Week one of pregnancy really occurs before you get pregnant, but it is a great time to prepare your body to support and grow another person. During this stage, you can be proactive and make lifestyle changes that can potentially improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
In preparation for your impending pregnancy, it is a good idea to make lifestyle changes now, before fertilization occurs if possible. Some changes and tips to consider for this journey include:
- See your OBGYN for a pre-conception checkup
- Avoid risky substances like tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and energy drinks
- Limit caffeine to less than 200mg/day, or none if you can cope without it
- Avoid over-the-counter medications and discuss any prescription medications with your caregiver. Some may not be compatible with pregnancy
- Catch up on any necessary vaccines, including the flu vaccine. This can help you stay healthy during your pregnancy
- No more cleaning up after kitty. Cat feces can contain toxoplasmosis, which is harmful to pregnant women and developing babies
- Focus on a healthy diet
- Drink lots of water
- Stay active
- See your dentist
- Start prenatal vitamins (talk to your OBGYN, a prescription for prenatal vitamins can often make these horse pills more affordable)
We know making changes can be challenging depending on your lifestyle, but they are necessary for a successful pregnancy, so it's a good idea to start with your best foot forward. While you are still trying to get pregnant, making small changes now could be the best way to ease into your new lifestyle as a baby incubator. If you start now, you'll be good to go by the time you're reading two lines on a pregnancy test!
Reference Sources
- American College of OBs and Gyn (ACOG) - Prepregnancy Care
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Before Pregnancy
