Contents:
- Medical Video: Planning for Pregnancy
- Impact of unplanned pregnancy
- What needs to be discussed with a doctor before you become pregnant
- What should be prepared before pregnancy?
- 1. Weight
- 2. Nutrition before pregnancy
- 3. Vitamin supplements
- 4. Exercise regularly
- 5. Stop smoking and drink alcohol
- 6. Reduce stress
- 7. Vaccination
Medical Video: Planning for Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not an easy thing to go through. Pregnancies that are not well planned can have a negative impact on the mother and baby. So, planning a pregnancy is something you must do before becoming pregnant. Many nutrients are needed before and during pregnancy that you must prepare. In pregnancy there are also various changes in the body of the mother and must be prepared properly, so that the mother can avoid complications during pregnancy.
Impact of unplanned pregnancy
Quoted from the Maternal and Early Years page, The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition states that many factors determine fetal growth that occurs before pregnancy. Maternal nutritional status at the start of pregnancy also affects the ability of the mother's body to meet the nutritional needs needed by the baby during the womb. Meeting the nutritional needs of mothers and babies must be carried out continuously until the baby is born.
One example of a nutrient that a mother needs to prepare before she starts pregnancy is folic acid. Lack of folic acid both before and during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects in infants. Other nutrients that must also be fulfilled by the mother during pregnancy are iron. Iron deficiency during pregnancy can cause mothers to experience anemia during pregnancy. Vitamin D deficiency and calcium during pregnancy can also affect bone formation in infants.
In addition to nutrients, another thing that must be considered before the mother is pregnant is weight. Being overweight or obese in the mother before she gets pregnant can increase the risk of a mother experiencing diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) and hypertension.
What needs to be discussed with a doctor before you become pregnant
It is very important for you to prepare yourself well before you plan to get pregnant. It is better to discuss with your doctor about
- Your medical history and the medicines you are taking
- Problems with previous pregnancies (if this is not your first pregnancy)
- The vaccine you have got
- Your lifestyle, such as whether you smoke or drink alcohol, and how you work
- What should you do before pregnancy, so that complications during pregnancy can be avoided
Pre and post pregnancy examinations are highly recommended to protect you and your future baby's health.
What should be prepared before pregnancy?
Some things you must prepare before pregnancy are:
1. Weight
Is your weight in the normal range? If you are overweight, you should limit your intake and do regular exercise in an effort to lose your weight. Normal weight before and during pregnancy can reduce your risk of complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension and gestational diabetes.
If you are overweight before pregnancy, you only need to increase your weight a little during pregnancy. Conversely, if you are underweight before becoming pregnant, you must increase your weight more during pregnancy.
2. Nutrition before pregnancy
Before you get pregnant, the good thing you do is improve your diet. You should start trying to eat healthy and balanced foods to meet your nutritional needs before becoming pregnant. This can also make your pregnancy easier for you to live because you are accustomed to eating healthy food and doing a healthy lifestyle.
Start by adding more fresh vegetables and fruits to your menu everyday. This can help you apply a diet with balanced nutrition more easily.
Besides vegetables and fruits that contain a lot vitamins and minerals, the nutrients you should pay attention to when eating are:
- Carbohydrate. Try to consume carbohydrates from sources other than rice, such as replacing them with whole wheat or brown rice. Also, try to limit sweet foods or drinks.
- Protein. You can get it from meat, fish, milk and its products, and nuts, like tofu and tempeh. If you are vegetarian, you can still get enough protein. We suggest talking to your doctor about this.
- Fat. It is a nutrient that is also important during pregnancy. Fat functions to help the body absorb vitamins. Make sure you eat healthy fats, which can be obtained from fish or vegetable sources, such as beans.
- Fiber. Can be obtained from vegetables, fruits, and seeds. At least you should eat vegetables and fruits 3-5 servings per day to meet your fiber needs. Meeting your fiber needs can prevent you from constipation during pregnancy.
3. Vitamin supplements
This is what you need if you cannot meet the needs of certain very high nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and vitamin A. Taking a prenatal vitamin or vitamin supplement before or during pregnancy can help you meet important nutritional needs during pregnancy.
However, you need to be careful in consuming it. Consult with your doctor first whether you need these vitamin supplements. Your doctor will adjust to your daily intake. Too much vitamin intake can also have a negative impact on you and your baby, for example excess vitamin A can cause babies with birth defects.
4. Exercise regularly
Exercise can make you feel better and give you a lot of energy. Exercise carried out during pregnancy can make you better prepared for labor. You can get used to doing sports from before pregnancy. You can start with walking, swimming, yoga, or other light exercise.
5. Stop smoking and drink alcohol
If you smoke or like to drink alcohol, you should start learning to stop smoking and drinking alcohol from now on. Smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy is proven to be harmful to your baby's health as well as yours, and can even cause miscarriage. Smoking or drinking alcohol before pregnancy can also make it harder for you to get pregnant.
6. Reduce stress
Make sure you are in a healthy state and there are no things that bother you both before and during pregnancy. Stress when trying to get pregnant can make it difficult for you to achieve pregnancy. The stress that is felt during pregnancy can also bother you. Do things that can make you happy and calm. Also, avoid stress that you can get from work.
7. Vaccination
Make sure your vaccination is complete before you become pregnant. This is so that you avoid infectious diseases, such as rubella, during pregnancy. Rubella can harm your baby during pregnancy. If you haven't received two doses of MMR vaccine or you don't remember it, you should consult your doctor. Complete your vaccination several months before pregnancy.
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