Pregnancy is a time of major changes in your physical and emotional wellness. Preparing sets the stage for a healthy pregnancy and reduces the risk of complications for you and your baby.
At Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc, FACOG, provides complete family planning services to help women optimize their health and wellness before they even conceive. In this post, Dr. Taylor offers five simple steps you can take now to support better health throughout pregnancy.
An annual physical is one of the best things you can do for your health and wellness. If you’re planning on getting pregnant, having a physical before conception is even more important.
Pre-pregnancy physical exams ensure your body is ready for pregnancy. They use lab tests and other evaluations to look for issues that could cause potential problems for you or your developing baby. An exam beforehand provides plenty of time to address those issues before conception.
It’s also a great opportunity to make sure your immunizations are current. Certain preventable illnesses, like measles or chickenpox, can be dangerous during pregnancy. Addressing these issues before conception helps you avoid complications and sets a strong foundation for a healthy pregnancy.
Pregnancy is physically demanding — more demanding than many women realize — so ensuring you’re fit beforehand can make a big difference in how you feel and your body adapts. Regular exercise can help build strength, muscle tone, flexibility, and stamina, all of which can support you through the rigors of pregnancy and delivery.
Exercise also supports better posture, reducing the risk of back pain often accompanying the later months of pregnancy, improves circulation, and helps you maintain a healthy weight. Dr. Taylor can provide guidance to help you tailor your routine to your needs and lifestyle for maximum benefits.
Your body needs the right nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy, and the time to start optimizing your diet is before you even conceive. Start by choosing nutrient-dense foods, like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Avoid ultra-processed foods and added sugars to help balance your hormones and boost your energy levels before pregnancy.
Your pre-pregnancy exam is also a good time to ask about vitamins and nutritional supplements. During your child-bearing years, taking folic acid, a B vitamin that helps prevent certain types of serious congenital disabilities, is important. Dr. Taylor can advise you about the right vitamins and minerals to support a healthy pregnancy.
Weight gain during pregnancy is normal, and it can also be uncomfortable. If you’re bringing excess pounds into your pregnancy, your discomfort can be magnified. Being overweight can also alter your hormones, making it harder to conceive.
During pregnancy, excess weight increases your risk of complications, like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and complications during delivery. Being underweight also poses problems. Dr. Taylor can help you set, achieve, and maintain a healthy weight for you and your baby.
Most women know it’s important to quit smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but it’s important to kick those habits before you even conceive. Quitting early gives your body time to detox and heal. Be mindful of exposures to chemicals at home and work, too.
It’s also important to take steps to manage your stress. Not only can chronic stress make it harder to conceive, but it can also take a negative toll on your overall health and wellness, too. Breathing exercises are easy to incorporate into even the busiest schedule, or sign up for a yoga or meditation class. Adopting these habits now can help you manage stress during pregnancy and those busy days of parenthood.
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it’s also a time when you need to take “extra care” of your health for you and the baby you’re carrying. To learn more about preconception and prenatal health and how we can help you enjoy a healthy pregnancy, call us at 480-447-8857 to get in touch and schedule an appointment. We are a nonprofit healthcare provider. If you’d like to donate to help others receive critical health services, click here to learn more.
