Pregnancy

Planning Your Pregnancy

Ideally, a child should be born only when you want her / him and not merely out of accident or inadvertence.

The most important thing a couple can do for the health of their future child is to plan well ahead. This will help you to get your body in the best condition possible. Only a healthy mother can provide the best and safest environment for her baby to grow in her womb.

Understanding natural fertility Although most women can easily conceive, the average monthly chances of conceiving in normal couples of proven fertility are only 20-25%. The peak rate is 33% in the first month of trying and it then falls quickly in the next three months, settling to about 5% each month. It is essential to appreciate this chance nature of fertility and not raise your anxiety and stress level prematurely, which may only have a negative impact on fertility.

Conditioning the body and mind If there are no obvious medical problems such as irregular, long cycles etc. then just by waiting for a period of one year will yield natural conception in 80% of the couples.

The following points should be kept in mind while planning a baby 1. Nutritious diet and moderate exercises to achieve / maintain ideal body weight. a. A balanced diet helps to regulate hormones and nourish the reproductive system. Being overweight or underweight disrupt your hormones. Maintain your ideal bodyweight for your height and age. b. Stay physically active and continue moderate regular exercises while you are trying for pregnancy. c. Avoid foods that are rich in heavily processed carbohydrates and Trans fats (e.g. French fries,

potato chips, foods made with refined flour and soft drinks). d. Ensure adequate intake of folate and iron by consuming lentils, chickpeas, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, oranges, beets and lettuce. e. Quit smoking, tobacco, alcohol and drugs you may be addicted to, and eliminate / minimize caffeine intake. f. Avoid chronic physical and / or emotional stress and try to feel emotionally balanced.

2. Get your general health checked Even if you think you are healthy, you need prepregnancy screening to rule out any sub-clinical illness and check your general health. A detailed medical and family history may point towards extra care to be taken to safeguard the pregnancy.

A thalassemia / sickle cell screening test may be advisable to exclude the carrier status, before you plan for a baby. Screen for thyroid disorder and diabetes 3. Immunization: Necessary for Rubella (German measles), chicken pox, hepatitis A and B since these are known to cause serious harm to the fetus.

4. If you are on any medications for any chronic disorders, these may need a change to safeguard the fetus. Consult your doctor.

5. Any previous or family history of inherited diseases should be reviewed and preventive plans can be laid down with the help of a genetic expert.

Improving fertility awareness • It comes as a surprise to most women, when they are informed that out of the whole month; there is only a “24 hour period’ which is their fertile period. This is so because the life of the egg after it is released from the ovary is only 24 hours, during which it can be fertilized by the sperm.

Which by this time should be present in the female tract.

• This 24 hour period of fertility may vary by 3-4

days either way, from cycle to cycle. Keeping this inter-cycle variability in mind, usually 6-8 (10) would be betterd days’ period in each cycle is described as fertile period. In contrast to the egg’s short life of 24 hours, most of the sperm survive up to 48-72 hours inside the woman’s body and many would be still alive even 6 days after intercourse.

• Ovulation usually takes place 14 days (+/- 3-4 days) before your next expected date of start of menstruation.

• So if your menstrual cycle is of 28 days (interval between first day of one menstruation and the first day of next menstruation) then you are most likely to ovulate on day 14 of the cycle.

• Hence, you can concentrate on trying for a baby between day 10 and day 18 of your cycle to cover the fertile 24 hours of your cycle.

• Changes in the quality of your cervical mucus may indicate the timing of ovulation. It increases in quantity and becomes more slippery and stretchy (like egg white), usually 2-3 days before ovulation.

• The basal-body temperature chart which earlier was very popular, is not considered very practical now-a-days. Also, the temperature chart tells you about the ovulation, only after it has already happened. Hence this method is not often used these days.

• There are several ovulation predictor kits available in the market these days, which work on the principle of detecting LH surge (luteinizing hormone) which occurs 12-48 hours prior to the ovulation. These are readily available in the market, with full instructions. However, for most healthy couples, these kits are not necessary.

It is advisable to see your doctor / gynecologist for pre-pregnancy counseling. If even after one year of trying, you do not get the desired result, see an infertility specialist. With the help of modern technology and expertise, most - if not all - couples are able to fulfill their dream of parenthood.

You Never Understand Life Until It Grows Inside Of You

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