Pregnancy Planning

Thinking about having a baby? Then this is a good opportunity to take some thought about you and your partner's health. Improving your health can help increase your chances of fertility, decrease the chance of miscarriages and the risks of birth abnormality. Here is a checklist for you to ponder over:

• Folic acid supplements - ideally you should be taking folic acid supplements before you get pregnant, and then continue taking these up until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid is found naturally in certain foods and as an additive, and even though you may consider yourself as having a good diet, you should take these supplements so that you can reduce the risk of having a child born with spinal bifida (a medical condition affecting the spinal cord). Some research has also shown that these supplements also reduce the risk of having a baby born with cleft lip and palate, and it is found to reduce the risk of having a premature birth. Folic acid tablets are available from most major supermarkets as well as your usual pharmacy. Note pregnant women can usually get free prescriptions.
• Vitamin D supplements - This is recommended for all pregnant women, those who are breastfeeding, and even for breastfed babies. You can take these as of a calcium/Vitamin D tablet or as part of a multivitamin tablet.
• Alcohol - The NHS advises that no alcohol should be comsumed. Drinking during pregnancy is known to cause an increase in miscarriages, and harm to the development to the baby’s growth and brain development. Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (caused by mothers who drink heavily) can cause severe physical and mental issues. It is not known what the safe or if there is a safe level of alcohol, so this is why the advice is not to consume it at all. You can seek help from your General Practitioner (GP) if you find it hard to keep away from alcohol.
• Smoking - Most of us know that smoking is bad for you and it is also bad for those around us. Planning for a child is good a time and great incentive as ever to quit or try to reduce your intake for your child’s health sake. Tobacco contains harmful and poisonous chemical additives, which can go into the baby’s blood stream and slow its growth. The risks of miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth are also higher. Babies that are born to smokers tend to have developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children of parents who smoke have an increased chance of developing glue ear, chest infection and also sudden infant death syndrome (i.e. Cot Death).
• Drugs (Illicit Drugs) – this should be avoided completely, as there is mounting evidence that they cause damage of various levels to babies. If you take drugs and you are having difficulties coming off them, them you can see your GP for help and advice.
• Overweight and Obesity - firstly you should seek advice from your GP on any method of reducing weight whether by exercising or by changing your diet. Being overweight or obese means you have a greater chance of developing pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, and stillbirth, and a chance that your birth will need a caesarean section