First comes marriage…Then comes baby?!

As I get closer to my wedding date—8 weeks; or 60 days; or 2 months away—this October, I am increasingly thinking about preparing for a family.  It may seem a bit early to think about our first child before we’ve even gotten married, but I often wonder if there is a benefit to preparing before hand to ensure a better pregnancy and birth?

I have read a few studies that suggest a woman should prepare her body for a pregnancy 3 months before trying to conceive.  So, for me, that preparation may need to start sooner than later!

A couple of things to do to prep yourself:

•    Maintain a consistent exercise program that includes cardio, strength training, and stretching.
•    Start taking a multi-vitamin if you don’t already.
•    Tweak your diet to ensure it includes all food groups: fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, low fat dairy.
•    If you are over weight, it’s okay to lose a few pounds, but this is not the time to start crash dieting.  Your body needs to be at a healthy weight in order to support a pregnancy.
•    Eliminate as much of your stress as possible! Pray, meditate, do yoga…whatever calms you down.
•    And it’s a great idea to visit with your doctor to discuss your personal history.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and any suggestions from those of you who are already moms!