New Pregnancy Study: Knowing Sooner Promotes Healthier Behavior

MadameOvary.com’s Mary Jane Minkin, MD offers advice for recognizing early signs of pregnancy and implementing behavior and lifestyle changes

A new study finds that an early awareness of pregnancy promotes a healthy pregnancy journey through preemptive lifestyle and behavior changes.  Women can decrease the stress of trying to conceive by recognizing the signs and being prepared both physically and emotionally for a positive pregnancy test.

I see many pregnant women who wish they had found out sooner, so they could have prepared mentally or modified their lifestyle habits- like cutting out alcohol or adjusting their diets. I always encourage my patients to live healthily, especially when trying to conceive. However, nothing reinforces healthy behavior like a positive pregnancy test. It’s important for women to recognize the early signs of pregnancy and use a test that gives results as early as possible, like FIRST RESPONSE™ Early Result Pregnancy Test that tells you six days before a missed period.

While some of the signs of pregnancy are more well-known, like morning sickness, nausea, or food cravings- many are not as recognizable.  Less common signs can include slight bleeding or cramping very early on, mood swings, dizziness, constipation, and fatigue.  As some of these signs can be easily mistaken for a bad case of PMS, it is a good idea to take a pregnancy test.

A healthy pregnancy starts before conception- so it is important to make sure your body is prepared.   Use this time as motivation to eliminate unhealthy habits such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and any illegal drugs.  Reducing daily stressors, getting enough rest, and making healthy food choices are key.

I’m pleased that this study is opening the conversation about making smart, pre-emptive health decisions and shedding light on the tools available for women to prepare for pregnancy. And, if you’re trying to conceive, you can increase your chances by identifying your most fertile days using an ovulation test and choosing a fertility-friendly lubricant like Pre-Seed.

##

Mary Jane Minkin, MD is Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Yale University