You and your partner have had the talk, and decided it is time. How exciting! Pregnancy is a joyous event in one’s life that also comes with a lot of questions and worries about the unknown. We are here to help! Before you start trying to conceive (TTC), here are some top tips to check off your list to help your pregnancy be a smooth experience.

1. Visit your GYN for your yearly exam.

Your yearly exam will include a physical which includes a breast and abdominal exam via palpation. They will send you for a complete blood count (CBC). A (CBC) is a blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection.

If you suspect any fertility issues, your GYN can also send for hormone levels. During this annual exam you can also check your pap smear off your list, which should be done every three years for people ages 21-65. A pap smear is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially precancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix. The reason we mention doing this before conceiving is that it can be uncomfortable to have done during pregnancy, besides you will have a whole list of other exams to breeze through during the pregnancy.

During this annual GYN exam you can also discuss your decision to start trying to conceive and you can get more information on closely tracking your cycles (if you prefer to go that route) or you can just discuss the TTC and move on to freely trying every month.

2. Plan where you want to deliver your baby – yes, that early!

Once your annual exam is complete at your GYN you will then want to determine where you want to deliver your baby. We know you may be thinking, “Isn’t it too soon to think about that?” Determining where you want to deliver (home, birth center, or hospital) will lead into what type of prenatal/ birth provider you want to start scoping out and potentially interviewing to see if they are a right fit for you. You may want to receive cafe from a community Midwife, doula, Certified Nurse Midwife, and/or an Obstetrician.

3. Pay attention to your diet and how it changes.

Take a close look at your diet and consider switching to a whole foods diet where you focus on minimally processed foods, specifically plants. Your diet before pregnancy will affect your baby’s development in the womb and their health in the future.

4. Add a prenatal vitamin to your daily routine.

Yes you can take prenatals even when not pregnant! The good thing about taking them when trying to conceive is that prenatal vitamins have folic acid which is an important nutrient that helps prevent spinal defects in growing babies, and by ingesting these while trying to conceive you are getting a head start. We recommend the prenatal vitamins at Sprigs Life.

5. Consider adding a doula to your upcoming pregnancy journey!

What is a doula? A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a person and their partner before, during, and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. That’s right, doulas are not just there to guide the childbirth experience but also the TTC phase. Doula services can help while you are trying to conceive by supporting your emotions and helping you navigate all the steps above. You can even consider a virtual doula for consulting, if you don’t want an in person experience!

You may be thinking, “Where can I find a doula near me?” We provide Tampa doula support, birth, placenta encapsulation, and postpartum doula care for:

Tampa, St Petersburg
Land O’ Lakes
Lakeland
Plant City
Downtown Tampa
… and more!

Virtual doula services also available, let’s plan for your amazing birth and postpartum journey.

All With,

Trying to Conceive? 5 Checklist Items For Before You Get Pregnant