Congratulations!!!! By now, I know that this must be a wonderful and most important decisions of your life. The choice to have children and be a parent. I know a lot is going on in your mind right now. A lot of mixed feelings of excitements and nervousness. Off course the excitement part of this is very exciting. Obviously, the nervous part is equally nervous. But best part of it all is that you have made the best of decisions to become a parent. The mere fact that you have decided you want to find joy and blessings in having a baby is enormous.

If you are like me, I started thinking about being a parent waaay before I got married. I was already looking forward to become the parent to my little bundle of joy. This gives me chills and goose-bumps as I write. HamdulilLah Allah has blessed me not just with one, but twins.

The more I thought about being a mother, the more and more it occurs to me that I have not fully prepared Health-wise to be ready for the most nutritionally dependent, emotionally demanding and physically straining period of my life cycle. I started to ask a lot of questions to know what I need to consider before I get pregnant. Do you know what these are? If yes and already pregnancy, please stick around and keep reading as you will still pick up some good stuff. If your answer is no just like me before now, this is the time to grab a pen and paper for little notes, or revisit this post again when you need it the most.

1. Prepare for the Baby Bump

Start to think about being able to conceive and become a parent. This is not just about you anymore. You and your partner should begin preparing yourselves both mentally and physically. This time, think about changing the way you eat and work on getting your health in order. This is the first right step towards this massive decision.

2. Understand why you should eat and exercise right

Who said eating all the good and yummy foods from every restaurant and food joint is not fun and exciting? Of course it is and comes in handy with all the time saved from shopping, prepping, cooking and finally cleaning up. But again, eating unhealthy and nutritionally-deficient foods will also steal all the time saved for hospital and doctor’s visits. The food you eat are the ONLY food reserve for yourself and your baby. I know you always think about your unborn baby, but you must also take time to think about what happens from the moment your egg comes in contact with your partner’ sperm.

Certain nutrients and minerals are essential to make everything else possible once you get pregnant. The ability of a pregnant body to compensate for any excesses or deficiencies related to nutrition is an amazing thing. But again it is important to note that you cannot provide the essential nutrients for your baby if you are deficient in them. For example, taking enough folic acid before you start trying to become pregnant is essential in the first few weeks of pregnancy necessary for a healthy spinal cord, and can also help to prevent certain birth defects like neural tube defects and spina bifida. It is recommended that, taking 400 micro-gram of folic acid a day during your reproductive age (the period of monthly cycle) can help to prevent this defects like spina bifida.

The healthiest dietary source of vitamin B9 also known as folate or in some cases folic acid are by consuming lots of leafy green vegetables. And pregnant women are in need of this vitamin more than the average person. it is vital to know the folic acid you are buying or consuming. Most folic acid on the market are not bioavailable and are not properly and biologically broken down in your body for use in its active form. So when you buy folic acid make sure you read the label or ask the pharmacist for the methylated form of folic acid. It is usually 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and you can check this on the label or by asking your doctor or health practitioner.

It is also important to not only focus on eating right, but healthy eating, exercise and being physically fit to prepare for the baby bump is very important. Exercise is said to be a natural way to reduce stress due to the stressful nature of pregnancy itself.

You may also be interested to read this

3. Get your body ready for the baby

Many factors affect your overall health status before and during pregnancy. Your own general health and lifestyle before you conceive, during pregnancy and after pregnancy all influence the baby’s general health as well. It is therefore important to check and note the following listed below for a safer pregnancy:

• Pay a visit to your doctor: It is always a good idea to visit your doctor once the decision to want to be pregnancy starts to mature. A visit to your doctor will help to give a clear perspective of whether to get pregnant or to postpone getting pregnant until you are medically cleared.

• Manage your Weight: Your health status and lifestyle before pregnancy have been shown to later affect your future pregnancies, which potentially influence your child’s health status as well. It is always a good idea and medically recommended to try to lose some weight before getting pregnant if you are overweight, because losing some excess pounds here and there helps to increase your chances of getting pregnant as well as decreasing the chances of birth defects. Again, trying to gain some weight and be at a normal weight before pregnancy is also important. However, trying to lose weight during pregnancy is not recommended and unsafe for you and your baby. Talk to your doctor, nurse or dietitian about managing your weight during pregnancy for a safer pregnancy and delivery.

• Start taking Prenatal Vitamins: Prenatal vitamins contains multivitamins that are essential to your body before, during and after pregnancy. It is recommended that you taking prenatal vitamins 3-4 months before getting pregnant. This helps your body replenish and supplement all the nutrients that are not adequately absorbed or are not found in the foods you eat. As a women in your childbearing age, taking prenatal vitamins once a day that contain 400-800 micrograms of folic acid helps to prevent any abnormalities that usually occurs in the first critical 28days following conceptions. You should consume food high in folate like green leafy vegetables, spinach, Kale, arugula, Eggs, avocado, asparagus, (kontomere, bokoboko or water leave as called in Ghana) and black beans.

• Limit Caffeine intake and Cut back on Alcohol: As a woman in your child bearing years, alcohol is a must-stop for you. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, seek help before getting pregnant. Because you don’t know when you will be pregnant, stopping will be a very good idea. Caffein is also addictive and it is advisable to cut down before getting pregnant due to its tendency of crossing the placenta.

4. Pray Over It

Pray, Pray and Pray over it for this divine blessing of motherhood. Don’t ever stop praying until you get pregnant and after you get pregnant. Your decision to want to become pregnant is huge. It requires special intervention from the Almighty God. Understand that Allah is the One who gives and grants you and your partner the gift of children.

Many people have good health, money, richness, accommodation for both the baby and themselves, support from family and friends, have excellent overall health status and lifestyle but yet they are unable to get pregnant after several years of trying. No amount of money, scientific  knowledge and innovations, IVF’s and many other means to help you get pregnant can help if it is not the will of God. You should understand that the will of God, coupled with the way you prepare towards this journey by praying and calling upon HIM, and any intervention by your doctor contribute to make things happen, insha Allah.

It shall be well, you will get pregnant and you will carry your baby in your arms until he/she becomes a big baby. Just do what you have to do on your part and leave the rest to God for Him to take care of.

Much Love

Halima