Planning for Pregnancy

Gone is the old wives tale that kissing can cause pregnancy! If only it were that easy in some cases! Deciding to try and fall pregnant for some people, can be quite difficult and there are a number of issues to consider that may make your road to pregnancy a little easier.

Preparing for you baby should start ideally at least 3 months before you are planning to fall pregnant. (This would be in an ideal world!). Most couples will conceive within the first 12 months of unprotected lovemaking (80%). Some conceive in the first month of trying for a baby while others will take longer. If you have not conceived within 10-12 months of trying for a baby then a visit to your doctor to discuss this would be the next best step. Realising that it may take time to conceive can help relieve the anxiety and stress when you do not fall pregnant immediately.

Your first step in preparing for your pregnancy should be to read up as much as you can on the topic to be able to understand what you are letting yourself in for and how to be best prepared. (See other information on the Baby Factory website as well as other reference sites such as your library or bookstore)

Your next step is a visit to your GP to check on your general health and to discuss any health issues you may have. You may be a good time to discuss or action the following points:

Review any medications you may be taking (conventional/natural/alternative), and discuss any underlying medical conditions you may have such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension or any other illness.
Have a blood test to check your immunity to rubella (German measles). If you are not immune then an immunisation for this would be recommended.
It would be a good time to check that you are up to date with your Pap smear and breast check. Having a skin check for any moles that are abnormal would also be a good idea.
If you have been following a vegan or vegetarian diet this would be a good time to have your B12 levels checked as well.
This visit to the Doctor may also involve having an IUD (intra uterine device) removed to enable you to fall pregnant. (Use barrier contraception until you want to fall pregnant)

It is now time to stop any hormonal contraception you may be taking such as the pill and to use barrier type contraception (condoms) in the meantime to give your body time to settle back into your normal cycle. If you have been on the contraceptive injection (depo provera) then stop this at least for 6 months before you plan to conceive and use barrier contraception for that time. A return to fertility may take even longer if you have been on this form of hormonal contraception.

Folic acid is important for the production of normal red blood cells and also plays an important part in normal foetal development especially of the neural tube of the nervous system. It is part of the B group of vitamins and helps prevent the condition spina bifida. This is important from when you conceive and especially during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. It is recommended you take folic acid supplementation from 3 months before conception and for at least the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. The recommended amount is 0.8mg per day during this time period and should be taken as a supplement. If blood tests show your level is low an increased dose may be required. Foods rich in folic acid are also be recommended such as "enriched" breakfast cereals, bread, rice, pasta and other grain products. You may also like to enjoy natural food folate from a varied diet (e.g., orange juice and green vegetables).

This article is intended to provide general information in summary form only.
The contents do not constitute medical or professional advice and should not be relied on as such.
Specialist medical or professional care and advice should always be sought from your medical or professional adviser for your particular circumstances.