Many couples want to have a “little baby” to complete the meaning of family. However, to give birth to a life and raise them to grow up healthy and strong, prospective parents must prepare in many aspects to ensure safety from the beginning of “pregnancy” until the day they have a “healthy and perfect baby” without any obstacles.
Pre-pregnancy health check… an important matter not to be neglected
Pre-pregnancy health check is very important because it helps us know whether the physical condition of both prospective father and mother is healthy and complete, whether the woman is ready for pregnancy, and whether the couple has any diseases or are carriers of genetic diseases.
If the doctor detects any abnormalities or diseases that could affect the pregnancy and the baby in the womb, the doctor will provide treatment or find preventive measures to ensure a safe pregnancy for both the baby and the mother. This also includes preventing diseases between the couple.
3 important things to prepare before pregnancy
Before deciding to have a child, the couple should be ready in every aspect, especially these 3 things: having a healthy body, a joyful mind, and financial stability with a good social environment to support the father, mother, and the baby to be born.
1. Physical readiness preparation
Women of reproductive age who are physically well-prepared are usually between 20-34 years old because during this age, the body and hormones are most suitable for pregnancy. If planning to conceive, health should be well taken care of as follows:
- Get a pre-pregnancy health check with an appropriate program, which can be consulted with a doctor before choosing the tests.
- Eat a balanced diet with all 5 food groups, especially foods rich in iron such as liver, blood, meat, various red meats, offal, egg yolks, seafood, green leafy vegetables, black beans, red beans, oats, etc.
- Take iron and folic acid supplements (ferrofolic) to help reduce anemia, lower the risk of neural tube defects in the baby, and prevent congenital disabilities.
- Consume good quality carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole grain bread adequately, along with regular intake of protein from fish and dairy grains.
- Maintain a normal weight range.
- Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, as well as tea and coffee.
- Quit smoking at least 3 months before pregnancy.
- Stop drinking alcoholic beverages at least 1 month before pregnancy.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get a dental check-up, as many may not know that having cavities, gum infections, and periodontal disease can harm the baby in the womb. Prospective mothers should have an oral and dental health check at least 5 months before pregnancy to allow time for any necessary dental treatment.
2. Mental health readiness preparation
Once both prospective father and mother have good physical health, they must also have good mental health, which can be achieved as follows:
- Get enough rest and try to have a full night’s sleep.
- Avoid situations that cause stress and engage in enjoyable activities.
- Do not dwell on worries to the point of anxiety; balance work and rest time well.
- Support and encourage each other as a couple and take care of one another at all times.
3. Financial and social environment readiness preparation
Finance and social environment are important factors that help promote the development and growth of the baby with quality. Certainly, from the start of pregnancy until the baby opens their eyes to the world, there will be various expenses. Having a good social environment promotes the baby’s development and reduces the risk of physical and mental illnesses. New parents must carefully select and prepare as best as possible, such as:
- Plan finances, such as saving money, organizing income and expenses systematically, or allocating money proportionally so that when expenses related to having a child arise, there will be no difficulties.
- Plan for the main caregiver for the baby, choose a good environment, and select a good social circle so that your baby can grow up surrounded by good things because the environment and upbringing methods greatly affect the baby’s growth and development.
When we know how to prepare “before pregnancy” in all 3 aspects and have prepared well, it will not be too difficult to take care of a child to be born healthy and perfect as intended by the parents.
And when the baby opens their eyes to the world, another challenge is “raising” them to grow into a good adult with good physical and mental health, as well as a good quality of life, because that is an important mission that parents must be aware of.
Dr. Paweena Butdee Wong
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
Women’s Health Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
