Planning for pregnancy

Whether you are fortunate enough to be able to plan for your pregnancy or not, then there are many steps you can take to ensure that your body is ready to provide a nurturing environment for a child-to-come. While avoiding things smoking and drinking is common knowledge, many prospective mothers are surprised to find that they are lacking in the nutrient composition that is conducive to the development of a healthy child. Here are a few ways to ensure that you are are protecting your baby-to-be.

Preconception and prenatal health care: what you can do

• Prenatal/multi-vitamin: the importance of these cannot be stated enough, so in a sense, yes, the expense of a child does start before it is even conceived. A prenatal-specific multi-vitamin ensures that you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need. These vitamins should include the RDA of iron and folic acid for an expectant mother.
• Check your iron level: preventing anemia is important, because it is linked to low birth weight and preterm birth.
• Folic acid: very important for preventing birth defects in the baby’s brain.
• Choose healthy food: healthy choices for your child begin with healthy choices for yourself. Selecting wholesome ingredients and healthy fats and proteins will help you maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy.

Don’t face the prenatal process on your own

At Ahkami Medical Group, we are Passaic’s experts in preconception and prenatal health care. We will provide a high level of care to help you transition from preconception to postpartum life. Give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Shahrokh Ahkami, D.C.