Preventing Pregnancy Complications May 28, 2013.

Tips for Avoiding and Managing Complications with Pregnancy

These three tips take some of the worry about a pregnancy:

• take control of overall health;
• find the right doctor; and
• advocate for yourself.

Being healthy prior to conceiving is among one of the best ways to improve chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Before trying to get pregnant, focus on health and fitness.

Upgrade diet, make adequate exercise a priority, and start taking a daily multi-vitamin that includes folic acid. Also stop unhealthy habits like smoking or heavy alcohol consumption. Get a full physical and talk with a doctor to determine risk factors and to get any pre-existing conditions under control.

Find the right doctor. If a doctor labels the pregnancy high risk then as a patient, one might find that the general practitioner cannot meet all medical needs. Do some research and ask for a reference to find a specialist who deals with the special condition.

Be your own best advocate. Women dealing with high-risk pregnancies need to cooperate with their healthcare providers and be proactive about their medical care. Be sure to keep all prenatal appointments, call a doctor or midwife for any concerns, and feel free to ask any and all medical questions regarding steps to take to have a healthy pregnancy.