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9 Pre-Conception Concepts Every Couple Should Know
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This information has been reviewed and approved by an experienced fertility specialist at Indira IVF to provide accurate and up-to-date guidance for our readers.
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Disclosure
The information provided here serves as a general guide and does not constitute medical advice. We strongly advise consulting a certified fertility expert for professional assessment and personalized treatment recommendations.
Synopsis
- Pre-Pregnancy Checklist
- Why Is Preconception Planning Important?
- Prenatal screening and check-up
- Monitor your menstrual cycle and ovulation
- Limit exposure to environmental toxins
- Prenatal vitamins and nutrition
- Mental and emotional well-being
- Partner communication and shared expectations
- Counselling and emotional readiness
- Financial preparation
- Conclusion
Pre-Pregnancy Checklist
The preconception checklist is a comprehensive roadmap that helps you prepare for pregnancy by taking time (three to six months) to prepare all aspects of your health, including medical, nutritional, lifestyle, mental health and financial well-being, that will assist you in achieving conception and promoting the healthy growth of your baby.
Why Is Preconception Planning Important?
Preconception care is not just about getting pregnant. It is also about being your healthiest when you start your family and are being prepared for it physically, mentally, and socially. By enhancing key areas before becoming pregnant, you can decrease the incidence of birth defects, miscarriages, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery. With nutritional deficiencies and changes to a healthy lifestyle, pre-pregnancy planning can have a large impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Prenatal screening and check-up
Schedule a pregnancy preparation appointment with your doctor.
The initial and most important step towards becoming pregnant is to visit a gynaecologist or your family doctor for a preconception consultation. This will include taking a detailed medical history, including information about your menstrual cycle, how many times you have been pregnant, your family’s health, and what medications you are currently taking.
Types of blood tests that should be done
- Complete blood counts (CBCs)
- Thyroid Profile (TSH, T3, T4)
- Blood Glucose/HbA1c
- Vitamin D and B12
- Iron Studies
- Rubella and Varicella Immunity
- Ultrasound Pelvis
- Genetic Testing
Genetic Screening can help identify whether you are at increased risk and allow you to make informed decisions before conception.
Vaccinations
Ensure that you are fully vaccinated against Rubella, Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Influenza. These vaccines offer protection to both mother and baby early in pregnancy when immunity levels are at their lowest.
Dental Examination
Dental health can affect pregnancy outcomes. Infections such as gum disease have been linked to preterm births. It is important to have dental examinations done to treat other dental issues safely before becoming pregnant.
Lifestyles and habits
Smoking and drinking can negatively affect fertility and fetal growth. To optimise fertility chances, it is best to stop consuming all types of tobacco and alcohol and limit caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg/day.
Achieve a healthy body weight.
Women who are either underweight or overweight should gradually increase or decrease calorie intake and engage in physical activity to increase their chances of getting pregnant and to minimise gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Reduce stress and sleep at least 7-9 hours a night.
Sleep disorders can affect hormone levels and impact ovulation. To help with relaxation and managing stress, consider trying yoga, meditation, journaling, or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), all of which can help develop healthy sleeping habits.
Monitor your menstrual cycle and ovulation
Start tracking your menstrual cycle and ovulation (fertile) days to help you determine your fertile window. Irregular cycles, or cycles with signs of hormonal imbalance, could indicate that you should see your doctor for testing hormone levels, AMH, and an ultrasound.
Limit exposure to environmental toxins
Limit or remove the following from your life: plastics for food storage, reduce your exposure to pesticides, and use natural cleaning products. Environmental toxins can disrupt your hormones and the health of your eggs and sperm.
Prenatal vitamins and nutrition
Begin taking prenatal vitamins three months before trying to get pregnant. Essential vitamins include: Folic acid, iron, vitamin D, B12, calcium, iodine, and zinc.
The following foods would be important to your diet when trying to conceive:
- Leafy green vegetables, lentils, and citrus fruits for folate
- Eggs, paneer, dairy products, and fish for protein and vitamin D
- Nuts and seeds for healthy fats
- Seasonal fruits and whole grains
- A balanced diet can help improve ovulation and egg quality.
Foods to Avoid
Enhance your fertility by avoiding or limiting
- Raw or under-cooked meat, eggs, or seafood
- Fish high in mercury (shark, swordfish)
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Snack foods containing trans fats
Mental and emotional well-being
Nervousness over getting pregnant is common because of the uncertainty about your success. Although anxiety is common, chronic stress may affect your cycle and make getting pregnant more difficult. To help relieve anxiety and balance hormones, you can practice mindfulness, talk to a therapist, perform spiritual activities, and/or keep a journal.
Partner communication and shared expectations
Having an open line of communication with your partner before having a baby helps create a solid foundation for their parenting, household, work, and family dynamics. Trust builds, and future stress is decreased when you communicate openly.
Counselling and emotional readiness
Pregnancy is an emotional milestone in your life, and the emotional healing after the loss of a loved one, facing anxiety about fertility, or having difficulty in your relationship can be beneficial with counselling. Preconception counselling should be utilised to provide clarity and coping skills. This is important for learning how to prepare for pregnancy in your 30s and during periods of high stress.
Financial preparation
The birth of a child greatly alters your financial "ecosystem". Start planning and preparing financially for the costs associated with a baby. By planning and preparing for conception, you will set yourself up for a more successful pregnancy.
Conclusion
When planning to become pregnant, it’s important to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Start planning for pregnancy early, schedule a check-up with your physician, improve your overall health, assess yourself for emotional readiness and the level of support from your partner, and create an overall financial and physical 'plan of action'. Create a schedule for conception that will maximise your chances of success. If you are considering becoming a parent for the first time or just want to prepare for pregnancy after the age of 30, this checklist will help guide you toward successful pregnancy preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should men also prepare for pregnancy?
Men must also prepare for conception. Sperm takes about 90 days to regenerate, so preparing for conception through lifestyle change, managing stress, and having fertility tests can lead to a healthy conception.
How can I manage my stress while preparing to conceive?
Use mindfulness, yoga, breathing, or writing a journal to help manage your stress. Get proper sleep, take time to relax, and communicate with your partner or therapist about your feelings.
Will pre-conception care help prevent miscarriage?
Pre-conception care can decrease your chance of having a miscarriage by recognising and treating any hormonal, nutritional, or health issues that are present.
When should I begin planning for pregnancy?
You should start planning to get pregnant about 3 to 6 months before the time you hope to conceive.
If my menstrual cycle is regular, will I need pre-conception care?
Yes, just because you have a regular cycle does not mean that you have optimal hormonal or nutritional health.
