Preconception Planning
A Baby? Everybody
loves babies
And for a woman, having a baby is like making a dream come true.
So let this dream weave itself into reality.
The
joy and excitement of bringing a new life into this world is not only pleasurable
but also demands a lot of responsibility. You should be ready to accept it as
a challenge by maintaining a healthy diet so as to nurture the new life growing
within you. A
woman who is well nourished before conception begins her pregnancy with reserves
of essential nutrients like protein, minerals (Iron and Calcium) and vitamins
(Folic Acid, Vitamins A & C) to meet the needs of a growing fetus. You
might be apprehensive during your pregnancy, worrying that what you do and what
you eat is not good enough. Well, let's put those thoughts aside and work at putting
your fears to rest and by looking after yourself and enjoying your pregnancy,
to giving birth to a beautiful, healthy baby. Here
are a few things to keep in mind when you are planning to have a baby Maintain
a weight that is appropriate for pregnancy as this is a better indicator of maternal
health during your 9 months of gestation. Even if you are slightly overweight
or underweight, there is no reason to panic as long as you are at a weight level
that you are comfortable with.
Here is a formula to help you determine what
weight is appropriate for your height.
Height (cm - 105 = Ideal Body Weight
(kgs) (105 is a standard figure derived for women from Broca's index for ideal
body weight.) Do
not smoke or drink alcohol or use any recreational drugs. Select
a gynaecologist and an obstetrician whom you trust and most importantly, feel
comfortable with. Have
a complete medical checkup, including blood analysis, which will indicate your
iron, hemoglobin and folic acid status as these nutrients are vital during your
pregnancy, and are required in large quantities for the fetal growth and development.
It is important that you build up their reserves before you actually conceive. |
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