Making sure you’re ready for a healthy pregnancy.

You doctor will ask you to do some blood tests that you should do to rule out any future problems that may present themselves. For example, if you are not carrying the antibodies to Rubella (German measles), then you can correct that because once you are pregnant, there’s nothing you can do about it. Also vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Chicken pox, Influenza and even H1N1 can be given if you already haven’t got those. Checks for the thalassemia genes are also essential since if both of you carry the genes, and then the baby has a high chance of having it. That’s something you may want to think about before conceiving. Other routine tests are for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hemoglobin, thyroid, Rh factor and other routine tests. Although most of these are uncommon, they are better off ruled out earlier rather than later. All it involves is making one visit to the doctor. You doctor will ask you to do some blood tests that you should do to rule out any future problems that may present themselves. For example, if you are not carrying the antibodies to Rubella (German measles), then you can correct that because once you are pregnant, there’s nothing you can do about it. Also vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Chicken pox, Influenza and even H1N1 can be given if you already haven’t got those. Checks for the thalassemia genes are also essential since if both of you carry the genes, and then the baby has a high chance of having it. That’s something you may want to think about before conceiving. Other routine tests are for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hemoglobin, thyroid, Rh factor and other routine tests. Although most of these are uncommon, they are better off ruled out earlier rather than later. All it involves is making one visit to the doctor.

Now that you’re planning the pregnancy, you should definitely lose the weight before. Even though that may sound really difficult and a bit pointless since you will put the weight back on, trust us, it’s worth the effort. Secondly, keep in mind that you will put on around 10-12 kilos through your pregnancy, although figures vary for different women. Some end up putting on 20; some lesser than 10. It’s always better to be in good shape before you conceive, so that you don’t go overweight in your pregnancy. Also once you have a good exercise regime, you can continue to exercise (not strenuously) during your pregnancy – definitely a healthy option for both mother and child. And think about the advantages to your own body. After the delivery, it’ll be easier to lose the flab Now that you’re planning the pregnancy, you should definitely lose the weight before. Even though that may sound really difficult and a bit pointless since you will put the weight back on, trust us, it’s worth the effort. Secondly, keep in mind that you will put on around 10-12 kilos through your pregnancy, although figures vary for different women. Some end up putting on 20; some lesser than 10. It’s always better to be in good shape before you conceive, so that you don’t go overweight in your pregnancy.

Also once you have a good exercise regime, you can continue to exercise (not strenuously) during your pregnancy – definitely a healthy option for both mother and child. And think about the advantages to your own body. After the delivery, it’ll be easier to lose the flab!

Before trying to get pregnant, you have to understand how the pill works on your body. Hormones in the pill prevent the release of your egg. So it’s best to get off the pill for about four to five months before you start trying for a baby and let your cycle get re-establish, lest you end up with quadruplets! Also no need for worry because for those women who go off the pill, fertility rates after the right amount of waiting are the same as for women who have never been on the pill. After a miscarriage, most physicians advise a wait of two to three months for the body to heal and become strong enough for another pregnancy. Conceiving too soon may lead to another miscarriage since you’re system is still recovering from the last one. So wait for a few months, eat well, get stronger, and when you feel good enough to try, then go ahead. Before trying to get pregnant, you have to understand how the pill works on your body. Hormones in the pill prevent the release of your egg.
So it’s best to get off the pill for about four to five months before you start trying for a baby and let your cycle get re-establish, lest you end up with quadruplets! Also no need for worry because for those women who go off the pill, fertility rates after the right amount of waiting are the same as for women who have never been on the pill.

After a miscarriage, most physicians advise a wait of two to three months for the body to heal and become strong enough for another pregnancy. Conceiving too soon may lead to another miscarriage since you’re system is still recovering from the last one. So wait for a few months, eat well, get stronger, and when you feel good enough to try, then go ahead.

The most fertile time for women to conceive is around the days they are ovulating. Doctors recommend intercourse every second day while you’re ovulating. Normally this happens on day 14 of your menstrual cycle which begins on the first day of your periods. If you have regular periods (that is a 28 day cycle usually) with the predictable amount of flow, then you’re ovulating normally, so keep track of when day 14 is. If there’s no fertilization, then your periods will start 14 days after you ovulate. If you have a longer cycle, say a 34 day cycle, then ovulation won’t happen till 20, again 14 days before the start of you next period. Complicated? Not so much. Just keep track of your cycle for a few months and you’ll eventually figure out when you’re ovulating. Another way to identify when you're ovulating is by keeping track of any changes to your vaginal secretions which usually become wetter, thinner and clearer. Also your vagina and vulva will feel wet. By monitoring these changes, you may be able to estimate when you are ovulating. But it’s tough to be sure, so don’t worry about it too much. You could also use an Ovulation Predictor Kit or Ovulation Sticks, which predict the onset of ovulation by checking your urine, and are usually quite reliable. But if your periods are irregular you may end up going through a lot of these sticks! The most fertile time for women to conceive is around the days they are ovulating. Doctors recommend intercourse every second day while you’re ovulating. Normally this happens on day 14 of your menstrual cycle which begins on the first day of your periods. If you have regular periods (that is a 28 day cycle usually) with the predictable amount of flow, then you’re ovulating normally, so keep track of when day 14 is. If there’s no fertilization, then your periods will start 14 days after you ovulate.

If you have a longer cycle, say a 34 day cycle, then ovulation won’t happen till 20, again 14 days before the start of you next period. Complicated? Not so much. Just keep track of your cycle for a few months and you’ll eventually figure out when you’re ovulating. Another way to identify when you're ovulating is by keeping track of any changes to your vaginal secretions which usually become wetter, thinner and clearer. Also your vagina and vulva will feel wet. By monitoring these changes, you may be able to estimate when you are ovulating. But it’s tough to be sure, so don’t worry about it too much.

You could also use an Ovulation Predictor Kit or Ovulation Sticks, which predict the onset of ovulation by checking your urine, and are usually quite reliable. But if your periods are irregular you may end up going through a lot of these sticks!