Make sure you're healthy

Being a good parent starts long before your baby is born. Making sure that you're ready to become a parent before you conceive is an obvious and important step. Can your finances and your lifestyle support this new life? Are you healthy enough to raise a child? Is your relationship stable?

Bringing a child into the world is a life-changing and irrevocable decision that is often taken too lightly. Deciding to become a parent means that you have an obligation to be as healthy as you can be - and this begins before conception and during pregnancy.

It's important to have a doctor to monitor you and your baby regularly and perform the necessary tests to ensure that your baby is developing properly. In a country where statistics suggest that the highest rates of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the world are in the Northern and Western Cape, it is even more pertinent. In certain rural areas, FAS is diagnosed in every 122 out of 1000 births. This condition is preventable by abstaining from alcohol while pregnant.

Gynaecologist Dr Fred Obert says: "Medical care during pregnancy can detect any potential problems that can affect the health of the mother and the child, such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and low blood pressure."

Liberty Medical Scheme spokesman Andrew Edwards says: "Asking the right questions and conducting research on your potential medical aid allows you to cater for those additional costs in your budget that your medical aid does not cover. This way, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your medical bill will not land you in debt."

Pregnancy changes the needs of your body- and it's not just about that so-called "pregnancy glow". Feeling exhausted, being bloated, having bad skin and thinning hair can also be a part of the process. Hormonal changes can affect the way you feel while carrying a baby and one day you might feel like a raging lunatic and the next, calm and collected.

Psychotherapist Anne Masters says: "A loving and supportive partner, or good support system, can go a long way towards alleviating the emotional roller coaster." It's also normal to have doubts about becoming a parent. It's helpful to confide thoughts, feelings and worries to a trusted friend or family member who can allay your fears without judgment.

"Taking time to rest and relax during pregnancy is not shirking your responsibilities," says Masters. "What may seem selfish or indulgent is another important way in which you need to look after yourself for the good of your baby."

Many women rush around during the last few months of pregnancy, finishing off work projects and organising things for the baby, and forget to take time out to nurture themselves.

"Stress can put you at risk of premature labour and other problems," says Obert. "Try to slow down in the last few weeks before birth."

Having a healthy newborn means being conscious of how you're living your life. Give your baby the best start by taking an honest look at the big picture of your life and the changes that need to be made for parenthood.

Looking after yourself during pregnancy

• Take folic acid while trying to fall pregnant and during your pregnancy. Vital for your developing baby, it can help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.

• A balanced, healthy diet is crucial for both you and your baby and also while trying to conceive. Pregnancy is a demanding time for your body and having enough nutrients and energy is vital. Supplementing with an ante-natal vitamin is a also a good idea. Consult a dietician if necessary.

• Fitness during pregnancy is important. Some forms of exercise are ideal for strengthening and keeping you healthy as your body changes, and for relieving stress and back pain. Try Preggi Bellies, which is formulated especially for pregnant women, or go for a light swim. Don't overdo it.
• Stop smoking while trying to conceive, as well as during pregnancy. If you need help doing this, speak to your doctor.
• It is best to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy as it can harm your baby.
• Make sure that you have sorted out any of your own health problems before falling pregnant.
• Don't take any recreational drugs such as marijuana or cocaine, as they can harm your baby.

• Speak to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter or prescription drugs to make sure that they are not damaging to your baby. Even herbal remedies can affect your baby, so be very careful.

• Take time out to relax before the baby comes. Rushing around puts you at risk of health problems.