You’ve probably been searching the net on how to get pregnant, and I bet you’ve found so many recommendations that you don’t know where to start. I bet you’ve read all sorts of suggestions, from common sense things like *stop taking birth control* to uncommon things like *take Robitussin*. Most people don’t ever tell you that, the first thing you should do is prepare your body!
You want to produce the healthiest baby possible. To do that YOU need to turn your body into a healthy baby incubator. With this in mind, here are a few things you need to do to prepare yourself for pregnancy:
- Begin planning 1-3 months before you even start attempting to get pregnant. If you use birth control, stop. Start changing your habits now to bring yourself to the healthiest you possible.
- If you smoke, quit before you try getting pregnant! There are so many myths out there that supposedly doctors tell women who smoke who are pregnant to NOT quit because it will cause problems for the baby. False! Besides, if you know you want to get pregnant, quitting beforehand will give you baby a clean start… plus, it’s a good idea for your health as well
- Address any health issues you might have. If you’re over or under weight try to get into better shape. If you have other medical issues which you have to take medicine for, make sure it is not a medication that could be harmful during your pregnancy. If so, see what other options you have.
- Start taking a prenatal vitamin. This is another step on the road to getting the proper vitamins and minerals into your system you’ll need to start your pregnancy journey off on the right foot. Also, supplementing with folic acid before conception can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by as much as 70 percent. The U.S. Public Health Service currently recommends that all women of childbearing age that are attempting to get pregnant get 400 micrograms of folic acid per day because neural tube defects arise very early in pregnancy.
- Make sure you have healthy eating habits. If you are a junk food junkie, or tend to overdo it with processed or fried foods, change the way you eat. Watch your sugar and salt intake. Eat good fats like small amounts of avocado, olive oil and flaxseed oil. Up the serving amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep fatty meat servings to one or two a week. Eat calcium rich foods.
- Exercise! Exercise definitely does a body good. It wakes up all of your muscles and puts you more into the frame of mind of having a healthy body to start your pregnancy off well.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. A baby’s organs begin to form in the early weeks of pregnancy before you even know you are pregnant. Fetal exposure to drugs and alcohol can put your baby at risk for serious health problems, so stop using them before you get pregnant.
- Make sure your partner is on board! There is nothing more mentally stressful than being the only one in the relationship trying to get pregnant. Make sure it is a decision you both make and that you both think that it is a good time to get pregnant.
- Get your finances in order. There truly is no perfect time financially to have children. However, making sure your bills are paid and that you have a back up savings in case of job loss or an unexpected issue arises will help you be more stress free and less worried about having a baby.
Getting yourself prepared for pregnancy can only be beneficial for you and your baby’s first steps into a healthy and happy life. Congratulations on your decision for a family and good luck!
Health problems and disabilities such as asthma, birth defects, cancer, diabetes and infertility affect more than 100 million men, women and children, about one-third of the U.S. population. Scientific research shows that exposure to environmental contaminants may increase a person’s risk for these and other health concerns. Pregnancy and early childhood are especially vulnerable times, but exposure throughout our lives may harm us.
We can be exposed to these contaminants through household products, the food we eat, air pollution from vehicles or factories, hazardous waste sites and other sources. We can find contaminants in our homes, communities, schools and workplaces.
With thousands of chemicals and other contaminants in use, more research is needed to understand how all these environmental contaminants affect human health. But there is enough evidence to know we need better public policy to prevent exposing people to contaminants that are-or may be-harmful to people’s health.
Learn more in the following sections:
Pollution in People
Researchers are finding hundreds of contaminants in people’s bodies.
Health Concerns & Women
A number of health concerns that women face may be connected to what we are exposed to in our environment.
Health Disparities
People of color and lower income people often bear the heaviest burden of health concerns linked to the environment.
Health Factors
There are many factors that affect whether a person exposed to contaminants will be affected in the long-term.
Lifecycle
Being exposed to contaminants at different times in our lives can have different health effects.
Animals
Researchers are finding evidence of wildlife being affected by contaminants.
Helpful Definitions
Get a better understanding of some of the terms used thrught this webiste.
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Imagine a world with less cancer, more justice, lower rates of asthma, cleaner air, fewer babies born with birth defects, abundant and safe drinking water, a decrease in the number of couples facing infertility, healthy products on every store’s shelves and a government that works to protect all people and all living things. And imagine women leading the way to that world.
This website gives you the tools and information you need to get started in making this vision a reality. It explains ways that our health can be affected by environmental contaminants and offers ideas of how to make changes around your home and in your community so we can live in a healthier world.
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Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Look for a screening of this seven-part documentary series in your community and join the national dialogue.
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