Pregnancy and Childbirth Planning for Pregnancy

Planning for a Baby: The Pre-Pregnancy Checklist

At ovulation, there are other signs that may be present. The cervical mucous becomes very thin and clear, resembling a raw egg white. Another sign is the onset of a sharp or dull aching in the right or left lower part of your abdomen, which can last from 12-36 hours. This is known as mittelschmerz and occurs when an egg is being released from the ovary. Another way to determine the time of ovulation is to do a home ovulation predictor test. This simple urine test, available at many drug stores, can predict ovulation 24-36 hours in advance.

In any case, it takes two to tango. Intercourse should occur on a regular basis around the time of ovulation. I have always suggested trying to have relations every 24-48 hours, starting two days before you expect ovulation. In order to account for the occasional irregular month, I recommend continuing this regimen for a few days past your expected ovulation.

Now, let's talk about how to have a Valentine's baby. We can't control the nature of our menstrual cycle but we can at least figure out when a baby will be due based on it. This involves using a simple math equation. To time the estimated due date, take the first day of the last menstrual period, subtract 3 months then add 7 days to get the estimated due date (which may be the following year). In the case of Valentine's Day, the last period should begin on May 7th (because May 7th - 3 months + 7 days = a due date of February 14th of the following year).

Excercise

I think being physically fit is important no matter what you do. It can be a terrific aid for pregnancy as well. I recommend being on an aerobic exercise program before getting pregnant. If you were to choose a program with pregnancy in mind, I'd prefer a low-impact program such as swimming, walking or biking. All these activities are easy on the joints and the baby. I have found that my intense runners and weight trainers tend to ease off considerably during pregnancy due to the changes they experience. This isn't to say that they couldn't continue their routine but they tend to modify it considerably. In addition, vigorous exercise tends elevate the pregnant woman's heart rate above the American College of Obstetricians/Gynecologist's recommended maximum heart rate of 140 beats/minute.

Diet

In anticipation of pregnancy, it is a good thing to get in the habit of eating three healthy meals per day. For those of you who are underweight, expect your doctor to encourage you to eat a little more when you are pregnant. If you are considerably overweight, don't be surprised if your physician encourages you to lose weight in advance of pregnancy. However, there is no specific weight at which pregnancy is unsafe provided that your weight hasn't caused you to have other health-related problems.

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