It’s easy to think that you don’t have to begin thinking about pregnancy until you’re pregnant, but the truth is that preparing yourself for pregnancy begins long before you become pregnant. Many couples have been planning and trying for a while, and there’s no better time to pursue optimum health, wellness, and happiness. Start some good habits before you conceive, so you can carry those habits through until the baby’s birth, and as the child grows.

Physical Health

Many health professionals will tell you that into the first several months of pregnancy, it’s still safe to do the same exercises you practiced beforehand. If you want to have a healthy pregnancy, start exercising several months in advance to get your body used to the motions, so that when you’re pregnant you can continue. It’s also never too early to begin taking pregnancy vitamins and supplements. Nature’s Best offers some fantastic, high-quality options, as well as advice on what might be best for you. As with any health decision, be sure to consult a medical professional. Drink lots of water, eat the proper nutrients, and take special care to ensure that your body is healthy, so that you can support the health of your baby.

Mental Health

Having a child takes some mental stamina, and so does going through pregnancy. Educate yourself on what to expect for pregnancy, and even begin researching what type of parent you want to be. Talk to friends, consult older individuals, read books, and talk to your spouse. If you and your spouse grew up in very different homes with different styles of parenting, it’s important to talk through those differences and decide together how you’d like to raise your child. Even before the child is born, talk through your birth plan, your values, and how you’d like to bring your child into the world.

Emotional Health

Many women experience postpartum depression or go through some severe emotional changes throughout pregnancy and after birth. If you’ve experienced these things, you’re not alone. Find a support group of women who have gone through the same thing, talk to a professional, and find out what you can do to stay emotionally healthy leading up to the pregnancy, through it, and after it. Something as simple as reading some mommy blogs can help you through some of the hard times to know that you’re not alone and there’s a community of other women right at your fingertips who have experienced similar things.

Desiree is learning about pregnancy and how to take care of oneself throughout the pregnancy.