If you planned to get pregnant, how did you prepare?

[MamaKath]

So for all the planners out there... ;)

If you were planning to get pregnant what did you do to prepare? Change your diet? Lose weight? Visit the doctor for a medical consult? Other stuff?

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

I took prenatals, that's about it.
Maybe buy some lingerie.:loveeyes:

[lilycat88]

DH and I are hardcore planners. Prenatals and a doctor visit were just about it. It's amazing that babies are even born with all of the things that have to come together biologically for it to happen. It's hard to plan for that.

[Piglet]

Not much, other than "the talk" with DH about why the timing sounded right.

[LarsMal]

DS was our only planned baby. I went to the OB for a consult b/c I had a very irregular period. I started charting, taking prenatals, eating more fruits/veggies, kept up regular exercise. That was about it.

[SnuggleBuggles]

With ds2 I got the baby bug in June but had several things coming up in the summer and fall that I did not want to be pregnant for. So, I planned to TTC after those events passed. I got in shape and scoped out new health care providers (wanted to birth at a birthing center). Other than that, not much else.

Beth

[AshleyAnn]

Improved my diet (which has since gone back to crap), took prenatals plus extras of the super important stuff like folic acid, exercised, and took my temp ALOT.

[brittone2]

Definitely improve diet, rest, etc.

I might get my D levels checked. My midwives are now checking moms routinely during the first tri, and so many women are deficient (I've been supplementing for a long time and was just barely at the bottom of the normal range...less than optimal for sure, and that was coming off the sunny NC summer). There are studies now linking low maternal D levels to a lot of different health conditions in infants (possibly asthma and birth weight, for example). My midwives also mentioned a study linking low D to higher rates of c-section, which I didn't know about until I came home and found the study they were talking about. So I might look at optimizing my D level along with diet, exercise, etc. in general.

:cheerleader1: if you decide to move ahead :)

[Ceepa]

Pre-natals, try to rest, moderate exercise. Otherwise, there really isn't much else to do for preparation. Really. Seriously. I went to the doctor before TTC #1 and there wasn't much to say for someone who isn't presenting with a prediagnosed medical condition.

[lizzywednesday]

We'd planned on losing weight, but that didn't really happen.

HOWEVER, I started taking a good multivitamin (checked the label for higher folic acid) about a year out and tried to keep a habit of cooking for ourselves and planned workouts.

Yeah, did I mention the "lose weight" part didn't exactly happen? (Though I still managed to be in good enough shape to walk almost 21 miles in a charity 2-day event last month!)

In the meantime, my BMI classifies me as "obese" (I am just a hair under 5'8" and started this pregnancy at 216 lbs ...) so I am trying to be extra careful about portion control and weight gain to try and stave off the looming specter of gestational diabetes.

After our LO arrives in March, we hope to be able to support each other in getting fit - heck, we put a Wii with Wii Fit and EA Active on our registry (no joke) to help!!

[MamaKath]

:cheerleader1: if you decide to move ahead :)
Thanks Beth. We are still looking for a doctor for him to consult since it will require major intervention. I am trying to make sure I line things up with myself in case. I figure it is not smart to go ahead on his end if there is major stuff we don't realize on mine. We are also discussing other options (adding through adoption, etc.). Lots of searching and praying for answers going on. I guess when it won't "just happen" on its own, it causes me all kinds of angst in the thought and prep.

[MamaKath]

Thanks ladies! Sounds like I am on the right track with diet, vitamins, and doctors.

[wellyes]

What the others said - physical, exercise, prenatals. I also went to my OB/GYN for a consult, and she talked to us a little about stuff like hereditary risk factors and recommended a vaccination for german measles which I'd never gotten.

I also recommend low expectations.... it may take a good long while, so be careful to not pin too many hopes at the end of each month. It can be tough to be patient about something so important. ETA: oh, it sounds like you have some extenuating circumstances. Good luck no matter what happens!

[maydaymommy]

We have to do a lot of planning due to a medical condition I have and medicine that I must take.

A year before trying to conceive I scheduled a trip to Boston to meet with the top experts in this condition and pregancy. Soon after that trip I began a slow process of altering the meds.

Approaching the time that we would be able to start trying I got standard blood work done by my gyn that screens for potential genetic problems, particularly for people of Eastern European descent.

Found out the gyn I was using was not an OB, so had consultations with potential OB's to see if I wanted to use them for my pregnancy.

Appointments with a local perinatal specialist in my medical condition.

Pre-conception consultation with MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine - high risk) doctor to get their take on the medicines I would take through pregnancy & any potential risks to fetus.

Got this book
http://www.amazon.com/Before-Your-Pregnancy-Couples-Conception/dp/034544096X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257204216&sr=1-1

That part was fun - it should be titiled "What to Expect when you Expect to be Expecting."
Basically, it advocates eating the same way you would eat while pregnant, stop using recreation drugs (as if), healthy BMI, etc etc.

I took prenatals and also extra folic acid, attempted to lose weight, and tried to stop smoking. Honestly, I didn't really stop until the day we first "tried."

It was a lot of preparation. I often wished we could just "have the sex" and get a baby. Luckily, I was able to get pregnant easily. It was if I was working on being pregnant for the whole year before I actually was.

2nd Time around was easier -- had to take a few months to adjust meds. Also, I had cardiology consults because of a rare post-partum health issue that was first presumed to be post-partum cardio myopathy - but thank goodness, it wasn't. We also moved to a bigger house to accomodate baby #2, but we would have done that anyway.

Oh yeah, stopped taking the pill both times, too!

[AnnieW625]

Last year I did everything short of calculating my ovulation cycle by measuring my temp. I was a tad obsessed. We tried for 6 mos. and then we ended up losing the baby. I said I wouldn't really plan again. My goal was to lose 20lbs and I figured with WW (which I had done before) we'd be ready to start trying at the beg. of 2010. We'll I had lost 8lbs or so and we just got lazy one afternoon around the time MyMonthlyPlanner.com said I might be ovulating in August, and voila, almost 14 weeks later here I am. I also highly suggest pre natals or Flintstones (if you can't handle Iron like me as I have IBS; that's what my OB suggested).

I too am obese per my BMI (which I honestly think is a bit crappy and I don't believe the hoopla) because I am not obese looking at all, but I am really trying to watch my diet. My NP still wants me to gain 1lb a week, but I am afraid I will look really overweight if I do that and have a really hard time losing it so I am still trying to do WW while pregnant.

[HIU8]

prenatals and a consult with the RE (both times).

[scrooks]

vitamins and lots of folic acid!

[Laurel]

Big planner here.

This first time:
I stopped taking the pill and started prenatals about a year before I wanted to get pregnant.

DH and I both stopped drinking alcohol the month we started trying.

I cut coffee to one cup a day.

I actually needed to gain a few pounds, so I did that.

It took me two cycles to conceive, but I think I just got lucky.

The second time:
I did none of the above except stop drinking when we started trying. Didn't need to gain any weight this time!

It took about 6 months, I was still nursing, and we didn't get to try as much as the first time, IYKWIM ;).

[MontrealMum]

Good luck to you Kath!!!

DS was a planned pregnancy. And considering my age, I know how amazingly lucky we were with that. We took a huge chance in timing it because I had gone back to school and needed to give birth before the end of Aug. in order to return p/t that same year. Otherwise, I'd have had to take time off (now I'm not saying that was a *good* idea looking back, just telling you what we did!)

To prepare I talked to my family doc. at my yearly appointment, and she suggested pre-natals or folic acid, as well as getting an MMR (because of my age and how the protocol has changed - younger women would not need to do this). I know now that I could have had titers checked, but I've learned alot from being here :) Got the flu shot for the first time that year. I also went off the pill, and took a friend's advice about tracking ovulation. I had already taken steps several years prior to revamp my diet and get serious about regular exercise. I prepared to go off caffeine by dialing my intake back, but did not go off it completely (or switch my allergy meds) until we actually started trying.

Again, good luck! And keep us posted :praying:

[pb&j]

For DD and DS, I took megadoses of folic acid for 3-6 mos prior TTC, due to the birth defects present in my first child, who was stillborn at 24 wks. I had already had my Rubella titres checked for entry to grad school a year prior to TTC the first time.

I ate pretty healthy and exercised prior to getting pregnant, so no need to make any lifestyle changes.

[Kestrel]

Bigtime planner here.

I did quite a bit of what was mentioned, including an MMR booster and tetnus booster.

No more alcohol or caffine.

I also stopped all risky food, like sushi, unpasturized cider and cheese, stuff like that.

I cut out alergy heavy risk foods - peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, eggs, ect. My family is very high risk, and there is conflicting info that this might help reduce risk.

I bought supplemental health insurance. (With the double coverage, I was albe to stay in the hospital birthing center for three days, at a cost of....ten bucks. Plus the cost of the insurance, of course, but seeing that huge bill go to ten dollars was awesome!)

I also started saving money, and saving vacation/sick days to use on leave.

Good luck, hope this helps!

[sste]

I had some genetic testing done.

I arranged to deposit a big chunk of money each month in a special savings account for extra expenses.

I checked coverage on my health insurance (good to do so you aren't caught surprised with minor changed in your policy or changes in plan providers).

Started taking folic acid.

[maestramommy]

I told my workplace a year ahead of time and said I would be quitting regardless of whether I got pregnant or not. They needed the time to do a search to fill my position.

I was already on prenatals, thanks to advice from my PCP. And that's about it.

[hellokitty]

Well, I have an odd situation. I have hyperemesis with each pregnancy. I did not read, until my last pregnancy, that sometimes it helps to detox your liver before you get pregnant to avoid hyperemesis in pregnancy. I really wish I would have known that, so I could have, "detoxed" my liver prior to getting pregnant with DS3, b/c with each subsequent pregnancy, my hyperemesis has gotten more severe. I don't plan on getting pregnant again, BUT when DS3 weans (I extend BF, so he probably won't wean for another 3 yrs), first thing i am doing is detoxing my liver.

[DrSally]

took prenatals, made sure I was off any teratogenic meds, went to the OB (the first time), tried to eat healthier.

[Ivy_CA]

I'm a little nuts and kind of approached getting pregnant as a science experiment, lol. I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility and charted my daily temp and even checked my cervical mucus! I also started taking prenatal vitamins.

[happymom]

IFer here so my experiences wont really be helpful to you, but just wanted to wish you the best of luck.

[LBW]

I think everything I did hasbeen covered, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck!

[MoJo]

Got rid of my pituitary tumor. . .

Increased exercise, prenatal vitamins, started tracking ovulation. . . .

but the one thing I haven't seen anyone else mention is pray. I prayed for years before DH was finally ready to try. I prayed for two years specifically about having a child in June 2008 (DH is a teacher, so it was great to have him home during our first almost three months as parents.) I prayed again and am still praying for our unborn child.

Best wishes, MamaKath!

[mousemom]

Only a few things I did - started taking a daily Flintstones complete vitamin to be sure I was getting enough Folic acid (continued taking these throughout pregnancy rather than prenatals) and gradually cut out coffee so that I wouldn't have to go cold turkey later on. Once we were really trying, I didn't eat the stuff like lunch meat that you aren't supposed to have while pregnant.

One thing I thought about and wish I had done before I was pregnant was get life insurance for myself. DH has it, but between coping with a newborn and going back to work full-time, I still haven't gotten around to making an appointment for myself.

[BabyMine]

- Met with all my Drs. 6months before we were going to try and got off all of my medications.

- Started taking prenatals and increased my folic acid to 1000.

- Made sure we were emotionally ready and discussed all of our fears becasue M was born with complications and we weren't sure if TT would also have them

Becasue M wasn't planned we didn't do anything prior to his conception.