Conception Countdown: Preparing for Pregnancy, Baby, and Beyond Before You Start Trying to Conceive
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Planning a pregnancy? Here's a quick guide to what you need to know before you start trying to conceive
A generation or two ago, pregnancy care started about two months into pregnancy -- around the time of the second missed menstrual period. At that point, the doctor advised the mom-to-be that it would probably be a good idea to start eating properly, to cut back on her smoking and drinking, and to otherwise start taking better care of herself for the sake of her baby-to-be.
Times certainly have changed. Not only has our knowledge of what's healthy for mom and baby done a 180 degree shift. Today, we know that it's best to start planning for a healthy pregnancy prior to conception.
This is because one of the key periods of development for the baby occurs during the first few weeks of pregnancy -- before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. Leading infant and maternal health advocacy organizations such as The March of Dimes now encourage parents-to-be to plan for a healthy conception and a healthy pregnancy. There's greater emphasis than ever before on starting preconception health planning early before and involving both the mom-to-be and her partner.
This lens highlights some tools and articles on the The March of Dimes website that I have found particularly useful in my work as a pregnancy author and as a columnist for Conceive Magazine, and other pregnancy and parenting publications and health websites. - Ann Douglas
P.S. Check out these preconception and pregnancy tools at PregnancyLibrary.com.
March of Dimes: Preconception Health FAQ, Research Area, Ovulation Calendar, Due Date Calendar
- These Frequently Asked Questions About Preconception Health are definitely worth checking out. I love how the March of Dimes does such a great job of staying topical. They even have answers to questions about getting pregnant after weight loss surgery.
- The Researchers and Professionals Area is the part of the March of Dimes website that makes my heart sing. We're talking about an entire online library of resources related to preconception health and healthy pregnancy. Most of the material is highly parent friendly, so don't pass on it just because it looks like its meant for health care professions only. Give this section a try anyway.
- This Ovulation Calendar can be a very useful tool, once you start trying to conceive.
- If the ovulation calendar works its magic, the next thing you'll want to get your hands on is this Due Date Calendar, so you can estimate Junior's date of arrival
A Quick Guide to Planning a Pregnancy by Ann Douglas
The lowdown on getting ready to start trying to conceive
Here's a roundup of articles I've written over the years on conception, fertility, and preconception health. You can find additional articles on these topics in these two online archives:(1) having-a-baby.com - article archive (a range of topics including preconception, fertility, pregnancy, parenting)
(2) Yahoo! collection of articles by Ann Douglas (a range of topics including preconception, fertility, pregnancy, parenting).
Articles
10 Steps to a Healthy Pregnancy: Things to Do in the Year Prior to Conception
Planning for a Healthy Pregnancy
Make Lifestyle Changes Before Conceiving
7 Ways to Increase Your Odds of Conceiving: Tips for Giving Mother Nature a Nudge When You Are Trying to Get Pregnant
Increase Your Odds of Conceiving Quickly
Conception Countdown: Your Preconception Health Questions Answered
Are You Ready For Another Baby?
Fertility Tips (and more tips on other pregnancy topics)
Pregnancy After Infertility
On Being Newly Pregnant -- A Recent Interview
NEW ! Expert Interviews: Ann Douglas on Pregnancy | Being Pregnant | First 30 Days
Bestselling Guides to Preconception Health and Getting Pregnant
Want the inside scoop on how to get pregnant?
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth, and Everything In Between (U.S. Edition)
A favorite with moms since the day it was published, The Mother of All Pregnancy Books is known for its unique blend of need-to-know pregnancy facts and mother wisdom as well as its warm and reassuring tone. Where is it written that pregnancy books can't be fun to read and informative? Nowhere that we know.
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Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 07/06/2009) 
List Price: $15.99
Usually ships in 24 hours
The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers
The purse-sized sidekick to the bestselling pregnancy guide of the same name. Allows you to create your own personalized pregnancy record while getting organized (or as organized as possible!) for baby's arrival. (Ann Douglas -- your honest and truthful pregnancy guide -- doesn't promise organizational miracles when it comes to life after baby.)
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Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $14.99
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The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby
Ann Douglas collaborates with Connecticut ob/gyn and university professor John R. Sussman, MD, to create an 800+ page guide to everything you could ever want to know about pregnancy.
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Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $16.99
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The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: An All-Canadian Guide to Conception, Birth and Everything in Between
If you're Canadian, this is the edition of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books that's meant for you. There are enough differences between the U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems, maternity leave laws, etc., to merit two separate editions.
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Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $16.95
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Ann Douglas' Amazon.com Blog
Ann Douglas blogs about preconception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPositive Pregnancy Test? Where to Go for Info After You Conceive
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Pregnant Pause
Do you have some thoughts to share on this lens? I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Tracy-B wrote...
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