I am planning to have a baby soon. What should now that will help me have a good pregnancy and successful outcome?

Have good diet

To be in optimal nutritional health is a good idea before you conceive. When you are pregnant you are feeding two not one! It is common for pregnant women to become depleted of nutrients as a pregnancy advances.

Read up on what is a good diet and have a healthy balanced diet with reasonable amounts of carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. It is a good idea to commence a good quality pregnancy supplement about three months before you conceive so you can optimise your nutritional state.

If you have a history of iron deficiency anaemia or have heavy periods it is good idea for you to have a full blood count and iron studies. Try to correct any iron deficiency before you are pregnant, as there are increased demands on iron stores in pregnancy.

Iodine deficiency is an increasingly common problem in the community.  There are increasing concerns about iodine levels in diet. Low iodine is associated with underactive thyroid, thyroid goitre and in extreme situations cretinism in a newborn baby. Have your iodine level checked,  have an optimal iodine intake and take an iodine supplement of your level is low.

Have foods rich in folic acid such as dark green leafy vegetables, whole wheat bread, lightly cooked beans and peas, nuts and seeds, sprouts, oranges and grapefruits, liver and other organ meats, poultry , fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grain products. Start folate supplements (0.5mg/day) three months before you conceive.   The oral contraceptive pill can indifference with folate absorption and so should be ceased about 3 months before conceiving. But it that doesn't happen - relax! it is unusual to have a problem.  Folic acid deficiency is a known cause of spina bifida.

Try to be at your best weight before conceiving. You will gain weight in pregnancy and it can be difficult to lose the extra kilos postnatally. To be overweight in pregnancy not only will mean the pregnancy is more uncomfortable for you but increases your risk of conditions such as hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy and complications with delivery.

Check your immunity to Rubella. Although Rubella is not dangerous for you, it can have very serious implications for your unborn baby if the infection is contracted during pregnancy (the risk being highest in the first three months). It can cause heart and brain defects, deafness and cataract in your unborn baby.

Have a blood test to determine if you are immune to Rubella before you start trying to conceive. If you are not immune, you should have rubella vaccination. You should wait for three months after your vaccination before conceiving.

Get fit

It is a good idea to get as fit as possible before you conceive. This is because pregnancy will reduce your stamina. You will find when you are pregnancy that you will not be able to do what you did before pregnancy and will fatigue more easily. Exercise can simply mean regular walks. If you go to a gym tell your trainer you are planning to conceive soon so she can give you an appropriate exercise regime.

Past medical and pregnancy history

If you have a personal history of difficulty in conceiving, miscarriage (especially if more that one), significant health issues, previous difficult deliveries, or you or your husband/partner has a family history of an inherited condition, it will be good you have a pre-pregnancy consultation with me so the impact (if any) of your personal or family history on your planned pregnancy can be determined and steps can be taken as necessary increase your chances of a successful outcome. 

Will my contraception delay my getting pregnant?

• Barrier contraception: (condom and diaphragm) will not cause any delay with conception.

• IUCD: A Multiload IUCD should not result in any delay with conception. A Mirena IUCD it can interfere with ovulation in minority of woman and so there can be some delay for a few with onset of ovulation after removal.
• Oral contraceptive pill: A combined pill suppresses ovulation. There can be delay with the onset of ovulation which does not relate to how long you have been on the pill. This delay can be up to 2 years occasionally and so sometimes ovulation induction is indicated. A progestogen-only pill will suppress ovulation for a minority of users and so for most it will not cause delay with conception.
• Depot Provera: While repeat injections are indicated each 3 months for contraception, this does not mean ovulation will occur 3 months after an injection. For some women there can be considerable delay and so for some ovulation induction is indicated

When can I get pregnant?

Ovulation is normally in the middle of your monthly cycle (around day 14 if you have a 28 day cycle).   Your egg will live for about 12-24 hours after ovulation. If conception is to take place it must be fertilised by your partner's sperm in your body within this time. Sperm can live for up to 10 days inside your body. If you have sex a day or so before ovulation, your partner's sperm will have time to travel up the fallopian tubes and will be waiting when your egg is released. So the chances are highest if you have sex on the day before ovulation.