How to prepare for a baby while still trying to conceive

Kickstart a nutritious diet

There’s nothing like trying to have a baby to make you realize that the things you put in your body actually matter. Sure, a plate of nachos converts to energy just like salad does, but foods that are high in calories take more energy to digest, so they can actually leave you feeling tired, and they don’t provide all the vitamins and nutrients that are so important while trying to conceive.

Take a prenatal vitamin

Speaking of vitamins, are you taking one? Any multivitamin is great, but you might want to consider taking a prenatal vitamin every day so your body has all the nutrients it needs from the beginning. If you start taking a prenatal every day, you’ll get into the routine, and be less likely to forget should you become pregnant and have less time on your hands.

Establish an exercise routine

Exercise is important for staying healthy whether you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, so it would be great to start an exercise routine now that you could carry into a pregnancy. The best way to stay active is to find something you really enjoy and that you actually look forward to doing. If 30 minutes on the elliptical doesn’t get you excited, this is your opportunity to shop around and find something that you love!

Organize your home

You have babies on the mind pretty much all the time while you’re trying to conceive, and organizing your home is a great way to put that mindset to use. You don’t need to get rid of anything, but look around your home for potentially dangerous or breakable items. If you currently display all of your beautiful heirlooms on a bookshelf in the living room, take some time and think about whether they would look just as beautiful in a locked cabinet.

Get tested for genetic disorders

This is one of the easiest ways to prepare for a baby, and it’s also one of the most important things you can do. When you get tested for common genetic disorders, you can be better prepared with the knowledge of whether you or your partner is a carrier. GeneVu, an at-home genetic carrier screening test, is a simple test that can tell you and your partner if you are carriers of two serious genetic disorders, spinal muscular atrophy or cystic fibrosis.

The GeneVu kit can be shipped right to your home. You provide a saliva sample, send it back, and await your results. Once you receive them, GeneVu has genetic counselors on hand to answer any questions you might have.