideal weight. It is necessary as being overweight may raise the possibility of problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects. 

Moreover, they may arise a need for cesarean section delivery as being overweight can lead to a large size newborn. 

Take Supplements

Consult an obstetrician and get a direction to take vitamin and folic acid supplements. As:

• Folic acid decreases the risk of birth defects, specifically problems with the spinal cord of an infant.
• Iron is very vital as it makes hemoglobin in blood which carries enough oxygen to all the cells. 
• Consume the right amount of calcium which avoids gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and pre-eclampsia. 
• Stop taking high quantities of any vitamin, mainly vitamins A, D, E, and K. This is because taking more doses than recommended can lead to birth defects. 

Summing Up

Whether you are a first-time mother or not, it is very necessary to maintain good health long before planning to get pregnant. Not only will it ease all three trimesters of pregnancy but also childbirth. So, with a healthy body, a mother will be able to give birth to a healthy baby.