If you have decided to welcome the birth of a new baby, it is important to follow good pregnancy preparation. If you drink heavily, stay up late, or even eat unhealthily it can easily lead to lower chances of conception, and in more serious cases it can lead to fetal arrest and fetal malformations.

So be sure to read carefully the dos and don'ts that I am going to write about next.

How to Prepare for Pregnancy？

There are three major steps to prepare for pregnancy: preconception testing, nutritional preparation, and changing bad habits. Follow these three points to have good preparation for pregnancy.

1. Pre-Conception Examinations

For moms who are trying to get pregnant, it is important to get health checkups. These tests will help you understand your health condition and ensure that you are in the best condition to conceive, thus improving your chances of a successful pregnancy and safeguarding the health of the mother and child.

Routine tests are:

• Blood Tests: Checking routine blood count, blood type, blood sugar, liver function, kidney function, thyroid function, etc.

• Urinalysis: to assess kidney health and detect potential infections.

• Pelvic Examination: to check for abnormalities in the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, etc.

• Colposcopy: to check cervical health and rule out cervical lesions.

• Cervical Smear (Pap Smear): to screen for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.

• Ultrasound: to assess the structure and function of the uterus and ovaries.

However, for women over the age of 30, some additional tests need to be performed in addition to the basic tests mentioned above. For example, the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test, is to assess the reserve function of the ovaries and to know the number and quality of eggs. There is also a basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) level test, which is to help assess ovarian function and fertility.

In addition to this, you will also need to have an HSG to go and check for fallopian tube patency and any abnormal structures in the uterus.

2. Nutritional Preparation

• A Balanced Diet: Consume a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day to ensure that you get enough vitamins and minerals. It is best to choose whole grains, such as whole-grain bread, brown rice, and oatmeal, to provide enough fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Also ensure adequate protein intake, such as lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.

• Key Nutrients: Folic acid is the preferred choice as it helps prevent fetal neural tube defects. Take at least 400 mcg/day, starting at least one month before preparing for pregnancy and continuing through early pregnancy. It is also important to ensure the intake of micronutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamin D. You can either start with your daily diet or just consult your doctor to buy micronutrient pills.

• Foods and Habits to Avoid: There are a lot of foods that you should never touch while preparing for and during pregnancy. For example, limit your caffeine intake as high caffeine intake may affect conception and fetal development. Also, do not eat raw fish, raw shellfish, raw eggs, undercooked meat and poultry, unpasteurized dairy products, etc. Maintain a clean and healthy diet.

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses (about 2 liters) a day. It will keep your body hydrated and support metabolism and nutrient transportation.

3. Change Bad Habits

• Stop Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: Smoking and drinking alcohol may reduce the chances of conception and increase the risk of fetal abnormalities and miscarriage.

• Limit Caffeine Intake: High caffeine intake may affect the chances of conception and increase the risk of miscarriage. It is recommended to consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day (about one 12-ounce cup of coffee).

• Reject a Diet High in Sugar and Fat: This can affect your health and chances of conception. It is recommended to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and high-quality proteins and avoid processed foods and high-sugar drinks.

• Reduce Stress: Chronic stress affects hormonal balance and reduces the chances of conception. It is recommended to practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga and engage in favorite activities.

• Avoid Harmful Substances: Exposure to chemicals and radiation, as well as pesticides, heavy metals, detergents, and other harmful substances, should be avoided and necessary precautions should be taken.

• Keep a Regular Schedule: Keep a regular schedule and get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.

How to Prepare for Pregnancy as a Man？

If you plan to conceive a baby, not only the mom has to take care of the preparation, but also the dad. They need to provide high-quality sperms, then all this cannot be done without good daily habits. Here are the things to keep in mind:

1. Health Checkup: schedule a comprehensive physical examination and consider semen analysis to assess sperm quality.

2. Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity to improve sperm quality. You also need to go to bed early and get up early, don't stay up late and ensure a routine.

3. Avoid harmful substances: stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, don't take drugs, and don't use recreational drugs.

4. Supplements: Not only do girls need these supplements, but boys should also consult their doctor about taking folic acid, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

5. Sexual Health: Maintain regular, unprotected intercourse during your partner's ovulation period. It is also important to ensure that intercourse is clean and does not result in sexual infections.

6. Self-Education: It is advisable to learn more about pregnancy preparation before getting pregnant, especially after mom becomes pregnant. Pregnant women are emotionally unstable and need the companionship and comfort of their dads in the hope of having a happy pregnancy preparation process.

Some Tips After Pregnancy

If you have checked your pregnancy with a pregnancy test, you must go to the hospital for an ultrasound to confirm it. During the early stages of pregnancy, try to avoid strenuous exercise.

1. Regular Prenatal Care: Schedule and attend all prenatal appointments to monitor your health and your baby's development.

2. Healthy Nutrition: Eat a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy products. Drink plenty of water to keep your body well hydrated.

3. Prenatal Vitamins: Take prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, iron, calcium, and DHA as recommended by your healthcare provider.

4. Physical Activity: With your doctor's approval, do moderate exercise such as walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga.

5. Avoid Harmful Substances: Stop smoking completely and avoid drinking alcohol.

6. Adequate Rest: Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night and use pillows to keep you comfortable.

7. Monitor Your Health: Watch for any unusual symptoms and report them to your healthcare provider.

8. Prepare for Your Baby's Arrival: Prepare prenatal products such as baby clothes, breast pumps, and bottles. You can buy a fetal Doppler monitor to keep checking your baby's health during your pregnancy.

For not eating too much cold, spicy, and overly flavored foods, once in a while is fine. Also, during pregnancy, keep a good mood so that you can conceive a healthy and cute baby.

How to Prepare for a Pregnancy Glucose Test？

Gestational glucose testing is designed to screen for and diagnose gestational diabetes to ensure the health of the mother and child. Undetected and unmanaged gestational diabetes can lead to complications for both mother and fetus. With testing, steps can be taken to control blood glucose levels, reduce the risk of complications, and provide early intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in the future. Testing is usually done at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy and includes an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

1. Learn About the Types of Tests. There are two types of pregnancy glucose tests: GCT and GTT. GCT does not require fasting, and the blood is drawn one hour after drinking sugar water, while GTT requires fasting and several blood draws after drinking sugar water.

2. Dietary Preparation: GCT does not usually require special dietary preparation, but avoids foods high in sugar, while GTT requires fasting for 8-14 hours and drinking only water as ordered by your doctor.

3. Test Day Preparation: Make sure you arrive at your appointment time.

4. Test Procedure: GCT drinks sugar water as instructed and draws blood after 1 hour. GTT drinks sugar water as instructed and draws blood at intervals.

5. Post-Test Precautions: You may eat normally after the test. If you feel unwell, contact your doctor.

6. Waiting for the Doctor's Interpretation of the Result: Listen to the doctor's advice, if you need further testing, follow the requirements.

How to Prepare for Pregnancy After Miscarriage？

The requirements for preparing for pregnancy for a mom who has experienced a miscarriage are much stricter than for a first-time mom. Miscarriage surgery can cause tremendous damage to a mother's body, and these irreversible injuries require time and daily care to slowly recover.

It is recommended that mothers who have had a miscarriage wait at least 6 months before trying to conceive to ensure that the uterus and the endocrine system are restored to their optimal state.

Also after a miscarriage, hormone levels need time to adjust back to normal. During this time, menstrual cycles may be irregular, which may affect ovulation and the timing of conception. But there's no need to rush, as long as the mom recuperates her body, she can ensure a smooth pregnancy.

A word of caution: women who have experienced one or more miscarriages are at a slightly higher risk of miscarriage in future pregnancies, and it is important to visit the hospital promptly and regularly for a pregnancy checkup after securing a pregnancy.

Other things to keep in mind:

1. Thorough Medical Check-Up: Before trying to conceive again, a thorough health check-up should be conducted to find out the causes of miscarriage (e.g. chromosomal abnormality, problems with reproductive organs, etc.), and appropriate treatment or adjustments should be made according to the doctor's advice.

2. Nutrition and Lifestyle: Ensure adequate intake of folic acid and other vitamins to prevent birth defects. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as moderate exercise, abstaining from smoking and alcohol, and avoiding exposure to harmful substances.

3. Close Monitoring: More frequent medical check-ups, including blood tests, ultrasound, etc., may be needed in the early stages of pregnancy to monitor embryo development and identify potential problems in advance.

4. Medication Use: If medication (e.g. progesterone support, etc.) is necessary, it should be administered in strict accordance with your doctor's instructions.

Overall, although pregnancy after miscarriage may require extra attention and preparation, many women can have successful pregnancies and healthy babies after miscarriage. It is important to stay in close contact with your doctor and receive adequate support throughout the process.

Summarize

I hope you follow these precautions to have a healthy baby. In addition, we are a mother and baby product company, so if you want to prepare some products for your baby in advance: fever patches, weight scales, sippy cups and bottles, etc., you can contact us.

We are committed to creating high-quality products that not only solve the mom's dilemma but also ensure the child's health.