Pre Conception:

If you have the luxury of foresight there are a few things that are good to consider prior to conception as they can help to optimize the health of you and your baby during pregnancy and beyond.

Medications:
Several medications are known not to be safe during pregnancy as they may increase the risk of birth defects. If you are taking any medications but particularly any of the following medications, talk to your doctor about stopping or switching to something that is safer during pregnancy.

-        Accutane, warfarin, blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs) cholesterol medications (statins), anti seizure medications (carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid) autoimmune medications (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate) hyperthyroid medications (methimazole)

-        If you are being treated for any mental health condition it is important to know that many mental health medications can be safely continued throughout pregnancy, talk to your doctor before making any adjustments to your dose or switching.

Folic Acid/ Prenatal vitamin:
It is a good idea to start taking a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid at least 3 months prior to conceiving. In fact, anyone who could become pregnant should consider taking a folic acid supplement. Folic acid is important in reducing the risk of neural tube defects, but in this case more is not better. The ideal dose of folic acid for most people is 0.4-1.0mg daily. The higher doses (4-5mg) are reserved for those who have previously had a baby with a neural tube defect or those that have a personal history of neural tube defect.

Bloodwork:
It can be helpful to know whether or not you are immune to measles, Rubella and Varicella Zoster Virus (chicken pox) prior to conceiving, as there are vaccines that can be given to boost your immunity if needed. Although many vaccines are safe to receive during pregnancy, the above two are not so it would be ideal to receive them prior to conception. If you were to become infected with one of these viruses during pregnancy, there is a chance that the infection could be passed on to the fetus so being immunized reduces this risk. Other labwork that can be helpful pre-conception is to check for: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. If you are found to have one of these infections, it is important to have it treated prior to trying to conceive.

Medical Conditions:
Ensure any pre-existing medical conditions are well controlled before trying to conceive (high blood pressure, asthma, autoimmune conditions, hypothyroidism).

Diet:
Try and ensure you are getting plenty of lean and /or plant based protein, fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods. Include healthy fats in your diet like olive oil, nuts and avocados. Reduce your intake of processed foods, excess salt and simple sugars. Drink lots of water.

Exercise:
Being physically active before getting pregnant can make pregnancy a much more comfortable and pleasant experience. Try and aim for 150 minutes (2.5hours) of activity per week including some moderate or vigorous intensity activities and some weight/ resistance training if possible.

Reduce or discontinue your use of alcohol, tobacco or any other substances while trying to conceive.

 Work:
Find out if you qualify for any kind of top up or are eligible for EI during your mat leave.