How to begin preparing your health for your future
Written by Hannah Bowers
Today we have Hannah of Blissberry Wellness joining us! She shares some great tips if being a mother is on your future dream list. Health is a gift from God, created for you to flourish and prosper. Hannah shares some things that you can do right now to prepare yourself and your body to improve your health and ready for future motherhood (no matter how far down the road it may be for you)!
The idea of someday starting a family is very exciting! So many questions may be running through your head as you think about it. What will it be like being a mother? How will I know that I’m ready? Will my turn come soon? It is such a joy to witness young families welcoming new littles ones and imaging what it will be like when that day comes for you. In the meantime, I want to share a few, practical steps that you can start taking today to get your body, mind, and soul ready for the incredible task of being a mother. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!
Get Your Current Health Situation Under Control
Did you know that your current health conditions and issues could impact your ability to get pregnant, stay pregnant, grow a healthy baby, or breastfeed? If you’re dealing with a full-blown disease, then you are aware of the need to manage the condition and get it to a place to remission. This is especially important when preparing for a future family. Start talking to your doctor about ways to get your condition under control and if your
medications are pregnancy safe. Often, dietary protocols can go a long way to reverse disease states, as well. Begin researching what dietary protocol may be right for your unique situation.
Overt health conditions are not the only things that need addressed prior to pregnancy. While mild digestive upset, frequent headaches, or chronic rhinitis might not seem like a big deal, they actually point to an underlying imbalance or issue. I encourage you to find a practitioner who will help you get to the root of the problem, not just prescribe you a bandaid. A Chiropractor, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Integrative Medicine Doctor, Herbalist, or Accupuncturist can help you begin bringing your body back into balance.
Clean Up
Your Diet
Most moms-to-be don’t start thinking about diet until they are in the two week wait or worse, after they have a positive test. Unfortunately, this approach misses out on the most important window for your baby’s development: the 3+ months leading up to conception. Everything you consume for the months leading up to conception influence the quality of the egg and build up or break down the nutritional stores for baby’s development. The sooner you can start consuming a fertility-friendly diet, the better foundation your baby will have for his/her life and the easier pregnancy you will experience!
You don’t have to suddenly ditch all of the wonderful treats you enjoy. Instead, reserve those for social occasions and shift to a nutrient dense, real food diet 80-90% of the time. This will get your body into the optimal fertility (and long-term wellness) state!
Most moms begin thinking about making the switch to safer household products during pregnancy. Not only is this stressful, but moms miss out on the prime window to be living toxin-free.
Check Your MTHFR Status
MTHFR is now on many moms’ radars and for good reason! This genetic SNP increases your
body’s need for folate – the vital nutrient hallmarked with preventing neural tube defects in
children. Our food supply is fortified with a synthetic version of this vitamin, but many with the MTHFR are unable to use folic acid in it’s unmethylated state. Knowing where you stand with MTHFR can go a long way to prevent miscarriages, tongue ties, and birth defects down the road. A simple blood test, either performed at the doctor’s office or through an at-home kit, will let you know if this is relevant to you.
Much of the information available online about MTHFR is not accurate. Source your information from reliable experts. I recommend reading this website and this post for accurate information on managing MTHFR.
Transition to Safer Products
Most moms begin thinking about making the switch to safer household products during
pregnancy. Not only is this stressful, but moms miss out on the prime window to be
living toxin-free. (3-6+ months before conception.) Taking conscious steps to slowly
transition your household and products to ones considered safe now means so much
less stress later.
The Environmental Working Group has several helpful databases. Many moms also like
the Think Dirty App for on-the-go product checking.
Start Studying Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, and Parenting
Why wait until you are thinking about being pregnant or are pregnant to start
researching? Take this opportunity to become familiar with pregnancy, birth,
postpartum, and parenting. This will save you time and stress when the time comes to
start making these decisions!
Some of my favorite fertility, pregnancy, and parenting books to recommend are:
The Fifth Vital Sign
Beyond the Pill
Period Repair Manual
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth
Birth Without Fear
The First Forty Days
Real Food for Pregnancy
Real Food for Mother and Baby
Dr. Sears Baby Sleep Book
Sweet Sleep
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
The Wonder Weeks
Parenting
Put the Disciple into Discipline
Most Importantly, Pray
Pray over your future family, marriage, and relationships. Pray for wisdom, discernment
and understanding as you prepare to someday be a mother. Ask the Lord to provide
Godly mentors who will walk beside you when the time comes to start a family. And
pray against the spirit of fear, which plagues so many mothers.
God has a time established for you to become a mother and he has a beautiful path to
take you there. Trust his timing and leading. It will be worth the wait!
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