Before TTC

Six weeks ago, I bought a book upon the recommendation of a friend also getting ready to TTC.

source

Pregnancy, as you probably know, is nine months long (or 38 weeks from conception, if you're really serious about keeping count). And if you've ever been pregnant before, you probably think that's plenty long enough. But is nine months really long enough? Does that time-honored baby-making timetable really stand up to the latest obstetrical science?

According to more and more research--and more and more experts (including the Centers for Disease Control, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Pediatrics)--the answer is maybe not. That traditional nine-month figure is being challenged by a surprising new suggestion: It’s time to add more months to pregnancy.

That's right, more months. At least three more months, in fact, for a full year (or even more) of baby making. But before you panic (three extra months of not seeing my feet? Of passing on the sushi? Of waiting to hold that bundle of joy?), here’s what you need to know: Those extra months aren’t meant to be spent being pregnant, they’re meant to be spent getting ready to be pregnant.

Before you're expecting--and before you even begin trying to expect--is the best time to get both your bodies into tip-top baby-making shape. And that's why I've written What to Expect Before You're Expecting--a complete, step-by-step preconception plan to help you and your partner prep for pregnancy. Whether you're hoping to fill your nest for the first time or the fourth (or more!), a little conception know-how--which lifestyle adjustments you should make now (cut back on caffeine and cocktails) and which you can hold off on (get your sushi while you can!); which foods are fertility-friendly and which are fertility busters (say yes to yams and oysters, so long to saturated fats); how extra weight can weigh on your fertility and his; how to track fertility and pinpoint ovulation--can help you fill that nest faster. What's more, the right preconception protocol can help ensure a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy (think less morning sickness, a lowered risk of premature delivery and gestational diabetes) and a healthier bundle of baby. And the plan doesn't end when you're finished with the prepping. It covers baby-making how-to's, do's, and don'ts--everything you need to know about conception sex (from timing, to logistics, to positions, and more).

Whether you've begun your conception campaign already or you're just starting to think about getting pregnant, it’s never too late--or too early--to start optimizing your preconception profile, giving the baby of your dreams the healthiest possible start in life. So put time on your side, and add a few months to your baby-making calendar. More pregnancy, as it turns out, is more.

*Heidi Murkoff's Introduction to What to Expect Before You're Expecting from Amazon.com

When I went to the local book store to purchase this book. I felt a little weird standing there in the pregnancy book section without being pregnant. Almost like I was going to get in trouble for being somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.

I feared being asked if I was pregnant, or how far along I was, when in fact, we hadn’t even started trying yet.

Imagine the horror when I had to go to the customer service counter to ask if they had a copy of the book, when after browsing through the pregnancy books for thirty minutes, I found nothing.

That’s because it was on the other side of the store near the nursing books. Odd.

I made my purchase and went home.

I kept the book in the bag for a couple of days debating whether or not to tell Mr. Joggersaur, and how to tell him. Sure, our TTC start date was rapidly approaching, but I was afraid of his reaction. (He’s a go with the flow person, I’m the planner and I want to know everything I can before it happens.)

Surprisingly, he was very accepting of my purchase and listens when I read the male sections that pertain to him, like not putting your cell phone in your pocket.

Overall, I found the book pretty helpful. Several little things I didn’t know about getting ready for pregnancy, but a lot of the information is common sense stuff that you could probably ask your friends or mom about.

But, if you’re like me, who isn’t telling anyone we are TTC to avoid millions of questions (mainly from our families), the book is a great resource to go back to during your TTC process.