Terhes kismama beszélget az orvosával szakrendelésen.

How can you prepare for pregnancy?

If you are reading this article, you are one of those future parents who consciously and responsibly want to do their best to ensure that the new little life starts growing healthily. The goal of family planning is to ensure and protect the physical and mental health of the mother and the baby, and to avoid developmental disorders. Its significance is enormous.

If you are planning your first baby

It is a very exciting time when both members of a couple express to each other that they want to have a child together and start a family. From this moment on, both parties become a little more spiritual, and the implementation of family planning and the planning of the path leading to it take on an important place in the focus of their thoughts.

There are those who feel the task almost instinctively and know exactly what and how they want to do it, and there are women and men for whom the matter is a bit foreign, so they seek information. This is completely natural, since everyone comes from different families and has different experiences. How do you feel about this?

When planning your first child, it is definitely worth reading professional websites, talking to others about their experiences, and consulting a doctor if you have any health problems. The midwife will help you during the pregnancy, but she is not present during the planning process, unless you visit the Family Protection Service, where you can get help from her in the form of counseling.

If you are planning your second or third baby

The happy family photo shows the parents and their little girl, the mother is pregnant with her second child.

You have already started with a significant advantage, with sufficient experience and self-confidence. If your previous pregnancy was recent, then as a mother you probably know your own health status. You have developed a baby care routine, a daily routine, into which you may now be more comfortable waiting for your little brother.

Conscious planning is just as important for the next child, as changes can happen in a person's life, situation, and health in just one year. It's good to reexamine a few points and, most importantly, communicate about it honestly, together.

Why is it important to consciously plan your pregnancy?

The most ideal case for conceiving a baby is when both members of the couple desire it and are responsibly preparing for the birth and raising of the offspring. However, this is not the case in a significant proportion of pregnancies today. In fact, even in desired pregnancies, deliberate and prepared childbearing is relatively rare.

If the expectant mother begins lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, on the day of a positive pregnancy test, and then mentions to her gynecologist that she has high blood sugar levels or has recently taken medication, then there is no way to improve any potential adverse effects.

There are several reasons why we try to place the conception and birth of a baby in the most optimal living conditions possible. To do this, it is good to consider and examine some important aspects before starting a family, because some of them are of paramount importance.

Source: NAP Medical

The stability of your relationship

Mother and father hug their baby with great love.

A loving relationship and cooperation between parents is essential for the arrival of a new family member. If there is a foundation on which a family can be built – trust, mutual support, emotional security, cooperation skills, empathy, etc. – then the parents can adapt much more easily to the novelties and potential challenges surrounding the birth of a child. These may include learning and accepting new roles, the emergence of a sense of responsibility, the increase in everyday tasks, and unexpected difficulties.

Your mental preparedness

It is worth taking a spiritual journey on your own. How receptive do we feel to the new role and the change in our lives? Are we mentally prepared for the new tasks? Are we able to ask for and accept help when needed? Can we support each other with love when the other needs it?

Your health status

The mother's current health has a strong impact on the pregnancy and the baby. For example, if she has an existing illness - diabetes, PCOS, thyroid problems, autoimmune disease, epilepsy, etc. - or if there is just a suspicion that something is not working properly in her body, then she should definitely have these examined specifically depending on the pregnancy, even by several specialists, from several fields.

Your financial situation and opportunities

A father and mother are assembling a crib for their unborn child in the baby's room.

We can think of both short-term and long-term plans. Expecting a baby is a significant financial burden for parents. It is worth considering how to solve this, because there are countless methods and ideas that can save a lot of money. Everyone can judge based on their own situation when the period of expecting a baby can become relevant from a financial point of view, and what reserves they can have for the future.

Targeted lifestyle changes for the baby

Many people decide to make certain changes to their pregnancy and the health of their baby and mother. This is most often done by avoiding substances, foods, and drugs that are considered harmful, such as excessive carbohydrates, processed foods, alcohol, and cigarettes.

But we can also think of a lifestyle that may no longer be able to properly adapt to family life in the future. An overworked lifestyle, a lot of travel, commuting, and a lot of stress can all be included here.

Basic precautions for the health of your unborn baby

Smoking cessation by both mother and father
Avoiding regular or large amounts of alcohol consumption
Stop taking birth control pills at least 3 months before planning a pregnancy
Creating a calm state of mind, avoiding stress
Taking prenatal vitamins at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy

Smoking can delay conception and cause a number of pregnancy problems and complications. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy inhibits the growth of the fetus and the proper development of its nervous system.

Source: NAP Medical

Advice for your baby's health

It is worth having targeted tests performed.

Today, there are countless clinics specializing in various fields, yet few people know that when planning a pregnancy, they can also choose to undergo tests and counseling that can greatly support the health of their unborn child.

The health of the baby depends to a large extent on the health of the parents at the time of conception. It may happen that an examination reveals a previously unknown illness in one of the parents, which needs to be treated. In the case of people suffering from chronic diseases, regular control is often justified even during the months of pregnancy. In the case of taking medication, only a specialist can determine whether the active ingredient may have a harmful effect on the conception of the child, whether it should be stopped or switched to another. So we can see that the arrival of the baby needs to be planned responsibly.

You can also contact Family Protection Services.

You can use the advice of CSVSZ's health workers free of charge, regardless of your place of residence, if you want to be better prepared for starting a family, have questions, or are in a crisis situation.

Source: NAP Medical

Source: National Center for Public Health

When should you see a doctor?

If the planned pregnancy does not occur after 1 year of regular marriage, or if you are over 35 and do not become pregnant within six months, it is worth visiting your gynecologist, who will check for pelvic inflammatory disease or any other abnormalities in your body. It is also worth having a gynecological examination in case of a previous miscarriage.

Source: Assisted Reproduction Center