Before Trying To Get Pregnant, This Is Everything You Need To Know

Trying to get pregnant can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time. If you and your partner are nearly ready to make this momentous decision, you will want to do your due diligence first. No, it is unfortunately not as simple as just getting it on and getting knocked up. There are a lot of factors to consider, many potential missteps to try to avoid, and a few fair warnings to heed. So before you start daydreaming about those ten little toes and adorably chubby thighs (squee!), you should evaluate your own health habits and do a quick lifestyle check. 

What's more, there are some simple steps you and your partner can take to ensure you are both physically and mentally prepared for the journey ahead. There are even some proactive measures you can try to hopefully boost your natural fertility. Feeling ready to take the pregnancy plunge? Here is everything you need to know before you start trying for a baby.

While you are making that all-important preconception doctor's appointment, scroll through your phone and dial up your dentist, too. After all, you will want to make sure you have a clean, radiant smile for all those monthly pregnancy photos. And, more importantly, you will need to take care of any serious oral health issues before you are expecting.

As explained by Everyday Health, those pesky pregnancy hormones can make you more vulnerable to dental issues, including tooth decay. Additionally, your gums will be more sensitive and swollen in pregnancy, making plaque buildup likely. Both of these issues can cause gum disease, which can cause all sorts of complications. In serious instances, periodontitis can cause preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and even premature labor.

What's more, even if you see the dentist every six months on the dot, going for an appointment before you try to get pregnant will ensure that you won't risk exposing your baby to any level of radiation during those routine mouth X-rays (via Everyday Health).

As noted by Harvard Health Blog, getting to a healthy weight before becoming pregnant is ideal for you and your baby, as excess weight tends to lead to pregnancy complications or trouble conceiving. Getting to an ideal weight, of course, starts with a healthy, balanced diet. 

There are also several foods to consider adding to your diet to potentially help boost fertility. As recommended by Healthline, women who are hoping to get pregnant may want to think about upping their intake of fibrous foods like avocados and oats as well as antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. They may also try swapping out some animal proteins for more vegetable proteins, opting for high-fat dairy products, and cutting down on trans fats and refined carbs.

While you are monitoring your nutrient consumption, try to avoid excessive intake of Vitamin A; Harvard Health Blog noted that too much of this vitamin can be a bad thing, with negative consequences for a growing fetus.

In preparation for pregnancy, you will definitely want to curb your alcohol consumption. This is especially true if you are a frequent or heavy drinker. First, you do not want to wait for a positive pregnancy test to stop imbibing. Drinking during pregnancy can have serious consequences and, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant" and "no safe time during pregnancy to drink." Further, if you find it difficult to stop, you might consider seeking support before you add a baby to the picture.

As indicated by a study published in The Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, alcohol intake can present an increased risk of infertility in women. Even two alcoholic beverages each day resulted in an elevated rate of infertility compared to just one beverage. While you're giving up  booze, you might consider persuading your significant other to join you in this temporary sober journey. Moderate to heavy drinking can affect the quality of a man's sperm too, the study found.

If you are thinking about maybe, possibly, potentially, almost being ready to try, it is not quite time to get off your birth control pills. Dr. Alexadra Sowa, an internist, told Parents that "The most important thing to know about stopping oral contraceptives is that ovulation can return immediately. The synthetic hormones leave your system in a few days, so you can get pregnant the first month off the pill."

Likewise, when your IUD is removed, you can get pregnant that same month. That doesn't mean it's always instantaneous, though. Sowa elaborated, saying, "On the flip side, your period may not return immediately. It can take a few months for your period to return."

With this in mind, you shouldn't go off birth control until you're really ready. And if you're on the pill, you should finish out the full month before stopping. Dr. Sowa explained that going off the pill mid-cycle can lead to bleeding, plus "it can be hard to judge when you're ovulating." Furthermore, getting your period at least once after stopping the pill will help you more accurately determine your due date once you do get pregnant (via Parents).

Stress comes with adulting. But excessive anxiety, worry, and woe can impede your mental health and have physical consequences. And believe it or not, it can even hinder your ability to get pregnant. Dr. Sarah Berga, physician and infertility specialist, broke down part of the science behind this phenomenon to WebMD, saying, "Stress hormones such as cortisol disrupt signaling between the brain and the ovaries, which can trip up ovulation."

Alice Domara, an infertility researcher and mind-body health specialist, provided further explanation to the site: "Your body is smart, it knows that (periods of stress) aren't good times to have a baby." What's more, Domar pointed out that women who are highly stressed tend to have less sex with their partners and may even smoke cigarettes or drink excessive caffeinated or alcoholic drinks to help cope. These factors, however, can have a further negative impact on fertility. Of course, getting a negative pregnancy test result month after month can also fuel stress and frustration, resulting in a "vicious cycle." Domar recommends nurturing yourself, especially through hatha yoga.

Getting down to baby-making business shouldn't have to be all calendars and basal temperatures. Nevertheless, if you desperately want to get pregnant, it can start to feel very technical. The truth is, though: When you get too caught up in the outcome, it takes the pleasure out of the process. Sex should be fun and mutually enjoyable, right? 

Be that as it may, you should still consider removing your go-to lube from the otherwise sexy equation. A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology noted that many lubricants impede sperm's ability to fertilize a woman's egg. Even if you're not a regular lube user, you may find yourself tempted to reach for a bottle to speed up the process. Those who are actively trying to get pregnant are often squeezing in quickies, after all. Nevertheless, OB-GYN Lakeisha Richardson advises patients to allow foreplay to enhance "female arousal" and increase "a woman's own natural lubricants" (via Healthline).  

Furthermore, while you're clearing your nightstand of some not-so-fertility-friendly products, go through your medicine cabinet and chuck those vaginal washes. "Sometimes women don't think about the other things that they're doing ... that can create a hostile environment for pregnancy." Dr. Richardson told Healthline.