Pregnancy and childbirth are the two most exciting moments in the life of a couple who are physically and emotionally ready to embrace parenthood. However, it is not as easy as it seems to be. Every pregnancy brings up its own sets of challenges for both the mother and the father to-be. Just like every other life goal, a planned pregnancy along with appropriate preparation right from preconception to postnatal care makes everything more predictable and less challenging.
Preconception prepares a woman physically and mentally ready for pregnancy. Although a highly underestimated step, preconception helps a woman to stay healthy throughout pregnancy and birth and at the same time, allows the growth of a healthy fetus with fewer risks of complications and abnormalities. Therefore, a number of factors must be kept into account in order to lay down a smooth and healthy foundation for developing and growing a baby. The diet, habits of smoking/drug abuse/alcohol consumption, tracking menstrual cycle, exercise and optimum sleep routine and the use of prenatal vitamins and supplements all should be considered as a part of preconception.
Safe preconception approach should be followed by a planned birth program. The use of Birth preparation and complication readiness (BPCR) program allows all expecting couples to initiate the process of safely planning pregnancy and childbirth along with preparing for any serious complications that might arise in case of emergency. This ensures safety of both mother and the baby during and after birth.
Along with preconception and BPCR program, a thorough consideration of insurance policies that comprise pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care is of paramount importance. Once planned perfectly, it becomes easier to prepare for the arrival of the new family member. Research has proven that a planned childbirth is always better than an unplanned one and significantly reduces the risk of suffering from postpartum depression in both mother and father. It is rightly said, well planned is half done. Therefore, do not wait for it to happen on its own – plan and enjoy the upcoming journey literally AS ANTICIPATED.
