FEMOSPHERE

Our culture today places little importance on pre-conception planning. People tell you you’re supposed to plan for it, but they don’t really give any details. Even in pre-conception appointments with an OBGYN, most of the advice can be pretty ambiguous. While I’m definitely not an authority on this subject, I wanted to share what I’m doing personally to prepare myself for pregnancy, years before I plan on having children.

Financial Planning

Financial planning is obvious, but it can be hard to know where to start. I know that once I have a baby, and towards the end of the pregnancy, I will not want to work- at least not a traditional 9-5, and definitely not a very active job like the one I have now. Knowing this, I am pursuing different avenues, especially ones that have a flex or work-from-home option.

It’s also important to us to be able to live off of my husband’s income alone, should that be necessary. This includes reducing expenses where we’re able, and growing income and savings. It’s important to us to also be able to contribute to our savings regularly.

Knowing that we will intend to be a single-income household includes investing in my husband’s career and education.

Currently being a dual-income household, we are learning the balance between planning for the future while taking advantage of the time and resources that we have now.

There are other things, such as health insurance, that are important to have but that’s a one-time thing vs an ongoing habit or lifestyle change I’m developing.

Overall Fitness

I’ve been trying to increase my mobility, not just for childbearing purposes, but for overall health. Not only mobility, but also general exercise. I try to incorporate more active movement such as yoga, walking, and weight training to support my health and longevity.

I want to have the muscle to be able to carry a heavy car seat, the abdominal muscles to support birth, and the endurance to keep up with a toddler. Overall health is important not only for conception, birth, and the younger years, but throughout the life of your child.

It’s also important to make sure that you are at a healthy weight to support conception.

There are many health problems that are beyond control, but there are also many ways to prevent them.

Dental Health

I have a natural predisposition towards poor dental health. This means I have to be very proactive about flossing, brushing, how long sugar is on my teeth, and so many other aspects of dental health.

60-75% of pregnant women have gingivitis, an early stage of periodontal disease. I have already been told by my dentist that I, pre-pregnancy, am at risk of this disease due to my genetics. More than that, pregnant women are at an increased risk of cavities. Cavities of the mother have a direct correlation to the child’s dental health.

Dental health is something that can be hard to control, especially when you have poor genetics in this area. There is not much you can do besides being proactive and getting treatment when it is necessary. Regular cleanings are a great way to aid dental health.

Diet

This is one that admittedly, I do not do the best with. I do not eat as though I were pregnant or trying to be, but I do eat with it in mind.

I read the book “The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Childcare” which educated me on how important diet is. Not only during pregnancy, but before and even after. Not only for the mother, but also the father.

This book also gave a lot of helpful information about what types of supplements are recommended for both conception and pregnancy. Just one of the many things I learned is the difference between folate and folic acid. The book covered the quality differences and the different ways the body breaks each vitamin down.

As a result of this book, I’ve paid much greater attention to the ingredients in the prenatal vitamins I take.

Supplements and vitamins are very helpful tools, but this book also gives detailed meal plans. It can be helpful to be eating the foods that have the vitamins you need, as opposed to just taking the supplements.

The book covers how to get enough protein, which healthy fats are best, vegetables, fruits and how much water you should drink.

Worth the Effort

When a person commits to doing a marathon, they spend months preparing. They train, they eat well, they build their endurance and even in some cases their mind.

Why should pregnancy be any different? What worthier a cause for so much effort?

Bringing life into the world is not something we should take lightly. If motherhood is important to you, prepare for it to the best of your ability.