How to have a Healthy Pregnancy before Adoption

Whether you are going through an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and are thinking about adoption for your child, having a healthy pregnancy is important. You may be going through several emotions finding out you are pregnant and making the decision of adoption. Pregnancy and adoption cannot be understated because they are life-changing moments and choices. It is valid to feel overwhelmed, stressed or anxious when coming to terms with being pregnant and the steps you decide to take for your future. Through it all, it is essential that you maintain your physical, mental and emotional health for you and your baby. This week Adoption Choices of Kansas and Missouri will be discussing how to have a healthy pregnancy before adoption.

Remember that you do not have to make every decision alone, and that we can walk you through all of your options, so you can do what is best for you. Whether you decide to choose adoption for your baby or not, we can be there for you. Let’s discuss some ways to have a healthy pregnancy before adoption.

Establish an Adoption Plan 

As your mind is connected to your body, thinking about adoption often while your pregnant can bring on added stress and anxiety to an already overwhelming situation. Establishing an adoption plan can be a good way to relieve additional stress and let you focus on the wellbeing of you and your baby. Planning for the next steps after the birth of your baby, will help to prepare you for the start of your adoption journey.

If you are pregnant and looking to make an adoption plan, you can contact us and we can discuss the specifics of your decision such as the type of adoption agreement you want for your child and more. Having questions or concerns about making an adoption plan is normal, and we are here to help answer all of them to the best of our ability.

Stay on Track with Prenatal Care

An important part of having a healthy pregnancy before adoption is being mindful of prenatal care. When pregnant, taking care of yourself physically is essential for the baby’s development throughout every trimester up until birth. An expectant mother should not consume alcohol or any drugs, because they pose serious health risks for both the baby and mother, such as birth defects or miscarriage. There are also a few foods you should not eat while pregnant like raw fish and caffeine, among others.

Having consistent and balanced meals to provide significant nutrition for yourself and your baby is necessary and beneficial. In addition to eating healthy, it is important to take prenatal vitamins, especially during your first trimester when critical growth happens for your baby. When you buy prenatal vitamins at your pharmacy, look for ones with folic acid, iron, calcium and vitamin D.

Keep Active

During your pregnancy, staying active can help relieve and be an outlet for stress. Depending on if you were active before your pregnancy, you may be able to continue with your workout routine, but check with your healthcare provider to be sure. Exercising regularly while pregnant does not have to be a rigorous workout that includes heavy weight-lifting. Physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga and pilates are good to practice during your pregnancy. Keeping active can help prepare your body for labor as it changes during pregnancy, prevent health complications of your baby, and helps to manage back pain that develops in the mother when pregnant.

Always be hydrated before, during and after exercise and eat enough food for you and your baby for the calories you may burn. Try not to push yourself too hard with exercise while pregnant and ask your doctor what they think of certain physical activities, even if you think that they are okay to practice.

Go to Doctor Appointments

Seeing your doctor during pregnancy is important because they are there to make sure you and your baby are healthy. It is important that you feel comfortable with your doctor to ask any questions or share any concerns, as they can offer answers and provide resources. Your doctor wants what is best for you and your baby, including if you have made the decision for adoption after birth. If going to the doctor during your pregnancy is anxiety provoking, maybe try to go with someone who can support you.

During your first visit with your doctor while pregnant, they will ask about your individual and family health history, perform tests and ask additional questions.

Talk about How You are Feeling

As you go through many physical changes while pregnant, you may also go through emotional changes. Changes may feel like they are happening fast and you should talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling. Keeping your emotions bottled up can cause further stress and negative emotions to be present.

During pregnancy, remember you are not alone. Reach out and share your emotions, whether they are good or bad, and talk about them. See what you can do to practice self-care whether it be journaling, cooking, listening to music or finding affirmations to say to yourself, among other activities. Being healthy emotionally and mentally is essential while pregnant and while not pregnant.

These are some ways that can help you to have a health pregnancy before adoption. As you prepare to bring a new life into the world and start your adoption journey, remember to care for yourself and that Adoption Choices of Kansas and Missouri is here for you every step of the way.

Adoption Choices of Kansas and Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll free at 1-877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at (816) 527-9800; in Kansas call or text us at (316) 209 2071

Meet the Author: Melissa Benedek is currently a junior at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. She is a Literature major with interest in American regional writing. One of her on-campus jobs focuses on organizing volunteer opportunities with local partnerships for students. She is also a founding editor of Sonnet Literary Magazine based out of her college campus.