Planning for Pregnancy - Food Diet and Care

Pregnancy is a boon every woman experiences .  After marriage we start to expect a good news as soon as possible. Some of us properly plan and some of us don't do that.  It is always better to consult your family doctor, before planning pregnancy.

When I consulted my family doctor, she was so nice to give me nice suggestions and advices on food and medicines.

Some Notes

• As per doctors, chicken pox vaccine should be taken a year before conception. It is to make sure that the we never get chicken pox, when we are pregnant. Thereby protecting the child in womb.  
• Tetanus vaccine should be taken 6 months prior to conception. Tetanus is to protect us from minor cuts and rusts that happen in first trimester. Because, in second trimester, we will be given tetanus by doctor to handle the pregnancy wounds. 

Importance of Prenatal Vitamins

The doctor considered that prenatal vitamins are important for a healthy conception and hence take it right after marriage. She told that it helps us to overcome miscarriages that happen with loss of vitamins. She asked me to take a multivitamin tablet and folic acid tablet.

You might consult with your family physician for prescription and then start taking prenatal vitamins. Don't do anything without consultation.

Maintaining Body Weight

She asked me to keep a watch over my body weight. After marriage because of lack of diet and exercise, many people gain weight quickly. So my doctor advised me to maintain the body weight with proper diet and exercises like walking.

She told that many of her patients come with a heavy weight gain associated with irregular periods and get conceived after a successful weight loss. She asked me to be cautious and maintain the body weight.

Food and Diet

• She asked me to decrease the amount of salt and to avoid white sugar.
• She asked me to include more apple, oranges and vegetables.
• She advised me to take pomegranate for a healthy uterus and blood.
• She insisted on using iron rich spinach to increase the Hb count.
• She asked me to drink lot of water to stay hydrated.

Mental Preparation

The doctor insisted that the couple should properly discuss on this topic and then plan for a child. She asked that women should have a happy heart to get conceived quickly. She asked to be on meditation, listen to light music and read a lot about pregnancy. As per doctors we should learn the basic pregnancy symptoms to keep a watch over it.