What To Do Before You Get Pregnant

There is another word for this called Preconception Health. The CDC tells us that “Preconception Health refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years, which are the years that they can have a child. It focuses on taking steps now to protect the health of a baby they might have some time in the future.

The truth of the matter is that both women and men can benefit from following the steps related to preconception health regardless of if they are planning to someday be parents. The whole idea is to have young adults get healthy and stay healthy. Whatever your goals are, you want to be the very best you can be so that you can lead a wonderful life single, married, or being a mom or dad. However, if an unplanned pregnancy occurs, and 50% of all pregnancies that occur in the United States are unintended, the baby has his or her best chance of survival as well as good health.

Modern Medicine has evolved and done wonders to save people. We still have a long way to go to improve on the magic word, prevention. Birth outcomes are worse in the United States, no matter how sophisticated that we are than in other developed countries. A big issue is still prematurity (Being born before 37 weeks of age) as well as a low birth weight. I can tell you that a woman who smokes has a good chance of having a low-birth-weight baby. The reason that is so critical is that they are more susceptible to infections and fall ill more easily. Preconception health care is particularly important to prevent problems before they happen.

Although there have been strides to improve medicine and prenatal care, birth in recent years. Despite these advances, birth outcomes are worse in the United States than in many other developed countries. Many babies are born early or have low birthweight. Among some groups of people, the problems are getting worse. Preconception health and preconception health care can make a difference.

Preconception health care is the medical care a woman or man receives from the doctor or other health professionals that focuses on the parts of health that have been shown to increase the chance of having a healthy baby. Preconception health care is different for every person, depending on his or her unique needs. Based on a person’s individual health, the doctor or other health care professional will suggest a course of treatment or follow-up care as needed. If your health care provider has not talked with you about this type of care―please ask about it!

Healthy Women

Preconception health is important for every woman―not just those planning a pregnancy. It means taking control of you and choosing healthy habits. It means living well, being healthy, both physically and mentally, and feeling good about your life. Preconception health is about making a positive plan for the future and taking steps to get there! Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that can harm the brain of the unborn baby.

Healthy Men

Preconception health is important for men, too. It means choosing to get and stay as healthy as possible―and helping others to do the same as well. As a partner, it means encouraging and supporting the health of your partner. As a father, it means protecting your children. Preconception health is about providing yourself and your loved ones with a bright and healthy future.

Healthy Babies

Preconception health is an important gift that parents can give their baby. It means that the baby’s parents took steps to get healthy before pregnancy. Such babies are less likely to be born early (preterm) or have a low birth weight. They are more likely to be born without defects or other disabling conditions.1 Everyone would like to see that their baby has the best start in life.

Your fetus starts to develop his/her brain at 5 weeks, however at age week 6 or 7, the neural tubes start to close. The brain then separates into 3 parts. It separates into the front brain, midbrain, and hindbrain. It is imperative that the mother takes her prenatal vitamins as soon as she knows that she is pregnant, along with folic acid. It is even more advisable to take both prenatal vitamins and folic acid prior to her getting pregnant. In the second trimester, the brain makes it possible for the fetus to move. The developing brain is why the baby can move. In the third trimester, the brain and the child are growing rapidly. The brain finally separates into the left and right brain.

So what else can you do as a parent to help the fetus’ brain to grow the way it should. At times it feels as if you don’t have any control over the whole process of brain development and the development of your baby. You, as a mom, can control what you choose to eat and drink. Healthy Choices: Milk and Water to drink. Unhealthy Choices: Alcohol, soda, and other empty calorie drinks. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a serious condition that affects the baby’s brain, in utero, that causes not only facial features that are affected, but learning and behavioral problems which is a direct correlation with the choices that the mother makes and the baby’s brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a healthy diet that includes folic acid, both from foods and dietary supplements, can promote a healthy nervous system. Nutrition is paramount in a baby’s brain development. What you consume, as a mom, can and will affect your baby.

According to the CDC, here are some important facts for you, as a mom, to follow to have a healthy baby and brain:

Infections:

Some infections before and during pregnancy can hurt both you and your developing fetus. Again, these are problems with brain development that have lifelong consequences to your baby, such as birth defects, disabilities, hearing loss, or learning problems.

• Protect yourself from Zika virus. Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy or to her baby around the time of birth. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly (a severe birth defect where a baby’s head and brain are small and other severe brain development issues. If you are pregnant, do not travel to areas with Zika. Zika is currently active in Central America, South American, the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Southeast Asia.

Wash your hands with soap and water after the following:

• Using the bathroom
• Touching raw meat, raw eggs, or unwashed vegetables
• Preparing food and eating
• Gardening or touching dirt or soil
• Handling pets
• Being around people who are sick

Reduce contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children A common virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause problems for some babies, including microcephaly and hearing loss. A woman who is infected with CMV can pass the virus to her developing baby during pregnancy. Women may be able to lessen their risk of getting CMV by reducing contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children. Some ways to do this are by not sharing food and utensils with babies and young children, and washing hands after changing diapers. These actions can’t eliminate your risk of getting CMV but may lessen your chances of getting it.

1. Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it. Do not eat soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, and queso fresco, unless they have labels that say they are pasteurized. Unpasteurized products can contain harmful bacteria, such as listeria. Babies born with listeriosis may have serious infections of the blood or brain. Listeriosis can cause lifelong health problems for your baby, including intellectual disability, paralysis, seizures, blindness, or problems with the brain, kidneys, or heart.
2. Do not touch or change dirty cat litter. Have someone else do it. If you must change the cat litter yourself, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Dirty cat litter might contain a harmful parasite, called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis can cause problems during pregnancy, including miscarriage, preterm birth or stillbirth.
3. Stay away from wild or pet rodents and their droppings. Have a pest control professional get rid of pests in or around your home. If you have a pet rodent, like a hamster or guinea pig, have someone else care for it until after your baby arrives. Some rodents might carry a harmful virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Infections occurring during the first trimester may result in fetal death and pregnancy termination, while in the second and third trimesters, birth defects can develop. Infants infected in utero can have many serious and permanent birth defects, including vision problems, mental retardation, and hydrocephaly (water on the brain). Pregnant women may recall a flu-like illness during pregnancy or may not recall any illness.
4. Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HIV and hepatitis B, and protect yourself from them. Some people that have HIV, hepatitis B, or an STD do not feel sick. Knowing if you have one of these diseases is important. If you do, talk to your healthcare provider about reducing the chance that your baby will become sick. Infections with HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB can complicate pregnancy and may have serious consequences for a woman, her pregnancy outcomes, and her baby. Screening and treatment for these infections, and vaccinations against viruses, such as hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, can prevent many bad outcomes.
5. Talk to your healthcare provider about vaccinations (shots). Some vaccinations are recommended before you become pregnant, during pregnancy, or right after delivery. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep you healthy and help keep your baby from getting very sick or having life-long health problems.
6. Avoid people who have an infection. If you have not yet had or did not have the vaccine before pregnancy, stay away from people who you know have infections, such as chickenpox or rubella. You would be surprised how many people are not protected from rubella. I was one of those and had to stay away from crowds, etc. As soon as I delivered, I received another Rubella vaccine.
7. Ask your doctor about group B strep. About 1 in 4 women carry this type of bacteria but do not feel sick. An easy swab test near the end of pregnancy will show if you have this type of bacteria. If you do have group B strep, talk to your healthcare provider about how to protect your baby during labor. In the United States, GBS bacteria are a leading cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections in a newborn’s first three months of life.

I must stress that you may not know if you have an infection and may not get sick. However, the issue is you passing the viruses or bacteria to your unborn child. That is why ongoing communication with your doctor and getting prenatal care is so important for you and your child. Let’s take a peek at what Folic acid (Vitamin B9, specifically), does for the baby. It supports fetal brain and spinal development. It plays a role in forming the neural tube and is involved in the production of DNA and neurotransmitters.

The recommendation to take 400 to 600 micrograms of folic acid daily while you’re trying to conceive, and then continue with 400 micrograms daily during pregnancy is a good idea. Please check with your family doctor or obstetrician. Foods rich in folate/folic acid include 15 foods: Legumes, asparagus, eggs, leafy greens, beets, citrus fruits, Brussell sprouts, broccoli, nuts & seeds, beef liver, wheat germ, papaya, bananas, avocado, fortified grains.

Omega 3 Also important for fetal brain development are omega-3 fatty acids. “The brain has a high-fat content, and the omegas are helpful in the deposition of the fat in not only the brain, but the eyes as well,” Omegas are also helpful in the neural synapse development or nerve connections to each other. Foods rich in omega 3-fatty acids include salmon, walnuts, and avocados.

Early Brain Development and Health

The early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and development.

One of the main reasons is how fast the brain grows starting before birth and continuing into early childhood. Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, the first 8 years can build a foundation for future learning, health, and life success.

How well a brain develops depends on many factors in addition to genes, such as:

• Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy
• Exposure to toxins or infections
• The child’s experiences with other people and the world

Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. To nurture their child’s body and mind, parents and caregivers need support and the right resources. The right care for children, starting before birth and continuing through childhood, ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential. The CDC is working to protect children so that their brains have a healthy start.

The Importance of Early Childhood Experiences for Brain Development

Children are born ready to learn and have many skills to learn over many years. They depend on parents, family members, and other caregivers as their first teachers to develop the right skills to become independent and lead healthy and successful lives. How the brain grows is strongly affected by the child’s experiences with other people and the world. Nurturing care for the mind is critical for brain growth. Children grow and learn best in a safe environment, where they are protected from neglect and from extreme or chronic stress with plenty of opportunities to play and explore.

Parents and other caregivers can support healthy brain growth by speaking to, playing with, and caring for their children. Children learn best when parents take turns talking and playing and build on their child’s skills and interests. Nurturing a child by understanding their needs and responding sensitively helps to protect children’s brains from stress. Speaking with children and exposing them to books, stories, and songs helps strengthen children’s language and communication, which puts them on a path towards learning and succeeding in school.

Exposure to stress and trauma can have long-term negative consequences for the child’s brain, whereas talking, reading, and playing can stimulate brain growth. Ensuring that parents, caregivers, and early childhood care providers have the resources and skills to provide safe, stable, nurturing, and stimulating care is an important public health goal.

When children are at risk, tracking children’s development and making sure they reach developmental milestones can help ensure that any problems are detected early and children can receive the intervention they may need.

A Healthy Start for the Brain

To learn and grow appropriately, a baby’s brain must be healthy and protected from diseases and other risks. Promoting the development of a healthy brain can start before pregnancy. For example, a healthy diet and the right nutrients, like sufficient folic acid will promote a healthy pregnancy and a healthy nervous system in the growing Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that can harm the brain of the unborn baby. Newborn screening can detect conditions that are potentially dangerous to the child’s brain, like phenylketonuria (PKU). external icon

Healthy brain growth in infancy continues to depend on the right care and nutrition. Because children’s brains are still growing, they are especially vulnerable to traumatic head injuries, infections, or toxins, such as lead. Childhood vaccines, such as the measles vaccine, can protect children from dangerous complications like swelling of the brain. Ensuring parents and caregivers have access to healthy foods and places to live and play that are healthy and safe for their children can help them provide more nurturing care.