Deepa Balasubramanian
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Written By: Deepa Balasubramanian | Updated : April 15, 2015 10:38 AM IST
A healthy pregnancy starts with the right planning and taking care of other health issues that could pose a problem during its course. So if you suffer from diabetes (type I or type II), you will need to be careful when planning it as there are some risks involved while getting pregnant if you suffer from the condition. To ensure that your baby is healthy at birth, you should begin managing your blood sugar levels and opt for a healthy lifestyle during your conception phase. Here are seven tips to conceive a baby faster -- for couples who are trying for a baby.
Getting started
Around 3-6 months before you intend to conceive, set up an appointment with your doctor. He or she should take the following steps during your visit:
Opt for pre-pregnancy counselling
Pre-conception counseling prepares you both physically and emotionally for pregnancy. The areas discussed are:
1. Weight management
Before you gets pregnant, you should attempt to reach your ideal body weight. If one is overweight, losing some weight will prevent the complications of diabetes. On the flip side, if one is underweight, one needs to gain the appropriate amount of weight to have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Otherwise, the baby is more likely to be born underweight. Here is all you need to know about weight management during pregnancy.
2. Lifestyle modifications
If you are planning to have a baby it is essential that you stop drinking alcohol and quit smoking. Nicotine is a chemical present in cigarettes, which makes them addictive. But apart from that, nicotine can cross the placenta and reach your baby. Also, cigarettes have other dangerous substances like carbon monoxide which can be extremely harmful for you and your baby, here are some of the ill effects it has:
Apart from that, the consumption of alcohol is linked to birth defects like mental retardation. Remember that, during pregnancy, there is no safe amount or time to drink alcohol. Here is what you need to know about fetal alcohol syndrome.
3. Prenatal vitamins
According to the Center for Diseases Control, you should have 400 micrograms of folic acid every day before conception and throughout your pregnancy. Therefore, make sure you have a vitamin supplement with folic acid every day a month ahead of when you intend to conceive. This reduces the chances of neural tube defects such as spina bifida (abnormal development of the spine and the brain) in your baby.
4. Monitoring blood sugar levels
Your blood sugar levels should be under control before you conceive. Here is why checking the blood sugar levels of the mother is important:
5. Proper medicine
If you do have diabetes during your pregnancy, you will need to have more insulin during the last 3 months of your pregnancy.
Usually, your doctor will adjust your medicine regimen to ensure that your baby is not harmed.
6. Diet control
Your meals may need to be customized to prevent drastic swings in your blood sugar levels. Of course, you also need to consume more calories to nourish the fetus. For this, you can visit a registered nutritionist to help plan out your meals so they are healthy for both you and your baby. Here is the ultimate pregnancy diet guide for you to follow.
With some guidance and help from one s doctor and partner, there is no reason why one cannot have a safe pregnancy with diabetes.
Image Source: Getty Images
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