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Tips During Pregnancy

How to Get Healthy Before Pregnancy: Your 21-Day Plan

By February 21, 2019 No Comments

mother drinking from water bottle while running in natureDisclaimer: This is not medical advice and should not be used in lieu of speaking with your physician about getting healthy before pregnancy. This is purely a perspective based on our own research.

Pregnancy can take its toll on the mind, body and soul. For nine months, your body will go through some pretty drastic changes, and your mind will be focused on bringing a new life into the world.

Being in great shape, both mentally and physically, can help to ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy. How you get there will depend on your current situation and being able to open your mind to making some positive lifestyle changes. Some women might take up gentle exercise to prepare the body for pregnancy and relieve stress, while others may start to take daily supplements and follow a more nutritious diet.

With so much information out there on what you could or should be doing, it can all get a little daunting. In this article, we’ll take a look at the ways you can build good habits and get healthy before pregnancy.

Let’s Talk About BMI, Baby

Do you know your Body Mass Index, or BMI as it is most commonly known? BMI is a measurement that uses your weight and height to work out whether your weight is healthy. To qualify as a surrogate mother with California Surrogacy Center, your BMI must be 32 or lower. You can work out your BMI by using this handy calculator.

If your BMI is above 32, don’t worry. There are many things you can do to bring that number down. It just takes the right approach.

21 Days to Form a Habit

According to scientific research, it can take as little as 21 days to form a new habit. Whether your aim is to give up smoking, lose weight, follow a healthier diet or take up a new exercise regime, following this new path for 21 days will help you to create healthier habits in the long term.

When starting out on a new routine or regimen, it’s always important to log progress. Without seeing how well you are doing (or understand why there are bumps in the road) you could lose sight of your goal and give up. Whether you plot your progress on a spreadsheet, in an app or on a chart pinned to the refrigerator, seeing the results of your hard work will help you to keep going and take that success even further. Above all else, keep the reason why you are making these life changes front and center in your mind.

How to Get Healthy Before Pregnancy

It’s time to bust a couple of myths. The first is that you can eat what you want if you’re going to put pregnancy weight on anyway. The second myth is that it is not safe to do exercise while you are trying to conceive or while you are pregnant. In fact, the opposite is true.

The fact is that while you may need to eat a little more to support the life growing inside you, there is no reason you need to eat more before you become pregnant. As we’ve already mentioned, your BMI must be in a healthy range if you want to experience the rewards that being a surrogate mother can bring. And when it comes to exercise, while you shouldn’t overdo it and exhaust yourself, moderate exercise is actually encouraged.

Here are a few sensible and effective things you can do to eat well, get the right vitamins and bring your weight steadily down if you need to:

  • Take a folic acid supplement, ideally three months before you play to conceive. This B vitamin will help the body to generate healthy new cells.
  • Running, aerobics, swimming or tennis; most sports are safe to partake in prior to conceiving. However, we don’t recommend starting that half-marathon training now if you plan to conceive soon, and you may need to adjust your routine when you do conceive. A gentle walk every day is also a great way to blow away the cobwebs, burn calories and get some fresh air. Staying physically fit during your pregnancy can also increase the chances of having a natural birth instead of a C-section. Invest in a calorie-counter app or step counter so that you can track your progress.
  • Eat a diet that is rich in folic acid, iron and vitamin B12. Good sources of B12 include eggs, dairy products, lamb, beef and seafood. Folic acid is found in many green leafy vegetables, beans and lentils and oranges. Foods rich in iron include nuts, seeds, seafood, lamb, beans and whole grains. Also, try to regulate sugar, caffeine and alcohol and ideally, cut them out altogether.
  • If you feel that you need to lose weight, it may be a good idea to consult your doctor so that they can recommend a weight loss plan that is suited to your individual circumstances.

Ready to Start an Exciting and Rewarding Journey?

If you think that you are ready to become a surrogate mother with California Surrogacy Center based on the information above, please complete our confidential and secure application form. If you have any pre-pregnancy or pregnancy questions, our staff would be delighted to speak to you. Call us today at (310) 968-3736 or fill out the form below with your questions.

Become a Surrogate MotherApply Now!