Pregnancy Week 1
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Preparing for Pregnancy
The first week of your pregnancy may seem like a misnomer because you're not even pregnant yet. However your expected delivery date (or EDD) is actually calculated from the first day of your last period. That means this week actually counts as the first week of your 40-week pregnancy, even though baby hasn't moved in yet.
During your pregnancy, making sure that you have healthy habits will go a long way to ensuring you have the easiest pregnancy and healthiest baby possible. When you're ready to become pregnant there are some things you can do to prepare you body such as:
* If you drink, do drugs or smoke cigarettes, now is the time to stop as all of these substances are associated with problems ranging from birth defects, fetal alcohol syndrome, respiratory problems, low birth weight, and number of other health problems that can affect not only your baby's health but also your own long term well being as well.
* Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs have been associated with birth defects and fetal problems. Talk to your doctor about all medications you are taking, however minor you think it is - it's important that your primary care physician be aware of all medications you're taking. Never stop taking prescription medications without consulting your doctor.
* Take a look at your diet. If you mainly munch on fast food and you can't remember the last time you saw a vegetable on your plate, it's time to revisit good eating. Make getting good nutrition a priority. Especially valuable is folic acid in your diet. Talk to your primary care physician to determine the proper level of folic acid for your individual body, however the average is around 400mcgs a day for most women of average size. Folic acid reduces the risk of your baby having neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida where the nerves that control leg movements and other functions do not work. Also, helps prevent anencephaly which is when most or all of the brain does not develop. Babies with this problem die before or shortly after birth. Foods that are highest in folic acid are: romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, calf's liver, parsley, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and lentils. Delicious fruits such as oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, avocado, papaya, raspberries are also good sources.
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