Planning for a Baby in 2021: 6 Steps to Take Now

pregnancy

Planning for a Baby in 2021: 6 Steps to Take Now

It’s never too early to prepare yourself to get pregnant. Most importantly, there is a direct correlation between fertility and your physical and emotional well being.

6 Things You Can Do Right Now To Prepare For Pregnancy

If you are planning to get pregnant or have a baby in 2021, start making your way down this list to prepare your body – and your future – for your precious arrival.

1. Schedule a preconception appointment with your OB/GYN

Are you happy with your OB/GYN? Is s/he the person you’d choose to support you through pregnancy, labor and delivery?

If so, schedule a preconception appointment with the office. At this appointment, your gynecologist will shift more into “obstetrician” mode, evaluating your medical history and asking pertinent questions that are more relevant to preparing your body for conception and anticipating potential roadblocks.

If you realize that your gynecologist was fine for annual exams, but may not be the right fit for your pregnancy, it’s time to schedule consultations with a few reputable OB/GYNs in your area. Ask friends with children for referrals. Once you’ve found your “best fit,” schedule a preconception appointment.

If you have any signs of common, potential infertility factors, this is the best time to identify and treat them. Examples include:

The sooner you’re on your way and/or recovered from potential treatment options, the higher your chances will be to conceive at home.

2. Hone in on your fertile window

The “average” menstrual cycle (Day 1 of your first period to the day before Day 1 of the next period) is 28 days. In truth, this means women have cycles that last anywhere from 21 to 40 days. Tracking your cycle for several months is the best way to establish your fertile window – aka: when you are ovulating. Once you have an accurate idea of that, you can time intercourse accordingly.

Read Timing Sex for Pregnancy to get a more accurate view of what that fertile window really means. Waiting until right before or when you ovulate is usually too late for the sperm to meet the egg.

3. Focus on a pregnancy diet

Eating as if you are pregnant (minus the extra calories…) is a smart move to prepare your body for pregnancy. Firstly, a pregnancy diet is a healthy diet, which supports overall wellbeing. Secondly, it means that from the minute your little bean is conceived, s/he will be getting exactly what s/he needs for nourished development. Read our post, Your Pregnancy Diet for tips and suggestions.

We also recommend asking your doctor about a prenatal supplement, which women often begin taking while trying to conceive to make sure their body gets everything it needs to support a healthy pregnancy.

4. Make sure your male partner is preparing as well

There is a perpetuation infertility myth that female infertility factors are most likely to prevent a couple from getting pregnant. As a result, women typically do the bulk of the work to be healthy, take care of their bodies, get a preconception workup, etc.

The reality is that men are just as likely to be diagnosed with infertility factors as women, and they should also be preparing their bodies for pregnancy. A healthier male body means healthier sperm and a more robust sperm count.

Get your partner on board to prepare for next year’s pregnancy by reading Tips for Optimizing Male Fertility. Make this a team effort from the get-go.

5. Make stress management (integral to self care) part of each day

Currently, our world is in the midst of a pandemic, which has altered life to unimaginable degrees for many around the planet. This has meant a global stress level in the red zone. However, even before all of this unfolded, we advocated for patients to limit their stress levels – especially when trying to conceive.

One of the best ways to do this is to establish healthy sleep patterns, which boosts your immune system and regulates hormone balance. You can also visit our post, Reducing Your Stress Level for some everyday solutions.

6. Clean up the outsides as you clean up the insides

A healthy diet and lifestyle are the foundations of pregnancy success. However, recent research is adamant that the toxins surrounding us in daily life are taking their toll on fertility rates world wide. Some of the most common household cleaners, health and beauty products, and even food containers could be jeopardizing your health.

Visit Toxins Toll on Fertility to learn more.

Are you struggling to conceive or experiencing recurrent miscarriages? It may be time to consult with a fertility specialist. Contact Fertility Solutions to step forward into a more personalized fertility treatment plan.



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