Lose ten pounds, run a marathon, travel to Europe…those are some of the most common new year’s resolutions on American women’s lists. But not you, your goal is to have a BABY this year!
If 2019 goals for you look a little more like seeing two lines on a stick, not being able to paint your own toenails, and decorating a nursery, we’re excited for you and hope that your dreams come true.
We’ve also been there and done that quite a few times, and have learned a few things about preparing for the journey of pregnancy and birth. So if you want to make sure you have all your bases covered when it comes to the big decision of conceiving, read on!
Have a Pre-Prenatal Checkup
Your doctor or midwife can talk with you about your plan to get pregnant, and discuss any potential health concerns. You can have labs drawn to check for things like iron levels, and even have hormone levels tested to ensure that your body is in balance to support a healthy pregnancy - and a healthy you. This checkup is also a great time to “interview” your OB or midwife to determine if they are the best fit to give you your prenatal and delivery care. If you already have an idea of what type of care you’re interested in, your doula can recommend you a provider who meets your criteria!
2. Take Prenatal Vitamins
It’s a common misconception that “prenatal vitamins” are only for pregnant women, so most people only start buying them once those double pink lines show up. However, doctors recommend that due to the necessary nutrients for women’s health that the vitamins contain, you should take prenatal vitamins throughout your childbearing years! Don’t worry if you’re just now getting started. The vitamins are to support YOUR health, as the baby will get everything they need during pregnancy from your body.
3. Have Your Partner Watch Their Health, Too
If you’re on this journey with your husband or male partner, it turns out that it’s not just you who needs to pay attention to healthy lifestyle and avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Just like behavioral issues, heart conditions, and other genetic conditions can be passed down through fathers, so too can fetal alcohol syndrome. So be sure to tell your husband or partner - just because you’re going to be eating for two, doesn’t mean they should be drinking for two!
4. Take Advantage of the Extra Planning Time
Many pregnancies are unplanned. These can of course still be beautiful experiences for many parents, but if you’re the planner type, you will enjoy all the benefits of having more than nine months to research and plan for the new addition. Besides being able to read books about pregnancy, birth, and parenting, you also be able to interview the perfect doula ahead of time so you can be ready to snag your due date on their calendar.
5. Listen to Your Instincts
Get ready for this! No matter what decisions you make during your entire pregnancy, birthing, and parenting experience, someone on the Internet is going to think you are doing it WRONG. It might sound crazy now, but you’ll see what we mean.
You can read every pregnancy book ever published, you can ask for advice in mommy groups, you can take home all the pamphlets from your doctor, but ultimately? You are already a great parent, because you care so much. Even though right now your baby is still just an idea, you love him or her and want to make the best possible decisions to get off to a good start. Listen to your heart - or more importantly, your gut - and put on your waterproof duck suit to let other people’s judgments and opinions just roll right off.
You’re excited to start trying for a baby, and we’re here for you the whole way. From answering questions and coaching you through pregnancy and labor as your doula, to helping you find all the best conception and prenatal resources in Florida, to providing top notch childbirth education services to get you prepared for the big day, you’re going to love having Nicky Quick & Co as your personal guidebook along the journey.