What physical health requirements are important to be ready to have a child?any health risk for mother&child?

Question

What physical health requirements are important to be ready to have a child?any health risk for mother&child?

Answer 1

Both the father and mother should be drug-free, alcohol-free, and smoke-free prior to conceiving. If either of you are on prescription medication, you should consult your doctor to ask about any potential risks associated with conceiving while you are taking those medications. The mother should also be at a healthy weight before conception if possible.

Nutrition is also very important especially for the mother. It is essential that the mother not be deficient in B vitamins, especially folic acid. Folic acid deficiency in early pregnancy (very early pregnancy....like in the first 2 weeks kind of early) has been associated with spinal cord defects. So if you are trying to conceive make sure to eat plenty of leafy greens and whole grains and possibly take a supplment for folic acid.

Avoid, mega doses of vitamins before conceiving as well as too much of some fat soluable vitamins can also cause birth defects.

Make sure that her shots are up-to-date particularly for rubella since contracting rubella in the frist trimester of pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

Get a checkup with your doctor as there may be other genetic issues or chronic health problems particular to you that might need to be addressed before conceiving.

The following link can give you a good idea of the risks involved with pregancy and she can expect as a result of having a baby:

http://www.thelizlibrary.org/liz/004.htm