Greet Your Pregnancy With the Power of Knowledge

by Jan Mader

Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." Chances are that President Lincoln wasn't thinking about his mother's pregnancy, but he should have been!

Today we know that taking the time to learn all we can about delivering a healthy baby begins way before we even consider becoming pregnant. If you haven't been to your local library in a while, pay it a visit. Look at books about pregnancy from all different viewpoints. There is power in knowledge. By the time you get ready to visit an obstetrician, you'll know all the questions you want to have answered!

Once you've determined that a baby is in your future, it's a good idea to visit your family doctor to make sure you are in good health. Let your doctor know about your entire family—not just you. Your practitioner will be able to tell you if there are genetic factors in your family background that you should consider.

Even before you get pregnant, make a lifestyle change when it comes to your food habits. Include a wide variety of foods in your daily menu now, and steep in the vigor that the nutrients will provide for you. Lots of fruits and vegetables are good for everyone!

If you aren't already exercising, start before you get pregnant. Exercise has been proven to reduce labor complications and lengths; but better than that, exercise makes you feel better at all times. Some studies even suggest that exercise lowers your risk for miscarriages.

Even if you are just thinking about becoming pregnant, stop smoking and drinking. There are many programs that can help you. Sometimes the desire to become pregnant and have a healthy baby is the best motivator there can be! Your new healthy lifestyle will be obvious to your partner. Ask him to join you in your new healthy changes!

“Striving to have a healthy diet, get exercise, decrease stress, and get an appropriate amount of sleep are important things you should do when you are not expecting,” says Dr. Mable Roberts of Mt. Auburn Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates. “When trying to conceive or while pregnant, they become more important. A healthy lifestyle will reduce your chances of pregnancy complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and excessively large or small infants."

One good way to find an obstetrician is to talk to your friends who are new mothers. Interview obstetricians before you become pregnant. Doctors are people, and people have different perspectives and personalities. Make sure you find a practice that feels right and meets your needs.

When you pave your road to pregnancy with the power of knowledge, your next nine months can be a walk in the park!