Pre Pregnancy Health Care Planning Guide

Those contemplating pregnancy would do well to prepare mentally and physically. Pregnancy is a physically and mentally daunting task. It requires large amounts of energy and enthusiasm. Pre pregnancy planning should
take this and other factors into consideration. Pre pregnancy planning should include proper diet, nutrition and exercise for optimum health.



Your Mental Health
Take stock of your emotional and mental well being as part of pre pregnancy planning. Are you emotionally and mentally fit to care for a child and undergo the emotional upheaval of pregnancy? Do you and your partner have a good relationship? Do you agree on all the major points of raising children such as discipline? If the answer to any of these questions is no, it's not the right time to plan a family.

Family Health History
Your pre pregnancy health guide check list should include looking into your family health history. Certain diseases and conditions are hereditary. They should be taken into consideration prior to pregnancy. Be sure to check both sides of the family for hereditary disease and conditions. Discuss any possible issues with your doctor before becoming pregnant.

Pre Pregnancy Health Check Up
Wise pre pregnancy planning includes a complete physical for you and your partner. This will eliminate any possible health issues that may occur with pregnancy. Include tests for sexually transmitted disease which may cause birth defects and other health issues for the baby. Your doctor can also give you an idea of what your ideal weight should be and what you should be eating to insure a healthy baby.

Your Diet
If your pre pregnancy diet consists of fast food and late night snacks, it's time for a change. Eating food with low nutritional value is bad for both you and the baby. You should be eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat protein and high fiber legumes. All these foods contain optimum nutrition content per calories consumed.

Foods to Avoid

When considering a pre pregnancy diet plan there are certain foods to avoid. Say no to complicated rules. Avoiding fat, salt, sugar and white flour will have you on the right track without having to follow a complex diet plan. These four foods represent all that is wrong with the American diet. This suggestion is not just for the pre pregnancy health care plan. This is the way we should all be eating.

Supplements
There are certain supplement of particular help for pre pregnancy nutrition. Doctors have long recognized folic acid as a pregnancy supplement. Taking this and other supplements prior to pregnancy gives you and baby a nutritional jump start. Consider adding prenatal vitamins and amino acids to your pre pregnancy diet as well.

Exercise
Any exercise started post pregnancy can be a risk to mother and baby. Part of your pre pregnancy health planning should be getting in shape before the pregnancy. Continuance of an established exercise routine places no undue stress on mother or baby. Pre pregnancy Kegel and abdominal exercises will help considerably with labor and childbirth.

Please note: The author is not a licensed medical professional. Consult your doctor concerning pre pregnancy health planning.