So, you're ready to start your family - how exciting!
While the details like imagining your partner as a parent, snuggling a newborn, picking our a decor theme for the nursery or thinking about names are all fun, they're stuff that can wait.
There are actually some really important things to consider before you even fall pregnant and, if you've got the time to plan, this is the kind of stuff to look into now.
From making sure you're on the right track with nutrition to knowing what your financial situation is going to look like during maternity or paternity leave, here's a pre-pregnancy checklist that'll help put you on the right path.
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Nutrition, supplementsand lifestyle
Diet: If you want to conceive, you'll likely be thinking about your diet, and this goes for both parents.A well-balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables will get you both in a good shape for preparing for pregnancy.
One thing you might not be aware of is your caffeine intake. It is recommended to keep consumption of caffeine to a maximum of 200mg per day, which is the equivalent of two espressos. Be mindful that caffeine is also found in chocolate, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks.
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Alcohol, drugs and smoking: The safest option is to avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs completely whilst trying to conceive and throughout pregnancy. A woman won't immediately know she is pregnant the second it happens, so guidelines suggest if you are trying for a baby, giving up alcohol during this time will be safest for your unborn baby.
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It's not just women either. While trying to conceive, it's also recommended that men should avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol to help promote healthy sperm.
Supplements: You can start taking a prenatal vitamin, like Elevit Pre Pregnancy and Conception from at least one month before you start trying. These prenatals can help build up the extra nutritional needs you have when pregnant. The reason to consider them before falling pregnant is many women won't know they're pregnant for a few weeks after conception, but those early weeks are important for your growing bub.
They aren't the same prenatal vitamins women take, but men can also take supplements, like Menevit Pre-Conception Sperm Health, which is specifically formulated for supporting sperm health for couples planning a pregnancy.
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Exercise: Regular exercise for both men and women can help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy. But for women it's worth starting to think about your pelvic floor now, and starting to add some movement into your routines to help strengthen it.
Health checksfor both men and women
GP: It's worth having a visit with your GP or health professional to talk about trying to conceive because they can help advise you on any tests you may need or talk about any medications you may be on. The same goes for men about looking into a general health check before trying to start your family.
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Your doctor can help you go through everything from vaccinations to STI checks, managing any health issues and discussing any big lifestyle changes.
For a lot of women who are on contraception, particularly something like an IUD or the contraceptive implant, a doctors visit will be an important one to sort things out.
Dentist: When it comes to the dentist there are some procedures and medications that should be avoided in the first three months of pregnancy, so heading for a checkup before you're pregnant can help sort any issues out early.
Financial checks for your family
Private health cover: The big one to know about is your private healthcare and pregnancy cover. For a lot of funds, you cannot claim pregnancy unless you've held the policy for over 12 months, so if you are thinking of going private to give birth, check that you will be covered.
Parental leave: Before you fall pregnant it's worth looking into your work's parental leave policies.
While it may seem like some time away, knowing what you're entitled to in terms of paid and unpaid leave can make a huge financial difference for that time when you're off work with bub. It can also help you and your partner work out a rough plan of how much time you'll both take to look after your little one when the time comes.
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Government entitlements: Paid parental leave is also available through Centrelink, and you can get a lot of information and rough ideas about payments through their website. Again, it can help you with planning and getting a basic idea about where you'll be at financially when you are off work with a new baby.
Time to plan that baby
Period and ovulation tracking: OK, this might sound so obvious but if you're actively trying you will want to start to track your cycle. There are so many apps out there that can help you track symptoms, your period and everything in between to help get a rough idea about when you'll be ovulating. You can also buy ovulation trackers, which look a bit like a pregnancy test, to help pinpoint the right time to try.
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Pregnancy care: It may seem a bit silly to think about this before you're pregnant but if you do want to get into a specific program at your public hospital, like the Midwifery Group Practice program (MGP), arrange to apply as soon as you find out you're pregnant because spaces are limited. It doesn't hurt to look into the options for pregnancy care and to start thinking about the option you'd like to go with and being prepared to lock it in as soon as you know you're pregnant.
The information in this article is general in nature. Please consult with your GP, specialist or other healthcare professional for advice which is specific to your health needs.
This article was produced with Elevit.
