Pregnancy can be the most exciting as well as the most worrisome period for a woman. Preparing for pregnancy and following a few simple measures can help your pregnancy go smoothly as possible and also ensure your baby is born healthy. Planning for your pregnancy is appropriate whether you have already begun trying to conceive or are in the thinking stage. Getting pregnant can be the easiest or the most difficult event in your life. It’s true that about 85% of women get pregnant within 12 months of unprotected intercourse. However if you fall into the other 15%, it can get frustrating.
Understanding Menstrual Cycle
Understanding your menstrual cycle will help greatly as you will be able to identify the most fertile period which can enhance your chances of getting pregnant. Every woman has her own unique cycle and the most fertile period is when the egg gets released. This happens around the 14th day before the next menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy Preconception Checkup
Go for a preconception checkup. This can help in detecting problems which may interfere with your pregnancy. It is also important to detect whether you have conditions such as diabetes, thalassemia & thyroid as it can cause problems during your pregnancy.
Eating Healthy
It’s a good idea to get into the habit of healthy eating during your preconception stage. It’s important to ensure that you are getting enough folic acid through your diet. The reason being, folic acid can dramatically reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida in the developing baby. Folic acid can be found naturally in whole grains and green leafy vegetables. Cutting back on junk food and increasing the intake of whole grains, fruits and low-fat dairy products is recommended.
Try to be as relaxed as possible as getting tensed and uptight about conception can prevent you from conceiving. Keep in mind that it takes an average of six months for a normal woman who is about 25 yrs old to conceive. The time could also increase depending on the age of your partner.
