Before Pregnancy
Healthy Habits
Folic Acid
Update Immunizations
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Genetic Counseling
What Dad Can
Do
Healthy Habits-
It's never too early to start planning your
pregnancy
Healthy mothers have a better opportunity to
have healthy babies and the best time to start
being healthy is NOW! If you are overweight,
ask your doctor about losing weight before you
become pregnant. Being underweight can also
create problems during pregnancy, so now is
the right time to start changing your eating
habits.
Start exercising today. Even walking 20-30
minutes a day 3 days a week will make your body
stronger and create a healthy environment for
your baby to grow in. And don't forget to see
your doctor to talk about any current health
problems that you may have. It's important to
have conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy,
and high blood pressure under control before
becoming pregnant.
Remember all of the "grown-up" habits that
you may have acquired. Babies are at risk by
being exposed to smoking, alcohol, and drugs
while they are in the womb. So, start planning
for the health of your baby by altering your
life-style behavior before you become pregnant.
If you need help to conquer these or any other
habits, talk to your doctor about finding the
right resources to help you overcome this challenge.
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Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is very important in the development of the new baby. If all women who can become pregnant consumed 0.4 milligrams (equivalent to 400 micrograms) of folic acid from at least a month prior to conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy, between 50-70 percent of neural tube defects (NTD) would be prevented. NTDs are disorders of the development of the brain and spinal cord. The most common NTD is spina bifida, or opening of the spine.
Women of childbearing age should include folic acid in their diets by eating foods high in folates and/or by taking a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid. Folate-rich foods include dark green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, liver and organ meats, fortified cereals, and legumes. A large glass of orange juice and a bowl of fortified cereal provide about half the recommended daily amount of folic acid.
A woman who has had a child with a NTD is at the highest risk for recurrence and should see a physician before planning another pregnancy. Her physicians will prescribe a higher dosage of folic acid (4 milligrams or 4000 micrograms).
Women who are stringent dieters, drug users, heavy drinkers, smokers, or oral contraceptive users, might benefit from additional folic acid supplementation.
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Immunizations
Be sure that you are protected against childhood illnesses. Even adults can
catch diseases like chicken pox and rubella
(German measles) which can have a devastating
impact on the baby if exposed during pregnancy.
Both of these diseases can be avoided with proper
immunization.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Plan to have a check up before you become pregnant
which includes being tested for sexually transmitted
diseases such as chlamydia, herpes, and syphilis.
Many sexually transmitted diseases have subtle
symptoms and you may not even be aware that
you have been infected. But by diagnosing and
treating them before you become pregnant, you
can reduce the chance that your baby will be
exposed, and possibly affected, by them.
Even if you have been exposed to a disease
that currently has no cure available, like herpes,
with careful planning you can reduce the risk
of your baby being harmed by it. Ask your doctor
about ways that you can avoid being exposed
to sexually transmitted diseases.
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Genetic Counseling
If you have previously had a baby with a birth defect or have a family history
of babies born with birth defects, you may want to see a genetic counselor
before you choose to become pregnant again. Although the cause of most birth
defects in babies is still unknown, certain birth defects are caused by genetic
factors.
A genetic counselor will review family health history and provide information
about risk factors for birth defects occurring in future pregnancies.
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What Dad can do . . .
It's not only Mom's responsibility to plan
for a healthy pregnancy; Dad can get involved,
too. Be sure to attend appointments with the
genetic counselor if needed and provide information
about your family history. If mom's eating habits
require some fine-tuning, you can make it easier
for her by exhibiting support and adjusting
your diet a little bit, too.
Exercise together, it's a great motivator and
can become a healthy family habit. If you smoke,
drink alcohol, or use street drugs, now is the
time to stop. Not only will this make it easier
for a mom that is trying to quit, but paternal
use of these substances may contribute to the
development of a baby with birth defects. Again,
talk to your doctor about finding the right
resources to help. Be sure that your own immunizations
are up to date, as childhood illnesses are very
contagious. And check to be sure that you are
not infected with a sexually transmitted disease,
as these could be easily passed on to mom and
baby.
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