Introduction to Prenatal Preparation

1. Plan a life plan after having children

Talk to your boyfriend about life after having children. Of course, the conversation should revolve around the children, for example: what should be prepared? Who will take care of the child after it is born? Are there likely to be additional expenses due to children? How to educate children? etc. Recall your and his childhood experiences, look at the parents around you who have children, make some estimates of the problems that will arise in your child's early years, and find some coping methods that both parties can agree on. Before you are ready to become parents, it is important to talk with your partner about various topics related to children. This will not only make you more considerate, but will also make you cherish the precious world of two people that is about to pass away.

2. Get a health check

If you and he have decided to have a baby, then you and he need to do some pre-pregnancy health checks together to make sure that both of you are in good health before pregnancy. The good health of you and him is the basis for conceiving a healthy baby.

3. Leave 1 year for preparation

If you want to get pregnant, you need to set aside at least one year to prepare yourself, which includes physical, psychological, financial and other aspects of preparation. During this time, you should pay more attention to the parents of newborn babies around you, summarize from them the methods and experiences that you can use in the future, and also learn about what you and him should prepare before pregnancy. At the same time, to become a parent, you must first take care of your body and, if possible, prepare the necessary money. Of course, none of this can be done immediately; it takes some time and requires you to put in some effort.

4. Develop a healthy lifestyle

From now on, implement healthy eating habits, scientific exercise plans, and maintain a good mood. First of all, you must ensure that you consume balanced and adequate nutrition every day. This is not only for the future fetus, but also enables you to more easily cope with the various changes that occur during pregnancy and after delivery. Walking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes every day is one of the best ways to stay in good shape. Of course, being physically healthy is not enough. You also need a healthy mind to make yourself relaxed and happy every day. In addition, please note: drinking, smoking, taking medicine indiscriminately or taking medicine in excess may affect your fertility and the health of your future baby. For the sake of your future life, you should quit.

5. Find a hospital

You should choose a pregnancy care and delivery hospital for yourself based on your health status, needs, financial conditions, place of residence, and the level of medical services provided by the hospital. Be sure to go to a regular large hospital or a regular specialist hospital, and also pay attention to comparing the medical and service levels of the obstetrics and gynecology department of the hospital to see whether it provides humane pregnancy and perinatal medical care services. The experience of predecessors is of course valuable, but “seeing is believing”, it is still better to experience it yourself!

6. Get a eugenics consultation

Go to the hospital and ask the doctor to give you a eugenics consultation. Explain your and his current physical health conditions in detail to the eugenics expert, and also explain the health conditions of other family members to the doctor. If it is confirmed that there is a family history of the disease, a solution should be found early to protect the baby's health in time.

7. Take 1 medicine - folic acid

In the first three months of your planned pregnancy, you should take 400 mg of folic acid per day. According to the latest findings by American scientists, folic acid deficiency in expectant mothers is one of the important causes of premature birth. The fetus needs folic acid very much. It has anti-anemia properties, can effectively reduce the chance of fetal neural tube defects, and is also beneficial to improving the intelligence of the fetus, making the newborn healthier and smarter.

8. Stop using one form of contraception: oral contraceptives

If you find that you were still taking oral contraceptives last month and are already pregnant this month, your gynecologist will advise you to stop continuing the pregnancy as soon as possible. Generally speaking, it is best to get pregnant 6 months after stopping taking birth control pills. This is because the main ingredient of oral contraceptives is hormones, which are several times stronger than natural sex hormones. In addition, oral contraceptives take a long time to be absorbed and metabolized, and can only be completely excreted from the body after 6 months. Within 6 months after stopping the medication, although the drug concentration in the body can no longer produce a contraceptive effect, it still has adverse effects on the fetus. If you get pregnant after stopping taking birth control pills, it may cause certain defects to the baby.

9. Weave a support net

The process of raising a baby often requires the help of family, friends, and social organizations. They will help you when you encounter troubles and difficulties. When you feel lost, you will get comfort from them. In particular, you should not neglect the emotional exchanges with your boyfriend, and you should also maintain close contact with your parents. You can also join some classes specially designed for expectant mothers, which are usually held once a week. It is a caring group where you can make many mommy friends and find solutions to problems.