Preparing for pregnancy for women: 17 things you should do before conceiving

When to give birth?

If we talk about age, doctors consider the best period to be from 21 to 26 years. It is during this period that the mother’s body ensures the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth. The mother’s body is young, the ligaments are elastic, there is no severity of chronic diseases, good sexual ability to conceive. But unfortunately, statistics show that most women give birth for the first time after 30 years.

It should be noted that late motherhood is a “conscious” and “responsible” approach to the birth of the first child. But doctors are sounding the alarm; physiological aging can bring quite a lot of problems. As a woman ages, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant. The likelihood of disorders at the gene level increases, and these are pathological diseases and the development of defects in the baby. Complications during pregnancy and the manifestation of chronic diseases are possible, and this has a negative effect on the baby.

Planning a pregnancy should be a “conscious” and “responsible” step towards conceiving a child. Do not combine active vacation with pregnancy. Climate change, flights, trips, hikes, etc. can have an adverse effect on the baby. It’s better to add it to maternity leave, so you will save yourself from traveling on public transport, work duties, and worries.

Planning a pregnancy

Studying is not the best period for pregnancy. This is a tense, exciting and nervous period. Especially exams, it’s good when teachers treat a pregnant student with understanding. Well, if you make up your mind, then it’s better to plan your birth for the holidays.

Future parents, you are unlikely to manage without the help of your loved ones after childbirth in the first months. When planning a pregnancy, discuss your plans with your future grandparents. Perhaps some of them will take a vacation for this period. In the first months, their help will be invaluable; over time, you will learn to manage the baby yourself.

Don't forget about the time of year. Conception in spring - the baby will be born in winter, in winter - the baby will be born in autumn, in autumn - the baby will be born in summer. Winter and autumn are the most unfavorable periods. This is the height of colds and flu. Bad autumn weather and a wet start to winter will make it difficult to enjoy the outdoors.

In the spring, the body is weakened by vitamin deficiency, and this is undesirable for conception. Consult your doctor, he will prescribe you the necessary vitamins. Spring is also unfavorable for the incidence of viral infections. And in winter it is cold and slippery, which creates the possibility of falls and injuries. But in winter, the last months of pregnancy are well tolerated; expectant mothers have no problems falling asleep.

In autumn, parents' bodies are full of vitamins and this is the most favorable period for the birth of a new life. And summer is probably the most optimal period for childbirth. You can walk enough in the fresh air with your baby and there is no need for warm clothes for the baby. In addition, summer is rich in vitamins, and this is very useful for the nursing mother and the baby.

Future parents, be sure to discuss pregnancy planning together. Consider all ages and time periods. Don't forget about the family budget when it falls on your husband's shoulders. Expectant mothers need to resolve issues with their work. Will they meet you halfway, will you be able to go to the doctor, will your working hours be shortened, will you be transferred to a less difficult and less responsible job.

But in any case, do not despair, there is a way out of the most difficult situation. For expectant mothers, the most important thing is your health and the health of your baby. Remember, whenever your baby is born, this is the most necessary and appropriate moment of your life.

Why do you need to prepare for conception?

Just a few decades ago, spouses did not know such a thing as preparing for pregnancy. The process of conception occurred naturally after the wedding, and the man and woman had as many children as the number of times fertilization occurred. Infant mortality was high as the process of natural selection took place. The weaker babies died, the stronger ones continued the race. But nevertheless, the issue of the problem of conception was not even raised in those years.

Attention! Today the situation is such that an increasing number of married couples are faced with the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy. This is due to the increasingly deteriorating environmental situation, stressful situations at work, general physical inactivity of humanity and other unfavorable factors.

In order not only to conceive a baby, but also to bear him healthy and strong, parents have to think through all the details of this process in advance. Of course, the main responsibility for preparing her body for pregnancy falls on the woman. It is she who needs to undergo all possible examinations recommended by a specialist and, if necessary, take a complex of vitamins to maintain her health.

Planning pregnancy after 35 years

During pregnancy after 35, complications may arise and you need to try to eliminate possible risks, which pregnancy planning will help with.

Ideally, pregnancy is a time filled with joy, anticipation of a miracle and hope throughout the entire period. But these days, more and more women are in no hurry to experience the feeling of motherhood and wait almost until the last minute of the biological time allotted to them.

Although there are many objective reasons for postponing conceiving a child, pregnancy after 35 years of age falls into the high-risk category.

The realization that pregnancy at this age is a rather risky step, worries about this, and unpleasant thoughts overshadow the joy of the onset of an exciting period and fill with fears associated with possible complications.

The fact is that as women age, the biological activity of the body decreases, and they become less capable of conceiving a healthy child. There is a high predisposition to miscarriages, the birth of a premature baby and ectopic pregnancy.

Scientists have conducted research and found that in women who are very worried about the possibility of getting pregnant, the stress hormone increases, which reduces the chances of conceiving.

In order to reduce the risk of possible complications, when planning conception, it is necessary:

1. Consult with your doctor and discuss your real chances and existing conditions.
2. If a woman has hypertension and diabetes mellitus in her arsenal of diseases, she needs to be under close medical supervision throughout pregnancy to exclude the possibility of the negative impact of these factors.
3. Examination for the possibility of Down Syndrome.

Down syndrome is one of the birth defects that is common in children born to a woman over 35 years of age. This syndrome and similar ones occur against the background of chromosomal abnormalities. Pregnant women in this risk group should undergo prenatal examination to exclude the possibility of having a baby with Down syndrome.

If the desired pregnancy does not occur within 6 months, you should consult a doctor about treatment for possible infertility.

Women who decide to have a baby after 35 years of age are more likely to have miscarriages in early pregnancy. A miscarriage can happen even before a woman is sure of her pregnancy. With age, the percentage of probability of the embryo developing a pathology at the chromosomal level increases, and the body independently rejects it through miscarriage.

Miscarriage is a painful trauma for both body and soul. It will take time for a woman to restore her physical and mental balance. It is recommended not to rush things, but to wait until you feel ready for a new pregnancy.

Childbirth at this age can also be complicated.

For placental presentation of the fetus, the symptoms of which are cramps and bleeding, a cesarean section is recommended.

In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg is implanted in the fallopian tubes and not in the uterine cavity. As the placenta and baby grow, the tubes cannot expand and there is a risk of tubal rupture.

The likelihood of having a premature baby before 37 weeks is also very high.

Prematurity of the child

But if you follow the diet, doctor’s recommendations and take timely measures, you can give birth to a healthy baby.

Preparing the body for pregnancy

The lifestyle of both parents is of great importance for the onset of a normal pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. And, first of all, mothers. Therefore, during periconceptional preparation, certain rules must be followed.

Rejection of bad habits

It’s not for nothing that bad habits are called that – they negatively affect human health. And for the unborn child they can be simply destructive. Therefore, at the stage of pregnancy planning you need to forget about them.

Nicotine is a real poison for blood vessels. Including those that nourish the uterus and ovaries. This means the child will not receive enough oxygen. This has a detrimental effect on the development of the fetus and pregnancy. Nicotine use is associated with up to 30% of cases of low birth weight in newborns, 14% of premature births and 10% of newborn deaths.

Paternal smoking reduces the number of active sperm by 15–17%.

It is best to completely stop drinking alcohol before conception and during pregnancy. There are no safe doses of alcohol during pregnancy! Even small amounts of beer or light wine can be harmful. Ethyl alcohol poses a threat of placental abruption, miscarriages, and the birth of children with developmental delays and defects.

The use of drugs (even mild ones) before conception by either parent, and during pregnancy by the mother, increases the risk of congenital malformations of the fetus, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. In addition, a child may be born with drug addiction.

Giving up bad habits concerns both parents before conception, and during pregnancy is extremely important for the mother.

Stopping contact with toxic substances

If the job involves chemical reagents, gases, or radiation from x-ray equipment, you need to change it at least a month before the planned pregnancy.

This needs to be done by both parents before conception. After pregnancy - for a woman.

Modern studies have not revealed any harmful effects of radiation from computer displays on the fetus. But sitting in front of a monitor all day is, in any case, harmful.

Avoiding certain medications

If a woman has chronic diseases - for example, bronchial asthma, hypertension, systemic diseases - as a rule, she takes medications. Some of them may pose a danger to the development of the fetus and should be discarded.

However, some women, believing that “chemistry” is harmful to the unborn baby, stop taking all the pills at once. And this is fraught with exacerbation of a chronic disease, and the mother’s already deteriorating health can become an obstacle to planning a pregnancy. Therefore, you need to resolve drug issues only with your doctor! Most of them can be replaced with analogues that do not harm the intrauterine development of the child.

If a man is constantly taking any medications, he should also consult a doctor.

Weight normalization

Both obesity and underweight can negatively affect a woman's fertility.

Excessive thinness is fraught with a lack of female sex hormones, which means problems with ovulation, conception and pregnancy.

Excess body weight also reduces fertility. And both for women and men. In women, it threatens polycystic ovary syndrome and impaired progesterone synthesis, which can lead to miscarriages. Carrying a child with excess weight is difficult - the load on the musculoskeletal system, heart and blood vessels, and kidneys increases.

In men, excess weight provokes an increase in the amount of female sex hormones and also reduces blood supply to the penis, which negatively affects the potency, number and motility of sperm.

Lack of weight is less dangerous for men's health. Unless, of course, the man is sick with dystrophy.

Therefore, expectant parents need to check their body mass index (BMI). BMI can be calculated by dividing your body weight (in kilograms) by your height squared. For a woman, the norm of the index is from 18 to 25. For a man, it is from 18.5 to 25.9.

To normalize weight you need to move more. Exercises need to be chosen wisely, based on whether you need to gain or lose weight.

You also need to change the caloric content of your diet up or down. However, it is very important that these are quality calories.

Proper nutrition

It is necessary to provide the expectant mother’s body with all the necessary nutrients and microelements. After all, all this is building material for the cells of the unborn child.

Protein is very important. Its sources are lean meat, fish, dairy products and eggs.

As fats, it is good to choose oils with a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids - olive, flaxseed. You need to periodically eat fatty ocean fish.

You should eat more “slow” carbohydrates - cereals, cereals, durum wheat pasta, and also eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.

It is advisable to reduce the amount of semi-finished products, white bread, sweets, canned food, coffee, chocolate, sweet carbonated drinks, and packaged juices.

Drinking regimen – 1.5–2 liters of liquid per day. Preferably clean still water, freshly squeezed juices, natural compotes and fruit drinks.

Taking folic acid

The main principle of modern perinatal medicine is the demedicalization of pregnancy. That is, the fewer additional drugs, the better. As a rule, no special dietary supplements are required for a healthy pregnancy. The main thing is healthy eating, fresh air and movement.

However, there are substances that have a beneficial effect on fetal development. Folic acid is involved in the distribution of chromosomes in the egg, and reduces the likelihood of chromosomal defects in the unborn child.

It has been proven that consuming folic acid and iodine in the required amount reduces by 90% the likelihood of developing defects in the neural tube of the fetus - that is, the brain and nervous system of the future person.

Therefore, at least 3 months before the planned conception, it is advisable to take folic acid supplements.

According to WHO and UNICEF recommendations, iodine supplements for pregnant and lactating women are necessary if the woman does not have access to iodized salt.

Folic acid and iodine should only be taken as recommended by a doctor, as it is very important to choose the correct dosage. Perhaps your doctor will prescribe you a complex drug that contains other vitamins in addition to folic acid.

Tips for conceiving a child

If partners are planning to have a child in the near future, then there are some nuances that can help Mother Nature make them happy with their offspring.

The following tips for conceiving a child may help you get pregnant. But you must keep in mind that if, after a year of regular attempts, the long-awaited pregnancy has not occurred, you must consult a doctor and undergo an examination before planning a pregnancy. Especially if age does not yet imply any pathological changes, that is, up to 30 years. You should do the same if you are over 35 years old. Consulting a doctor will help determine what else needs to be done to achieve pregnancy.

6 tips on how to quickly conceive a child:

• Tip No. 1. More sex.
  In order to get pregnant faster, you need to have sex as often as possible. This seems to be primitive advice, but it is really useful. Very often, couples calculate the timing of ovulation and try to have sex on these days. While it is absolutely true that ovulation and sex together lead to pregnancy, a woman may not ovulate when she expects.
• Tip No. 2. Take an ovulation test.
  Perhaps one of the simplest tips for conceiving a child is to find out the time of ovulation. To do this, you need to conduct a test. Making diagrams is a very confusing way. And using the test will allow you to determine ovulation accurately and extremely simply. It will also tell you how to quickly conceive a child.
• Tip No. 3: Make sure you have fun doing it
  . I would like sex to be fun and interesting. You shouldn't think about conceiving a child all the time. Constant thoughts create tension, and this complicates everything. It has been proven that if a woman is relaxed and completely surrenders to her partner, then her egg is more receptive to her partner’s sperm. In other words, you need to be natural, not treat sexual intercourse as work to make a child.
• Tip No. 4. The correct position for sex
  . The position in which partners have sex is also of great importance in order to quickly conceive a child. The good old missionary position is highly recommended when planning a pregnancy. The position on top should be avoided if possible. In this position, the sperm, mixing with the moisture released by the body during sexual intercourse, purely according to physical laws, flows down without reaching the egg. In order to help the sperm stay in the vagina and begin its journey to its goal, you can add a pillow or raise the pelvis.
• Tip No. 5. Don't rush.
  Immediately after sex, you should not jump out of bed and run to the bathroom; you need to give the sperm time to penetrate inside. It is better to lie quietly for about 5 minutes.
• Tip No. 6 Healthy lifestyle
  . It is advisable to eat healthy foods, stop smoking and drinking alcohol and caffeine. Having a healthy and strong body makes it easier to conceive a child and endure the difficulties of pregnancy.

What examinations need to be completed

A number of diseases and structural features of the body can affect the ability to conceive, bear and give birth to a healthy child.

These are anemia, thyroid dysfunction, decreased kidney function, metabolic disorders, hypertension, a number of infections, the condition of the pelvic organs, as well as the structure of its bones. Some chronic and serious systemic diseases require special monitoring. Gene mutations are dangerous due to the birth of a child with developmental pathologies. Therefore, the examination of parents should be multifaceted.

Expectant parents will need advice:

• Gynecologist (for women).
• Urologist or andrologist (for men).
• Family doctor. (for both parents).
• Specialist for chronic diseases. In case of exacerbation, it is imperative to achieve stable remission. This is especially important for a woman, but in case of serious illnesses, the future father must also do this.
• Dentist. Even small caries during pregnancy can begin to progress rapidly. Also, diseases of the oral cavity are a source of pathogenic flora, which can begin to move into the fetal membranes. Therefore, a woman needs to have all her teeth treated.
• Genetics. To both partners according to indications.

Necessary tests for women:

• Vaginal smear for flora and cytology.
• General blood analysis. To detect inflammatory processes and anemia.
• Blood chemistry. Metabolism control.
• General urine analysis. To determine normal kidney function.
• Blood levels of vitamin D.
• Blood type and Rh factor.
• Blood homocysteine ​​level.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH (thyroid control).
• Panel of female sex hormones (for irregular periods).

Reference! Homocysteine ​​is an amino acid that is involved in most metabolic processes. An increase in its indicators indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, the development of congenital anomalies in the fetus, and pregnancy complications.

Studies that the future father must undergo:

• Urethral swab for cleanliness.
• Ultrasound of the prostate gland and scrotal organs.
• Spermogram (according to indications).
• General blood and urine analysis.
• Blood test for group and Rh factor.

Tests for infections (both partners are tested):

• toxoplasma;
• gonorrhea;
• Trichomonas;
• herpes types 1 and 2;
• cytomegalovirus;
• parvovirus B19;
• HIV infection;
• syphilis;
• viral hepatitis (B and C);
• rubella;
• measles;
• chicken pox.

Important! If the test result for antibodies to chickenpox, measles, and rubella is negative, it is necessary to get vaccinated at least 2 months before the planned conception.

These infections during pregnancy pose a great risk to the pregnancy, as well as the physical and mental health of the child.

If one of the spouses is a carrier of the hepatitis B virus, the other must be vaccinated.

In general, it is better for future parents to update all vaccinations so as not to expose the mother and unborn child to unnecessary risks.

Doctors do not have a unanimous opinion regarding tests for ureaplasma, mycoplasma and chlamydia. Some medical data claim that this is an opportunistic microflora that does not pose a threat to a normal pregnancy. However, with a pathological course of pregnancy, these microorganisms can become an additional risk factor and increase the threat of miscarriage. Therefore, it is better for the couple to get tested for these infections.

It is also advisable for the expectant mother to examine blood clotting (hemostasiogram) and be examined for hereditary or genetic thrombophilias. Such studies will reduce the risks of late miscarriage, placental abruption, stillbirth and severe labor bleeding.

Genetic consultation

Genetic testing is aimed at identifying hereditary diseases in a couple, the degree of risk of transmitting them to offspring, as well as preventing the birth of unhealthy children.

A visit to this specialist is useful for every family that is planning to have a child, but there are a number of indications when it is necessary:

• if the couple is related by blood;
• if the parents (or one of them) already have a child with developmental defects;
• hereditary diseases in one or both partners;
• serious mental illness in relatives;
• the age of both or one spouse exceeds 35 years;
• women who have a history of frozen pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

If necessary, the geneticist prescribes the following tests:

1. Determination of karyotype. This is an indefinite analysis that is carried out once in a lifetime.

Reference! Karyotype is a study of the complete chromosome set of a person. Using this method, the presence of gross structural changes in human chromosomes is determined, as well as their number. This analysis must be carried out by both partners, since the child receives half of the genetic material from the father and half from the mother.

1. Molecular genetic analysis or NGS panel. Identification of gene mutations for the most common monogenic diseases. The analysis is also open-ended.

First they check the woman. If a certain mutation is detected in her, the partner is tested for a mutation of the same type. If the partner does not have a similar disease, such a couple does not require additional measures. If the partner also turns out to be a carrier of a mutation of a similar type, the risk of having a sick child in such a family will be 25%.

However, this does not mean that the couple will give up the opportunity to have children. There are ways to solve the problem:

• During natural pregnancy, it is recommended to carry out special prenatal diagnostics (at the end of the first trimester). To diagnose the child's genes, an invasive procedure is performed to take a sample of amniotic fluid or chorionic villi. If a fetal disease is detected, parents have the opportunity to decide to terminate the pregnancy.
• In in vitro fertilization, embryos are tested for the mutation that has been found in the family and only those who do not have the disease are selected.

Pregnancy occurs: what now?

Once you are pregnant, you will need to see your doctor monthly, and by the end of your pregnancy the period will be reduced to one week or more often.

Your doctor will order an ultrasound to check the baby's heartbeat, check the condition of the placenta, and measure the baby's height and estimated weight.

Your doctor will also make sure that you have enough amniotic fluid in your uterus.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, your gynecologist will begin checking your cervix to determine how soon you will enter labor.

At each visit to your doctor, he or she will take your blood pressure to check for or rule out preeclampsia, and you will be weighed to check for weight gain.

Pressure measurement

How does lifestyle affect

A woman before a planned pregnancy should reconsider her lifestyle. This will help you conceive a healthy baby. Doctors make the following recommendations:

• take any medications only after consulting a doctor;
• get rid of nicotine addiction;
• stop drinking alcoholic beverages;
• prevent the formation of infectious processes;
• Avoid taking hot baths or visiting saunas;
• take folic acid when planning pregnancy;
• give up any strict or monotonous diets that are aimed at reducing body weight.

It is better to avoid visiting the sauna.
These recommendations are basic. Also get rid of drug addiction, if you have one. Get more rest. Give preference to pleasant activities and friendly company.

Stressful situations and hypothermia are strictly contraindicated. You need to carefully monitor your well-being and health.

Other tests that will be performed during pregnancy

Screening for Down syndrome and gestational diabetes. The test for Down syndrome is performed at the beginning of the second trimester, and for gestational diabetes is performed at the end of the second trimester.

Your doctor will also check your urine for the presence of protein and sugar, which can cause complications if abnormal.

The doctor will ask the expectant mother if she has any complaints or problems, such as blurred vision, leg cramps, abdominal pain or an unusual headache.

The expectant mother may also undergo ultrasound and genetic testing during pregnancy. Good self-care is very important, as we know, pregnancy ends better in women who are registered in the early stages of pregnancy.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Abortion and contraception clinic in St. Petersburg - department of the medical gynecological association "Diana"

Make an appointment, tests or ultrasound via the contact form or by calling +8 (812) 62-962-77. We work seven days a week from 09:00 to 21:00.

We are located in the Krasnogvardeisky district, next to the Novocherkasskaya, Ploshchad Alexander Nevsky and Ladozhskaya metro stations.

The cost of a medical abortion in our clinic is 3,300 rubles. The price includes all pills, an examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to determine the timing of pregnancy.

How to choose the most favorable days for conception

When planning a pregnancy, you should learn to determine the best period for conception. The most effective method is rectal measurement of basal temperature. The indicator needs to be clarified and recorded daily.

It is the BT schedule that helps determine the onset of ovulation. You can also use a special test. You can buy it at any nearest pharmacy. Such express strips react to the presence of a specific hormone in the urine.

To determine ovulation, you need to chart your basal temperature

Symptomatically, the onset of ovulation can be recognized by the following clinical signs:

• discomfort in the lower abdomen;
• abundant natural discharge is transparent;
• breast swelling;
• increased libido;
• improvement of well-being;
• characteristic sparkle in the eyes;
• improvement of skin and hair condition.

Ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle.