What to Do Before You Get Pregnat

Well, to start off, good luck with trying. Enjoy it! LOL. When my husband and I started trying, I first visited a OB/GYN as a consult just to see what I needed to do. VITAMINS! VITAMINS! VITAMINS! VITAMINS! VITAMINS! and eat healthy. Even now, I have been breastfeeding for almost 8 months and still take a daily prenatal vitamins, in fact, the same ones from my pregnancy. I just continued my prescription. I would ask my doctor to give me a script. There is nothing wrong with the over-the-counter ones, but I was told by the MD that the prescription ones are better. Mine didn't cost a whole lot more than the OTC ones.

Hi, not much help from me, i have thyroid since i was 9 years old, i was told that i couldn't have kids, i'm now 46 have to wonderful kids and they are very healthy, good luck

I treated my body like it was already pregnant before starting to try. I started taking prenatal vitamins, watched what i ate (no sushi, etc.) and I have 3 prefectly healthy kiddos.

Increase your folic acid intake. This can help prevent birth defects.

Congratulations on getting your thyroid problem under control. Folic acid supplements are strongly recommended for women hoping to become pregnant as well as pregnant women. You can check the March of Dimes website for a lit of recommended things.
Best of luck,
M.

C.,

Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. You want as much folate, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from whole food not a vitamin or even a multi vitamin because our bodies don't always know what to do with these when you don't have the enzymes and other nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. I have lots of information on fertility that I can email you. If you want email me at ____@____.com and I will send it to you. Also, the doctor I work for is recommending Juice PLUS to his patients and I am his Wellness Coordinator. Go to my website www.juiceplus.com/+ah64006 and click on Health Professionals Support it and look at the section from Dr. Doug Odom (OBGYN). It is safe for everyone because it's just whole food(17 different fruits, veggies and two whole grains) that were picked vine ripened, juiced, dehydrated(herbicide, pesticide free) and then put into a capsule in powder form. Let me know if you have any questions. :)

Start taking multi-vitamins that have calcium and folic acid in them (one a day women's is good). Start an excercise routine that you know you'll stick with (once you're pregnant you really shouldn't change your routine, but you can maintain what you're doing for most of your pregnancy). Start cutting back on caffiene and alcholic drinks so it won't shock your system when you can't have as much. Lower your intake of high mercury foods. Make sure your not on or exposed to any medication that could hurt a new embryo (including pesticides and pet meds).

My husband and I tried for a year to get pregnant with our second child and couldn't the Dr. told me that I have Hypothyroidism (a under active thyroid), so I started taking meds and 8 months later we got pregnant. I had to make sure that I took my meds everyday and I got my thyroid checked every 3 months to make sure my thyroid stayed at the right levels, so that my pregnancy would be a successful one. I now have a perfect 11 month old little girl. Your thyroid is so easy to fix just make sure that you keep take your meds so that you can get pregnant. Good luck to you and your husband.

FOLIC ACID, FOLIC ACID, FOLIC ACID!!!! If you smoke---stop! If you drink----stop! Get a pre-pregnancy dental check up. Just general good care for your body. Good luck!!!!

I too have thyroid problems and had just found out before I got pregnat 5 years ago. I found out that the thyroid medicine makes you more fertile and if you have thyroid problems and you don't take your medicine it can cause problems for your unborn child. I know that they say things can happen to the baby is it can be born deaf( I read that in one those books that goes through your pregnancy week by week). So check with your doctor before getting pregnat. When I got pregnant I took my medicine but found I gained a lot of wieght during my pregnancy but it feel off afterwards and breast feeding they say helps with that too. I wish you the best of luck!

C.-way to go! You are being responsible and caring, not a worrier! I've been a Mom-Baby nurse for over 10 years. You are on the right track. Get healthy first.
You need an exercise program you will enjoy and stick with. You need to continue to have your thyroid monitored throughout pregnancy. You need a lot of good clean water daily. You especially need a good NATURAL vitamin/mineral supplement-the body doesn't recognize most of the vitamins and minerals in synthetic vitamins and can't properly use them, so store brands aren't helpful. Folic Acid is one of the most important nutrients for a woman who is pregnant or trying. It protects the baby's spinal column. But it gets "gummed up" by other B vitamins, and so is not available to you in most vitamins. The one I recommend is Shaklee's VitaLea-because the Folic Acid is made as a coating and never comes in contact with the other B vitamins. My doctor had me take VitaLea in place of prenatal vitamins.
If you don't know or can't find a Shaklee person, you can check out www.LighthouseToHealth.com .

Keep an eye on your thyroid through your pregnancy and actually the rest of your life.

D.

You dont have to worry about the Synthoid if that was what u were taking. I have been taking Synthoid for 5 years and took it the whole time I was preg. with my son. My OBGYN told me it wouldnt affect the baby and it didnt. You should start taking prenatal vitamins now get a appointment with a OBGYN and he/she will prescribe u some. Just start taking really good care of urself..no drinking,smocking or drugs..

Hi C. its great that you are looking out for your health as well as your future baby's health well in advance. I highly recomment start prenatal vitamins before you start trying to conceive. Most woman start taking them after they find out they are pregnant and by that point they are already low on important vitamins and minerals. Drink plenty of fluids and try to keep stress to a minimum.
Good Luck and Best Wishes with your bundle of JOY !

Get a physical from your ob/gyn. Get on a prenatal vitamin, and the Expecta Lipil DHA supplement wouldn't hurt any. Some books say limiting alcohol and nicotine helps. Eat good and have fun trying. DON'T STRESS OUT ABOUT IT OR IT WON'T HAPPPEN!!! Relax and enjoy each other... Wish you both the best of luck and remember it may take awhile, if it does use an ovulation kit.

I would suggest you go and talk to your normal doctor, or whoever it is that works with you and your thyroid, and let him know your plans your having a baby. See if he has any suggestions as far as controlling your thyroid. My mom has thyroid and said that when she was pregnant it would act up. So just make sure your doctor is aware so if something happens you can be prepared. Also, make sure you take enough Folic Acid. Other than that, I think if you are healthy, you should be good to go!

Eat healthy, exercise, take a prenatal vitamin, and a folic acid supplement.

I agree with everything the other two moms have suggested. I would also suggest making sure that you are eating a healthy well balanced diet, this doesn't mean you can't indulge every once in a while, but just make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and veggies, lean meats, and whole grains, if you don't already. This will help form good eating habits that you can carry through during your pregnancy and afterwards... a balanced diet is important if you decide that you want to nurse. I have a 6 1/2 month old, and my husband and I are really trying to eat a balanced diet since we are starting baby food and kiddos tend to want the same foods their parents eat, we're hoping this will work in our favor when our son is old enough for "big people" food!

Anyway, good luck!!!! What an exciting time!

Start taking prenatal vitamins, eat healthy and exercise.

I found out I had thyroid goiters when my son (almost 10) was about 4 months old. I started taking synthroid and eventually had the right side removed. Anyway, I'm still taking medicine and did so throughout my second pregnancy with no problems whatsoever. I checked with my doctor as soon as I found out I was pregnant to verify I should continue taking the meds. I be extra safe, though, I would call your doctor and make sure. Good luck.

C.,
Just have a chat with your doctor or OB/GYN. I have hypothyroidism and took Synthroid during both of my pregnancies. Make sure you're taking a great Prenatal vitamin with Folate. Your doc can tell you what to do!
A.

Make sure that you are taking a folic acid supplement -- it dramatically reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Also, go see your OBGYN - she may go ahead and put you on pre-natal vitamins since you are trying.

Get your thyroid levels checked, you want them and your medicine to be level before you get pregnant. You will also need to do this every few months while pregnant and post partum. Also, start taking prenatal vitamins. But don't take them at the same time as your thyroid medicine because of the iron in the prenatal vitamins. Also check with your doctor, but you may need to avoid soy products because they can decrease how your body absorbs the thyroid medicine.

After that, relax. I had a healthy baby while on synthroid and I only had to increase my dose once while pregnant and it decreased again a few months post partum.

Keep taking your thyroid medicine! Its very important you keep your levels good for you and the baby. I too have thyroid problems and have one child and another on the way and I get my levels checked all the time.

Call your OB/GYN or family doc and schedule a visit. Let your doc know you want to try and get pregnant. The doc can give you a physical and make sure you are healthy overall, can probably re-check your thyroid levels if necessary, make sure you're not too over-or under-weight, and prescribe or recommend a prenatal vitamin to start taking now. If you or your hubby smoke, use alcohol regularly, or use any type of recreational drugs, seriously consider quitting. Also take a list of all prescriptions and otc medications, herbals, etc you are currenlty taking to make sure they are safe to keep using while you try to get pregnant and go through those all important first few weeks - before the line turns blue!

Good luck and God Bless!

Start taking prenatal vitamins now and make sure to eat lots of leafy greens.

Hi C., you aren't being a worrier, you are being responsible. It is wise to make your body the best vessle it can be for your baby. I started about 8 months before trying, I was a smoker, so my hubby and I quit, adopted a healthier lifestyle with food and excercise, get the crankiness out of the way early;). Then at 6 months pre-trying, I went off the pill and started prenatal vitamins (Wal Mart's were good) and taking a folic acid supliment too. We also considered the financial impact and started planning accordingly. I'm not sure if it helped, but it made us feel better, and really, that counts for a lot. Good Luck!

Folic Acid, Folic Acid, Folic Acid!!! I can't stress how important it is to take folic acid prior to getting pregnant. If you have any trouble getting pregnant, check out mymonthlycycles.com My husband and I tried for a very long time and this site really helped me. They track your fertile days. it is really neat because it will send you reminder emails as well as a calander of you most fertile days.

Definetly start on your prenatal vitamins-YESTERDAY!!!!-and start exercising and eating healthier foods. Go to an ob/gyn, midwife, or whoever and get everything checked out. If you drink or smoke, you should start stopping IMMEDIATELY!!! Be sure when you got to your dr. that you get checked for anemia, and take supplements accordingly. Eat lots of leafy greens, and fresh fruits, and start staying away from lots of sugar---it will pack on, and they are empty calories for you and your fetus. Also, when a woman is pregnant, the fetus gets a lot of calcium from your supply, and will take out of your bones if you are already low. so start drinking milk, eating yogurt and cheese, etc. but mostly remember---FOLIC ACID!!! Another key helper: make sure your dude wears looser undies, such as boxers. When they wear tighties, the underwear will hold his testicles right up against his body, and the excess body heat can damage the sperm that are there. When in looser undies, they are not held up so close, and therefore have a higher reproduction rate. GOOD LUCK, AND MOST OF ALL:::: HAVE FUN!!!!

Although others may want to be helpful, you should consult a physician you trust. Dealing with thyroid and medications and pregnancy can be complex, so discuss with a physician, obstetrician,fertility specialist. Best of luck on a healthy baby. God bless!

Low thyroid runs in my family. My mom had a miscarriage on her 4th pregnancy, when she was on vacation without her levoxyl/synthroid. Sometimes doctors don't run all the tests they can to make sure your levels are ok. Check out on about.com mary shomon's thyroid blog. I'm on .75 levoxyl and I made sure I took it EVERY DAY when I was trying to get pregnant and all during the pregnancy. It's better to be safe and take at least a low dose of meds if you are on the low side of normal. My obgyn paid close attention to my thyroid throughout my pregnancy to make sure it didn't get worse. It might also help you to get pregnant to be on regulation meds. With a low thyroid, doing exercise in the morning can help alot. Also, take your prenatal vitamins. Oh, and don't take any pain medication at the same time as your vitamins or thyroid meds as they counteract each other sometimes. God bless.