Pre-Pregnancy Planning

If you come from the traditional family wherein you have a family pressure or a set rule to live; study, marriage and kids within one year due to family pressure then wait hold your horses. Living a set life is a matter of past and now married life requires a huge planning and decision making. Babies are indeed a gift but if planned things are easier to handle. Pregnancy planning does make sense in today’s world. Here are some important things that you must plan in advance for your healthy pregnancy.

    1.   Body Check up

The first and the foremost thing you should do before a baby is to get a health check up. A complete body check up will rule out any possibility of disease you might have which is not safe for the baby. If you are not keen on going on a full body check up because you had gone through the same within last one year then you should at least go for some pre-pregnancy blood tests. You can ask your family doctor or gynac to prescribe you the same. These tests will help you to know if the levels of calcium, vitamin and other essential minerals are adequate for you.

    2.   Financial Planning

Another important thing you need to plan in advance is your financials. Getting into a parent mode is not a cheap affair; right from paying hospital bills to paying the school fees as well. (Unfortunately in country like India we have to take care of healthcare and education expenses). You need to sit down with your partner and discuss your liabilities, investments, income and other such essential things. Do note that a female partner might have to leave work as well for temporary period for medical reasons (discuss this possibility as well)

    3.   Environment (Home and Work)

When you are into the planning phase of baby you need to ensure that the environment around you (both work and at home) is pleasant and stress free. Stress will only lead to delayed and unhealthy pregnancy. Hence being happy and relaxed is one of the best ways for a healthy pregnancy.

    4.   Birth planning

Now that you have already planned for a baby you will also have to think about the baby birth as well. If you are staying alone you will have to figure out how the entire process would go; who will share which responsibility and if possible call for help during the post- partum period. If the male partner is not around or has a travel job then as a couple you will have to plan whom to contact in emergency or any other help required during the entire pregnancy and at the time of delivery.

    5.   Alcohol & Drug intake

If you are consuming alcohol or drugs then it is ideal to reduce the consumption and preferably leave them at least 4-5 months in advance. Alcohol free body attracts a healthy pregnancy and avoids any complications throughout.

Having a baby is indeed a wonderful feeling and there is no harm in some pre-planning. It will ensure a smooth pregnancy.