Know the Facts: Preconception
First, an apology. In my last column, I promised that this would be a weekly series to be published on Mondays. Unfortunately, I have been very busy and writing this column weekly has been very difficult. I will definitely be writing once a week from now on, so please forgive me.
This month’s topic is Preconception 101. When my husband and I decided that we want to give pregnancy another shot, I began preparing my body before I was actually pregnant. There is a lot of information available about the myths regarding preconception health. In fact, before you get pregnant, you should visit your doctor to discuss any medications that you may be taking, finding the best multivitamin with Folic Acid, identify any heath risk that you may be facing, and ensuring that you are generally healthy before you conceive. In addition, it is always necessary to clear up any misconceptions that you may have about preconception and conception.
Once you have done all of that, and you begin trying to conceive, remember that it may not happen right away. Many women become worried when they don’t conceive in their preset time-frame. However, unless you are under 35 and have been trying for at least a year without success, it is probably unlikely that you have fertility issues. Knowing when to seek fertility treatment may save you a lot of unnecessary stress (which, by the way, is not healthy for women trying to get pregnant).
There are things to aide you in conceiving. Knowing approximately when you will ovulate is also a great way to help conceive. My cycle was pretty regular so my husband and I used The Ovulation Calendar* to help map my schedule so we knew when I was likely… Continue reading
Know the Facts: Birth Defects and Genetics- Your Weight and Pregnancy
Welcome to my new series Know the Facts a weekly column that I will be writing as I take on my new role as a March of Dimes Mom. If you would like to learn more about the March of Dimes, please visit the March of Dimes ‘About Us’ Page.
This month, the topic of discussion focuses on Birth Defects and Genetics as January is Birth Defects Prevention Month. As many of you know, I am currently struggling to lose weight- a lot of weight. We currently have one living daughter but lost our first daughter at 19.5 weeks gestation. I am not going to go into details now, but due to cervical problems and my tendency to be plagued with Hyperemesis, I am considered high risk. It is not a term that I like, but it is a fact. And due to this fact, I am focused on losing at least 60 pounds before trying to get pregnant again.
Don’t get me wrong- I know that being overweight is not the reason for my Hyperemesis nor is it why I have been diagnosed with an “incompetent cervix,” (another term that I despise because it makes me feel inadequate). However, there are some very real concerns when one is overweight/obese and pregnant. Some risks may include Gestational Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Preeclampsia. Being overweight may also increase a mother’s chance of having a C-section which can lead to other problems. In addition, children born to overweight mothers may be at an increased risk for complications and childhood obesity.
So if you are like me, and want to have more children (or even a first child), learn more about what you can do to help reduce risk factors that you may face during your… Continue reading