How to prepare your body for pregnancy

When we decided to get pregnant, I took this very seriously. Since I was over 35, I wanted to make sure that I was healthy enough to give life to a healthy baby. I made an appointment with a doctor and I asked what tests I needed to do to check if everything looked normal, and how I can better prepare for pregnancy.

I was pleasantly surprised when he said that there was no specific medical examination offered to women who are trying to get pregnant. Well, at least not until you have tried to get pregnant for 1 year without success.

In recent years it has become more common to get married and start a family in your early, mid or late 30s. A lot of people postpone having kids until they have successful careers and have some financial security.

But the biological clock is ticking and it gets harder and harder to get pregnant as you get older. That’s one of the reasons why fertility treatments are becoming more and more popular. And they do help a lot of couples to fulfill their dream of having a child, but in many cases they are not very effective. I am talking about the cases when doctors recommend IUI of IVF procedures without a proper and full check-up. And this is something you need to get in charge of on your own!

When you get pregnant, you want your baby to be absolutely healthy, and you hope to avoid any pregnancy complications. Some of the complications can be prevented, that is why it is very important to prepare your body for pregnancy.

And even if you are not trying to get pregnant in the immediate future, following these recommendations will give you an opportunity to check how healthy your reproductive system is, and if there is anything you need to worry about.

1. A pap smear (pap test)

A pap smear is a test that involves collecting cells from your cervix. It looks for cancers and pre-cancers in the cervix, and it can also detect certain infections and inflammation. For instance, if you have a yeast infection, it can affect your ability to get pregnant. 

If you had a pap test in the past 6 months and the results were normal, you do not need to do it again unless you suspect some infection or have another complaint. Usually, with normal results, you need to have the pap test every 2-3 years.

2. Bloodwork and urine test

Ask your doctor for a bloodwork requisition to check blood hematology, glucose level, thyroid function, and test for hepatitis B, toxoplasmosis, HIV, rubella, and syphilis. If you require any vaccinations, do them before pregnancy as many are not recommended during pregnancy due to the risk they can present to the baby. 

Urine microbiology testing checks for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.It’s a good idea to check for them when you are trying to prepare for pregnancy.

3. Dentist and hygienist

Pay a visit to your dentist before getting pregnant. Some dental procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, so it is a good idea to take care of your dental health when it is still safe. The same goes for the hygienist. I see my hygienist 3 times a year and at my most recent appointment, I was 9 weeks pregnant. After finding out that I was pregnant, he gave me a bag with goodies (toothpaste and floss) and told me to go home. Well, not literally of course:)

He explained that there is not enough knowledge out there of how dental hygiene procedures may affect pregnancy, so it is recommended to avoid them, at least during the first trimester. Pregnant women are more prone to dental bleeding during the cleaning which can lead to infections. So, go and get your teeth cleaned before you get busy with … (well, you know what I mean!)

4. Consult a specialist

If you have a history of poor thyroid function, or blood coagulation issues, go and see an endocrinologist or hematologist. They will be able to check your current condition and advise if it may affect your chances of getting pregnant.

5. Nutrition, vitamins and folic acid

Now is the time when you really need to pay attention to your nutrition. Eat more whole foods, limit caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, and stay away from processed foods.

Unfortunately, we do not get enough nutrients from our diet, so stock up on some vitamins and minerals. You can start taking prenatal vitamins which usually contain a higher dosage of folate (or folic acid which is a synthetic form of vitamin B9) and iron. Also, it would not hurt to take Omega 3 supplements. We do get enough of Omega 6 and 9 from our food, but not enough of Omega 3. 

You may also hear the recommendation of supplementing your diet with vitamin D and calcium. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence of how this supplementation can improve pregnancy outcomes. In this review, you can find more information on how vitamin D and calcium supplementation may affect pregnancy. The review is based on the evidence collected from 30 trials that involved 7033 women.

6. Acupuncture

I really believe in acupuncture and its benefits to your overall health. I am sure that’s what helped us to get pregnant after many months of trying. You can read more about it here. Starting a family is a big decision and it can bring a certain level of stress to you and your partner. Plus, this may not be the only stress in your life, and stress can definitely affect your fertility. So, even if the acupuncturist does not detect any major imbalances in your body, the treatments will make you more relaxed and less stressed. And that’s exactly how you need to feel when getting pregnant.

If you did not have a chance to prepare for pregnancy and got pregnant very quickly, do not worry. Usually, it indicates that you are healthy and your body is ready. Just relax and enjoy this exciting adventure! Well, unless you have terrible morning all-day sickness. But this is a topic for another day!