Mommy Prep-Getting Ready for Baby
I've been asked by quite a few different wives who want to start trying to conceive, "What did you and Chris do to prepare to start trying?" From everything I read, researched, and asked doctors I've come to one conclusion: everyone is different! It's very rare to become pregnant right away, just like it's pretty rare that couples will take longer than a year to become pregnant. Everything happens in God's timing. But this is what Chris and I did to prepare to start trying:
Tons of doctors visits!
Family doctor visit: For both me and Chris for our routine blood tests, height to weight BMI, and routine physicals. I love that Chris is on top of things like routine doctor visits, we're both all about preventable medical care (taking care of things before they become big issues). Chris was all on board and we were both given the all clear from the family doctor.
Researching OBGYNs:
Before scheduling an appointment with any OBGYN I did my research.
Before scheduling an appointment with any OBGYN I did my research.
Thankfully the OBGYN I've been seeing since I was 18 years old proved to be the best in the business (or at least in Orange County)! Mother of three, Harvard trained, star resident at UCI medical center-Chef resident for years of the OB ward before opening her own private practice, outstanding patient reviews, no mal-practice suits, and she delivers her patients baby's at a state of the art Women's Hospital. Literally everything on my list was checked, she was my one! And I was so lucky too, because of her reputation she gets so overwhelmed with new patient requests she stopped accepting new patients three years ago. My long standing history with her as my doctor made it no problem getting an appointment. (She's also my mom's and sister's doctor, I love that she knows my family and gives me extra attention because of our history together).
A trip to my OBGYN:
This was where I was able to be much more specific about any questions and concerns I had about conceiving and pregnancy. I told my doctor's office when setting up my appointment that this was a yearly exam and a time to meet with my OB to talk about conceiving a baby, so that they gave me ample time during the visit to chat with my doctor. Because she's been my doctor for over 8 years she was able to give me an in-depth overview of my medical history. We went over how to calculate my ovulation cycle, which medicines were okay from me to continue taking, what I could do or eat to enhance fertility, which pre-natals were best and when to start taking them, and what Chris can be doing to help the process along. (Yes! Guys have responsibilities too!)
This was where I was able to be much more specific about any questions and concerns I had about conceiving and pregnancy. I told my doctor's office when setting up my appointment that this was a yearly exam and a time to meet with my OB to talk about conceiving a baby, so that they gave me ample time during the visit to chat with my doctor. Because she's been my doctor for over 8 years she was able to give me an in-depth overview of my medical history. We went over how to calculate my ovulation cycle, which medicines were okay from me to continue taking, what I could do or eat to enhance fertility, which pre-natals were best and when to start taking them, and what Chris can be doing to help the process along. (Yes! Guys have responsibilities too!)
A visit to the dentist:
Yup, seems strange, but going to the dentist and getting the all clear here is very important too! I told my dentist that my husband and I were hoping to have a baby and I wanted to get any possible teeth work that needed to be done, done! I also wanted him to pay close attention to my gums, the health of your gums can directly effect your baby's birth weight and a few other issues. Weird, huh? My dentist for the last 3 1/2 years has been my husband's family's dentist since he was 6 years old. Even with his dentist mask covering most of his face I could tell he was smiling from ear to ear with the news. I got the all clear with no issues with my teeth, and also some advice on how to take care of my teeth and gums when I do become pregnant. Apparently pregnancy hormones can cause some issues like gingivitis and can actually cause your teeth to move due to calcium loss. Straight teeth is very important to me. Yes, it's my weird cork. One of the things I first noticed about Chris was his beautiful smile. But neither of us were born with our straight teeth, we both had years and thousands of dollars spent on braces and retainers that we both still wear to this day. My dentist said it would be a good idea to wear my retainer every night once I get pregnant. Which was great advice because a few weeks into my second trimester my retainer started feeling tight which means my teeth were trying to move. But not here! I kept wearing my retainer and my teeth have remained nice and straight :)
READ EVERYTHING!
I read every pregnancy book I could get my hands on! Before we started trying to conceive I had read 8 books on pregnancy and conceiving. Chris laughed at me but I love research, and I loved knowing that everything I was learning was going to benefit my baby in some way.
Also note: I read pregnancy books written by trained medical professionals. I stayed far away from the internet when it came to pregnancy advice. I'm not saying message boards can't be helpful, but I found that more women are far more comfortable talking about their negative experiences online rather than the majority of women who experience normal and happy conception, pregnancy, and birth stories. Again, nothing wrong with internet research, I do it everyday, but when it came to something as emotional, uncontrollable, and foreign as pregnancy I stuck to up-to-date medical books and professional medical advice.
Also note: I read pregnancy books written by trained medical professionals. I stayed far away from the internet when it came to pregnancy advice. I'm not saying message boards can't be helpful, but I found that more women are far more comfortable talking about their negative experiences online rather than the majority of women who experience normal and happy conception, pregnancy, and birth stories. Again, nothing wrong with internet research, I do it everyday, but when it came to something as emotional, uncontrollable, and foreign as pregnancy I stuck to up-to-date medical books and professional medical advice.
Conception Classes:
Yes, those exist! And this is a funny story... I didn't know it yet but I was already pregnant when Chris and I attended the class. Mine was completely free and through my OB's office. They go through the typical information, all of which I already read in my research but afterwards we got a question and answer part and we got 15 minutes of one on one time with an OB from the practice. The number one question the wives wanted to know was, "How much coffee exactly can I drink a day?" Chris got a kick out of this because I'm a coffee addict! And I was glad to know I was in good company with fellow female coffee addicts. We got a hospital tour of the maternity ward and had a catered dinner. We also met a very nice Christian couple there at the class that we connected with. It was nice having another girl there to chat with about pregnancy questions, things we've experienced, and the guys chatted about being dads and how "over prepared" their wives were.
Getting Chris healthy:
Guys really do have it easy... Basically my research and time with my doctor suggested that Chris should continue his current work out routine (Chris runs 3-5 miles 3 or 4 times a weeks) avoid hot showers and hot tubs, and wear box shorts in lieu of another methods of underwear. He was to add more bell peppers, blueberries, leafy-greens, and lean proteins to his diet. And that was it. Basically avoid hot environments and eat healthier. Guys have all the fun.
Avoid Stress:
Stress is supposed to effect a lot when it comes to fertility, getting pregnant, and staying pregnant. Get all the worrying, stressing, and anxiety out of the way before you start trying. Just relax and let nature run it's course. This is what made Chris and I decide we were ready. The things couples normally fight and stress about, we were all good. We were ready. In the almost 6 years Chris and I have been together we've been solid. Have we fought? of course, but we always handle it healthy and mature and always put the matter to rest quickly, and don't feel the need to bring others into our issues. I say this because when your still dealing with simple issues with your spouse you may think about the added stress a baby is going to add to the mix. And maybe explore ways to improve communication between the two of you, and finally resolving long standing issues that still pop up from time to time. The demands of pregnancy and a new baby are intense. You need to be a team whose mission is to be a united front in raising your baby in a healthy and stable environment. The added stress of an unbalance relationship needs to be looked into and dealt with before bringing in the demanding needs of a child.
Prepare for the unexpected:
I wasn't expecting to experience the pregnancy symptoms that I've endured so far.
I wasn't expecting some of the reactions we received when we told people we were pregnant.
I wasn't expecting it. But you learn to roll with it. I wasn't planning on getting pregnant so fast but I was prepared. I had planned everything out, I was taking my pre-natals, talked to my doctors, and had the full support of my amazing husband, who didn't faultier once when I started to break under the pressure. Sometimes we forget, we get so caught up in the details of planning and preparing we forget the gift we were given from God. I love the moments in the day when the baby's kicks and slow me down for a minute. His gentle kicks and rolls remind me to slow down and remember my new and bigger calling in life, I'm someone's momma :)
I wasn't expecting to experience the pregnancy symptoms that I've endured so far.
I wasn't expecting some of the reactions we received when we told people we were pregnant.
I wasn't expecting it. But you learn to roll with it. I wasn't planning on getting pregnant so fast but I was prepared. I had planned everything out, I was taking my pre-natals, talked to my doctors, and had the full support of my amazing husband, who didn't faultier once when I started to break under the pressure. Sometimes we forget, we get so caught up in the details of planning and preparing we forget the gift we were given from God. I love the moments in the day when the baby's kicks and slow me down for a minute. His gentle kicks and rolls remind me to slow down and remember my new and bigger calling in life, I'm someone's momma :)
picture above: (me and Sarah, fellow mommy-prepper, at her baby shower for her little boy)
